new to hog hunting

[fuddfan30]

I actually have never hog hunted and wanted to start. So the obvious thing I did was look up public hunting land on the ca dfg website but it really doesn't give much info other than what you can hunt at specific wild life areas. The areas that are the closest to me that have hog hunting are Indian Valley WA and Cache Creek WA. What I dont know is how the hunting is at these areas. I don't mind hunting hard if I know there is going to be hogs in the area, but I would hate to put in a lot of effort for no return. Don't get me wrong, I know the proper ways to do things is to scout the area out and find out for myself, but the internet is an awsome tool as well. A shortcut of sorts. I don't need an arrow saying the hogs are in this exact spot. I am just wondering if there are healthy herds there. Any advice is welcome. Even if it is about other hunting areas.

A little about myself, I am mostly goint to be hunting with a rifle. I am accurate to about 300 yard, farther if I have an awsome rest, but it's hard lugging a leadsled about. I don't have a lot of money at my disposal for guided hunts, usually just enough for gas and lunch. I am willing to pick someone up and drive around in trade for them to show me the ropes.

Thanks
Jeremy

 

[myfriendis410]

It might be money well spent to pay for a guided hunt at Deedy's or at Tejon. Call Bryson/Hesperia and ask about their fee schedules. You might be surprised. After you spend all your money on guns/ammo, licenses, gas, food, lodging, etc. you will find this isn't cheap.

Good luck. BTW, if you are retired military, try Vandenberg. Don't overlook FHL either.

 

[larrysogla]

Yup...........Fort Hunter Liggett and Camp Roberts both allow civilians to hunt inside the military base with purchase of permit(in advance at least 2 weeks by mail at Fort Hunter Liggett and drop-in on the day of the hunt at Camp Roberts), Vandenberg Air Force Base(if retired military or current military).......these 3 military bases are the best bet on public land hog hunts. As many folks here will say............you will burn a lot of full tanks of gas and cheeseburgers and maybe lodging before you will even see tracks of wild hogs.....let alone shoot one. As you can see.............save the money in full tanks of gas burned up, cheeseburgers downed and lodgings and try Bryson Hesperia Resort with Deedy(as they probably have the best deal in semi-guided hog hunting in Central Coast California, phone #(805) 472-2922). However.............it is always fun to be outdoors even if you don't see a hog.
'Nuff said
larrysogla

 

[weekender21]

It might be money well spent to pay for a guided hunt at Deedy's or at Tejon. Call Bryson/Hesperia and ask about their fee schedules. You might be surprised. After you spend all your money on guns/ammo, licenses, gas, food, lodging, etc. you will find this isn't cheap.

Good luck. BTW, if you are retired military, try Vandenberg. Don't overlook FHL either.

All the pigs on Vandenberg ran away!

 

[weekender21]

I enjoy hunting hogs on my own but if you're just getting started I highly suggest a guided hunt. You could spent hundreds on gas and lodging on several unsuccessful trips or spend a few hundred ($300-$500) on a guided private land hunt.

Nothing is ever guaranteed but most guided hunts in the state will at least get you a shot opportunity and most will give you several shot opportunities in a weekend. I've killed plenty of hogs on public land but I've seen over 100 hogs in one weekend on private land, that's hard to beat!

 

[Hogs_and_Sturgeons]

Hi fud,

I've been up to Cache Creek wa a few times. Seen definite hog sign, a forker, and coyotes up there. Haven't been up there since august, seemed like a baron wasteland then but, with all the moisture now it might be a little more active. I've got some plans to go up there and areas to go if you want to pm me.

 

[bigboarstopper]

If your considering public lands, winter is the best time. The hogs will be moving when the hills turn green and there is plenty of water. If you dont have any luck by the end of spring Id consider looking into a guided hunt on some private land.

 

[westcoastr]

ok Fuddfan30 here my boiler plate info for newbies:

1) public land pig are crazy scarce, only about 350 take each year, ~150 these from the military bases
2) lots of private land is packed with them, 5,000 taken each year, prolly many more on special permits or no permits.
3) I've found pig sign somewhere on just about EVERY blm and FS land within 4 hours of bay area
4) most shots are 150 yd or less as pigs normally stay near cover
5) see #1
6) I probably hunted 20-30 days before I saw my first pig
7) I hunted that pig for 10 more days but never saw it again
8) don't be afraid to try something different or out of the ordinary, pigs can be found in places most hunters would overlook or would be difficult to get to.
9) see #1
10) my wife doesn't even know where my piggy honey hole is
11) if you want a public land piggie, it might be one of the hardest kills in CA to get
12) you can't hunt hard enough, 3 am wake up's, hike out in the dark, bust the brush, study everything you can about the pigs, terrain, and areas/trip reports

good luck, don't get discouraged, and if nothing else you will learn how to be a better hunter for other animals

 

[fuddfan30]

as far as the drive goes, I am up there about every other weekend anyway. I only live about an hour away and don't mind getting out and bustin some brush. My wife goes and plays bingo at colusa about every weekend and since the two wildlife areas are not far off, I thought I would give them a try.
Larry, I looked up the info on Fort Hunter Liggett and Camp Roberts, both seem pretty reasonable and I will absolutely have to give them a try. Right now I think I will try and hit the wildlife areas and not spoil myself with private land hunts just yet. I have hunted california all of my life, I am used to having to work to find game.
thank you all for your responses and if anyone else has anything to add, I welcome the advice. Hogs and sturgeons I will pm you

thanks again
jeremy

 

[rodneyshishido]

I'm not in California but hunt hogs quite regularly. I started hunting by just packing the rifle and walking the areas. I hunt hogs exclusively on public land. It has taken me many years and many miles of walking to familiarize myself with my area. I now see pigs about 90% of the time. I do not always get shots, but, I see pigs.

