Newbie looking to learn to hunt

[anosheh]

Hello there,
I am a omelette beginner, in the process of buying my first gun and would love to begin by going on a wild pig hunt.

Should I use an outfitter for my first hunt? Will I learn the basics from an outfitter? I've called a few, but the feeling I get from most is that, you show up, pay up, shoot a pig a and go home. Is that about how it works with most outfitters?

I would like to experience the adventure: walk around the woods for a couple of days, see a lot of wild life, learn how to stalk and selectively shoot a pig and learn about all the details that go along with it.
Any outfitters/guides you guys would recommend?

Alternately, I would like to hunt backpacking on my own. Are there such places in California?

Thanks in advance for your help.

AA

 

[Rancho Loco]

Tejon.

 

[easymoney]

Welcome ano,
IMHO, go with a guide if you have some experience and want to take home some bacon. But, they most likely won't have the time nor patience to teach a newbie "how to hunt"...
Do a back search on this site as there is lots of great info and people who are very knowledgeable and willing to help.
You don't say where you are from, but there are lots of good hunters in every corner of this nation more than willing to get somebody started...

 

[upper]

Where are you from and do you have outdoor expierience?

 

[bigtusker]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Should I use an outfitter for my first hunt? Will I learn the basics from an outfitter? I've called a few, but the feeling I get from most is that, you show up, pay up, shoot a pig a and go home. Is that about how it works with most outfitters?[/b]

Most outfitters is a broad statement. Let me try to answer your question as it relates to "NEWBIE" hunters.

Any outfitter who has been in the business for a considerable amount of time has had to deal with novice hunters. Some have lost cattle to a novice hunters bullet, others have a hole in their truck from a novice hunters accidental discharge and others yet are damn lucky to still be with us. What an outfitter doesn't like is someone who's not straight up with him. If you are new to the sport of hunting, then by all means let them know it beforehand. Do your research and talk to plenty of people. Ask lots of questions. You will run into the ones that just want your money and dont care much about whether you get a critter or learn anything. But if you ask the right questions and talk to the right people, you will learn the ones to stay away from. This website is a great spot to glean plenty of info so you came to the right place. If you are looking for a hunt with a good chance at seeing lots of game, then book a guided hunt with a reputable outfitter.
If you choose to book a guided hunt, be sure to tell the outfitter everything you expect to get out of the experience hunting with him and your limitations if any.

Just a side note: In September of 2002 I nearly became the "late" owner of Wild Hog Adventures from a stray bullet (the result of an alleged AD) fired from a .308 Norma Mag by a gentleman (term used very loosely) with over 30 years experience hunting. So it's not always the "newbie" hunter who has the accident. I for one think it happens more with guys who have been doing it a while and get a little lax in their routine. SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY is the first priority when using firearms, dont forget it.

I hope my words here have helped you a little, I tend to babble sometimes.

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

thats great advice Chopper I know someone else who could of used it, your story reminds me of another idiot hunter who did not understand gun safety. I am going to forward a copy of your post to the VICE PRESIDENT

.............tra

 

[buck_in_rut]

You can start by going to dfg and ask them for a wild pig hunting guide
it has some good info. on huntig pigs.

 

[anosheh]

Thanks for your advice you guys. I am from Southern California. Any pointers, advice will be greatly appreciated. I've camped a couple of times, but I don't think that would make me an out doors man.

I was a member of the shooting club in college. So I can shoot. Although I realize target shooting is not the same as game shooting.

Thanks again for your help and advice.

Anosheh

 

[Cal hunter]

Bigtuskers advice is right on.Weather it be a guide or someone willing to take you out with them be honest.Dont feel like any question is to stupid to ask.You cant learn if you dont ask.I have been hunting since I was a kid and to this day When I meet and hunt with new people I ask questions and learn new things.Also you need to take a hunter saftey class to get a lisence.If you have already taken it but its been a while you may want to take a refresher class,theres alot of good info on firearm saftey and firearms in the field.One more thing to remember is its hunting not killing and more often then not you will come home empty handed but you will enjoy the expirence and the outdoors in a way that alot of people dont get to.Every time you come home empty handed dont get discouraged just take what you learned while you were out there and use it next time and it will start to come together for you.Welcome to our sport and remember to be safe and enjoy yourself.

