monterey hog hike-in

[sdbowyer]

Anyone done a public land trek&camp hunt in the coastal Ventana potion of Los Padres NF?  I have a spot where I've heard hogs while camping there and want to go on a multi-day quest for a hog this spring.  Any tips or info would be appreciated.

 

[shaginator]

I've been scouting that forest for the past two weekends. For those who haven't been out there, the wilderness area has some natural geographic boundaries that make it hard to traverse for the average weekend day hiker.

The area around Nacimiento-Fergusson road has lots of cover and there are creeks and springs, but the area is very steep and brushy with lots of poison oak so look out. As a result, the general vicinity is nearly impossible for still hunting but I did see some old signs that went right through that thick cover.

I went up the dirt road to Cone Peak and saw some decent clearings way, way, way down to the east and some coastal grassy hills that overlook the coast to the west. No real signs on the west slope. Some cover, open space and nearby springs in the area on the east side.

I can guess the other areas you may be considering. It's not around that road, but more into the heart of the wilderness, where the madrone and oak trees grow? There's a dirt road that goes along a ridge just past some private land.

 

[One Track]

I don't know the area personally.  However, I had a buddy spend three days scouting outside of Santa Barbara where you can look down on the Michael Jackson estate.  They literally spent three days driving and looking for sign.  They never saw a hog, and zero sign. He had spoke with the DFG, and they sent him in that direction.  He spoke with a Forest Service Officer who said that the DFG gave him bad information.  That's all I know.

 

[sdbowyer]

shaginator,

Its been a couple years but that is the general area I visited.  There's a coastal camp site with a 4WD road that goes past it to the hills above.  There was lots of sign there.  I'll get a forest map so I can articulate the area a bit better, but I'm hoping that giving myself a number of days in the field will be effective.  I plan on taking a weekend trip up the coast soon with the family in a couple weeks so I'll be able to nose around a bit.

 

[yotegetter]

I did some scouting for 3 days back in December near the San Rafael Wilderness. I found some brushy area along a creek. I stayed in that area for 2 days and saw sign of hogs. I finally ran into one that was out of range. I stalked it and got closer. When I finally got close enough it was impossible to cross the area and get it. Don't give up! There are pigs in Los Padres. Unfortunately, most of them are on private property, but you will find them in the forest. I'm going to try that area again in the spring.

 

[armo25]

Hi everyone.
I lived in Monterey Peninsula for 2 years and the only place I hunted was Fort Hunter Liggett. Carmel Valley mountains are full of pigs. Few weeks ago I saw about 20 pigs drinking from a water hole close to the Pacific Coast Hwy 1 not far away from city of Carmel. There were inside the private property, and there is a road sign with pigs crossing pictures. They just recently put this signs there to alert the motorists after someone on a motorcycle got in an accident with 6 pigs and ended up in the hospital. I am not sure how correct the story, but the pigs that were hit were never found, maybe someone took them, I don't know...
The Ventana Wilderness is tough. All the public access is pretty much from the camp sites located high. Down low there is all private property or the Big Sur State park and other no-hunt wildlife preservation areas.
Fort Ord has pigs too but the area is closed due to the ordnance hazards. There is a portion open for bikers but no hunting. Maybe one day when they clear all the EODs they will open the area. The Army turned Ft Ord to the state but still maintians the property.
What I was told by others (no offense to Carmel-ians) but the locals in Carmel valley are anti-gun, anti-hunt people who won't let anyone hunt in their land.
I read an article in one of the magazines that said that true California Russian Boars are found in Ventana Wilderness after Rancher San Carlos brought in Russian Boars from Ural mountains and released them into his Carmel ranch back in 20's or earlier, and the rest is history...
I also heard Tesajara springs, and the Chews ridge, if you can access this portion has pigs and is inside the Nat'l forest property.
I am not living in that area no more, but Good luck anyone who can find access in Ventana Wilderness

 

[LeeChul]

Check the archives cause I've talked a lot about this area. If you hit Tassajara road then check out Anastasia Canyon, this will be your guaranteed best bet, but set up a camera on your truck causet the last time I parked there my truck was vandalized -there's a thread on that somewhere too "truck vandalism." Or they say that somewhere on a branch of the big sur river there is a Strawberry canyon/camp ground something like that and that there are pigs there. Be aware, I spent many weekends in this forrest and never saw pigs, tons of sign-story of my life- but no pigs. In Dec-Jan time frame it often snows up there to. So if you go take a 4X4. About it being rough country, don't think it's a joke because, it is seriously rough, and very frustrating to the hunter because like someone else already said-there is no sit and wait areas, if you're not moving you're not getting anything. I also went up Church Creek, there is nothing but big cats that like to stalk you up there. I can't prove it but I was walking through a creek bed with real high brush and I all of a sudden felt like I was being watched. I stopped, slowly picked up a large rock and threw it as hard as I could into the brush on the side of the trail, something jumped and ran like a bat out of hell, I say it was a coug but who knows- could have been a deer. Don't be stupid like me and go alone. I stepped right over a rattler on the Pine Ridge trail too, it was hot and I was dehydrated and not paying attention when suddenly there was a rattleing at my feet. I think I jumped like an Olympic athelete.

Hope you have some luck.

 

[LeeChul]

BTW: I think if you search "LeeChul, Los Padres" you'll find some more info.

 

[larrysogla]

Lee Chul,
I remember reading your posts on Los Padres NF. Good info. Sorry to be off topic here, but how would you compare Texas living to California living. How's the hunting, climate, neighborhood up there???
God Bless. larrysogla.

 

[LeeChul]

Texas is just as bad if not worse for someone that doesn't know anyone that owns land. However if you had unlimited funds, you could have a much better time in Texas because of all the exotics ranches and great East Texas Hog hunts. CA had some NF land, but there weren't any animals on it.

 

[bzzboyz]

LeeChul, Have you gotten your $40.00 public lands permit and map booklet yet? There are near 90 different public land locations to hunt anywhere from 100 acres to 100,000 acres. Everything from squirrel, rabbits, dove, quail, pheasant, turkey, waterfowl, whiteteil, exotics, muleys, and hogs. You can get one at the same place you buy your hunting license and they will mail you the booklet within a few weeks.

Now don't get me wrong. Don't go out expecting trophy animals, though there are some out there. Two years ago the biggest archery whitetail for that year was killed on public land. But with some good scouting and hard work you can have a good hunt on the lands.

 

[LeeChul]

Thanks Bzz,
But I looked up most of those WA's and they seem to be alot of hassle, like tryng to hunt at FHL in CA, on top of that is that there is only within a reasonabe distance of San Angelo. I'm sure I'll find something, but the F&G Dept said those Public Lands Books weren't comming out for a couple of weeks.