Need advice on Pig Hunting Strategies

[Pinseeker]

I'm sorry for the long winded post, but I wanted to give a little background. I’m looking for advice about pig hunting strategies around Paso Robles. For all intents and purposes, I am a rookie hunter. When I was a kid (5 y/o), I used to tag along with my dad on some of his dear hunts in So Cal. During those hunts we never harvested an animal; but ever since then, I’ve considered myself a hunter.

Shortly after that time, a series of events unfolded that lead to a 15-year hiatus in hunting for my dad. Now, almost 25 years later, he’s back into hunting in a big way. He’s been to Africa, New Zealand, Alaska, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and the list goes on and on.

It’s very important to me that I get out there and spend time with him while he can still hike up and down the mountains as well as I can.

For a number of reasons, I’ve chosen to hunt with the compound bow. I purchased the Switchback XT about 6 weeks ago and I’ve been working hard to get everything dialed in.

At an SCI fundraiser last weekend, my dad won an auction for 1-day guided pig hunt for two people. He gave the hunt to my brother and I to use as our first pig hunt. The hunt will be on the 3000 acre Bradley Ranch in Bradley, CA (north of Paso Robles). I think it’s very close to FHL. Since my brother will be hunting with a rifle it complicates things a bit. The guide would likely work with my brother first, then come back to me.

The ranch owner said he would scout for pigs the week before the hunt (mid-May) to look for any patterns. He said he would setup a tree stand if he can find a decent location. At that point he said it would be up to me if I want to hunt from the stand or attempt to spot and stalk.

I’d like to hear about the strategies used by other JHO members for bow hunting pigs near Paso Robles.

Does the stand sound like a good idea? If yes, at what point do you ditch the stand and try to spot and stalk?

When you’re stalking, assuming the wind is favorable; can you stalk in plain sight without cover?

Any other strategic advice?

 

[easymoney]

For all intents and purposes, you are on a guided hunt on private property. Do what the guide says, his reputation depends on your family being successful. He will take you to spots where he has had success in the past.
That being said, this area is very good for wild pigs, spot and stalk is a bowhunters best bet this time of year(sit on a waterhole when it is hot and dry), pigs don't see that well if you move SLOWLY with the wind in your face, practice, practice, practice with your new bow, choose your shot on pigs carefully, quartering away and as close as you can get, shoot right behind the front leg 1/3 of the way up from the chest , they are tough to put down even with a gun(for some folks), you want a double lung shot at least, they are hard to track as the grissle closes up pretty fast and little blood sign will be found, do what the guide says, practice...
Once the guide says get ready, it will ALL be up to you...

Go to the links at the top of the page and read all the great info Jesse has put together...

 

[Lurediver]

One day is hard for a new bow hunter, but it can be done! You can cover alot more ground spot and stalkin than sitting in tree and this would be your best chance because sometimes pigs can be difficult to pattern. Pigs go where people don't so don't be affraid of crawling through the thick stuff. Carry a good pair of binoculars and range finders because they can look closer than they are. Be quite and use your ears, sometimes you can hear them before you can see'em. And last Good Luck!

 

[Speckmisser]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Does the stand sound like a good idea? If yes, at what point do you ditch the stand and try to spot and stalk?[/b]

If the ranch owner found a good location he should also have an idea what time of day the hogs are passing near the stand. Treestand hunting is tough, but if the stand is truly in a good location, sit it and stay there. I know nothing about the ranch or the ranch owner, so I couldn't tell you if he knows his business or not. Good rule of thumb, though, is to always listen to the guide.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

When you’re stalking, assuming the wind is favorable; can you stalk in plain sight without cover?[/b]

No. The pigs don't have great vision, but they're not blind. They can definitely pick up on movement and shapes, and once they decide to go, they're gone. It is possible to move on a single pig or maybe even a couple across open ground if you absolutely have to, but your odds are mighty slim.

I'll also add a tweak to something Easymoney said... for an optimal shot, let the pig turn quartering away from you. That'll let you drive the arrow through the ribs behind the shoulder and then up into the boiler room. Straight broadside is OK if you make a good hit, but if you're a little far back, you don't get as many options... and you don't often get much blood. A little patience goes a long way in making a good shot... but as AssShooter says so often, "you can't kill 'em if you don't shoot at 'em."

Of course, there's a reason they call him AssShooter.

 

[Live2hunt]

For only a one day hunt and 3000 acres, I would say be at the highest point of the ranch before first light. Glass during the first couple hours in the morning. By about 10am start hiking into canyons, around thick brush covers, and look for fresh signs. You find fresh signs near thick covers, your evening hunt odds are better hunting near the area. Good luck.



L2H

 

[Pinseeker]

The ranch owner said they usually start driving around the property about 30 minutes before sunrise. Once they locate a group of pigs the stalk is on.

At this point, it's more important to me that I learn how to find the pigs, rather than take one home. The stand might get me close enough to take a shot, but I'm affraid that I won't learn the fundamentals of tracking.

When your searching through the thick brush, are you trying to flush the pigs out of their beds for a quick shot on the move? Or is the intent to find the beds so you can set-up for a good shot when they come out?

Either way, I think it would make sense to keep an arrow nocked and be ready for anything.

How much time do you typically have for aiming? At the range, I can group inside 8" consistently out to 50 yards; but I can take as much time as I need. If most shots should be taken in 5 seconds or less, then I want to practice that way.

Are there any ranges in the Bay Area with 3-D targets? It seems like 3-D targets would provide the most realistic target for practice.

