Los Padres, just got back

[hifi55]

After my very first hunting trip a couple weekends back with the JHO crew at Tejon (archery), I have been itching to get back in the field! Trying to work out some trips in the upcoming months but unexpectedly I got 3 days off in the middle of this week and decided to head to the Pozo/La Panza area in the Los Padres National Forest. I had just received my newly purchased Remington 700 sps 30-06 (in prep for the May JHO Hunt!) and decided that since the chances of even seeing a pig were slim to none, I'd better take the rifle with me... of course the bow came too just in case I found a perfect road-side opportunity

Without even getting a chance to sight in yet, I was off...

Well, after driving all over the area to get my bearings - and sighting in the rifle (note to self: Don't put your EYE too close to the SCOPE! especially when shooting 180gr bullets!), I ended up finding a pretty nice area of fresh pig activity and worked that hard, with over 6 miles and 1500 vertical feet hiked. My new truck sure got broken in hard as well

2 awesome nights alone in the woods and 2 days soaking it all in, it was a nice trip... and.. I even saw pigs! A nice group of 10 with what looked like 2 decent-sized boars. First evening they made their way (quickly!) from a ridge on public land, down to a spring, under a fence and into a darned private ranch. Watched them till dark hoping they'd move back to the 'right' side of the fence but they were content where they were. 2nd night I worked an adjacent area and ended up finding a warm trail with fresh tracks and pig pee, got all excited, and started charging after them in the heavy brush, with only a couple minutes left of shooting light... well, the wind was shifting around alot, and before I even saw "them" I busted 'em... saw nothing, heard a huff, squeel and crashing brush, about 50 yards away... Game over.

Anyhow it was a success for me, got to learn a lot and as a bonus saw a load of sign and came close to pigs twice. Didn't expect to even see sign or see a pig but I guess as has been recommended here on JHO, it pays to hike off the beaten path and avoid weekends

Didn't see another soul or hear an OHV the entire time I was there, except for one other hunter on an arctic cat... he'd seen another group of 8 a couple nights before

Next stop: Tejon, Choppers or Bryson. Hmm... I'm ready to fill the freezer this time!

 

[MJB]

To even see pigs from a distance up there is a challenge. Sounds like you need to go back.

Good luck

 

[Huntr Pat]

Good try I thought I hunted almost everywhere but I guess I didn't. Sounds like a great successful time in the woods. When spent alone. Good job if you ever need company and a extra hand, let me know. Thanks for sharing this with us.

 

[ksberry209]

Were you in Santa barbara county or were you in the norther forest around FHL?

 

[EvBouret]

I hit up the Panza/Pozo area three times while I was in California and the freshest pig sign I saw was about a 3 week old rooting. Never saw any pigs, saw a few does in the chapparel by Black Mntn. Congrats on a half success on CA public land.

 

[cam188]

Though about heading up that way myself one day. Congrats on the sightings.

 

[hifi55]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (EvBouret @ Mar 7 2008, 11:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I hit up the Panza/Pozo area three times while I was in California and the freshest pig sign I saw was about a 3 week old rooting. Never saw any pigs, saw a few does in the chapparel by Black Mntn. Congrats on a half success on CA public land.[/b]

I've read your posts about your trips up there, it gave me an idea of where to look (thanks!). I'm real new to this so I was second guessing myself about how fresh rooting or tracks really were, but after a while it got easier to tell (especially when I saw new rooting and tracks where there were none the night before!). There was sign of all kinds, some ancient, some fresh, some in between. Even saw my first wallows/tree rubs (old) and tusk gouges (fresh!).

Perhaps this time of year, the recent rains after a dry winter, lower hunting pressure, etc. have made the hogs more active. I probably won't be heading back there for a while (its a LONG drive for a crapshoot). Hopefully another JHO'er will get lucky up there. My mission was to pay some dues and learn some things, so that was a total success. But I'm ready to increase my chances significantly, and maximize the rare days off I have, so that sort of rules public land out.

Thanks Evan and everyone else for sharing your experiences which have really helped this rookie.

 

[hifi55]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ksberry209 @ Mar 7 2008, 11:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Were you in Santa barbara county or were you in the norther forest around FHL?[/b]

In between... SLO County, La Panza Range, in the area around Black Mountain.

 

[BrysonHesperiaResort]

Nice work Hifi,
Keep it up- you've got all the "right stuff" it takes to hunt public land.

PS Everyone that's hunted more than a little has hit themselves in the eye with the scope. A 'lil "Scope Kiss" we call it here. Hope it doesn't leave too bad of a scar. Hurts like heck though huh?

 

[z71stealth]

You definitely did better than I did up in that area, although I was there April last year -- so a bit warmer and drier. Sure did a lot of glassing and hiking though, and did find some days-old sign...

Like Deedy says, if you've got what it takes to locate pigs on public land, you are on your way to a full freezer for sure! Hopefully you can connect next time you are out...

 

[el_vaquero]

Sounds like a good time....I've always wanted to check out that area and never seem to find the time. Keep at it!

 

[Speckmisser]

Congrats on getting out. Seeing pigs on public land is worthy of a trophy in itself, even if they did run over to private property before you could shoot one. You did better than most public land pig hunters!

 

[SacFireJT]

I agree with Speck, even seeing hogs on public land is an a big deal...sounds like a fun hunt