I was researching public areas (all I can afford) and I noticed Los Banos Wildllife Area is open all year long as opposed to Cottonwood Creek which is closed January through July. This is the area to the left of Dinosuar Point Rd and is one and a half hours from my house, I live in Santa Cruz. Has anyone here been there and do you have any good advice? I know it is shotgun and archery only and I plan to bowhunt. Thanks, Bob.
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I could be wrong but I believe the area you are thinking of is the San Luis Wildlife Area. That area and Lower Cottonwood are shotgun/archery only. Upper Cottonwood allows rifle. I believe Lower Cottonwood and San Luis Wildlife areas are both open year round. I have seen deer in all of these areas but I have only seen pigs in Upper Cottonwood. I have not been to the area much so the only way to be sure is to get out there and scout around. Timing plays a big part in it there. Make sure to stay within the boundaries. Good luck to you.
Not much help but ... I went there the first time i started hunting, 2 years ago, and saw some large boar tracks and some rooting. However, this sign was way in there and lack of rooting sign and actual (sp?) hunting space has made me not return since,compared to the drive. Glassing was tuff due to the fog (seasonal?). I do want to go back right now b/c I like you want a hog on pay free land but, but I have gone up north to Lake S. ever since and have spotted zero hogs. Hope its all the wet weather and time of year I go and not me, anyway good luck to ya.
Metdawg44
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Los Banos Wildlife Area is a waterfowl hunting area north of Los Banos. I don't know of another area besides Upper Cottonwood Creek near San Luis Resevour. I've hunted upper Cottnwood Creek and there are some pigs that move in and out of the area from time to time. Problem is that if you kill a pig it's a hump to get it out of there. I once watched 2 guys from the parking lot try to drag a 300+ pound boar up the ravine that runs to the right of the parking lot. These guys would drag it 5-10 feet and then have to rest for 5 minutes at a time. It probably took them 5 hours to get that hog into their truck.
I got the name wrong, it is the San Luis Reservior Wildlife Area. It is to the left of Dinosaur Point Rd. as you go down to the boat launch area south of the Hwy 152. I found F&G info that says it is open all year long. I know Upper Cottonwood Creek is closed down January through July, but how about Lower Cottonwood Creek? Does anyone know if it has a season or is it all year long? Thanks, Bob.
Metdawg44
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Bob,
I don't know for sure but I don't think that the plaace you mentioned has much in the way of hunting. There is just not many places that have good hog hunting on public land. Fort Hunter-Liggett is fair but gets hunted hard. Any public place that holds pigs will no doubt be a hump to get to, and no vehicle access. If you got the $$, pay the money to get on private land. It will save you a lot of time and hard work. The cost to take a pig on a private ranch runs $400-$500 . Good luck.
I don't know for sure but I don't think that the plaace you mentioned has much in the way of hunting. There is just not many places that have good hog hunting on public land. Fort Hunter-Liggett is fair but gets hunted hard. Any public place that holds pigs will no doubt be a hump to get to, and no vehicle access. If you got the $$, pay the money to get on private land. It will save you a lot of time and hard work. The cost to take a pig on a private ranch runs $400-$500 . Good luck.
I was in the area your refferring to and it boundries on the west end of the resevoir. Pretty much just up and down. I went in through a cove in my boat and then hicked all around the waters edge looking for sign. Found zero not even old stuff. I decided to hike up a ridge that led from the cove up to the parking area where the entry board is posted. Found the same thing in the way of absolutely no sign at all. I think any luck here would be late summer early fall when all the water is dried up except for the resevoir and theres a good chance to catch hogs down there watering at daybreak.