 

[Live2hunt]

I don't usually go busting into the thick brush unless I'm after a wounded hog or hot after some fresh tracks. Just circle around thick brush patches and look for signs. Then hunt near there if you find fresh signs. Good luck.


L2H

 

[easymoney]

Brent, from your last post, what you have described is a typical guided hunt. Since you claim it is not as important to score as it is to learn the ropes. Pay attention as the guide will do all he or she can to assure your success, that includes the hardest part of the job, tracking game and processing your kill cleanly.
I recomend not going into the thick nasty stuff on hands and knees with only a bow(try crawling, drawing and aiming on the floor under your dining room table, with a angry pig running at you), circle around with the wind in your favor and wait for the shot to happen. If the game is unpressured and unaware you are there you can take your time. No need to wander around with a nocked arrow(accidents can and will happen), until a shot presents itself.
As to your question of how much time will it take for aiming, bow hunting is a matter of moments. Make those moments count, be prepared. A shot can present itself one mile away in the open barley fields where you have lots of time, or you could stumble on a group right in front of you. You need to practice using only one arrow (you will only be using one at a time when you are hunting anyway), concentrate on making that one shot "the shot", try to pick a spot, draw and release smoothly in 5 seconds. That is about the time you will get if you are lucky. And an 8" paper plate will be about the max area of a pigs(or deer) kill zone.
I don't know of any ranges in the Bay area, but 3d is the best way to tune up on big game. It shows you exactly what an animal looks like at different angles and distances. It also humbles you by making you think small, hit small...

 

[rtbx15]

Brent, I would look into meeting up with the folks at Bowhunters Unlimited close to you. They have a very nice range out by Stevens Canyon Park. I went there for a 3-d shoot and they were very friendly and helpful to a fellow bowhunter. You can check their website. Also, Predator's Archery in Gilroy is headquarters for the Mount Modonna Bowmen bowhunters/archery club. Mike, Curtis, or Jimmy can give you a schedule of upcoming 3-d shoots that will be starting soon and running every Friday night until the start of the deer archery season in July. It would be a bit of a drive for you, but the range at Mount Modonna is one of the best round. Good luck, Bob.

 

[canadagoose]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (easymoney @ Apr 3 2006, 04:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

That being said, this area is very good for wild pigs, spot and stalk is a bowhunters best bet this time of year(sit on a waterhole when it is hot and dry) ...[/b]

Hi EasyMoney,

I've been doing a lot of reading lately, in preperation for my first attempt at hogs sometime this year. Last night I happen to be reading the DFG regs and found the following.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

§730. Camping Near or Occupying Wildlife Watering Places.

(a) Camping/Occupying Defined. For purposes of this Section, camping/occupying is defined as establishing or inhabiting a camp; resting; picnicking; sleeping; parking or inhabiting any motor vehicle or trailer; hunting; or engaging in any other recreational activity for a period of more than thirty (30) minutes at a given location.
(b) Wildlife Watering Places Defined. For purposes of this Section, wildlife watering places are defined as waterholes, springs, seeps and man-made watering devices for wildlife such as guzzlers (self-filling, in-the-ground water storage tanks), horizontal wells and small impoundments of less than one surface acre in size.
© Prohibitions.
(1) Camping/Occupying is prohibited within 200 yards of the following:
(A) Any guzzler or horizontal well for wildlife on public land within the State of California.
(B) Any of the wildlife watering places on public land within the boundary of the California Desert Conservation Area as depicted on the Bureau of Land Management maps of "Calif. Federal Public Lands Responsibility," "Calif. Desert Conservation Area" and the new "Desert District, B.L.M."
(2) Camping/Occupying is prohibited within one-quarter mile of the following wildlife watering places:
(A) Butte Well--T31N, R14E, Section 28, NE1/4, M.D.B.M., Lassen County.
(B) Schaffer Well--T31N R14E, Section 25, Center, M.D.B.M., Lassen County.
© Tableland Well--T31N, R14E, Section 17, SE1/4, M.D.B.M., Lassen County.
(D) Table Mountain Well--T31N, R14E, Section 32, SE1/4, M.D.B.M., Lassen County.
(E) Timber Mountain Well--T44N, R6E, Section 33, M.D.B.M., Modoc National Forest, Modoc County.
(F) Belfast Well--T31N, R14E, Section 31, NE1/4, M.D.B.M., Lassen County.[/b]

Given that, it sounds to me like what you've suggested is against the regs, but given my newbie status I could easily be wrong or misreading you. By my read of it, you'd have to sit back 200 yards from the hole and wait for a shot. Is that what you're suggesting?

Thanks.

 

[Lurediver]

The regs. are talking about water that is for wildlife on the listed public lands, this doesn't mean private properties.

 

[canadagoose]

Thanks, Lurediver. That's what I was missing.

 

[Speckmisser]

Those regs also don't pertain to water sources other than those listed. On most public land you are welcome to hunt water sources. In fact, if you're hunting hogs in the summertime, you pretty much have to find the water source.

 

[easymoney]

I never said that...
I said "spot and stalk is a bowhunters best bet this time of year(sit on a waterhole when it is hot and dry), pigs don't see that well if you move SLOWLY with the wind in your face, practice," This time of the year being "spring time" with plenty of rain...
This time of year there is lots of "green up" and pigs will be taking advantage of it every day.
But, when it gets hot here in CA, most hunters, especially bowhunters, do hunt water sources, particularly "water holes" and cattle tanks. They are magnets...
There are no rules against hunting "water holes" yet...
If you find a water hole on public land, you are into a goldmine....

 

[easymoney]

Oh, by the way,
It doesn't take much water to become a "magnet", even litte trickles will draw animals everyday, like clockwork...