Pigs in Sunol

[Speckmisser]

Bill,

I just started bowhunting two years ago (I think). I mainly got into it so I could have access to areas where you wouldn't or couldn't use a gun (like this ranch).

It's not too hard to learn, although I chose what's probably the toughest route by going traditional (no compound, no sights, etc.). It takes a TON of practice, and I still have bad days.

I think you could get up to speed a lot quicker with a compound. The modern equipment extends your range a little bit, and the sights make consistent and accurate shooting relatively easy. Once you get it dialed in, it's a lot like shooting a gun... practice occasionally and learn to judge yardage.

Good luck finding more places to hunt. There aren't any hogs at the ranch yet (unless it's April Fools' Day), but I keep daydreaming.

 

[Rancho Loco]

Arrrghhh!!

I just saw ANOTHER pig a few miles away on my way into work this morning....
But it was RK like the other one. Big one, too.

I think I'll mosey out to the farm this weekend to see what's up.

 

[nofear25]

Hey everyone,
I have a huntin buddy that has a 200 acre ranch in sunol... I have hunted it for quail, dove, ect... but i have never seen a wild boar out ther.. My friend shot one about 4 or 5 years ago, and he hasnt seen ne pigs since. He says the CF&G came out and trapped a ton a while bak... Im glad ther comin bak if or i get one on his land ill let u all know... seeya

 

[mccormac98]

I have now seen two adult sows, five piglets, and two boars all in the same general area: at the summit of Calaveras road. This place is easy to recognize: it is a wide open expanse with some cattle chutes a hundred or so yards to the west of the road. The two males seem to be hanging out in the area. I have seen them three times - the most recent was Friday at the edge of the reservoir. If your friend's ranch is anywhere near this - then I would think you'd have a good shot at some bacon.

I took a lot of video of the pigs. Also saw some very nice turkeys. And down on the flat area just north of the park, there are a bunch of antlerless elk hanging around and looking very nice.

Bill

 

[mccormac98]

Saw five adult pigs last night around 7:30 along the northern edge of Calaveras Reservoir - which is about 400 yards south of the Sunol summit. Had a nice encounter with them that nearly gave me a heart attack.

I was slowly driving past the reservoir looking for pigs when I saw a string of five large black adults and three piglets. I parked my car then hopped a short fence and walked straight down to them. They were too busy to notice. I closed to within 35 yards of them. They seemed pretty big - maybe 150 pounds or so. It was hard to to tell. They seemed too busy eating and socializing to notice me - even though a good wind was at my back blowing directly at them. I am guessing that the surrounding coyote bushes masked my scent. Either that or this Right Guard stuff I'm wearing works better than I thought! Anyway ... everything was fine until they abruptly turned towards me and then started jogging my way. I had no protection: no trees to stand behind, no stick, nothing. The lead pig was the biggest. In the middle of the group was the mother and piglets. I know the pigs would have probably bolted upon seeing me and that I was probably perfectly safe but I suddenly felt a wave of fear as they moved towards me. I backed up behind a bush and then retreated about fifty feet. I waited a minute or so. Nothing happened. I then slowly walked back to where I had been previously. Before I could get there, a sow walked out from behind a bush and stood about 25 yards from me. I backed up a few steps. She saw me and then did a move right out of a cartoon. She tried to run but her feet couldn't get traction. All she needed to do to complete the picture was shout "Woob! Woob! Woob!" like Curly from the Three Stooges. Then she was gone. And so were the rest. It was very cool.

Bill

 

[beastslayer]

And why the hell did I move to Southern California when all the pigs are in my former neighbourhood?

I have this whole unfilled pig tags expiring this June.

Came from Union City and lived right in front of that Sunol hills. Have glassed that Masonic building -- we used to live just in front of it -- and a heard of deer would appear right beside the road every afternoon like clockwork.

Once while playing golf with my brother in Sunol, we literally have to shoo away deer in front of us so that it will not get hit by our golf balls.

Since I've transferred to LA, I've tried hunting pigs in Los Padres National Fores -- Lake Cuyama area. But aside from lots of rooting signs and droppings, no luck as yet. Thinking of buying a trained hunting dog hoping it will change my luck. Not wanting to start a debate but I'm a "purist" at heart. My 30-30 does not even have a scope!

Nice reading your postings guys. I am not in your league nor caliber and can't call myself a pig hunter yet.

