May 10-12 Pig-o-rama at Tejon

[One Track]

Hi Speck:  As far as I know, we don't have access to a range, (one the south.) However, the camping area is perty big.  There are some steep dirt walls, or banks, that you can shoot into. On Friday, there were a few guys popping caps, including me.  Seemed like a safe set up. It would be a good idea to bring a cardboard box, or something to use as a target.  I think you can get about 200 yards out of the area.

36 more days to go. Or, 864 hours. That means, I'll probably think about hogs at least 1,728 times before we get there.

 

[Speckmisser]

Thanks for the info once again, One Track.  I sort of figured shooting in the camping area would be verboten, but it's good to know there's a safe place to do it.  

As for thinking about pigs... I'll be heading out tomorrow evening for another weekend on public land.  I'm hoping I'll also get at least one more weekend out there before the Tejon hunt.  Looks like it might get a little wet tomorrow.  That would be awesome.  

 

[One Track]

Mr. Misser:  

How did the weekend pig hunt go?    

Regarding shooting in the camping area.  I think that should be reserved for just making sure you're still on target. I wouldn't encourage shooting more than a couple rounds.  Know what I mean?  On our Feb. hunt, I was setting up camp on Friday, when I heard a few shots being fired. I was wondering if these guys had brain damage.  Then the noise stopped, and I realized that they were just confirming things. I thought that was a perty good idea, and did the same. There's a big empty lot above camp, where you can shoot in the oppisite dircection. I walked off 100 yards, shot twice and then went huntin'.  

33 days to go!

 

[Speckmisser]

Based on that, I'll probably sight in at the range here before I hit the road.  I'll have a brand new .44, and may need more than a couple of "confirmation" shots before I'm confident enough to carry it in the field.  Probably gonna want to shoot at least a box or so through it.  On the other hand, my brother will probably only need to fire a couple of rounds to make sure nothing happened to his rifle on the flight out.  

The pig hunt this weekend was kinda a bust.  My favorite area is all dried up now.  The rooting and beds are all old, and I'm thinking the pigs have moved over the hills and down to the barley fields.  I didn't see any fresh sign at all.  

Moved over to Sweetwater and Laguna Mtn area.  It's been busy.  Sweetwater's trailhead looks like they ran the Boston Marathon through there.  Never saw so many footprints there... really disappointing.  I slipped through to my "secret" spot way back in a canyon.  Fairly fresh people tracks there, too, as well as beer bottles and some other assorted trash.  I finally made my way up to the spot, and there's a guy stretched out there.  Not my day.  Time to find new hunting grounds.

I did find a little wet spot that is apparently new, and there was some fresh sign there.  When I went back to the spot on Sunday morning, it looked like a roto-tiller had gone crazy ...so I know the pigs are there.  I'm afraid they've pretty much gone nocturnal, though.  Didn't see a lot of different tracks, but there was one set that got my blood flowing.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find any tracks with pigs still in them.

Anyway, I strained my knee and irritated an old injury on Saturday, so by about 0900 Sunday morning I could barely climb the hills.  Had to head for home.  Gotta give the knee some TLC before May.  I'm hoping to get out at least once more before then.

 

[shaginator]

Speck:

I'm figuring that more hunters as well as hikers are going to hit that area because the weather is really nice out that way now.

I wouldn't be surprised if this forum's popularity with California hunters has had some influence too :smile-blue:

Oh yeah, and turkey season's in full-swing so I imagine there are some out there trying to figure out if there's birds like that around too. Who knows.

As for sighting in your new revolver -- A possible option for you is to see if you're close enough to the shooting range in the Angeles National Forest.

(Edited by shaginator at 3:43 pm on April 8, 2002)

 

[Speckmisser]

Thanks for the info, Shaggy.

There's a good range not too far from home, but I was wondering if there'd be one at Tejon.   I expect a solid four hours drive to get there, so if I could arrive around noon, then sight in before an evening hunt...well you probably get the picture.  It sounds like it'd be worth my while to go spend an hour or so at the range here, then drive out from there.     Probably gonna put me a little later in the day arriving at Tejon, but I can live with that.  If I have to much trouble getting the pistol "on", I can always leave it in the truck.

Of course, the next trick will be figuring out how to hunt that place.  I'm guessing we find a likely area, then grab the pack and head into the bush.  Same deal as on public land?  That's why I want to get there as early as possible.  I'm sure hoping to get some intel from the guys on this April hunt about likely areas.  Sounds like they're all gonna be hunting the South side too.

Anyway, I'm way too excited about this hunt.  Shoot, I won't even have a guide.  But it sure is sounding like fun!

 

[rusman66]

Hey how early do you have to put in for this hunt? or is it already to late?

