Jumping in

[bpenn]

Driving up to the monument early (really really early) tomorrow and am going to be looking for piggies. Not expecting much, but I will be in the northern area south of the 58 in the plains. I know of a couple springs up there, so maybe!? Going after quail probly during the middle part of the day...

I couldnt get a Los Padres Nat'l Forest map, but La Panza is only a few miles further and looks like better country. Anyone think going into Los Padres off Redhill Road would be worthwhile or are there any issues I should know about if we head over there?

Brad

 

[gatorfan]

I don't know the area but I thought that Los Padres NF was closed also.

 

[easymoney]

The LPNF is closed to all entry but the CPNM should be open as it is BLM land.
Good luck...

 

[bpenn]

Ok, so here's a few pics of our adventure! Couple questions though...

Pic 1 - Anyone got a clue what this dung is from? It looks like it is almost all made of Juniper berries.

Pic 2 - What the heck are these things all over the place and why isnt anything eating them?

Pic 3 - Does this look like pig habitat? There is a spring with a lot of water 20 yards away.


Saw a cow elk, she jumped US at about 50 yards somehow. Saw a few coyotes and no piggies. Nice day though.

 

[Rancho Loco]

#1 Coyote
#2 Coyote melon
#3 Look for sign! Wallowing: Bathtub smooth impressions on the bank, and tracks in the mud. Also look for muddy rubs on trees and especially fence posts close by. You can usually find hair stuck in the mud and bark. And if the mud is still wet, you've done good.

 

[bpenn]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rancho Loco @ Nov 3 2007, 09:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

#1 Coyote
#2 Coyote melon
#3 Look for sign! Wallowing: Bathtub smooth impressions on the bank, and tracks in the mud. Also look for muddy rubs on trees and especially fence posts close by. You can usually find hair stuck in the mud and bark. And if the mud is still wet, you've done good.[/b]

Thanks Loco. Thought it was coyote, but I've only ever seen coyote dung as the black stuff with fur etc in it.
Yeah, no pigs recently in this particular area. Some rubbing on the trees, but I think its too high for pigs and there were no wallows.

 

[EvBouret]

Ive explored around there a few times. Mainly Black Mountain area...get in the thick stuff, I would see way more sign while I was crawling than any other time

 

[bjake21]

Thanks for the report bpenn. I hunt the Carrizo & sometimes the LPNF in that area a lot for Quail, rabbits, pig and deer. I've talked to a lot of the DFG employees and biologists and this year has been really poor for pigs due to the lack of rain but every now and then they get some. Have any luck with the quail? They say there was zero hatch out there this year. I saw some of the pronghorns out there a couple months back, really cool to see.

 

[bpenn]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bjake21 @ Nov 7 2007, 01:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Thanks for the report bpenn. I hunt the Carrizo & sometimes the LPNF in that area a lot for Quail, rabbits, pig and deer. I've talked to a lot of the DFG employees and biologists and this year has been really poor for pigs due to the lack of rain but every now and then they get some. Have any luck with the quail? They say there was zero hatch out there this year. I saw some of the pronghorns out there a couple months back, really cool to see.[/b]

Hey bjake,
Didnt see any sign out there at all even with the overflowing springs and plenty of mud, so I imagine it must be a lack of food and cover. The DFG contact I spoke to directed me here over the South Chimineas unit for pigs, so I was hopeful. Maybe at a different time of year...

I got two quail on the opener, but didnt have any time to go after em this last weekend. Lots of em out there, dove too.

Yeah, when I was out there about 6 weeks ago I saw about two dozen pronghorn and two seperate herds of about 25 with a mature male each. Pretty cool. The elk i ran into this weekend was real close. Big big animals!

 

[bjake21]

It sounds like you're hunting the same area I do when I look for pigs. If you're ever looking for a hunting partner out that way drop me an email, I try to get out there as often as I can.

 

[bpenn]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bjake21 @ Nov 8 2007, 01:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

It sounds like you're hunting the same area I do when I look for pigs. If you're ever looking for a hunting partner out that way drop me an email, I try to get out there as often as I can.

[/b]

Sounds like a plan. I'm way down south in LA, but make the trek enough. I was also thinking of the area north &/or east of Lake Cachuma as well. Ever hunt way up north at Hunter-Liggett? Pretty cheap and seems like higher success, if there is such a thing on public land, haha


take care,
Brad

 

[bjake21]

Brad - sent you an email.

I hunt Hunter Ligget and Camp Roberts a lot, much better success rates then Carrizo and the LPNF, there's always pigs being taken out of there. I was actually headed up to the LPNF tomorrow morning for some quail but I just realized I have a meeting in the AM. I already requested the day off so we'll see what happens.....Good luck getting after those pigs!