Los Padres National Forest

[ksberry209]

I am still waiting for my FHL hunting pass and getting nervous that it might not come so I want a back up plan for this weekend. Is there an access to Los Padres National Forest near FHL? Even if I don't get my hunting pass I am planning on camping at the fort but still need some help on other areas to hunt. I sent in my application almost 3 weeks ago and still no word and can;t get a hold of anyone at the fort?????

Any info on Los Padres would be awesome in case I dont get my hunting ticket!!!

 

[PorkChopper]

im in same boat!

 

[crittergetter]

Get a forest map at the ranger station in King City. There is access but pigs are far and few in the forest as far as I know of.

 

[leftyhunter]

I spoke to a ranger a few years ago who mailed me some maps for a small fee where she also outlined some areas where pigs are. On another thread a good recomendation was to find parts of the forest that border private ranch land. The pigs will bed in the forest and venture for food on the ranch's. There is a quarterly magazine called the "California pig Hunter" or something similar ;it is published by Durwood Hollis a well known hunting writer. In the last issue there was an article about Los Padres Natl Forest being a public land hot spot. I know Martin B Rettings gun shop in Culver City carries the magazine. We had another thread from a hunter who harvested to nice sized pigs in the Ventenna (sp?) Wilderness portion of the LPNF.

Good Luck and tell us how it go's.

Leftyhunter

 

[EvBouret]

The Ventana Wilderness is bordering FHL, there's no reason there wouldn't be hogs.

 

[180pilot]

On same subject, I was wondering if anyone knows what the area North of FHL boundary along the Del Venturi Road looks like? From my LPNF map that road is gated off before the Arroyo Seco. Elevations are 1500'.

 

[easymoney]

Do a back search on this topic and you will find lots of info by folks who are doing the same thing.
This comes up every year and somehow there is a rumor out there that are wild pigs just trotting around waiting to be picked off in the LPNF. If that were truely the case, us locals would be in hog heaven...
The Ventana Wilderness is very steep, brushy, loads of poison oak and the pigs are few to none. The road from the Indians to Arroyo Seco has been closed for over 10 years because of a slide. The LPNF borders FHL, but you must be careful about straying onto the base.
Contact DFG and get their "hunting wild pigs on public land" packet. It has some crude maps with outlines showing reports of pigs.
The uncomfortable truth is there are lots of pigs on private property in SLO and Monterey counties, but you would be very lucky just to see one on the LPNF.

Contact bhrhunts for info on his hunts.

 

[Backcountry]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (leftyhunter @ Feb 13 2007, 09:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

There is a quarterly magazine called the "California pig Hunter" or something similar... In the last issue there was an article about Los Padres Natl Forest being a public land hot spot.[/b]

So much for that hot spot...

As for Ventana Wilderness, there are plenty of pigs in there, but they require superhuman efforts to get one... as lefty mentioned, there are JHO'ers who have repeated sucess in that area. I've seen pigs on every backpacking trip I've done in the area. The problem for hunters is that it is SUPER steep, super thick cover, virtually no glassing locations in 95% of the area, the most poison oak I have ever seen, and there are very few trails in the area (and no roads since it is designated wilderness). If you have the time to learn the area and visit it many times, and if you are in excellent physical condition, I'm sure you could develope a few hard-to-reach areas as honey holes, but don't expect to stumble across one your first time out. All the pigs I've seen there were crossing trails right in front of me, or scrounging near backcountry camping areas (shoulda had the .357... DOH!). The dirty hippies that love nature and the hot springs so much also are the most slovenly, disgusting, littering bastard campers I have ever seen... go figure!

 

[support420]

If your going to go to FHL , i would just get there on Friday...maybe they have your pass on file and just havent notified you....That happened to me last year...I called though and got through luckily.

One of the guys working the checkstand at FHL said along the border to FHL on the LPNF was good hunting...just along the border ? Last year 2 were taken in the training area near the border...not sure which one.

Good luck....we'll be in the campground.....Ask for Gabriel....I should be there .....drinking away !!!

 

[ksberry209]

Great idea about checking in early. I will continue to try and contact FHL this week about the hunting application. All I can do now is play the waiting game.

 

[Metdawg44]

As Backcountry said in an earlier post, Los Padres and Ventana does hold pigs but it is really tough hunting to get to them. It's jungle warfare and you will likely have to haul the pig out on your back if you are so lucky. Funny thing about the hippies. I first hunted hogs east of Big Sur back in the 70's and there were tons of hippies back in the boonies then. I guess they forgot that the hippie thing went out of style, oh about 20 years ago. LOL.

 

[boarcrz]

ksberry-You should be good to go at FHL if you had sent in the app 3 weeks ago. Call and confirm. I think someone should answer the phone during their business hours. The number is posted on FHL web site.
I only got confirmation from them once and that was many years ago but permit vouches were always there for me when I'm at the window.
Also, bring your payment stub(receit for cashier's check or carbon copy of your money order) just in case.

 

[Shot]

I have taken a few pig in LPNF. Like backcountry has said, its a difficult hunt. Very steep with thick cover. If you do your homework you can find yourself a good spot, but it takes time and hard work.

You can also try Williams hill (blm land). I have been there several times in past and have seen pigs on one occasion only. I did manage to take a nice meat sow but I was really lucky, because as I was driving the pigs crossed the road from thick cover coming from the adjacent private land. It really is a hit and miss but if you have nothing to do its worth a look.

Whatever you end up doing, good luck!