La Panza Hunt

[EvBouret]

I went out to La Panza to go look for hogs yesterday. Put about 7 miles on the GPS and found some promising areas. Turns out after all the hiking, I ended up like a mile from the nearest road, but had to hike all the way back to get to my car. I took some pictures, hope you guys enjoy.

This trip resulted in the only hog sign I've seen in California. I'll be back out there again and again looking for those hogs.

 

[EvBouret]

The rooting I found, It was from after the last big rain because It hadn't been flattened out by the downpour.

 

[EvBouret]

Wasnt too sure whether this was hog rootings or not, but it looked close enough

 

[Cda55]

EV, right at the blacktop(58) on the North end of LaPanza, dive off the west side. There is a water hole at the bottom. It's always tore up with sign but I've never caught a hog there. I've heard they come off the private ground just North of there.

 

[bjake21]

Ev - I was in Carrizo this weekend and talked to a DFG who pointed out some areas of the Carrizo not too far from La Panza. Hopefully I'll be out there next weekend and put some miles on the mountain bike. He said they get pigs out of that area especially in the upcoming months. That's awesome that you saw one out there, they are pretty tough to find in the LPNF. Good luck.

 

[EvBouret]

bjake if you need a biking partner im down for a ride...i think you misread me, I didn't actually see one, only some pretty fresh sign. Do you carry your rifle when you go biking? If so, how?

 

[bjake21]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

This trip resulted in the only hog sign I've seen in California[/b]

Yup, didn't read the "sign" the first time.

I will be carrying my rifle on this trip. I haven't done it with the rifle yet but after all the hiking we did this weekend I am going to try the bike to cover a lot of ground. I'll use a strap and a hip pack but I may try to use my backpack if can get my strap over that. The problem is getting out of there with a pig, if I had ran in to that kind of luck. But a trip back to the truck on a bike to swap out for a backpack is easier than on foot.

If you want to meet up shoot me an email. I might be meeting a couple guys for bird hunt on Sunday but I am going to be alone after pigs on Saturday.

 

[crittergetter]

Look towards Fernandez creek in the LaPanza. I assume you have a map. Go Right, (west) at the bottom of the hill. (First right about 1-2miles in from 58.) You should see alot of sign toward the end if you cover some ground on foot. I always have when I go north (toward 58) of the dirts road.

For the carrizo: Try the water hole between the KCL lot and Caliente Mountain range. Even Better is if you bring your bike and ride into the Washburn. You can get to the washburn by hiking west from the KCL lot too. Better when it is dry out but they pass though there. You might have content with quail hunters on the weekend.

Also try behind the painted rock were flat meats slope and in a 1/2 mile or so.

There are a few other spots East of the KCL several miles including a waterhole. Just keep taking roads. Beware that those roads son't take much rain to get snotty. I have been close to spending the night more than once when I didn't plan on it.

As for the bike. I have a spot that is somewhere out there I have brought out many pigs on bike/piggy back. It is nice because there is a slight grade all the way out. so little peddaling is required. But... if you choose your animal carfully it is no problem to feild dress and then lash onto your bike. Put the pig on so the seat is inside the body cavity, tie it on good, and pettal like hell. Be sure your tiers are aired up right although airing down in the soft stuff is sometimes better. A hundred pounder or less in no problem. Eventually I bought a bike trailer for kids and use it now but I have some pretty fond memories of piggy backing out.

There is plenty to look at around the Selby too.

If you don't have a map get one. These are all off the Caliente Range.

For anybody that hunts out there that reads this and thinks I'm giving up your spot. Sorry, but its all been blown before this anyway. Those places are no secret these days. I do happen to know a little place I like to call my honey hole is though. It is on the hill with the Junipers on it.

Good luck ev & bj post up if you go.

Oh ya.. if you get up high keep a look out for chuckar.

 

[baboltin]

keep on keeping on...haha.

 

[bjake21]

Looks like rain tomorrow, I'll be checking the weather all night and morning, hopefully it won't be too bad.

 

[bjake21]

Well got out there Saturday morning and it was pouring on the way out. About a mile before my trailhead I saw a herd of elk feeding in the rain. I left my bike in the truck because I figured it would be slick out there. About 15 minutes in to my hike it stopped raining and hardly rained the rest of the day. I covered a lot of ground with plenty of elk and dear sign but didn't see any. I saw 200-300 quail though. Saw what I thought was pig scat and tracks but couldn't be sure. After a long day of hiking heading back to the truck I saw some little black spots by an old truck that I pass on the way in. They were very far off and I practically ran the last couple miles to find out that they were sheep or goats across the road on private property, the truck I thought they were by was a couple of hills closer.

