Pigs in Sunol

[Speckmisser]

Guys,

Just be kinda cool about hopping that 3' fence. You ain't supposed to be there, and if caught you could very well be cited. If you have any weapons in the vehicle, it could get even uglier.

Now I ain't knocking what you're doing, Bill... just suggesting be careful and remember that the fence is there for a reason (and it ain't to keep the wildlife in).

 

[beastslayer]

Bill,

Looks like your pig central is very near Mission Peak Regional Park which to my knowledge is public and by implication open for hunting. Unless, of course, expressly prohibited by regulation if within residential or densely populated area, etc.

If you'll check out, let us know results. I often visit my bro and sis in the area. Who knows I may find a day or two for a sidetrip or hunt if your research pan out.

Good luck!

 

[beastslayer]

Oh Bill forgot one point in your previous posting about learning archery. Yes, it is easy to learn and it might be the best strategy to convince ranchers or land owners in Sunol for hunting access. Archery is psychologically less disruptive or threatening equipment from a land owner's point of view.

Unfortunately you are some 380 miles from here. Otherwise, I could have referred you to an archery shop here in Monrovia where they teach and allow usage of bow and arrow on their 20-yard range for a small fee of $10 per 1 hour session.

I managed to hit some bulls-eye after 4 weeks 2x a week sessions. Am a drop out though before I get into buying myself a compound due to work schedules (going home midnights on some days).

 

[Speckmisser]

Regional and County Parks are almost NEVER open for hunting... and especially not Mission Peak or any of the other lands in the East Bay Regional Park system.

Same goes for the Sunol Wilderness area and the surrounding Regional Parklands, which is the area Bill is pointing out. In fact, a good part of the watershed around that reservoir is off-limits to anyone not directly affiliated with the State or with the water district.

 

[mccormac98]

Speckmisser is right about the land being off-limits. It is posted. If you jump fences, you risk a meeting with someone you'd probably rather not meet. That having been said, you can see plenty of pigs from the roadside. All but my last Mission Impossible assignment were done from the road. And my Mission Impossible assignment lasted all of maybe 7 minutes. And I used special infrared cameras, tripwires, and a special headsup display that hooked directly into a military spy satellite. Also I had a map of the mine field - so I knew where I was walking.

Well ... ok, maybe not the last part. But you get the idea.

There's another reservoir north of Sunol which looks like it might be another pig hangout. It is called San Antonio Reservoir. It looks to be on San Francisco Water District land and is probably off-limits.

It would be nice to map out where people are seeing pigs so we can get a sense of the pig population in the south bay.

Bill

 

[Live2hunt]

I've been bypassing the I-680 traffic jams through the Sunol grades many times. I've seen deer and turkeys but not a pig. Didn't see much signs of pigs either. I think Mccormac98 has only been seeing a few pigs there. If anyone want to see wild pigs I definitely reccommend taking the Mt. Hamilton Road from San Jose to the Joseph D. Grant County Park. There are wild pigs everywhere in the park. You are guaranteed to see them if you go there in early AM or during the evening. There is a Wildlife Sanctuary that butt up to the south end of the park and pigs are all over the place. There are trails for hiking, horseback riding, and Mt. biking. You can either drive up to the a high point and glass with a bino or hike down to the bottom of the canyon. Either way you will see pigs. If you want a close encounter with the pigs I reccommend hiking the main canyon. I and my brother once walked into a pig nest with newly born piglets. The mama was probably out feeding nearby. We petted the new born piglets, took some pictures, and left before mama came back.



L2H

 

[mccormac98]

L2H,

It's hard to say how many pigs are in the Sunol area ... like I said earlier, I have been driving this stretch off and on for six years and I never saw a pig until now. But now I have seen pigs almost every other day. The minimum number of pigs there is 5 adults and five piglets. I would guess that there are more and that they have moved into the area. If you want to see for yourself, drive the area just before sundown - say 7:15 - 7:30 PM.

The park you described sounds like a better experience - hiking, stalking, and glassing. I will have to check it out.

My goal is to learn where exactly pigs are located in the south bay so I can find neighboring places to hunt.

Bill

 

[F350]

nofear25,
Like Speck said, give 'em time. The Hogs will probably populate rather quickly and when your friends start seeing some of the damage they cause, they may change thier minds.

If they do bring it up to you, I would definately mention splitting the meat with them.

Good Luck

 

[nofear25]

Thanks for all the ideas about the sunol land.... And f350 i would offer to share the meat with them except they are all vegatarines...

 

[beastslayer]

Aw shucks! There goes another prospect.

Don't know what hurts most. Going to Los Padres where they allow hunting and then seeing signs of rooting and droppings and not having a chance to even spot a shadow of a pig.