Cool site!

 

[mccormac98]

Southern California? I'd make a beeline to Tejon. That place is awesome.

But I must say about Sunol that this is the first time I have seen pigs here. And I have looked. I can't explain it. I am guessing that pigs moved into the area and stayed put.

It is really cool to be able to watch them. I am learning more about them than I have previously because I am not trying to blast them the instant I see them. Not that I would do that. Ok, well uh ...

Bill

 

[beastslayer]

Yes Bill. Someday I might try Tejon.

But told you I'm a purist. My idea of hunting is when you sneak out of a bear, slap it in the face then put a 12-inch knife in it's heart. It's a lunch-or-be-lunch. Kind of fair for the bear.

Except that it's also called suicide. Or just plain crazy.

 

[mccormac98]

I'm with you, Beastslayer. I also want the up close and personal encounter. I have two rifles - a scoped 30.06 and a peep-sighted 8 mm Mauser. I have only hunted with the 30.06 ... but I am dying to try the Mauser. I want to stalk a pig as closely as I can. Yesterday I saw that you really can just walk up to pigs. They don't look around the way deer do. I was in dress pants and a button-down shirt and I just walked right up to them. They never had a clue.

You have a 30.30, right? Should be perfect for that up close and personal stalk. Is it a lever action?

Bill

 

[beastslayer]

Bill-- Reading back your previous postings, I can only envy you. Imagine the luxury of having to watch wildlife (and hogs!) on your drive home from work. What a life!

Planning to hunt them soon? That area looks like all private properties. Or government-owned lands but leased as pastures -- as I've read in East Bay papers.

Read also that there are numerous pigs in San Jose/Milpitas and they are becoming quite a pest and starting to come down from the hills. The Sunol pigs might have came from that contiguous mountain ranges.

Yes, I have a lever action 30-30. A Winchester.

 

[Speckmisser]

MC,

Sounds like you're onto a fun spot. Too bad the politics in this area mean that sport hutners will never get a shot at places like this. I imagine if you're seeing that many hogs in one spot, the trappers will be back soon.

On a more positive note, maybe they'll get mobile and get across the freeway. I'd love to see a few hogs start showing up along the Pleasanton Ridge. Even more better... if they'll just wander down to the far end, and hang out at the ranch with my horses!

 

[mccormac98]

Beastslayer, that Winchester would have been perfect for me on my stalk. I have always wanted a Winchester lever action. And I have always wanted to take a pig by getting as close to him as I had courage to do. Can you imagine getting to within 15 yards of a pig and then neeling down for a shot? My heart would be in my throat.

Speckmisser, I am afraid that you are going to be right about the trappers. The pigs are coming out in the day time - which means that someone official is going to spot them. If only the'd let us do their dirty work! Hell, I'd learn to bow hunt if that were what they required. My stalk taught me that you really can just walk up on pigs. I'd never have believed it until I did it myself.

I've been looking for local ranches to hunt - but so far I have struck out. There is a guy named Eric who has a ranch somewhere in the Sunol area. I exchanged emails with him a while back and learned that he trades (or used to trade) hunts. But he doesn't sell access to his land.

In the meantime, Sunol offers a chance to learn more about pigs and how to sneak up on them. Hopefully, the trappers will give us a bit more time.

Bill

 

[beastslayer]

Bill - We seem to have a taste for the "basics". Winchester is not fancy but reliable. I understand it now comes in .44 caliber -- maybe, more appropriate in that close-quarter Sunol hills. It looks to me the only safe way to shoot there is if your aim is uphill. Otherwise, you might hit a cow, a horse, a car -- or worst, a person.

Speckmisser - I am not sure if this is legal in CA. But in Texas, I read that you can actually run pigs with your dog who'll taught to hold it to be tied up with a rope to be taken home alive. If this can be done, you can be pro-active and "plant" your property with hogs.

Of course, this is part joke as I'm not sure how your neighbours will react. But for me, you are just speeding up a process that's inevitable. It is most likely, that these pigs that Bill are now seeing in Sunol may have spread over the years all the way from Monterey.

 

[Mel Carter]

Bill,
Where exactly is this place your seeing the hogs, I would love to drive by and check them out. I think I know about where they are, but not positive. If I come out of Niles Canyon at Sunol, and turn to the right heading towards the freeway, heading towards the park, how far is it from the freeway and on what side. I've only been down this way one time, so I'm not real familure with the area. Or is it heading on 84 going into Livermore? Not really sure of the location.