I really enjoy just carrying the gun and exploring the areas. For myself, a good day hunting does not require seeing game or killing game. My belief is that if you hunt the same way, you will eventually be one of the few who successfully harvests on public land.

Good luck and enjoy!!!!!

 

[hogswild82]

I have just started hog hunting this year, and let me tell you hog hunting on public land is like finding a needle on a haystack. I have been to cottonwood creek area five times this year, and so far have seen no pigs watsoever. Although there are signs of them out there. I also got drawn by the DFG this year for the north carrizo plain hunt, with no luck at all, there was nothing to be seen. But there were very fresh signs of wil pigs in the area. Out of 20 people who got drawn, no 1 saw or shot a pig. Last year there were 7 pigs taken from the same hunt and same property. Reason was there was barley planted last year and this year there were no barley fields. So I decided to join wilderness unlimited to better my chances of accessing private ranches. I am still awaiting the information process. Are there any members of wilderness unlimited who have hunted any of their ranches and have had luck?? If so, please do help a beginner out..

Thanks,
Chris

 

[jaimeb831]

Fuddfan30, welcome to the pig hunting world, for me Pig hunting is the best out of all the animals I've ever hunted. They are very unpredictable, and fun to hunt. I've seen pigs in the most random places ever, but they do have there special spots. Those spots are usually deep canyons full of brush with water and vegetation within reach. If your looking for a good public place to hunt hogs I recommend FHL and Camp Rob, especially now that's its starting to rain. I've gone hunting twice this year for pigs, due to me being stationed in our nations capitol, but both times my dad and I spotted pigs and we managed to take one down. It just takes time and hard work. If you cant make it out to FHL or Camp Rob try upper cotton wood on Pacheco pass, every time I've been there I've seen some huge pigs, and my dad has taken at least 3 boars well over 200 pounds, but you do need to put in some serious work in this area because the hills are big.

 

[myfriendis410]

All the pigs on Vandenberg ran away!

Not true! We've got lots of acorns on the ground and many more still in the trees. That's the place to be. Unfortunately there's like a million oaks dropping acorns so it's just pure dumb luck to stumble onto them.

Kinda fun and spooky easing into the oaks with a bow and looking at damp tracks and rooting that's an hour old.......

 

[myfriendis410]

A friend of mine filled his cow elk tag at FHL over the weekend and they saw the largest herds of hogs they've ever seen: like 50 or 60 at a time. Of course they are in either an impossible place to get to or it's closed for ops.

Call ahead.

 

[hogswild82]

Fuddfan30, welcome to the pig hunting world, for me Pig hunting is the best out of all the animals I've ever hunted. They are very unpredictable, and fun to hunt. I've seen pigs in the most random places ever, but they do have there special spots. Those spots are usually deep canyons full of brush with water and vegetation within reach. If your looking for a good public place to hunt hogs I recommend FHL and Camp Rob, especially now that's its starting to rain. I've gone hunting twice this year for pigs, due to me being stationed in our nations capitol, but both times my dad and I spotted pigs and we managed to take one down. It just takes time and hard work. If you cant make it out to FHL or Camp Rob try upper cotton wood on Pacheco pass, every time I've been there I've seen some huge pigs, and my dad has taken at least 3 boars well over 200 pounds, but you do need to put in some serious work in this area because the hills are big.

Hey Fuddfan, I'm not doubting you or anything about upper cottonwood area, but how long ago did you guys take those pigs out there? This year I've been to upper cottonwood creek area 5 times and let me tell you, we walked almost every single hill there is to walk and seen no pigs at all. Seen a couple bucks and does, but no pig at all. It took us about 2 1/2 hours of hiking to hike all the way to the back boundary line from the parking lot and walked up those steep hill north bound. Those are some pretty steep hills. And still nothing. 0 for 5 this year at upper cotton wood creek. Makes me wonder if there are any pigs out there? There are barely any signs of them out there.

Any clues or suggestions will be highly appreciated..

Thanks,
Chris

 

[hogswild82]

Sorri, I meant Jaime

Hey Fuddfan, I'm not doubting you or anything about upper cottonwood area, but how long ago did you guys take those pigs out there? This year I've been to upper cottonwood creek area 5 times and let me tell you, we walked almost every single hill there is to walk and seen no pigs at all. Seen a couple bucks and does, but no pig at all. It took us about 2 1/2 hours of hiking to hike all the way to the back boundary line from the parking lot and walked up those steep hill north bound. Those are some pretty steep hills. And still nothing. 0 for 5 this year at upper cotton wood creek. Makes me wonder if there are any pigs out there? There are barely any signs of them out there.

Any clues or suggestions will be highly appreciated..

Thanks,
Chris

 

[jaimeb831]

Sorri, I meant Jaime

Its been a few years since I've been out there due to me moving around allot with the Marines, but my dad and mom where out there about 3 weeks ago and spotted about 20 deer and a few signs of pigs, but if your not seeing any signs my guess is they have moved over to the private property or they are down by the reservoir, which I believe you can hunt some spots but with shotgun only. I would also give it one more try when it rains a bit more and try to see if they are digging up the ground, if you do manage to see some good fresh signs, check out the cherry patches, they love to take shelter in there.

 

[jaimeb831]

Not true! We've got lots of acorns on the ground and many more still in the trees. That's the place to be. Unfortunately there's like a million oaks dropping acorns so it's just pure dumb luck to stumble onto them.

Kinda fun and spooky easing into the oaks with a bow and looking at damp tracks and rooting that's an hour old.......

They are there, this was my first year hunting VB, and both times we saw pigs or bagged a pig.