Newbie Lake Sonoma report

[Moparcwby77]

First post! Just got back from hunting pigs at Lake Sonoma. We hunted from tuesday afternoon till friday morning. Long story short didnt get to fling an arrow. Only pigs we came across were in the steepest brushiest canyon we could find and just ran deeper into the stuff when they jumped. There was a fair amount of 1-2 day old sign almost everywhere we looked. We did see another hunter with a nice hog in his boat. The morning fog was very thick every morning and didnt break until around 9am. Definitely bring a gps. Some of the higher ridges around the lake were above the fog. We covered A LOT of ground on foot, mostly on the northern half of the lake.
The pigs out there seem to be holed up pretty tight in the brush right now, and not coming out at all during the day. But they are definitely there. Hope this helps anybody thats gonna head out that way in the next few days. Oh one more thing if you are taking a boat watch out because there is a lot of floating debris in the water (dead trees, fence posts, etc) that are big enough to do damage to a boat and/or motor should you hit one in the fog. Well good luck to you all, go get em...

 

[Mel Carter]

Hey Mopar,
Great first post! Thanks for the info, and WELCOME to JHO. Hope you stick around and share some stories, you'll love it here.

 

[BDB]

Thanks for the info. I was up for my first hunt there a week and a half ago and would have to agree with everything you said. Lots of sign but the pigs seemed to stick in the real thick stuff by daylight even at first and last light. I'm sure if I spent enough time up there and learn some more of the area a pig will eventually fall to one of my arrows. Still as public land goes, it's pretty good huh?? I'll be back up there that's for sure !!!!

Welcome to the site, hope you stick around and chat

 

[Cal hunter]

Welcome to a great sight thanks for the report Im heading over there saturday morning Ill let you all know how it goes wish me luck

 

[bowhunter104]

This may seem like a dumb question, but is a boat needed to get to hunting areas at the lake? I have never even been to the lake but I have heard alot of good reports about it. I was supposed to hunt it last year at February with a guy I used to work but neither of us knew anything about the place.

 

[Backcountry]

A boat is helpful but not at all necessary... 75% of what can be reached by boat can also be reached on foot, IF you are in kickass shape. But even if you are a couch potatoe, there still are tons of fire roads to hike off of Rockpile Road and also out of Yorty day use area. You could hunt there for two weeks straight on foot and never see the same place twice.

However, if you've been reading the posts... most of the pigs aren't going to be along the places that are easy to get to... moreover, the places that are hard to get to are even harder to get a pig out of on foot... but it can be done, and who knows, ya just might get lucky.

Don't let not having a boat stop you...

Backcountry

 

[Moparcwby77]

I think a boat is almost required out there. There was some decent sign within a LONG hike of Yorty creek, but it would be a bear to pack one out. Almost all of my hunting at the lake has been at the northern end, mostly on the A-25 deer hunts, which has essentially no road access. This was the first time Id hunted pigs out there. Expect to do a lot of hiking and sneaking through the heavy brush to find pigs out there right now. I have a feeling if you were out there when its storming it might be a different story (midday it was hitting 70s when I was there). The pigs I did find out there jumped while I was on my hands and knees crawling down through the brush. Pretty intense!
On the other hand I know the guy who had the pig in his boat got his pretty close to the lake. We were up on a ridge and heard him motoring by below us out in the fog at about 8 or so. Fog didnt break until about 10. At 1pm he was heading back with a pig. Go figure. I guess just being out there somewhere is half the battle. Im gonna try to go back again for a couple days before these hunts wrap up. Not sure when.
One more thing about hunting out there, bring swim goggles. If you drop one close to the lake chances are very good its gonna wind up in the water, and you'll be diving for it. 3 of the deer we've gotten out there over the years have ended up in the water and deer sink like rocks. I imagine pigs would do the same. Good luck and post on what you find out there!

 

[Backcountry]

Yours is the second time I've read that pigs and deer sink like rocks... gonna have to keep that in mind when setting up the shot.

I figure I've covered about 35% of the area of that park, and I'll still stick to my guns and say that a boat is not "almost definately required there". Hogwash... what's a long walk for some (i.e., 4-8 miles) may be just a "walk in the park" for others. ...and then there's all that land that is exceptionally accessible off of Rockpile Road.

However... if I had my druthers, I'd always take a boat, because even though I like to hike and cover ground, I ain't stupid and I realize I'd be in for a hell of an adventure if I stuck a pig 3 or 4 miles from the truck. I've had that type of adventure with deer, so it can be done (builds character I think), but it borders on type-II and type-III fun.

I will say that I have seen pigs everytime I've been to the park... a lot were mid-day, wandering across an open grassy field... of course those fields were either in the closed area or three ridges too far away. I've seen 'em once up close too, in a thicket where I couldn't draw my long ATA bow, let alone have an arrow sail true through all that brush... Sooner or later, the hard work will pay off.

Backcountry

type-I fun: fun when you're doing it, fun when you look back on it
type-II fun: not-so-fun when you're doing it, but still fun when you look back on it
type-III fun: horrible when you're doing it, and not too pleasant looking back either

 

[Moparcwby77]

It does look like there is a lot of area accessible from rockpile road on foot. If you were gonna try on foot I would recommend starting there. Ive had a couple of those adventures too with packing out deer and bear. Its doable, just be set up to de-bone the pig and carry meat out. "(builds character I think)", Backcountry, you are absolutely right. This lake is the type of place that if you put in the time and effort you'll get your chances. Of course a little luck doesnt hurt either. Go give it a shot...

 

[Cal hunter]

Well Im heading up there saturday and I dont have a boat but you can bet one thing I will love every minute I am out there.If luck is on my side and I happen to be at the right place at the right time and stick a pig and have to haul it out then so be it.Its a price im willing to pay for the sport I love and boy will I have one hell of a story for you guys when I get back if things work out in my favor

 

[bowhunter104]

I appreciate the info guys. Its good to hear that you can access the area without a boat. Won't be the first time I've have had to hike in a couple of miles to get at animals. I'll definately have to check it out soon.

 

[Arrowslinger]

I'll be headed to Lk Sonoma next week either Tues/Wed or Wed/Thur for a little adventure, thinkin' of hikin' in....might boat it, but would rather hike it in. Any takers? Myself & one other for now.

 

[BDB]

Good luck 'slinger. I'd love to go with you but I just can't break away from work for a while. I don't know much of the area as I have only hunted once and we boated in. I think I'd opt for a boat given the choice though. Straight down hill drag to the water instead of up and down those hills with a carcass on your back

 

[sportyg]

I understand you can rent boats there anyone have any info on that ??

 

[BDB]

Yep, I have all the dirt, checked into it myself. The Marina their rents boats. WAHOO !!! BUT they don't open until May and the pig hunting shuts down at the end of March, DOH !!!! I was hoping to rent a boat and take my wife and dog into one of the remote camping spots, and sneak in a little piggy hunting morning and night while I was there. Guess not.

If you click this link then go to the "Boating" link it is all there.
http://www.spn.usace.army.mil/lakesonoma/

 

[Rangerjoel]

Pig Hunting Success Rate for January 2005

Total number of hunters: 266
Total number of male pigs taken: 7
Total number of female pigs taken 5
Success rate: %4.5
Ranger Joel Miller