Or Bill's experience of seeing the critters every other day and not being allowed to shoot.

 

[mccormac98]

The family of five returned tonight. One boar, four sows and three piglets. They showed up at the open space at the summit - just west of the main road. Here's a photo.

Bill

 

[EL CAZADOR]

Had to make a trip up to the Bay Area the weekend before last for my dads surgery. Spent the night at my brothers in Modesto and drove in to Fremont through the canyon. I hadn't been in that area for almost ten years. I looked and looked for turkeys deer and pigs but didn't see anything.

My dad worked for ACWD for over 35 years and he always used to take me up to the water tanks in the hills after earthquakes, he had to make sure there were no leaks and stuff, he said those areas are loaded with deer and turkeys. I sure do have a greater appreciation for that area now, although I'm glad I'm in SoCal, the scenery sure is pretty.

 

[Speckmisser]

Dang, Fullsack!

You were right in my neighborhood...wish you'd dropped an email. I'd have been glad to catch up for dinner and a drink.

Anyway, I'm thinking you came through Niles canyon? It is pretty. That's my commute, when I have to be on-site. I have only seen a couple of turkeys along that road, but there are almost always deer across from the creek. I've yet to see a pig there, though.

Next time, let us know you're coming out!

 

[wmidbrook]

Caleveras Reservoir is off-limits to hunting (already called) it's water storage for bay area drinking water. Also, Livermore annexed Mission Peak park. It's part of the city now and therefore off limits to hunting.

Wente vinyards owns 3,000 acres in there and don't know who'd you'd have to talk to to get permission there. One of the ranchers who owns area butting up on the Water District's lands I think is located across from Valicetos Nuclear reseach center on 84 and his lands are pretty darned defoliated for grazing but there could be a possibility there....haven't personally tried hunting there.

South of there is a gal who's literally a billionaire from a JDS Uniphase fiber optic company (Theresa something) and she's bought up thousands upon thousands of acres. I've unsuccessfully tried to make contact with her but have talked to one of her ranch hands--they do have pig problems in the summers.

 

[EL CAZADOR]

Originally posted by Speckmisser@Apr 27 2004, 06:26 AM
You were right in my neighborhood...wish you'd dropped an email. I'd have been glad to catch up for dinner and a drink.

I should be up several more times in the next couple of months.

I'll definately drop you a line.

 

[Speckmisser]

Xavier,

Send me an email when you come back out, and I'll give you contact info.

 

[Bwana Turtle]

I tried to see/find the pigs today but they were not to be seen. I drove to a place that was just to the west of the northern most part of the resevoir. The parking spots (?) were just tiny pull offs. Then I walked south to a point where I could see the Tower and the dam/spillway. Still no pigs. A little further on there was a turnoff and a gate to the left. By that time I didn't want to jump any fences etc. From then on it was mostly one lane black top without any place to stop.
From reading the other posts, in hindsight, I have no idea where the summit with the parking lot was. ???
All in all it was really beautiful and a great escape from the Mother's Day Festival of Death in Fremont.
Oh ! I was glassing around 3:30 PM. Not the best time for pigs, but that was when I could get away.

 

[mccormac98]

Bwana,

If it makes you feel better, I have been in the same boat all week. I haven't seen a pig since a week ago Friday. The last one I saw was a solitary male walking on a hillside. He was north of the reservoir by about 200 yards and heading further north. The previous day, I saw two boars up at the "summit." They were hanging out with the cattle. The summit is the big open area that is about 4-500 yards north of the reservoir. This area has some cattle chutes to the west. It's relatively flat up there. You can't miss it. I usually drive slowly up to that spot from the reservoir, then park.

In looking over my videos and stills of the pigs I have concluded that there are two boars, two sows, and three piglets hanging out somewhere up there.

Bill

 

[mccormac98]

After 10 days of no-show, the pigs turned up tonight. They appeared briefly in some thick brush 100 yards west of Calaveras road near the big flat area I am calling the "summit." This spot is probably 500 yards north of the reservoir as the crow flies and about a mile north reading the odometer.

I saw four adults ... The amazing thing was how quickly they could completely disappear in the brush. You'd see one go behind a 2 foot high coyote bush and then completely disappear. A moment later you'd see where he went by the brush moving slightly a few feet from his last appearance.

I tried my hog call ... I can't say if it worked. On two occasions, I thought it did. The pigs would go quiet ... I would grunt and then they would start moving through the brush. I need to give it a better test but it was a fun start.

Bill

 

[Bwana Turtle]

That's great. Unfortunately, I live 50 miles away in Pinole and only get down there during in-law torture fests. I can remember when all I had was time. Now it's been two weeks trying to scedule a trip to the range to seewhere my Barnes bullets impact. BUT HEY it sure beats the dirt nap.