Pigs and rain question

[JZumi]

This may be a dumb question, but I'm just a beginner...

Rain is forecast this weekend and I would like to hunt for pigs at Lake Sonoma. Do hogs behave differently in rainy weather? Do they just go about their normal business as if nothing was different or do they hunker down in deep brush and wait out the storm?

If they stay plugged in to deep cover, I may change my plans. If they do their normal thing, wouldn't rain may make hunting even better-- less crunchy leaves, possibly easier to approach from down wind, etc ?

Any insights you experienced hunters can share would be much appreciated!

John

PS I'll probably be out there in the rain regardless of what wise advice I get. Something in me says that to be a real hunter I have to learn things the tough way. That's just hunting, isn't it?

 

[Arrowslinger]

Last hog i shot at out there was at the tail end of a storm. If the storm slows or breaks, you should see some action. Best of luck.

 

[Lurediver]

They have to eat at sometime so I would be hunting them in between the pockets of rain. They'll probably be moving around mid-day if there is alot of rain in the morning hours. Good-luck

What AS just said.

 

[sancho]

see you up there sunday??? look for the fool hunting up there with a white subaru forester (wife's). if i score, that sucker is going up on the roof rack.

i am a rook too. i hope the change in weather gets a few moving. i hope they do it midday. i have not registered at the station yet.

my plan: register, hike, search, nap, search...come out at dusk, go home.

 

[berkeleycarlos]

I thought you could only hunt Lake Sonoma Jan with bow and Feb with bow or slug gun??

Carlos

 

[sancho]

Hunting dates are as follows:
Archery and Crossbow November 19, 2008- April 11, 2009 with the exception of all Mondays and Tuesdays.

 

[weekender21]

I've seen hogs bed up for an entire storm but if it breaks....BE READY!

 

[berkeleycarlos]

Can you still hunt with a slug gun in Feb?

 

[sancho]

berkeley...if you go to the hog section and look at the stickies...the lake sonoma is there and easy to read. ranger joel spells it out.

 

[hatchet1]

hunt um before ,during and after the storm,if you have hogs in your area, you will see hogs you dont normally see...

 

[dp1077]

I be up there this weekend also.I have found that when it rains it softens up the ground more,so it makes it for easier rootin for the hogs.They tend to huncker down in the heavier storms.This weekends rain will not affect there daily habits,but that big huge bright moon might.

 

[m hunter]

In the rain most of the pigs will come out of the shurbs and you can catch them in the open feeding on grass

 

[Live2hunt]

Rain makes ground wet. Pigs tracks and rooting activities easier to spot. Now go track'em and wack'em.



L2H

 

[Cold1nhand]

Try to get as high as you can with as much area to glass as possible. When there are breaks be ready. And like Hatchet said you have a higher chance of seeing new pigs. But given that you are new I guess they will all be new one.LOL Go give'er hell cuz you can't shoot one from the couch!

 

[madhunter]

On the last weekend of our deer season here in D7 there was a storm system moving thru. On Saturday morning I was watching a small valley in the hills and I saw some pigs feeding and as the sun came up they retreated into the brush. Then a rain cloud moved in and within a couple minutes the herd came back out to feed and stayed there for the shower and a little while after. This was one of the first rains of the year so I thought they were encouraged to dig as the soil softened.

Rain changes things up and is a really good time to be out hunting.

 

[TRey]

Well, I was thinking hunting pigs in the rain at Lake Sonoma today but couldn't get my act together to get up there. Anyone give it a try?

 

[sancho]

it got COLD! i had a blast but didnt see a thing.

rain and fog came in. i just got home. my rain gear pass the test. not the quietest, but dang toasty. i did see alot of does. maybe 12 or so.

 

[dp1077]

SANCHO,what part of the lake did u hunt?

 

[sancho]

i parked partway down the road to liberty..then walked back up the hill, crossed the road an got onto oakknoll. i crisscrossed the trail all the way down.

honestly, i didnt see much new sign. but then again, i am a new pig hunter.

 

[TRey]

That was the same area we were going to do. 'Cept we were gonna find a spot and sit and glass rather than walk down to the lake and back!
Wife is glad we didn't get our act together after seeing you said it was cold. I gotta buy her some good cold weather gear for Christmas.