New to Hog Hunting - going on N. California Trip

[Drake]

Gentlemen, A friend of mine in CA is arranging for myself and a few other close friends to join him on a Mid-Feb hog hunt in California. As we are all from Virginia, none of us have ever hunted hogs before. Basically we are leasing access to a ranch that is said to have a fairly good population of hogs(?), and the rest is self guided. Our primary goal is to get together and have fun. However a successful hunting trip is an added bonus for all of us. Does anyone have any tips for a 'newbie' trying to make this a successful hunting trip? In general, where should I concentrate my efforts when looking for the hogs, or sign? I am an experienced hunter with many successful years hunting whitetails, but this will be the first time after hogs. Any advice? I know this may be asking a bit much as I have little in the way of details.

Also, as my CA friend is fitting the tab on this trip, the rest of us would like to outfit him with a brand new rifle as a little surprise. Can anyone tell me how to legally do this in California? Is there an issue if we "import" a bolt action rifle into California and present it to him as a gift without paperwork? Is this legal in CA? If I purchase a rifle and ship it to a dealer in the Fresno, is there a waiting period before my friend can take possession upon completing the required paperwork? I would like to purchase the rifle, pillar bed it, rework the trigger, add a nice scope, and tailor some loads to it..then present it to him. I just don't know the best way to go about this. Any info you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. I appreciate any and all help.

 

[JBarn3]

Legally, the transfer must go through a licensed dealer, and there is a 10 day waiting period.

You can have a dealer in your state send the rifle to a dealer in Ca, then the dealer here will do the paperwork and hold the rifle for 10 days.

Alternatively, you can bring the rifle out with you, "loan" it to your friend for the duration of your trip, then before you go back home, take it to a dealer and take care of the paperwork. Your friend will then have to wait 10 days before he can pick up his rifle.

This way, you can still suprise your friend with the rifle and he can use it while you are here.

 

[Drake]

Thank you Jbarn. You have helped a great deal. Thank you for the additional idea on the loaner rifle. I want to keep everything legal and I know California has rather tight gun control laws. If anyone can recommend a dealer in the Fresno area, I can make arrangements for the transfer ahead of time. I would like to keep this a surprise which is tough with a 10 day waiting period. I may go ahead and ship dealer to dealer well ahead of time so he can get acquainted with his new tool in advance of the hunt.