 

[Jagermeister]

The DFG has hunting clinics where they teach you about hunting. You can find info on their web site. It would be good to go to those for the species of game you are interested in. I would recommend you hit some public land for pigs. You may not see a pig - very likely so - but you will get some time in the woods and a good feel for it. It sounds like you need more experience just being outdoors as well, on top of hunting. Make sure you are careful, especially if you venture out by yourself. Besides gun safety mentioned above, outdoors safety is important as well.

Cheers, George

 

[larrysogla]

Anosheh,
I believe most guides just want to put you within shooting distance of a wild pig and then you shoot the pig and their job is done. Most guides also know which corner of the ranch has pig concentrations and/or which ranch at that particular day(if the guide has access to multiple ranches) has numerous pig sightings. So what happens is that within less than a day, sometimes within a few hours of hunting, you will score on a pig. The other part where you want to be educated on reading pig tracks, reading pig signs, reading pig droppings etc., etc. most guides do not charge enough to tutor or school a learning hunter. Remember that whatever fees they charge you, the guide has to share that with the landowner. So the guide has to pay the landowner before he can even start to make a profit. I don't think that we REALLY CAN AFFORD it if the guide has to properly charge us for a sufficient schooling in pig hunting. Our best option then is to attend/participate in the JHO Hunter Liggett pig hunts at Holiday occasions of the year AND also participate in the JHO Tejon Pig Management(Pig-O-Rama) hunt being signed up now as we speak for rifle shooters AND the JHO archery pig hunts at the ranch of Choppers. There you will meet folks that are not into the activity for a living BUT as a hobby/recreation and during the camp hours they have the time and inclination to answer your questions and give you pointers and advice. Also, they can take you into the field and show you in a practical manner how pigs are hunted. So there you go, the Fort Hunter Liggett and Tejon JHO rifle pig hunts and the Choppers archery pig hunts are your best newbie pig hunting school of hard knocks without spending a ton of hard earned precious dollars. Fort Hunter Liggett has resident wild pigs and Tejon and Choppers are crawling with wild pigs on the hillsides and you will have your outdoor experience within conditions that are one of the safest you will ever find. Welcome to JHO. You came to the right place. 'Nuff said and God Bless.

 

[easymoney]

Now that you have mentioned your location, you might PM some of the locals and see if they want to buddy up and mentor you...

 

[fishnhunt]

Good luck on you starting your hunting career...Once you start you will never stop. The pig hunting guide that was mentioned can be found here (it is very helpful): http://www.dfg.ca.gov/hunting/pig/index.htm
Info on the clinics can be found here (I have never been but I bet for a new hunter it would be evxtremely helpful): http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/news07/07010.html

 

[anosheh]

Thanks you guys. This is great information. I'll check them all out.

AA

 

[SDHNTR]

anosheh,
Pick up a copy of Bob Robb's book "Hunting Wild Boar in California" (or something to that effect). It is great and you will learn a ton.

I would recommend going with a guide first. Follow Chopper's advice. Communicate what you expect out of the hunt, especially in regards to hunting out of vehicles and using dogs, and ask what is expected of you too. Make sure you and the guide have an understanding of how you want to hunt. Otherwise he will take you out and do whatever he's sees as the best tactic to get you a pig in short order. That is their job. Clear communication is key. Don't be afraid to ask questions. I learned a ton on my first guided pig hunt.

Since you are new to hunting and will be shopping for a big game gun, I'll save you a lot of headache and sore eyes from reading endless banter. As long as you are of at least average build, get a bolt action 30-06. End of story. No need to even consider anything else, IMO. That is all you will ever need and is a very versatile round that will work well for anything in the lower 48, including hogs. Brand really doesn't matter. Buy what you like best, put a good 3-9X40 scope (spend at least $200) on it and practice with it a lot.

