Need Experience

[Surfswest]

So here's the deal. As you can probably know, I am pretty new to pig hunting. In fact, I have only been out hunting once (you can read about this on my other post) and loved it so much that all I can do is think about going back out again. I didn't even see any pigs, but thats beside the point..............well, I take that back. That is the point. I am dying to go out on a hunt and am ready to put to practice all of the awesome knowlegde about pig hunting that I have learned here!!!
That's where the problem comes in. I am trying to find some local hunting here in SoCal that is free (ie. public land or private access). Having two young kids (3 yrs. and a 4 month old) that means I am tight on money and free time. What I am hoping for here is some help. I am willing, no strike that, wanting, no not that either, begging to join up with one of you guys out there for some local hunt. I want to get out and hunt again so badly that it is eating at me day and night, and reading here about you guys weekly scoring pigs ain't helping!!!
If anyone is interested in a partner to go hunt either cleveland, angeles, or san bernardino forest areas (I include these because who know who has secret spots with obscure herds hudden) I can open my schedule any weekend to join. I am willing to hike into the furthest reaches of these forests. I am even willing to provide lunch and even beers at the end of the day.

If this might help, I might be getting access this spring to locally help remove some pigs in the norco area on private property. This isn't much of a "hunt" but a sit and shoot opportunity. I can include you in on this as a show of appreciation.
Please Please Please take pity on me and help me!!!!

Frosty

PS. Don't worry, I am not trying to find any secret spots and I am not trying to steal secret information about secret herds. All I want is just to get out and hunt and learn to read signs and markings.

 

[GUNNER5569]

WELL GOOD LUCK ON YOUR QUEST IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO GO TO FHL OR CAMP ROBERTS OR SOME WHERE CLOSE TO MY NECK OF THE WOODS YOUR MORE THEN WELCOME TO JOIN US ON ANY OF OUR HUNTS VERN

 

[hunt hard]

surfswest have you herd of Camp Roberts its over by paso robles Last year our group of hunters did pretty good and i think this year will be a good year as well because of the rain. its going to be open the 29th and the 30th of April for hog, turkey, jackrabbit it cost $15 a day or you can buy a annual pass for $55 the other place which is open more often but gets hunted more than C.R. is fort hunter liggit. iv been there twice and dont know much about it. But im sure theres jeepers here who know about it. As far as private land hunting iv been on guided hunts and youll pay an average of $400 to $500 dollers for a hunt. And if you dont know to much about public land in california ill tell you its tough even though it has been done. So hope this helps good luck now that your hooked.

 

[btrebil]

Hey Surfwerst (Frosty), I live down here in Calabasas, and know some spots not too far north. If your interested, drop me an IM or email and we can figure something out. Where do you live at down here?

 

[Surfswest]

Is that it? is there no one else out there that is willing to help a newbie? How about even if I offered most of meat after a successful hunt? I just need to get out and hunt some piggies!!!!!!

Anyone.............

 

[hogsarunnin]

hey there frosty,

I am sorry to hear about your tuff luck so far. I do believe that camp roberts or lake sonoma would be your best bets,the problem is that these places are a good drive and you prob. need about a week to do those hunts. I am active duty usmc so I can hunt on vandenberg afb in santa barbra ,not sure about bringing visitors. IF I CAN BRING A VISITOR I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE YOU . i will check on the process and let you know soon, we only go on holidays due to our lack of time off.
I am curious about that norco operation "piggy removal". you can send me a private email to talk about the entire topic of pig hunting because it is my favorite thing to do. ennisba@3maw.usmc.mil

 

[easymoney]

surfswest,
I do not think that it's, no one will help you find a good spot. It's just that so many are expecting easy hunting on public land and that there so many willing to travel farther and farther than in the past. The chances of getting into pigs on your first hunt is slim to impossible. Check back into the past posts, looking for tips and hints. They are there...
Camp Bob and FHL are good, but not a sure thing...
If you want to have a high success percentage rate on pigs, use a guide and pony up the money to learn the ropes... It will make a big difference.
It always amazes me, that people will spend lots of money for fuel and hours of time running down a marginal tip on public land, but not be willing to pay a guide a similar amount of money to put them right on pigs the first time out...

