Newbie Hunter to the Forum!!

[noahsark]

thank you spec for the info, i aprecitate it. i definalty did not mean a waste of time on the negative side just i did read your story of it being your third year trying as a experinced hunter. with me being a deffinate begginer it puts a little hamper on ones high hopes of success that makes a hunt so fun weither you get one or not. i do agrre that with a guide would be the best way to learn some good stuff. i was laughing when i read damatrat had his scope all the way out and couldnt see a wide enought view to scope in. stuf like that i would have never though of, but problay learned at the expense of a missed hog. and that my freinds is what makes all theses forums so interesting and entertaining to read. well good luck on quail opener if any one is going.

 

[Kickaha]

Noahsark,

Welcome to Jesse's! There is an absolute gold-mine of information here. I went through every single one of the posts in the hog-hunting section when I first got here. Great info for someone just starting out.

I agree with everything Speckmisser said. There seem to be three general "methods" for hunting hogs in CA:

1. Hire a guide. Success rate near 100%. As someone else said (sorry, don't remember who), hiring a good guide can be more like shopping than hunting. But if you look around for a guide that will hunt the way you want, you'll definately learn a lot the first time out. $$$.

2. Go to a non-guided ranch hunt, like the Tejon Ranch pig-o-ramas. Very good success rates, but not as good as with a guide. $$. $$$$ if you don't get a pig.

3. Public land hunting. Terrible success rates, but only $ for each time out. Unless you have a honey-hole, the cost per pig is probably more than a guided hunt. Possibly a lot more.

I personally like public land hunting. FHL is great. If you have the opportunity to go there a few times, I'd suggest getting their annual permit and doing that. I learn something every time I'm out. If you're just starting out, there's a LOT to learn.

One drawback to going with a guide the first few times out is that they'll be giving you so much information, you may forget half of it. Or you may not no what questions to ask or to followup on certain questions. Going with a guide after a few times out on your own would be a better value, IMO.

Anyway, good luck and hope to see you out there!