New to pig hunting..........

[bux-n-dux]

I am new to pig hunting, and really want to get into it in 2006. I have hunted deer alot, but never pigs. I was hoping there were some *hog veterans* here who might give me some suggestions. I am more than willing to pay my dues.

I will be hunting with rifles as I don't have a bow just yet. I have a Marlin 336 in .35 Remington, and also a Remington Gamemaster 760 in 30-06. I'm a pretty good shot with both. Both guns are scoped, the Marlin with a fixed power and the 760 with a big 50mm variable. I also have a S&W 1500 in .243 but this is mainly my Blacktail gun and I don't plan on using it for hogs.

I live in Marin County and would like to find some places not too far away to hunt pigs. I as of yet can't afford a guided hunt. I would really, really like to go to Tejon for the JHO event but it's just a little too far for me to drive without taking 4 days off work. I just might have to take 4 days off to get started though, it sounds like a great event.

So if anyone has any suggestions for a newbie hogger or even better wants a mule along on the next hog hunt, I would really appreciate any guidance. Oh, BTW, I'm a journeyman butcher and can break your (or my) pig into the nicest, sweetest pieces you ever laid eyes on. I'm also an excellent cook.


Best of luck to all


bux-n-dux

 

[Backcountry]

Because you are a rifle hunter, don't want to drive very far, and don't want to pay anything to hunt, your choices of places to hunt pigs are limited to about zero.

The Cache Creek wildlife area is supposed to hold pigs, but you might hunt there for 10 years and never see one. Thats about a 2.5 hour drive northeast of you and it's brutally difficult terrain. For that matter, of all the thousands of posts on this website every year, you can typically count the number of public land pigs that are taken one one hand, and half of those are taken with a bow.

Other public land spots that are closer than Tejon are the Ventana Wilderness (very difficult terrain, but there are pigs there) and FHL. Both of those areas require a big investment of time and energy to learn the areas. You can't expect to just show up and shoot a pig your first time out. Those areas are 3-4 hours drive for you, depending on traffic getting through the Bay Area.

If I were you, your best bet, is to work your butt off to develop contacts with landowners in northern Sonoma County. Your in an industry that might lend itself to getting put in touch with landowners. Talk to everyone you know, especially contractors, builders, vintners, realtors, etc... anybody that is doing anything with land in Sonoma County. Not unlike public land hunting, you will have to out in a huge amount of energy, but after a year or two you might have one or two contacts for places to occassionally hunt.

Honestly, given the parameters you gave for pig hunting, your best chance of getting a pig is to forget about pig hunting altogether this year, save your money for several months, buy a bow, and get set to hunt as often as you want starting in October at Lake Sonoma, about a 90 minute drive for you. The place is loaded with pigs, especially in the fall.

Don't get discouraged... I'm just telling you like it is for you and everyone else.

Backcountry

 

[easymoney]

Welcome buxndux, you've come to the right place.
Do a search on this site especially on the wild pigs and public land hunting pages and you will find more than enough great info to get you started. Jesse has put together the very best website out there and there are many knowledgeable and friendly hunters here to help...

I have to agree with backcountry 100% though, if you want to up your odds of success and get as much bang for your dollar.
The public areas within easy striking distance of you and your pocket book are going to limit you severely. IMHO save your money so you can go with a guide, they will show you the correct "ropes" and the correct areas to have good success ratio vs money/time spent. There are many good ones on the Central Coast especially near Paso Robles/Parkfield and Coalinga.
If you are going to try and learn the ropes "the hard way" and target only public land on your own, the pickings are slim to none up near you and your odds of getting anything at all slip way down. Try Sonoma Wildlife Area, Tehema Wildlife Area, Cache Creek or further North any of the Coastal Mendicino NF areas. And don't expect to see anything, let alone score. It's big country and the pigs are mainly nocturnal.
There are MANY wild pigs in California and you live within one hour driving time of the highest concentrations in the state, but the bulk are on private ranches that the guides have sewn up or that do not allow any hunting of any kind.
IMHO I would also stick to 30 cal rifles(30 cal winmags are my favorite) as a minimum for these animals, as they have a tough grisley pad up to 1" thick over most of the vital area. I have seen pigs shot in the bread basket with a 30-06, go down, lay there and by the time the hunter got to the pig it had run off with no chance of a second shot. They are TOUGH. Use a good gun in a good caliber, take only a good shot using a rest and make sure they are dead...

Do not get discouraged if you don't score the first few times out, it takes alot of perserverence...
Welcome to the world of wild boar hunting, it's addicting.

 

[Rancho Loco]

4 days for the JHO Ham-Slam?

No way - You leave at the butt-crack friday morning, pull into Tejon with time to take a nap before orientation and the prerequisite giving Speckmisser a hard time.

Hunt your tail off until you tag out or can't move Sunday afternoon, and then blast home. You'll be pretty hurt Monday at work, but that's what they make coffee and big bottles of advil for.

As for opportunities closer to home, start networking. There's also a guide up in Sonoma who does semi-guided hunts for a pretty reasonable price on private land. I'll try to dig up the info.

 

[bux-n-dux]

Hey guys-

Thanks for the info. I alreadu knew the dismal chances on public land. I didnt say i didnt want to pay anything to hunt, I just cant afford 600 dollars for one hunt. As for a bow, I ve looked into it and I'd be looking at well over 500 dollars to get outfitted for bow hunting. Maybe someday, but not with a 3 year old daughter. Maybe next year, i dont know.........

I could afford to pay some money, as I WAS thinking about the JHO ham slam, so Ranch if you could get me that info I would really appreciate it.

As for paying my dues, I have been hunting deer alone on public land for 5 years and still have yet to drop my first buck. I've walked miles upon miles up and down creeks and hills and cliffs and roads. Ive glassed hours upon hours. Ive driven into the hairiest areas i could find. I've even shot once or twice. And every year I go back. So don't worry about my perseverance.

Thanks for the encouragment guys and I hope to skin one out with y'all one day.


bux-n-dux

 

[BirdDawg]

don't give up.......you can get a hog on public land if you put in the time.......FHL is a good place to start and there are areas such as 30 and 29 that are primitive weapons only such as bow,shotgun and muzzle loader that ussually have hogs.........just curious....you say you don't have a bow but you have "1crazyarcher" as your yahoo identity........kind of strange for someone who doesn't have a bow.

 

[Rancho Loco]

All the info is at the top of the page.

JHO Pig-O-Rama

 

[bux-n-dux]

Rancho.....thanks for the info. I'm gonna check that guide out.

Birdawg......my Yahoo ID refers to my astrological sign......Saggitarius, the hunter. The sign for Saggitarius in a centaur with a bow and arrow. So there ya have it.



bux-n-dux

 

[BirdDawg]

was just curious..........I'm Saggitarius myself...........and I hunt with a bow..........all I can say is it's a good thing I don't have to survive on what I bring home.