 

[Blackknights154]

Hey Frosty, what do you got going on this weekend? I am trying to head out to Carrizzo, just west of highway 53 off i-5. Well if you want to do something, i have no plans yet, but to hunt!!! I am a bowhunter and a skinny guy, so we can tromp through and hike as far as you like. Feel free to email me, Mike

 

[Blackknights154]

BRIAN!! I think that VAB does not let visitors on. Only active duty guys like us only, no guest to hunt. Sorry to pop that bubble bro! Mike

 

[Chadster]

Hey there... having made the transition from, regular active duty Marine Corps to Remote Control Attack Unit 7 - First Civilian Division... (former Marine) I have hunted Vandenburg twice. There are only two exceptions/situations that a civilian can hunt V-Berg. You have to be sponsored by either regular active duty or retired miltary only. Reserve or National Guard can hunt on base, but cannot sponsor a civilian to hunt on base. Even us regular veterans who didn't retire from the military cannot hunt on base. This is probably the main reason the hunting at V-berg is so much better than the other bases is because of this fact. I am just lucky enough to have 2 brother in laws that are active duty military. E-mail me and I can send you some info on V-berg and I know some dudes from Pendelton who go there regularly. One of my brother in laws is a corpmen stationed down there. He's with 1st FFSG. Also, there's a Retired Gunny that works on base there who goes to V-berg regularly who knows a lot about V-berg too! Like I said... email me and I can give you specifics. Semper Fi...

 

[Chadster]

Oh yeah... and I forgot... active duty and military retirees can only sponsor one person at a time... so don't be sad... I don't think Blacknight knew about those 2 exceptions. I've been there and done that twice...
So blow your bubble back up!!!

 

[Chadster]

Hey BlackKnights154... I'm in Visalia. My job takes me on base a few times a month. Maybe I could buy you a beer and we could talk "Hog huntin" sometime? chadwbush@hotmail.com

 

[Blackknights154]

Hey Chadster, what s up man, hell yeah that beer sounds tasty!! Got my military email on here but go yahooin' at McDoobie22@yahoo.com Well I also cruise out to a friends house in Visalia also...couple friends i know work at Big Bubba's. If you are around on base at all hit me up or if you need a hunting partner too. email me and Ill shoot you my number. The VAFB I was looking on some of the rules and regs about the policy's they didnt mention that so that's some good info i didnt know....Bubbles up!!!! Mike

 

[Speckmisser]

Frosty,

Don't give up, but if you're expecting to get out and smoke a hog on public land there's really only one way to do it... get out there and spend a LOT of time trying. You'll also want to listen to the recommendations of some of these guys about places to try.

You're not going to get into many hogs in the Cleveland Nat'l Forest, even if they are there (questionable). Head north, at least as far as Santa Barbara County. Get into the farm country and start knocking on some doors. If you can get permission on private land, you'll be way ahead of most guys.

Camp Roberts or FHL are your best bets for public land, and there are a handful of JHO regulars who'd probably be glad to point in some good directions... or even meet you there.

Other than that, get out like there on your own and cover ground. Your odds will stay low, disappointingly low, but at least you'll be hunting.

 

[BLASTMASTER]

Hey Frosty...
I was in your boat for about my first 10 years of hog hunting, so I know what it's like. I live in SOCAL too, and when the kids were babies I hunted alone. I've got a freakin' entourage now LOL!

Anyway...like they say, CR & FHL would be good bets for a new guy to learn the ropes, and any one of us regulars there, can point you in a good direction. I used to drive up to Laguna Mountain, sleep in the car, and hunt alone there too. (before I found out about CR)

I prefer to hunt alone, but since the kids came of age, we all go together, and it's great! My next trip to CR is Memorial Day weekend, and I'll probably have 5 or 6 new hunters tagging along. It's a great place to start.

My recommendation to you:

Fri, 4/28 - Take a nap after work, then get in the car and drive North to CR.
Sat AM - Sleep in line at the check-in until it opens.
Sat - Hunt all day, maybe get lucky
Sat PM - Take a long nap in the car, then go home. If you were lucky, you still have time to butcher it on Sunday.

 

[Surfswest]

Thanks for the good words and advice guys. Sorry about my second comment here, looking at it now it kinda looks rude of me. I really do appreciate all the hundreds of years of experience that is accumulated here on the site. Heck, most of the stories are so great it sometimes feels like I'm out with you guys!!!!