 

[Speckmisser]

I'm not sure if there's a deadline, Rusman.  I think it's pretty much first come, first served.  Sounds like there's still spaces on the April hunt, so there's a good bet you'll still be able to get a spot in May.  

 

[rusman66]

Nevermind just rechecked my work schedule, working in may and in june, Its like they talked to my wife and my boss to find out when I had to work and then scheduled the pigoramas.  Arghhhhhhh.(Edited by rusman66 at 6:33 pm on April 11, 2002)
:mad-red::mad-fumin-red:

(Edited by rusman66 at 4:55 am on April 12, 2002)

 

[Speckmisser]

So... who's on for this trip in May?  

Confirmed I have myself and my brother, Scott.  Who else?  Anybody put in for the North side instead of south?  

 

[Kernhuntr]

I'm still not sure if I'll make it. If I do it will be on the North side.

I still am amazed that all of the spots did not fill up on last weekends hunt.

Heat may become a concern in May/June, and the rest of the hunts till' the cold season hits. But on that note, the guy I usually hunt with was on a hunt last August, and said it was bareable. But then again, we are both used to hunting A-zone here in the valley :bounce-red-fire:

Kernhuntr

 

[One Track]

Five of us are in!

One Track
Bowhunting Fool

and three of my buddies that don't have handles.  I'll give them some handles right now.  Let's see.

Jackpot Steve - he took big pig last May
Aldo Nova - my buddy Al that's driving down from Sac. and has never hit anything with a rifle.  I put him on two nice bucks, and he missed, twice! Is there such a thing as Hog Fever?
Mike Who - Jackpot Steve's buddy whom I have yet to meet. But, he has a big travel trailer for us to sleep in.

24 days to go!
 

 

[sdbowyer]

Are archery hunters sent to a different area than rifle hunters for the Pig-O-Ramas?

 

[One Track]

Nope. You can hunt bow wherever you want.  I asked Don about that on my last trip.  I'm taking my bow, for a little spot and stalk action.  If I'm still hogless on Sunday, I'll take out the -06.    Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

 

[Speckmisser]

Hey One Track, you guys are planning to hit the south side, right?  

I'll be there in a silver Dodge 3/4 ton 4x4.  We'll probably pitch a tent, although I usually camp in the back of the truck.  I have a JHP sticker, but it's on the camper shell hatch, so if the hatch is open it'll be hard to see.  Hoping to get in as early as possible, but I think we're gonna hit the shooting range in the morning before leaving the Bay Area.  

Kern, hope you can make it.  I imagine we won't cross paths if you're hunting the north side, though.  

 

[One Track]

Dang tootin'!  We'll be huntin' the south. We should circle up the wagons.  Don't worry about getting there early.  They won't open the south gate until high noon.  The first year, I showed up at 7am, and had to sit at the gate for 4 hours.  

Gather as much rope or cable as you can find.  Those boys aren't kiddin' about the hogs being a mile deep into them hell holes.

I'll be in a white Explorer.   My pards will be driving a Blk/Silver Ford PU, and a dualie pulling a big trailer.  I might be pulling a small utility trailer.  My wife wasn't too happy with the hog stench and the hog blood that coated the inside of the Explorer after the last trip. I sure enjoyed it though.

Also, I think I can get my hands on an enclosed fire ring. That should add some atmoshphere to camp.  We can talk about huntin' and old girlfriends.  And, huntin' old girlfriends.

I swear, the days are crawling by.

 

[Bishop]

If you guys go to the back of the lower camp there's some nice trees and you can probably have the whole section to yourselves.  Worked out great for us.  Also, everyone will know where to meet.

 

[Speckmisser]

Sounds awesome...  I'm killing myself here.  Gotta start thinking about something else for a couple of weeks!  

Sounds like that spot in the back of the campground (re: Bishop's post) might be a good place to circle up and make camp.  If you can't find a fire ring, let me know.  I don't have anything handy, but I might be able to come up with something by then.  

Sounds like at least seven guys...  anybody else know for sure?  

 

[Bishop]

The fire ring we've been using at the last few hunts is just a wash tub from the inside of a old washing machine.  They're great.  They're made out of steel and are about 24" wide and tall.  They have small holes in the sides, so they put out good heat.  Plus they're free.  Just find a broken down washing machine and take it out.

(Edited by Bishop at 8:17 am on April 18, 2002)

 

[One Track]

If nobody locates a wash tub, I can borrow an enclosed fire ring. One of those Home Depot specials. They work great too.  Let's plan on circling up on the west side of the camping area.  Take a left when you reach the camping area.  I think there are some good hanging trees in that spot.  We're going to need enough room to hang at least 6 hogs.  I'm counting 6 of us confirmed.  

Speckmisser
One Track + 3
Bowhunting Fool


Who else?