Aside from that, the most important tools you will need for hunting here are good boots and good binoculars. Hiking past most of the road and half day hunters, and the ability to spot game will give you the advantage over others. Buy the absolutely best you can afford, even if it means robbing Peter to pay Paul. It will be worth it.

Good luck. You came to the right place.

 

[anosheh]

Thanks for all the great advice. I had narrowed my choice of gun to Remington 700, SPS 30-06.

What's the story with the Pig-O-Rama event. Went on Tejon website, all I could find about the event was an application from last year. Sounds like open season on wild pigs for $400 with lots of hunters on the filed. No guides. Is that it?

Anosheh

 

[larrysogla]

Anosheh,
The JHO-Tejon Pig Management Hunt(they called it Pig-O-Rama before) I believe is on June 18-20????, 2007.
Ask Speckmisser to be sure because he is the Coordinator for this Excellent Unguided Pig Hunt on an Awe Inspiring Scenic Property that for some reason is just crawling with wild pigs on the hillsides(why can't Fort Hunter Liggett also be crawling with wild pigs on the hillsides???? Why????? The excellent habitat is there and the pig harvest from the pig hunts is probably less than the pig harvest at Tejon. Why then are the Tejon hillsides crawling with pigs and it seems at FHL it is not????). I believe there are still hunter space/slots available for the Tejon-JHO Pig Management hunt. Speckmisser is already accepting applications for this rifle,pistol, archery Tejon-JHO Pig Management Hunt in June 18-20???, 2007. That is a good bunch of guys to listen to and to observe and absorb various pig smacking techniques. Sometimes they score(luck!!!) and sometimes they don't. Nevertheless they are a great bunch of guys and most have several wild pig success under their belt already. If I were a newbie, the JHO-Tejon Pig Management Hunt and the Fort Hunter Liggett JHO hunts are where I would go to for initiation into the addicting hobby of SMACKING WILD PIGS. Also the Bryson Hesperia Resort(next to Fort Hunter Liggett) is a good place to obtain lodging accomodations as the proprietor, Deedy, seems to have a knack for predicting good spots for Hog sighting and shooting. I would pay attention to Deedy's advice as she sees the wild hogs crossing the paved roads that she travels to. God Bless and 'Nuff said.

 

[SDHNTR]

The Wild Pig Management hunts (as they are now called) are unguided. You and 150 others get the run of the ranch for the weekend. It's not open season, you can kill one pig. Success averages about 35-40% but guys that work at it should have plenty of opportunity.

 

[Rancho Loco]

150?

Actually, it's 50 per area. For the JHO ham slams, we'll get the run of 90,000 acres on the south side.

Do a search...I would definately look into getting with the JHO crew. Lots of pigs, lots of veteranos with tons of inside knowlege.

 

[Speckmisser]

Anosheh,

The JHO/Tejon Pig hunt is an annual event where we book one "side" of the Tejon ranch for our private group. Our group size has run between 25 and 50 hunters for the past three years. That group has access to at least 60,000 acres of some of California's best hunting land.

It's a two and a half day hunt, and each hunter is allowed to take one wild pig. Over the past three years, we've averaged a little under 50% success which is better than the average for their unguided hunts (the hunts formerly known as Pig-O-Rama).

The benefit of the JHO hunt is that we're there as a group, and while many of us will have never met, by the end of the weekend there's a pretty good camaraderie. There is also significant sharing of information, both of locations of hogs and techniques. A few of us are usually willing to help others out...although it must be clearly stated that we are all there primarily to hunt and fill our own bags too.

Anyway, new hunters are always welcome and encouraged to attend. There is no guaranteee of success, but it's about the best odds you'll get short of a guided hunt.

Speaking of guided hunts, though... I always recommend that new hunters, if they have the means, go first with a guide. No guide has the time or patience to share his lifetime's experience, but if you're willing to listen and learn, you'll get a huge head start in the sport.

As others have said, just be honest from the beginning about your own experience and what you're looking for from the hunt. If you show the guide that you're willing to take in his (or her) knowledge, you'd be amazed how much they will take the time to teach you.