The couple of you that have responded to my cries thanks. Blackknights, this weekend is too soon, but would love to work something out another time. btrebil, thanks as well. It was good as well talking to you on the phone the other day too. I think that as soon as your done with your classes and finals we should definitely head out for some piggies!!!!!

oops...........gotta go, babies crying. Be back later.

Frosty

 

[GUNNER5569]

hey frosty we are going to fhl on the 8th and 22nd and cr on the 28th if interested let me know
blackknight your welcome to join us give me a call if you want to go vern

 

[larrysogla]

Surfwest,
Camp Roberts and Fort Hunter Liggett are the way to go in public land hunting. The others are very, very marginal. Some folks have had success on Carrizo Plains N.M., Los Padres N.F. etc. but they are the exception.
Read all the posts previously in here regarding Camp Roberts and Fort H. Liggett and then you can make a decision. I have hunted Laguna Mtn., Carrizo Plain N.M(at the springs in the Caliente Mountains area and the northwest area of Carrizo but be aware that some of the private land in Carrizo has no fence and be certain where you are), Los Padres N.F. at the La Panza/Pozo area for wild hogs and many times I also end up rabbit hunting(when in season) as the area really is transitory for wild hogs, but loaded with rabbits. Right now with all the rains, Laguna, Carrizo, Los Padres will be green and carpeted with tender grasses and this is the time to hunt wild boars on public land. It will still be marginal even with the wet, green grasses. With Camp Roberts and Fort Hunter Liggett, the wild hogs are NOT transitory. The hogs actually live and stay there. The bases are so big though that the wild hog hunting is still the luck of the draw. On both bases, stay close to the rivers or at least some hillsides where it is not more than a mile away from the rivers. The maps can be accessed in here at JHO or at the CR and FHL websites. The hogs will be there, but being smart animals, they will be bedded in the thick, thick brush and will be smelling you and watching you but they know they are hidden so they just stay put. It will still be luck when you happen to be at the right spot when a hog goes back and forth from it's bedding area and it's feeding area. This will be mostly, early, early, first blue light in the morning, or late in the afternoon. On Fort Hunter Liggett and Camp Roberts????? I believe they also allow rabbit hunting(in season only) and year round coyote hunting. Lots of coyotes in FHL and CR. After a few seasons public land hog hunting in California, it will be reality that it is PURE, PURE luck for most of us and burns many, many, many tankfuls of gas with no hogs seen or taken. But as many has said, being outdoors beats being at work anyday. God Bless.

 

[easymoney]

surfswest,
If you are serious about scoring on wild pigs on public ground, get out to Camp Roberts or FHL soon, as with all the rain the porkers will be out longer taking advantage of the soft ground and fresh greens.
As has already been stated, hunting wild pigs or and any big game on public land is a tough propostition. You will have lots of company, especially places that get mentioned here, on opening days or weekends.
Do not get discouraged, because in order to even see any pigs, let alone score on one, you will have to be VERY dedicated and keep at it. It is not easy, nor a sure thing, despite what the rumors say. The public land is huge, the animals few in numbers, they are very smart and lots of other hunters will be joining you.
But, on the bright side, there are two things to be optimistic about: First, most people who hear the rumors of game on public land anywhere near the southern CA area, give it a half hearted try then get discouraged and usually give up after the first trip or two.
Second, there are more wild pigs in CA now, than at any other time and those numbers are growing every year.
Good luck...

 

[larrysogla]

Yup......more piggies every year.......nationwide. I believe that this is due to more and more rural landowners are not hunter/shooters anymore, and are not shooting these piggies when they come into their backyard as a nuisance. Rather they call a hunter friend or Animal Control instead of grabbing a 30-30 or 12 gauge slugger and popping the pigs right there and there. The piggies have more chances of escaping a friend or Animal Control who can drop in only for a few hours rather than the homeowner who is there all the time and can pop the piggies as soon as they appear. More and more areas are being bought by yuppie country folk transplants and more and more ranches are NO SHOOTING, NO HUNTING ranches. Why else the spurt in piggie numbers when there are more people in overcrowded California and the whole U.S.A. for that matter???? Texas, Florida, Hawaii are seeing increases in the hog population. Got to be the decline of the hunter/shooter culture. Too bad those posted NO HUNTING, NO SHOOTING private areas mean we are being squeezed more and more into the few public hunting areas. Burning tankful upon tankful of gas is the norm when trying for piggie in public land. 'Nuff said.