HWY-20 hunting

[ksberry209]

Now that I don't have weekends off anymore my normal spot FHL is pretty much out of the picture and I was thinking about exploring the BLM land off hwy-20 around Cache Creek. Anyone have any tips where to park and where to start? I figure I can go out looking for piggies and do some preseason turkey scouting. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

 

[bodega]

KSBerry;

I hunted Cache Creek 40 days over the last two years, and I saw hogs once. Because of the price of gas, I'm doing fewer public land trips this year and paying to go to places with a greater chance of getting a hog. Just my 2 cents. Wish public land hunting was better. Now as far as turkey hunting, Cache Creek is awesome. Get in on the draw for the first weekend, and pray for warm weather. The birds get spooky really fast.

Bodega

 

[DanV]

I've hunted that area extensively for the last 20 years . All pigs I've spotted were to the north of Hwy 20 , a good place to look is Walker Ridge Rd. , the road to Indian Valley Res.

Whoadog had his pointer fetch a striped piglet a few years back where 16 and 20 meet , but I've never seen any sign in that area . Thats the old Payne Ranch , gets lots of use now from bird watchers , bunny huggers and the like . I don't hunt that area much anymore unless I hike way back in , don't care for critical non-shooting company !

 

[Davidw100]

I have heard that north of 20 is about all thats worth while in that area. A couple weeks back a buddy of mine went up there to glass around and said there was little show of pigs. He is going to try spenceville wildlife area behind Camp Far west. Guess some guy got a pig near the south end in Dec 07.

 

[jpichler]

Hey DanV is it possible to drive onto Walker Ridge Rd from HW20? sometimes they lock gates and such.

just thought i would ask before I check it out.

btw its always great to het pointers from seasoned folks that have spend time there, scouting and lots of miles and gas spend seems to be the trend in my hunting lately so tips like this are helpfull...THX.

--JP

 

[tradman]

I've stomped around Cache Creek a few times and have never seen hogs, nor any sign to speak of. People say that Indian Valley Reservoir (BLM land across HWY 20) holds hogs, but it would take some kind of effort to get at them. With all the agricultural land surrounding the reservoir, it sure would make sense that they'd have some hogs around. I've heard of a few seasoned hunters up there who know how and where to get on them, but I would guess they're running machete-wielding pitbulls shrink-wrapped in Kevlar or something. I've never seen more impenetrable brush anywhere. Walker Ridge Rd. will take you right through the area, it's been open each of the few times I've been up there.

Good luck, it's always worth a try.

P.S. watch out for snakes in the warmer months!

 

[ksberry209]

Thanks for the info. I have heard the same things about the lack of pigs in that area but I would like to get out side if the weather cooperates this week and atleast I can look for turkeys. Can anyone share any info about the drawing? Probably starts the first weekend and I won't be able to do that cause of work.

If the north side of 20 is the best area where can I park and hike? I have a few maps from the blm offices for that area but I am not sure where I stored them. If there are bnnies out there right now maybe I can do some traget shooting (they are open all year correct?). I wonder what a 7MM would do to a little bunny???????

 

[DanV]

Walker Ridge Rd. is rock base and even a 2 wheel drive will make it even in the wettest weather , might be a little scarry in the snow . Glass any open canyons , areas with grass . Watch your odometer , approx 8 miles from hwy 20 is a big valley to the east , I've seen plenty of hogs down there . You can drive down that road part way as it is washed out , doable on a quad , not that far of a hike , maybe a mile ?

Another spot off of WR Rd. is a couple more miles in on the west is a dirt rd going to a real small campground , sorry don't remember the name of the campground
and could not find it on my map , believe there is a small sign also . Tons of pig sign there but my timing has just never been right at the campground spot ! Good Luck , you won't see many bunnies , but your 7 mag will work great on the numerous coyotes up there !

 

[tradman]

I've camped at the campground I think you're talking about, but didn't see any pig sign at all. There's a few "trails" that lead out from around there which eventually will get you down to the reservoir. Just remember it's a pretty long way back up and it's easy to get hung up in the head-high brush. There's even a sort of seep/spring that eventually turns into a very small creek which I figured would be a great area to find wallow. Too bad the pigs didn't seem to agree with my taste in potential wallow sites. I saw zero hog sign. Lots of deer tracks and coyote scat though.

Speaking of that seep. I remember last time I was up there, on my way out, a truck with a bunch of local guys showed up to take over the campsite. They asked me politely if I was leaving, they didn't want to crowd me out. I said I was and as I was packing to go, they set up a little picnic where they started to make carne asada, rice and beans, etc..

For water for the rice, they went to the damp ground, started digging it out with their hands, and began to collect the muddy water that seeped into the hole to cook with. They thought nothing of it. They brought enough beer for a frat party, propane tanks, a grill, radios and everything, but not a drop of water. And clearly couldn't have cared less. It was all mud and grass and God know's what kind of animal waste etc. in there. I offered them the few gallons that were left in my Aqua-tainer, which they accepted, but clearly were more than prepared to do with the goop they had scooped out of the ground. They were all laughing and joking around and I'm sure pretty sure I heard someone say "wussy Gringo."