Thanks,

 

[nofear25]

Hey everyone,
I saw my teacher at 711 today, he had just finished riding his bike on the pleasanton ridge. He told me that a pig crossed right infront of em... He said the boar was problly 100lbs+...

A couple days ago i was drivin on mines road out in livermore and i saw like 5 to 7 pigs out on some hill bout 400 yds away.... it was pretty cool..

The sunol pig thing i have 2 friends that have ranches out in sunol. One is a 200 arce ranch and the other is 400 arce ranch. My friend that has a 200 arce ranch is hella cool and lets me hunt on his land all the time... It doesnt have ne pigs or deer on the ranch though... My friend that has a 400 arce ranch doesnt let me hunt on his ranch.. He has deer fox and they are starting to get pigs... Does anyone have ideas on how i can talk him and his parents letting me hunt on his ranch?? I have known them for like 8 years and his family has always been against hunting and against guns..

I have kinda givin up on talkin to them about huntin on ther land, but if ne one has ne suggestions leeme know... Thanks, keith

 

[Speckmisser]

Hey Nofear.

Probably the best thing you can do in regards to that 400 acre ranch is leave off. If they're against hunting and guns, all you're gonna do is aggravate them.

If the pigs get established and start to become a problem, maybe they'll change their minds. If so, you'll want to be the first person they think of. Making a nuisance of yourself won't help. If they know you're interested in hunting, and you've proven to be responsible and intelligent, then you've done everything you can do.

Interesting that your teacher saw a hog over at Pleasanton Ridge. I had a friend who rented a house directly across the ridge from the park. She said the hogs came down at night like an army. When the landlord would show up to hunt, though, he never saw anything. But I know they're there... just wish they'd move along the ridge to my hunting spot.

Mel,

Try hitting the Calaveras road just past the Sunol Wilderness area and park (instead of turning into the park entrance, keep going on the main road). Calaveras road winds around from 84 at Sunol, skirts the reservoir, then comes back out in Milpitas. It's a long, slow ride, but it's great scenery. There's a little private property near the Milpitas end of the road, but I don't know how it is to get access.

And finally... don't let those park hogs fool you. Wild pigs are relatively easy to stalk if you play the wind, but it's a whole different ball game when you're stalking hogs that have been shot at a time or two. Those hogs over in Sunol have probably never even heard a gunshot. It's great practice, though... and as you found, it's pretty exciting stuff.

 

[mccormac98]

Hey Mel,

The spot I have been hitting is easy to find. From 680 in Sunol, take the Calaveras road south. Dont' go into the park - keep going up. I have been stopping at two places: the summit and the northernmost edge of the reservoir just where the road hits. The summit are is easy to recognize: it is wide open expanse that has a gravel parking area and a gravel service road to the left of the main road. The service road is gated. Right inside the gate are a couple of three foot boulders. The first time I saw pigs was right there. Two males. I parked next to them.

I videotaped two sows and five piglets directly west of this location in the cow pasture. They walked parallel to the road and then disappeared behind a cattle chute that is about a 100 yards directly to the west of the gravel parking area.

I saw the two males again 100 meters south of the gravel parking area along the west edge of the road a couple of days later. There's a kinda quarry area there where I saw them.

My most recent sighting was along the bank of the lake below the road. There is a locked service road made of dirt that goes down to a concrete boat launch. I parked at the gate, hopped the 3 foot fence there and walked down to the boat launch where the pigs were waiting for me.

Check it out! Lots of fun.

Bill

 

[mccormac98]

Here's a map ...

There's two ways in: either you take 237/Calaveras road east from Milpitas or take Calaveras road west from Sunol.

Bill

 

[mccormac98]

One more map - a zoomed out view to give you perspective on where Sunol is with respect to the rest of the south Bay Area. The red line shows my route home. The dashed red line shows where I would go if I did not have pigs on the brain.

Bill

 

[mccormac98]

Hey Nofear,

The Pleasanton Ridge sighting is the northernmost sighting I know of in the area west of 680. Very cool.

Mines Rd is awesome - I didn't know it had a lot of pigs. I will have to check it out. What a beautiful drive.