Need some info to get started

[chvyhs]

Hello, I just registered on this forum and so far I've read a lot of good information. I'm planning on going out on my second pig hunt and I don't want to come home with an empty cooler again. I'm in the Marine Corps stationed at Camp Pendleton and so I have hunting access to Vandenburg AFB. Last time I went out to Vandenburg with two other Marines (they had plenty of hunting experiance on other big game) and we came home with nothing. Can anyone give me some basics to hunting pigs? I already have the Ca DFG hog hunting book.

I'm using my Marlin 45-70. I used to use the PMC 405 grain bullets but I reloaded them with some 300 grain hollow points. I also take my bow out to the archery only areas.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Savage300]

chvyhs,

I think your best bet would be to pick up the book "Wild Boar in California II" by Bob Robb. I have steadied this book and it has great information on hunting public land and military bases.
At this time of the year your number one best bet is to concentrate on water. If you can find signs of pigs, i.e. tracks and scat, at or near a water source you should be concentrating on that area at dawn and dusk.
Good luck!

Tom

 

[Shot]

Basicly (if you didn't already know), pigs can't see that well, but the hear very well and their sense of smell is even better. So, your best bet is to keep quick and watch the wind direction. And as for the base, your best bet is to do a search on this forum for Vandenburg AFB. I believe there are a few people who hunting there and posted some info. Good luck.

P.S. Get used to coming home with an empty cooler, hog hunting ain't easy

 

[superduty]

chvyhs, I have put three in the freezer this year and helped my brother-in-law bag his first. All I got to say is it took me a long time before I even saw my first hog while on a non guided hunt. I did alot of reading and subscribed to Hog Hunter along with alot of getting out there. I found the hardest thing is learning how to identify the sign. There is lots of wildlife where I hunt and sometimes it can be difficult unless you have someone knowledgable with you. I never had that so I was self taught through reading and applying it to the field. Tricks like knowing game trails that travel straight up are most likely to be pigs if there in that area. What they eat, where they sleep, and what times they do both of those are the key. Each pig I took this year I hunted differently due to different times of the year. Feed, watering holes, and bedding change all year round and they need to feed and water. If you place yourself between one of these things mentioned you will be upping your odds. All this along with alittle LUCK and some good shooting should fill that icechest. Good Luck

 

[chvyhs]

When I went out there the first time I actually saw two big pigs in the distance. Too bad for me they saw or heard me comming over the hill in my Blazer. Imeadiatly they bolted into the brush. It was a learning experiance. I will no longer drive to the top of the hill for them to see me. I'll park and walk.

I also went out for pigs at the end of the war (Iraq). We hooked up with a local Iraqi hunter who took us out to where he hunts pigs but we found nothing but pig signs. Too bad, I really wanted to see what a 3 round burst from my M16 would do to a pig.

What about my choice of weapon and bullet selection?

I'll keep studing. I need to bring home the bacon so the wife can stop teasing me.

 

[larrysogla]

Chvyhs,
Be prepared to make a few trips before you get lucky & bag one.

Pig hunting in Iraq!!! What was that Iraqi using to shoot pigs, an AK-47, RPG????
3 round burst from your issue M-16????? Man!!!! those are loaded with Army issue 62 grn. steel core armor piercing bullets. Three rounds of those will bag a 150 lb. pig. Too bad you didn't get a pig in Iraq, that would have been some very interesting reading. What part of Iraq was that??? Was that close to the Iranian border. Muslims don't eat pigs, so that hunter must be an Iraqi Christian.
God Bless. larrysogla.

 

[chvyhs]

The Iraqis had some real old shotguns with reloaded shells. Some of the shells had brass bottoms. I think they actually had some with paper walls. I wish I could have bought one and brought it back. The locals are also allowed to keep one AK per household for home defence. They actually shoot the pigs and leave them where they fall. Then they call a guy from Baghdad that comes and gets the carcass. The hunters don't touch the hogs. These Muslims wouldn't even touch a pig.

Here's a couple of pics:

These were my tea drinking buddies.

Tracks:

The war wasn't quite over when we did this so we really watched our backs to make sure we weren't being set up.

Yes, we were in Badra on the eastern border.

 

[RELH]

CHVYHS:

See my reply to you in the "lever action forum" concerning the use of 300 gr. HP bullets in your Marlin for pig hunting.

RELH

 

[fremont]

I'm Jones'n real bad

to use my Marlin 45-70 Guide Gun on a piggy. It does limit you, though. My two pigs have been at 125 and 75 yards, respectively. Both of them were spotted through glassing and stalking. I was mighty glad I had my '06 and 3-9x scope.

On my next hunt, I'd like to set up on a game trail (early & late in the day), set up my sitting shooting stix and wait for Mr. Boar or Mrs. Dry Sow. A shot would probably be 35-50 yards (given some of the places I plan on trying), and it's true you've got to be absolutely vigilant as far as wind direction. I plan on camo'ing up, too, even though their eyesight does suck.

I've owned pretty much all of the jacketed bullets for the 45-70, but I now exclusively stick to cast bullets, preferably ones with gas checks. I'm now shooting a 300 grain lead/GC bullet that I handload over Reloder-7 powder. Nice, accurate round with plenty of punch, and my guess--yet to be tested in practice

--is that it'll have the needed penetration.

 

[bigdaddyk]

CHVY, Give me a call at work. I will get you on to the hogs at VAFB. I will be PCS'ing in Dec of this year, but I will get you on to the BIG hogs. I have taken five hogs in the last year and my partner has taken 6. Just look me up on the e-mail account under "Kniebbe", you will find my #.

Hank

 

[larrysogla]

I knew CHVYS will get a lift & guidance from the military guys that hunt Vandenberg. They are just a nice bunch of folks. Go get 'em guys & do tell us a story or two on the hunt & pics if you may. Good luck & God Bless.
larrysogla.

 

[bigdaddyk]

Chvy, you haven't called yet. I have had two e-mails since the last post on this forum. If you don't call soon, I will be forced to give up some good info to others.

Hank

 

[sportyg]

Hank,

Do you know Guilloz, look him up on the listing and email him the info on VB.

Also you guys members of the sportsman club coming together here at Pendleton ??

 

[chvyhs]

I tried calling yesterday at lunch but there was no answer. I can't call you today because our email is down at work and that's were I have your number. Mine is 725-7553 if you have the time to call me.

Thanks

 

[bigdaddyk]

SportG, thaks for the phone call and the information. I will be by sometime during the first week of Sept. Thanks again.

 

[jawtightener]

if you don't hear from people who actually know the area and where the piggys are, my advice is to be where you want to be before light. either at water or between water and heavy cover. if after the first two hours of light you don't see anything, get ready to start hump'in. start picking the deep brushy cayons and get into the bottoms of them (put someone on point if hunting with a partner). the pigs sleep in the bottoms of the cayons. make noise, throw rocks, etc!! they will come out if they are there.
as for your bullets, i would say get away from the hollow points. if you shoot a big'un in the shoulder with the hollow point you may not get the penetration to bring the animal down (espaecially with a slow caliber like the 45-70). although 300 grains of anything packs a punch, especially in cali.