I need a pig...now buying trail cameras

[Tech]

I think I got pig fever, a bad one. I think I spent last week spare time from work, roughly 5 intense hours each day reading and reading all about pigs in this forum. I nail down 2 places I want to hunt(I meant walk) hard. I read all reports from Justguy, thewolfman, BigBoarstopper, DuckFever and several other guys.
Basically keyword anything from pig, public, fhl, laguna, clear creek, blm...that results in thousands of threads over the years. Great, I got onXmaps coupled with google maps this alone take up 1-2 hours each day. I know this will get expensive because of the gas time, but I want to do it.

Now I am going to hike in, if I see any pig signs, I want to set a few trail cameras. If you have used trail cameras before, can you recommend me a decent ones that won't break the bank?
Any tip on where, how to place them would be icing on the cake.

Well, I think I should offer something back in return. I fish for salmon and rockfish. If you like that, the season open for salmon this April. Hopefully it is as good as last year.

 

[Wild1]

I could help more if I knew your general location, at least the county. I would wait until the cameras go on sale and buy a few of them. No need to spend more than $100. a piece for each one. When you find pig sign there should also be a game trail, set your camera pointing down the trail, not across it (the animal will pass too quickly and your camera won't be fast enough the catch the image). Lots of brands will work, but for the last few years I have had the best luck with Browning trail cams, before that I used Moultries. Assuming you're in CA., it's gonna be tough going on public land, like near impossible (I've done it a bunch of times, all with a bow), but it can be done. Pigs are found almost every where in the state, but only prolific on private land, again it's possible - all my kills have been on public land, except one. FHL does hold a good population of hogs, so does Lake Sonoma, but I don't know how close you are to those areas. Give us some more information and I can help more.

 

[Tech]

I am from San Jose. Somewhere within 1-3 hours should be fine. Thanks Wild1.

 

[Wild1]

Tech -

You're in luck! South San Jose has wild hogs coming up from the creek and invading neighborhoods - they've been doing it for years. Start your research and scouting!!

 

[JustGuy]

1. FHL closed for the season and most likely indefinitely (when and IF it opens, you are welcome to join me, i like to take n00bs, i'm in San Jose also)
2. You cannot hunt in San Jose, no matter how bad the damage is, they do not allow it. BTW, there are cameras DFW put there and monitor "hunters" activity. I can send you a couple of pictures of the cameras.

http://fhlfmwr.com/outdoorweekly.html

 

[Wild1]

That's not completely accurate. Outside the city limits you can apply for a depredation permit, on private property, and shoot any hog.

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

Great title “ I need a pig”.......lol yeh in San Jose it’s the coyote trail that the pigs travel from Morgan hill up to San Jose and live and invade properties off the trail, me and my wife use to ride the coyote trail every week when we lived in cali and I have posted up pics before of the wild hogs along the trail there. I think u should change your screen name to “ Tech-Hunter” or “Hi-Tech-Hunter”.......tra

 

[JustGuy]

That's not completely accurate. Outside the city limits you can apply for a depredation permit, on private property, and shoot any hog.

Siriously??? It is completely accurate because the pigs you are referring to are in the incorporated areas alongside the Coyote Creek trail which is a park and is under Santa Clara park supervision, but the unincorporated areas where you can apply for permits all private land and you will be lucky if you find someone gives you to "hunt" them for money, let alone for free, AND they are nocturnal there. i guess you are not local but make very strong statement based on some hearsay info.

 

[Wild1]

^^^^^ Who said I was referring to "Coyote Creek.....?" The area I'm referring to has not been mentioned, and it's not hearsay. It doesn't surprise me that YOU haven't killed any, but that doesn't mean someone else can't.

Tech -
I know you can be successful, do not give up! Do a search on this website using user names and it will give you some insight on who to trust, who to learn from and who is full of B.S. Good luck!

 

[canamrider07]

As far as the trail cam. I have a Bushnell Trophy Cam, very clear video and pictures. It might be a little to "sensitive". I like close pictures so I place it low on a tree. Tall grass blowing in the wind, shadows moving across the ground will set it off. I no longer place it out in the direct sun and I knock down any grass, branches, etc., that might move. Other than that the camera works very well. Whatever you end up buying practice in your yard during the day and night. Also, have two sim cards so you can replace the one in the camera and put a new one in to leave the camera out in the field. I have some videos from my trail cam on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh--gbeN2D4gode5lzto3zKVWC2za_FPs

 

[JustGuy]

^^^^^ Who said I was referring to "Coyote Creek.....?" The area I'm referring to has not been mentioned, and it's not hearsay. It doesn't surprise me that YOU haven't killed any, but that doesn't mean someone else can't.

