Lake Sonoma Hunt

[jb229]

I have a boat but no motor, so my question is im going up to lake sonoma on friday. Are there any good areas to walk near the check in station, or can you access the area by driving after you check in. Are there any areas off of skaggs road where you can get into the park. thanks for any info.

 

[Arrowslinger]

Hey, shoot PIGIG an e-mail...he's the Lake Sonoma Guru. Good luck up there.

 

[Kentuck]

you might want to check in at the HQ office and drive around and up to the Yorty Creek day use area if your boat isn't on a trailer. That will put you in some good hunting areas without having to paddle far.

 

[Mel Carter]

Is anyone going to the Lake during the week after Xmas? I'm off for 2 weeks, and I'm thinking of heading over there on the 27th, 28th or 29th, any takers?

 

[Kentuck]

I'll be up at Lake Sonoma this Friday, Sat. and Sunday with a couple of friends.

Mel,

I'm not sure if I could do the 27th or 28th but the 30th might be possible. Let me know.

Kentuck

 

[dogboy925]

I might be avail and do have access to a small boat.

 

[Backcountry]

Originally posted by dogboy925@Dec 15 2004, 01:51 PM
I might be avail and do have access to a small boat.

Hey dogboy925,

Welcome to JHO... I saw your posting on Craigslist... a couple years ago, that's how I ended up here too.

Lake Sonoma is an archery-only area... do you have a bow? I'm planning to head up one day next week (not sure yet which day), and also after Xmas (dang, lest I offend anyone, I mean "Christmas").

Everybody else, the best way to find out where the pigs are now is to call Ranger Joel and ask him... he'll give you the most up to date info that he can.

Good luck this weekend Kentuck!!!

Backcountry

 

[Justin Carter]

at sanoma a boat is really usefull the walk in area i dont think is to big you have a better chance in a boat i know when me my dad and kentuck went if we didnt have a boat we would have seen as many pigs as we did but who nows you may get lucky

justin

 

[SierraExplorer]

Justin-

If you are not on Christmas Vacation- then it is way past your bed time and I do not want your dad to come home and give you a

I am not your parent- but I wish you not to get school detention.

(sorry Mel

)

 

[Mel Carter]

Oh, looks like Justin got caught

Actually, I knew he was out, he and my girlfriend were doing some late night shopping, he didn't want her out late walking around at night by herself, so he was her body guard for a while.

He has finals this week, so his hours are a little different then normal.

 

[ooja]

Do you have to win a lottery, or register or do anything special to hunt pigs in this area? If you have a boat, are you allowed to beach it to access areas that you cannot otherwise get to? Is there camping available? Are there campsites that are good for trailers? How is the fishing? Has anyone from this site ever made a kill there? Thanks for any information. If this sounds good, I have a great aluminum centerconsole I take out on the ocean that can haul lots of hunters and pigs/gear. I would be willing to go with a few guys, and have a trailer I can camp in so I could be there for a few days depending on time of year. I will have xmas vacation off and spring break. I am a high school teacher, so I have lots of holidays off, and hunt with both bow and rifle. As this is an archery only area I will be using the bow of course. Please give me any info or pm me if you wish to keep it confidential.

 

[Kentuck]

ooja

Yes you can beach the boat to hunt. In fact one of the rules is no shooting within 100 yards of the boat. There is also a campground there as well as several boat-in campsites. Not sure as how successfull the hunts are going but it might be a good chance at a pig. Fishing is good there too. The bass fishing is good during warm months (I don't bass fish in cold water) and they a have trout and land-locked steelhead there.

I'll be up there about noon Friday and will be hunting through Sunday.

Kentuck

 

[Little Woman]

Hi ib229 & ooja
Pigig has all the info on Lake Sonma on his web site. www.calfly.com
Including the reg papers you can download.
If there is any thing else, just drop him an e-mail and he will respond tonight when he gets home.
Little Woman

 

[SierraExplorer]

Kentuck-


GOOD LUCK !! and have a fun and safe trip !!

 

[Rangerjoel]

Good morning folks,
I just got back form the visitor center and had a look at the envelope that the staff keeps the completed hunter registration card in. IT’S BURSTING AT THE SEAMS!!! (Wooh-woo, job security

) Looks like at least six pigs have been taken in the past 3 weeks and judging by all of the trucks I’m seeing in the parking lot’s it looks like a lot more folks are getting a chance to come out. Hope things are going well out there.

PS, just got our first lost hunter of the season last week. He had his cell phone on him and was able to call for help so it was more or less a “self rescue”. It served as a good reminder to take a cell phone with you. Those things are lifesavers!
I currently must have bad Mojo or something because I haven't seen a pig in two weeks, yet everyone else seems to be finding them.

Joel

 

[PIGIG]

Originally posted by Rangerjoel@Dec 18 2004, 08:14 AM
Good morning folks,
I just got back form the visitor center and had a look at the envelope that the staff keeps the completed hunter registration card in. IT’S BURSTING AT THE SEAMS!!! (Wooh-woo, job security

) Looks like at least six pigs have been taken in the past 3 weeks and judging by all of the trucks I’m seeing in the parking lot’s it looks like a lot more folks are getting a chance to come out. Hope things are going well out there.

PS, just got our first lost hunter of the season last week. He had his cell phone on him and was able to call for help so it was more or less a “self rescue”. It served as a good reminder to take a cell phone with you. Those things are lifesavers!
I currently must have bad Mojo or something because I haven't seen a pig in two weeks, yet everyone else seems to be finding them.

Joel

i knew the extended days would bring people out

glad to hear we are making a differnce. where were the last pigs taken form??

 

[Rangerjoel]

The guys I have been talking with say the area out past smith creek is currently active (that’s out on the dry creek arm of the lake near the floating restroom)
I’m heading out into the park now with a chainsaw to take care of some downed trees near rattlesnake island I so the hunting probably wont be that good there today. There is lots of rooting going on out by Island View campground. Going thru that area yesterday, I noticed that there are a few locations in those canyons that hold pockets of warm air. If I were a pig, I’d probably bed down there. (First place to warm up in the morning).
Joel

 

[Rangerjoel]

Pig Hunting Success Rate for January 2005

Total number of hunters: 266
Total number of male pigs taken: 7
Total number of female pigs taken 5
Success rate: %4.5

Ranger Joel Miller

 

[Backcountry]

Thanks for the update Ranger Joel! Sucess rate is creeping up so people must be learning the terrain.

Two more months everybody, then its closed for until October'ish...

Joel, any chatter about getting the season to open the weekend after labor day in September instead of October. That would be a great chance for those of us who have worked hard to find springs and wallows to sit up on them and let the pigs come to us.

Backcountry

Note-to-self - get back to Lake Sonoma soon!