Soccer Dad
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Has anybody been to the Lake Sonoma hunts?
Have you seen pigs there?
Have you seen pigs there?
- Thread starter Soccer Dad
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FRISCOHNTR
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I HUNT AN AREA DIRECTLY ABOVE THE LAKE, OFF SKAGGS SPRINGS ROAD. THERE ARE PLENTY OF PIGS IN THE AREA, THE HOGS ON THE RANCH I HUNT SEEM TO BE FAIRLY CONSISTENT IN THIER PATTERNS. HOWEVER DUE TO THEIR NOMADIC WAYS IT WOULD BE HIGHLY BENEFICIAL TO SCOUT THE AREA BEFORE THE ACTUAL HUNT DAY JUST TO FIND AN AREA THEY HAVE BEEN FREQUENTING. I HUNTED THE SONOMA PIG HUNT ABOUT 7 YEARS AGO IN THE YORTY/CHERRY CREEK AREA AND USED MY BOAT FOR ACCESS. I WAS SUCCESSFUL (MY PARTNER WAS TOO) BUT THE HUNTERS THAT HUNTED ON FOOT FROM THE LOTS SEEMED TO HAVE A TOUGHER TIME LOCATING THE HOGS PROBALY DUE TO THE PRESSURE FROM PREVIOUS WEEKENDS.
DUE TO THERE NOT BEING ANY "CROPS" LIKE THE CENTRAL REGION THE PIGS WILL STROLL AROUND THE AREA. DURING THIS RAINY SEASON I LIKE TO LOOK IN THE OPEN AREAS SURROUNDED BY BUCK BRUSH AND "CHEMISY" TYPE COVER. THE PIGS GO CRAZY FOR THE FRESH MUSHROOMS THAT GROW THERE; AND THE THICK COVER GIVES THEM A SENSE OF SECURITY.
IF YOU CANT' SCOUT AND HAVE ACCESS TO A BOAT I WOULD CRUISE THE SHORELINE AND GLASS THE SURROUNDING HILLS FOR FRESH ROOT; EASIER THEN IT SOUNDS. I WOULD THEN HIKE UP (ITS STEEP COUNTRY) AND FOLLOW THE USUALLY PRETTY DISTINCT TRAIL FROM THE ROOTING TO THE BEDDING AREAS.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BOAT -MAKE FRIENDS WITH SOMEONE THAT DOES!!! JUST KIDDING ITS A LOT TOUGHER TO STILL HUNT THE HOGS BUT IF YOU CAN KEEP THE WIND IN YOUR FACE (ITS USUALLY SOUTH BLOWING THERE IN THE MORNING) YOU CAN CERTAINLY GET LUCKY. GOOD LUCK TO YOU..
DUE TO THERE NOT BEING ANY "CROPS" LIKE THE CENTRAL REGION THE PIGS WILL STROLL AROUND THE AREA. DURING THIS RAINY SEASON I LIKE TO LOOK IN THE OPEN AREAS SURROUNDED BY BUCK BRUSH AND "CHEMISY" TYPE COVER. THE PIGS GO CRAZY FOR THE FRESH MUSHROOMS THAT GROW THERE; AND THE THICK COVER GIVES THEM A SENSE OF SECURITY.
IF YOU CANT' SCOUT AND HAVE ACCESS TO A BOAT I WOULD CRUISE THE SHORELINE AND GLASS THE SURROUNDING HILLS FOR FRESH ROOT; EASIER THEN IT SOUNDS. I WOULD THEN HIKE UP (ITS STEEP COUNTRY) AND FOLLOW THE USUALLY PRETTY DISTINCT TRAIL FROM THE ROOTING TO THE BEDDING AREAS.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BOAT -MAKE FRIENDS WITH SOMEONE THAT DOES!!! JUST KIDDING ITS A LOT TOUGHER TO STILL HUNT THE HOGS BUT IF YOU CAN KEEP THE WIND IN YOUR FACE (ITS USUALLY SOUTH BLOWING THERE IN THE MORNING) YOU CAN CERTAINLY GET LUCKY. GOOD LUCK TO YOU..
GottaGoHoggin
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Fricso i do have my own boat and im real interested in scouting and hunting lake sonoma can you contact em so we can talk about it or you can give me tips o that area?
Soccer Dad
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Friscohntr is that an offer?
FRISCOHNTR
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MAYBE SOCCER DAD. EMAIL ME AND WE WILL SORT OUT A A FEW DETAILS.
Soccer Dad
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Friscohntr, I appreciate the offer. I would have contacted you but a buddy stepped at the last week with a boat. It was my first Hog hunt and I was there to get an education. It was last Weds the 20th. Talk about your beginner's luck! I got a 120lb sow at about 10:00AM. Just plain lucky! Somebody scared a group of six right to me. I shot at about 50 yards and the pig still ran another 35 yards before dropping dead. So much for hunting skill, just be in the right place at the right time.....
Cleaning was much easier than I expected. I have only bird hunted prior to this and it was my first mammal.
I loved the hiking and attempts at stalking them. My buddy did not get a shot but we did move a couple as we tried to push them out of some thick stuff. Unfortunately the ambush was about 40 yards off and too thick to see where they actually crossed.
About the boat thing. It is an absolute must on that hunt. If you are walking you can forget it. The hiking was up and down steep terrain. I'm looking forward to pig hunting in the future, now to find land to hunt on....
Cleaning was much easier than I expected. I have only bird hunted prior to this and it was my first mammal.
I loved the hiking and attempts at stalking them. My buddy did not get a shot but we did move a couple as we tried to push them out of some thick stuff. Unfortunately the ambush was about 40 yards off and too thick to see where they actually crossed.
About the boat thing. It is an absolute must on that hunt. If you are walking you can forget it. The hiking was up and down steep terrain. I'm looking forward to pig hunting in the future, now to find land to hunt on....
Speckmisser
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Is this a limited entry area, or can you go in any time? I have heard about special Lake Sonoma hunts, but hadn't really followed up.
Soccer Dad, sounds like you had a great AND productive hunt. Glad you got some pork.
Soccer Dad, sounds like you had a great AND productive hunt. Glad you got some pork.
Soccer Dad
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Yes, it is a limited draw. The drawing was months ago.
It seemed like a good thing that it is limited. Wildlife was abundant there. We saw plenty of deer and heard plenty of gobbles. I know the turkey hunts are limited and I believe they have limited deer hunting. What really got my heart pumping was the coveys of quail I busted up. I would really like to quail hunt there.
It seemed like a good thing that it is limited. Wildlife was abundant there. We saw plenty of deer and heard plenty of gobbles. I know the turkey hunts are limited and I believe they have limited deer hunting. What really got my heart pumping was the coveys of quail I busted up. I would really like to quail hunt there.
