Is March good for Lake Sonoma hog chasing?

[ORElkBow]

Planning to make a trip back down to Cal to chase hogs at Lake Sonoma, probably at the end of March. Can anyone tell me if that's a good time of year to chase hogs around?
Hunted there with a buddy in Dec and spotted some hogs but the next day, some heavy fog came down and never lifted up the whole day.
I'm very very new to hog hunting especially with a bow, but will love to just have to experience it all. Anything would well be appreciated.

 

[slainte114]

Sorry for late reply, hope your still listening.

March is fine for hogs. Has more to do with the weather of the day. Too hot=less action during the day.

Fog? I would have thought that would be better! Piggies love cooler temps to stay out later in the morning. If you find fresh rooting, rubs, scat, trails, etc... Stay on 'em. Especially rooting. If it's fresh enough, you can expect them to be back if they've had no pressure while feeding. Cover your scent. Be stealthy. They have not so great eyes, but excellent sense of smell and hearing.

Since your hunting with a bow, you'll need to be extra careful with scent.

But overall, spring is my favorite time for hogs. Next would be late fall, when temps start to drop.

 

[ORElkBow]

Thanks slainte114. I would also believe that fog would be better but the thing is, that was my first time at Lk. Sonoma and I don't know much about that area. You are right though about expecting them to be back. The only thing is there was so much fresh rooting and prints that we didn't know how to setup or where to start, ( I mean lots and lots of signs). We finally found the spot where we spotted the hogs the morning before but I guess they had moved on so we sat there hoping that the fog would lift. We were probably in that spot for 2 1/2 hrs and when we back tracked back to the car, there was hog prints stepping all over our tracks. We followed those tracks, about a 5 to 6 hogs in the group, but then it looked like they scattered and what we saw was a big o cat print chasing the smaller prints. I don't know, I guess it wasn't meant to be or something but I it was fun though.

On the note, I thought elk smells cause I usually can smell elk 100 yds before I see them. But hogs, whooo they leave this odor that stays on your clothing for days, don't they.

Thanks again for the reply.

 

[slainte114]

OOHH yeah! If you end up where you want to be (down wind) you can sometimes smell them before you see or hear them!

One thing I do when I find myself 1 step behind them. Late in the morning, when you would expect them to bed down, you can follow the tracks right back to the beds. Gotta be quiet, so you don't bust 'em before you can see them. Many times I would see them running up hill 75 yards ahead of me if they heard/smelled me comming. But when it works out, you can get closer. These will result in quick shots on moving pigs, so it's more difficult, but can be much more exciting. OR, you could end up cornering one, so be ready! If you think you're ending up in that situation, listen for snapping teeth. They'll do this when they think they can't run away and you're getting too close for comfort for them. Let's you know you're in very close range and pushing them to the limit, but also let's you know where they are!

I found that a lot of older hogs have seemed to learn to bed down with a rock face or cliff wall behind them so they only have to watch downhill and in front of them. This makes it easier to locate them, but puts them in a no win situation and they might bolt at the most dangerous time for you.

They are known to charge, but I personally believe that most "charges" are nothing more than the panicked hog running full speed in the direction it was facing. If you hunt "on trail" this puts you in their path. I stalk a few feet off trail to give me that extra couple seconds to either shoot or move laterally to avoid a strike. Hogs can't turn on a dime, so this can save your shins.

By the way, I switched from a bolt gun, to a short lever gun for hogs. I like to get close. Even crawled through chapparell several times to find 'em! Fun, fun, fun. Shorter, faster carbines might hold an edge for hunting the scrub like this. If you are going to stick to setting up and waiting for them, might stick with a bolt gun. Just a thought.

 

[ORElkBow]

Thanks for the hints and thoughts. Yea I still hunt with a gun but only for smaller games and birds. Ever since I've got into archery and shot few animals with it, I've been stuck on it. I just love that "shwoop bop" sound too much to go back to rifle.

Plus my life goal is to have one of each big game under my belt with a bow.

Have you ever hunted Lk. Sonoma before?

I found this pretty good size water hole, or wallow along this cliff and pigs seem to use it a lot, more probably during spring or summer. I was thinkin about setting up my ground blind and wait the whole day to see if anything would show up. What do they feed on in the spring anyways? I know that during Dec. under all the big acorn trees were just torn up. I don't really know what they feed on during that time cause isn't Cali pretty hot in March?

By the way, you've got guts. I give you props for crawling through those chapparell. Me, I would hike the steepest hill there is and walk the longest trail there is, but I don't think I have the guts to crawl into those scrubs.

 

[slainte114]

You know what? I forgot you said you were using a bow! Didn't mean to suggest you switch to a rifle.

No, I've never hunted Lake Sonoma. Wouldn't mind though. Is it public land? I can't get myself to pay to hunt hogs. That's part of the reason for my "guts." When you hunt public land that gets lots of pressure, you find yourself resorting to all sorts of tactics. Once I got fed up and started bringing the fight to 'em so to speak, I got hooked on the excitement of it.

As for temps in March. Well, that's right about the time when the weather does whatever the hell it wants around here. Could be quite cold and rainy still. And could have 75 degree plus days. You really never know. I try to check the weather daily for about 3 weeks before I go out. Just kinda gives you an impression of what the weather is doing. Could still change overnight though.

As for right now? I'm typing this listening to raging wind and thunderstorms right after being told this is the worst drought ever! Too bad the "greenies" won't let us build resevoirs to hold all this!

 

[ORElkBow]

Lk. Sonoma is public. All you need is to register at the visitor center to hunt. It's a pretty nice park for all sorts of outdoor activities. I hope my March plans don't get interrupted though. I really do want to come back down there for another chance of just to at least spot some hogs. Never know, maybe I might even hear the "Swoop Bop" sound from my bow.

You should check Lk. Sonoma out sometimes. It's all archery only but I do believe Feb. is the only month they open for shotgun also.

 

[slainte114]

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to borrow a bow though, if I buy one more weapon, my wife's gonna pack up! And it'll probably be my crap she packs! :lol bashing sign:

 

[ORElkBow]

Thanks for the replies. Hopefully I might see you out there one day. That's if the economy gets better and I still have the cash to come down there. Yea same situation here, I'm on my 5th bow now and still wanting to get the newer versions but my wife might just pack up also.

 

[bodega]

Check the calendar before you come down. They do close it to hog hunting if there is a special hunt, like a youth turkey hunt going on. The calendar is linked to the general hog hunting forum.

 

[ORElkBow]

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to check that out pretty soon here then.

 

[shokatsu]

Just saw this thread. Did you get to Lake Sanoma yet? I have always wanted to try to bow hunt there but heard it was crowded. would love to hear if ya got a piggy.

 

[ORElkBow]

Shokatsu,

Haven't got there yet. Suppose to be there this month on the 25th until the 29th but now I have to attend a wedding so I mite just have to call it off.

But you should check LS out. There's not much crowd there if you hunt during the archery only season I believe. It's just during the shotgun month that I hear crowds of numbers. If only I live down there, I would probably hit it every weekend.