After a long day of hiking I took the mountain bike out on another trailhead since it didn't get to wet out there and found a couple of areas I'd like to check out next time about 7 miles out.

just another typical day pig hunting on CA public land.

 

[EvBouret]

I went out saturday as well...left my car at about 7 in the morning and didnt get back until just before dark. Called in and shot my first coyote, wasn't a pretty sight. A 180gr bullet flying out of a 30-06 will absolutely destroy coyote brains. Made a 250yrd (Estimated with GPS) downhill shot, hit him in his right ear exited out the back of his head. I'm about to post the whole story on the varmint board.

Didn't see any hogs, or any good hog sign. I pushed a lot of area too. Was mainly in Fernandez crk area, pushing up the open areas on both sides (Black mntn and the hill on the other side). Got some pics but It'll be a while until I get them up.

I got hailed on twice, and it pretty much rained on and off until about 1 or 2.

 

[larrysogla]

I have been going to Fernandez Creek for several years now and I have not seen boar tracks on the muddy banks of Fernandez Pond???(Reservoir????) at anytime of any of my visits. I have seen packs of huge wild horses skittishly drinking from the reservoir at sundown and deer too, but no wild boar sightings or tracks even. I guess that spot is already well known throughout the area and is visited regularly by the local hunters and spooks the wild boar with the vehicle traffic on the access road or the smell of human hunters. Probably better chances in Hunter Ligget or Camp Roberts. I talked to a ranger at Pozo and he intimated that it is very slim the chances of sighting a wild boar in that hilly/mountainous area. The hogs tend to prefer the neighboring ranches for security I guess. That reservoir/pond though would probably be boar productive if it was not accessible by vehicle. As it is lots of vehicle traffic especially on weekends. 'Nuff said.

 

[easymoney]

larrysogla, You had a very typical experience out there. This whole area gets pounded hard by all types of hunters and OHV users. The pigs and deer use the thick brush as cover and are mainly nocturnal. They feed out on the private property at night in the open, then bed down in the thickest stuff as soon as the sun comes above the horizon. Before the rains you can score near the few water holes, but after it rains the pigs have access to water everywhere and won't leave the ranches. And be careful of the private property around the ponds near the road, they are off limits just like the Redwind Indian lands...
The few sightings around LaPanza and KCL in the Carrizo are just that FEW. You will have to be very lucky to just see pigs...
crittergitter has made some good points and like he says, pay special attention to the weather and roads as it can get nasty and is a long way from any help. Tow trucks will not leave the pavement...
I have hunted this whole area hard for around 30 years and yes I have taken pigs out of these all areas but it was never easy, and the word is definately out now, so expect alot of company.
Your best bets will be at Camp Bob or FHL, because they limit the amount of hunters and the amount of hunting time you can access the bases. That equals more rested animals and less competition... Good luck.

 

[crittergetter]

I'm surprised to hear not much sign at Fernandez.

If you want an adventure take your bike behind the Washburn. Even when I didn't fill a tag I always had plenty to look at.

I agree on Hunter Liggett. You have sometype of better chance and likely an easier extraction if you do get lucky.

Don't get discouraged with the plains. They are there. I'd say I have seen pigs 1/6 in a couple certain areas durring winter months. You just have to put in your dues and then some. Luck helps too.

 

[EvBouret]

heres a view from my last hunt...i shot the coyote at the start of the chaparral by the big pine

 

[easymoney]

Great photo. Sure is nice this time of year...

 

[larrysogla]

Awesome scenery!!!!! Wonner'ful pic!!!! 'Nuff said.

 

[theraminman8]

That looks like some beutiful country out there. A couple years ago an old hog hunter told me that the la panza area has a decent number of pigs running around out there but I never went to check it out. I'm going to be in california for about a week in march and now im thinking about goin there and checking it out. I was wondering if any of you guys could tell me how to get there coming from southern california and if any special land permits or anything is required to hunt the land. From reading the posts on the hog section, it looks like getting a california hog could be way more rewarding than shooting one out of a deer blind in texas. Awsome forum you got here and good hunting to everyone.

 

[EvBouret]

101 North through San Luis Obispo, go over Cuesta Grade and get off on the Santa Margarita exit. Take a right on the 58 right after the actual town of santa margarita and drive until you see the camatta ranch, right after the sign theres some mail boxes on your right and a dirt road that should be marked...have fun!!!