 

[rtbx15]

I have enjoyed hunting and driving around that area, beautiful views from the top of Walker Ridge Rd. I took a nice little buck who came to get a drink from one of the fingers of the lake leading back into a canyon. It was near the county campground at the dam. I believe the small campground you guys are talking about is called Wintun Camp. I have seen that seep, I did'nt take a drink from it. Someone posted here on JHO that the west side of Walker Ridge Rd. was being hunted and marijuana gardens run across, be careful of those. You are not kidding about those snakes, they are everywhere. I heard that sometimes there are turkeys on the south side of the road going down to the dam. Good luck, Bob.

 

[bux-n-dux]

ks-

I know a little something about that area. If you ever feel like company, let me know when you're gonna trek up there and maybe I could go with you or meet you up there. Let me just say that there ARE pigs in that area. They don't exactly walk out in front of one's truck, but they are there. Sometimes.

Give 'Em Hell,

bux-n-dux

 

[ksberry209]

I was going to head up that way Thursday if it is not raining much. A little rain no problem but I am not going if it is really coming down...yeah call me what ever you want I aint gonna do it. It will already be pretty wet.

Are the snakes that big of an issue around that area? Probably not right now but later in the spring and summer I bet that area would hold a bunch of rattlers. Just watch were you step I guess.

 

[ksberry209]

Hey Bux - Do you have an e-mial address I can send you a message? Mine is ksberry209@yahoo.com.

Ken

 

[DanV]

Snakes are not a problem now , I would not step off a beaten path once it warms a bit . First time I went hog hunting up there I killed 7 snakes in less than a 18 hour period , the biggest being as big around as your forearm with 13 rattles ! I DON'T hunt up there unless its winter time , funny thing is that on the south side of hwy 20 I've only seen 5 or 6 snakes in 20 years .

One clue as to wether snakes are out is you will see lizards out , warm enough for them , warm enough for snakes !

 

[bpnclark]

I have hunted the Cache Creek area for years. The only time I saw or heard of someone getting hogs is with dogs. Indian Valley Reservoir and Walker Ridge use to be full of them. There is (or was) a little campground across the lake that is only accessible by boat or foot. That’s the place to stay and hunt from (if you can stand the ticks). The main campground is not worth paying for. During the warm weather, the area nothing but snakes, ticks and yellow jackets. There are a couple of trail heads on the other side of the HWY that lead to Cache Creek. It’s about a three mile hike (I think) but not bad. Glassing down to the creek I have seen nice deer, Tule Elk, bobcats, coyotes and even a bear but never a pig. The tree huggers are close to the road but never leave the trails.

Here is a picture of my “honey hole” at Cache Creek. It’s a beautiful area to hunt along with ticks, snakes and yellow jackets. You can’t see them but they are 2 nice 3x3s in the pic.

[attachment=48911:cashecrk1.jpg]

I have always wanted to “raft” in and hunt the creek. Has anyone done that?

 

[bpnclark]

I forgot about the nice campground right on the HWY. If you want a place to stay I recommend staying there (if its open).

 

[DanV]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bpnclark @ Jan 29 2008, 02:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I forgot about the nice campground right on the HWY. If you want a place to stay I recommend staying there (if its open).[/b]

Thats the Cache Creek Campground , a county CG on Hwy 16 not Hwy 20 ?

 

[JNDEER]

there are pigs there....i have seen more pigs in the summer then in the winter (as crazy as that may seem)...in the hot summer...june/july there is little to no pressure from hunters and if you find some water holes you can find some pigs...........as they have said..north side of 20 seems to be better then south of 20...although i have seen sign on the south side of 20, just no pigs....

good luck

 

[bpnclark]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DanV @ Jan 29 2008, 02:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bpnclark @ Jan 29 2008, 02:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I forgot about the nice campground right on the HWY. If you want a place to stay I recommend staying there (if its open).[/b]

Thats the Cache Creek Campground , a county CG on Hwy 16 not Hwy 20 ?
[/b][/quote]

Thats a nice little campground. I wasnt sure what HWY it was on so I didn't put a number on it.

 

[norcal-noodler]

I have always wanted to “raft” in and hunt the creek. Has anyone done that?
[/quote]


I've rafted the river twice and boy howdy was it a good time !!!!! Once in a canoe and again
in a raft, the canoe trip was quite eye opening (there are a few hairy sections)
Anyways a great trip and have seen all sorts of game down there !!!!!! I have seen a bear on both trips and the banks are all bear tracks.

Trip takes two days without much stopping !!!!!!!!! I hunted turkey last season and finally heard a
tom as soon as we loaded up the rafts at the camp ground !!! Late season though !!!