New-Old Public land

[JustGuy]

Being on long vacation due to all those holydays I took one 5 days Christmas hunting trip to North CA for some duck/geese/quail/squirrel/rabbit hunt.
The success was moderate with 0 ducks/geese but quail/squirrel/rabbit i got my limits.
Came back to find sunny weather, no good for ducks so more boring days with no action when my wife suddenly says to me: Honey, I wander why you never hunt this area where we used to hike so often. We used to see a lot of signs there”. She meant public land of approximately 800-1000 acres 40-45 Min driving from home which I never hunted back in the days because I has access to so many private properties some of them with depredation permits so I did not need to go to public grounds.

It accord to me that it might be nice to check what is going on there.
The very next day after good breakfast I loaded my dog and my wife and headed to the direction. Needless to say it was already close top 10AM and I did not take my gun for two reasons, 1 it is too late to start hunting, 2 I do not have any room for any game right now in my 2 refrigerators and freezer.
Around 11AM not having much hope to see anything I parked my car on the dirt road bordering this land and we headed on the trail we used to walk. It looked completely deserted with no signs of human presence for years.
But less than 50 yards from my car I started seeing many sight of rooting. Some old and some were so fresh like the pigs were not more than 30 minutes before I came there.
Now i guess i know what i'll be doing next weekend :archer green:


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[Bubblehide]

Sweet, and so close to home.

 

[JustGuy]

It has its negative points as well.
1. You do not know what to do with all the meat.
2. It is not fun anymore as i remember from my private land hunts, it is almost like going shopping. first you are all exited, but then it is so predictable that all anticipation and excitement are gone. I even stopped hunting for a couple of years because if it, and lost all my properties since owners found someone else.

Hunting should remain hunting, not shopping.

 

[Bubblehide]

It has its negative points as well.
1. You do not know what to do with all the meat.
2. It is not fun anymore as i remember from my private land hunts, it is almost like going shopping. first you are all exited, but then it is so predictable that all anticipation and excitement are gone. I even stopped hunting for a couple of years because if it, and lost all my properties since owners found someone else.

Hunting should remain hunting, not shopping.

Okay, give me the store name, address, and of course tell me which isle to go shopping in.

 

[jls456]

I'll bring the bags.....

 

[JustGuy]

Okay, give me the store name, address, and of course tell me which isle to go shopping in.

Here are some shopping examples

1. Los Gagatos Meats.

2. But seriously, you know what i'm taking about. The hunt was like that:
3PM my friend picks me up.
3:30- 3:45 we are at hunting grounds depending on the property we hunt this day.
4PM we are already all set under the tree and waiting for pigs. (He even smokes, and i drink coffee).
4:15 or 4:25 the latest pigs show up at their regular trail 60 yards form us.
5:30 we are heading home with a skinned pig.

And such routine every week. you think it is fun? It is f***n hard work. you already do not notice anything from the hunt, you just remember guts, blood, skin.
It is what i call shopping.

3. There is another kind of shopping: guided hunts. You pay the money, they bring you to the shooting distance and you just execute the animal, this is also shopping in my opinion.


But now, when i do not have access to such properties i also start missing it. You know, there is a saying, people do not appreciate what they have, but when they loose it, they start crying. It is im my own words, i'm sure there an English verbiage for it, not my broken jibrish

 

[thewolfman]

Wow..... Let me take that burden away from u my friend.... I ve done all my hunting on public land and work my @$$ off... Spent thousands on gear and gas... I guess I m just envious of u.... My frig has a lot of extra space... I am successful but I love to eat my game so its never enough.... Glad u can still find a place like that... Goodluck... Looking forward to read your hunt

 

[JustGuy]

I'll see how it works. I'll go there this weekend for a morning hunt and leave some cameras to learn their pattern. They might be nocturnal in this area.

I know 2 properties 20 minutes away from my home, both holding decent population of hogs, but they are 100% nocturnal. I never seen them coming out before 11PM and staying not later than 4AM.
I have cameras on each property strategically located for 5 years. Never saw them in day light. Useless land. This one might be the same. I don't hold my breath.

I just hope that pigs are going to be moved to Non game animals as i heard someone discussed. Then the game is on....

 

[goldenarrow49]

If hunting is too easy for you why don't you get a bow? I spend enough time in the woods scouting and hiking trying to find sign that when a plan finally comes together easily I am happy. If hunting wasn't a challenge I don't think I would do it.

 

[JustGuy]

If hunting is too easy for you why don't you get a bow? I spend enough time in the woods scouting and hiking trying to find sign that when a plan finally comes together easily I am happy. If hunting wasn't a challenge I don't think I would do it.

Hm, why do you think i didn't? I killed more big game with my bow than with anything else. Most of the properties we hunted were archery only.
Actually i actively started hunting with rifle for pigs approximately 3 years ago. Before it, mostly bow. Rifle for pigs was used occasionally on private lands and on some public land hunts.

All this "easy" is in the past now. Now i'm a public land hunter as you can see.

BTW, actually in your post you say the same thing as i do, "If hunting wasn't a challenge" it is not exiting anymore.

 

[MGDeer]

Hey-JustGuy, I feel challenged every time i put boots to the hunting ground; so therefore i am always excited, Ha! later dude and good luck on the next hunt and may God bless you my friend with an exceedingly challenging hunt: blisters, monkey-butt, aching feet and muscles; a long hike out with a stiff back caused by a pack packed with pork and you don't get home until 24:00 hours...LOL

 

[JustGuy]

Hey-JustGuy, I feel challenged every time i put boots to the hunting ground; so therefore i am always excited, Ha! later dude and good luck on the next hunt and may God bless you my friend with an exceedingly challenging hunt: blisters, monkey-butt, aching feet and muscles; a long hike out with a stiff back caused by a pack packed with pork and you don't get home until 24:00 hours...LOL

This is what called hunting, not shopping:wavin hello:

 

[bughalli]

I agree, whether it be hunting or fishing, it gets boring if too easy. Hence I mostly archery hunt and fly fish these days. After a couple of years of tag soup is I'll pick up a gun, but prefer the bow for the quality of experience and memories. Good luck.

 

[JustGuy]

Last update. As i was expecting, no love for me this time. Some new rooting, some fresh footprints, but nothig signifacant.
Hunted from 6:30AM till sundown and nothing.
But it is OK, it is hunting, not shopping, right?.
Left 3 cameras in the area, will see their pattern and activity. Hope the cameras do not get stolen as happens often.

 

[MGDeer]

You're alright Just Guy.