Oh, i forgot, it is been a long time, i do not talk to you with your statements.
Sorry man, forget what i said... You are right, you are always right. My deepest apologies

Oh and BTW, just for your info, i killed pigs all over Santa Clara county with depredation permits, Mostly Morgan Hill and Gilroy, do you call it hunting? Can a n00b to get a depredation permit?
Sorry, i'm done arguing with you and your BS

This one was taken under depredation permit in Santa Clara Co, last night, so, i know what i'm talking about a little bit, right? :rotflmao:
Please note, i NEVER call it hunting. because it is not

 

[Wild1]

Can someone please translate ^^^^^^ I have no idea what this guy wrote.

 

[Wild1]

Hey JustGirl -

I noticed you're not even in he picture If you want to trade pictures of dead pigs I can do that all day long - except I'm in the photo also!

 

[JustGuy]

Yeas, we derty imigrantes do no now ho to speka ingeess, sory mi boza...
I know you try to assault me, i cannot carrey less, it just shows your level of intelligence,
And i guess maybe it is your problem that you cannot understand what others can, what do you think?

What does it prove your picture? That you can hunt in San Jose. Was this pig taken in San Jose?


JFYI,
1. I already do not take pictures of game i take unless it is something special like very small piglet or a huge boar, or at least 4x4 buck. Too many. I guess i kill a little bit more than you do. each year i kill 8-10 on public land and never count how many on private, but let's say on average more than 5 each month, but it is not hunting IMO.
2. i NEVER take nor allow taking pictures of me under no circumstances. I'm hunter, not a bragger... Cannot care less...
3. I hunt alone, so there is NO ONE to take my picture.

Are we done, can we get back to the OP?

To the OP, sorry the Wild1 hijacked your thread, it is common, and i double sorry for allowing him to drug me to this. haven't been to this forum i think for almost 2 years and forgot some juicy details LOL...

Long story short, In San Jose area, in incorporated area there is NO WAY one can get a depredation permit to shoot any animal- pig for the matter (trapping is allowed, but you need to jump through many, many hoops to get a permit, and as much as i remember you cannot kill caught pigs on site, you have to take them somewhere alive and then despatch them, but i might be wrong on some details)
In unincorporated areas where you can shoot them, there is no public land to hunt. Private land is a different story, owners happily shoot pigs themself on the site. Unless you have a friend who owns such land or a friend who has a depredation permit it is virtually impossible to hunt pigs in Santa Clara Co.

 

[Tech]

I definitely don't expect this when I opened this thread.\
Thanks for the contribution both JustGuy and Wild1 :rotflmao:. I think it's fair enough to stop this now.

As a noob anything will help. I'd love to hear tip/trick to locate them. What to look for in general.

 

[Wild1]

Post one picture of yourself with a kill, or least, stop being a troll. Loser.

 

[Wild1]

Still waiting troll. I don't think you've ever killed anything.


All public land.

 

[JustGuy]

I definitely don't expect this when I opened this thread.\
Thanks for the contribution both JustGuy and Wild1 :rotflmao:. I think it's fair enough to stop this now.

As a noob anything will help. I'd love to hear tip/trick to locate them. What to look for in general.

1. Usually areas with rolling hills, they love it
2. Oak trees
3. Water source.
When you find such areas start looking for signs: rooting gives them away - the areas they dig, it looks like someone plowed the ground and wallow in fresh mud.

 

[MariotheBarber]

I’ll tell you guys who’s never killed a pig, me! Id like though. Not too many pigs down here in the southern part of CA, at least in the desert where Im at.

 

[JustGuy]

Tech, i answered your PM.

Mario, the one sure way NOT to kill a pig is to sit on your but.
One thing Wild1 is right (BTW he is also in So CA), public land pigs are super hard to hunt, one needs to put a lot of footwork, patience, time and dedication to find and then to "develop" his hunting spot.
So, get your boots on the ground, and most important, do not wait till someone takes you to the pig, work hurd to get one yourself.
One this i can assure you, after such works when you finally get it it is going to be the sweetest meat you have ever eaten.... or maybe not LOL...

Or just find a guide and butcher one, you for sure will have nice pictures...