Pine Flat

[dreaminhogs]

Well Pigdream and I took a shot at hunting some Public land this past Saturday and I thought I would share our day and see if anyone had any ideas as to what may help us bag a hog in the future. I met up with Pigdream for the fist time on Saturday morning and after transfering our gear from one vehicle to the other we took my boat to the launch ramp and started our day before sunrise. While Pigdream and I were ready to start our day my motor felt the need to sleep in and not start as early as the both of us would have liked. After spending a good half an hour trying to wake the old girl up we decided to call upon her little sister to kick us accross the lake and get the day started. After a few minutes of little sister putting us accross the lake her big sister decided to wake up and get us to our spot by 7AM. This was not how I had planned to start the day with someone I had only spoken to over the JHO Page prior to this trip.
Pigdream and I hiked up to the area we had planned to hunt and I gave him an overview of what I had seen in past attempts along with an idea of the terrain. The weather was foggy at times with the temp running around 50 degrees. We started our hike and within 15 to 20 minutes were seeing a good amount of sign both old and fresh. We spent a better part of the day covering a good amount of land and while the sign was there and the habitat was what we both beleived was perfect we were unable to glass any hogs. One of the questions we both had was did the weather have anything to do with our success. We did see well over 60+ deer both moving and bedding. The other question we were up in arms about was how the law is interpreted regarding Private Property. If there is a fence but no signs stating no hunting ,keep out, Private property is it ok to cross a break in the fence or is a fence as good as any sign posted. I thought a sign needed to be posted every 100 feet only if there was no fence. Can someone help us out with this?
While the day was unsecsesfull in putting some meat in the ice box it was another reminder to myself of how beneficial the JHO page is for all of us when we want to spend the day hunting with someone new. Thanks for a great day Pigdream. Brian

 

[pigdream]

As Brian stated we had a great day with the exception of my back going out the night before and therefore keeping us on the move all day. I had the same question about the private property and also this time of year with cloudy overcast days. Brian Thank you for sharing a spot with me and restoring my faith in my fellow man.

Jason

 

[Speckmisser]

First question, how many people did you see out there? Does the area get much pressure? That's usually the first thing that turns the hogs nocturnal. If you're seeing fresh sign, but no hogs, they may be moving mostly at night. No biggie, if you can find the bedding/staging areas, you can still hunt the place.

If the deer were moving, that's usually a good sign that the hogs would be moving too... unless the pressure has driven them to ground in the day time. Sounds like it would've been a good day to spend from dawn to dusk in the field. How long did you stay out?

Also, with hogs, I think it pays to keep hitting the area. Obviously they're in there. You just gotta find out where they're hanging out.

As to private property, if you know it's private, your best bet is to stay off. Period. Fence line, signs, gates, whatever.... if you know it doesn't belong to you, stay off.

However, I do know that lots of public property has old fencelines running across it, especially BLM property. You really need to know where you are, and where the property lines are drawn.

It is illegal to cross a fenceline onto private property without written permission.

The law is pretty clear about it:

 

[FresnoHunter]

Hey guys, I too have made that trip across the lake a few times a couple of years ago. Saw the sign but not any pigs. One of the guys at the marina had told us he has had luck but you have to put some time out there looking. The place
like you said borders private property, has a pond etc, also has ranch hands on horseback so make sure you dont enter private property.

 

[pigdream]

Speck,

To answer some of your questions I don't know about the hunting pressure. I do think one of the mistakes made was leaving around noon, but my back was killing me. I will have to try to find some updated maps to really know where that property line is.

Do you or anyone else know any facts/theory about the moon and the pigs? I have heard that if for example you have a partially/full moon in the afternoon the pigs will feed in the afternoon? Does anyone know any truth to this?

 

[dreaminhogs]

Thanks Speck I knew you would have the info we needed. Well we hunted from 7am to 11:30 and called it a day as we were both getting a case of the spaghetti legs and ran out of accessable land. As far as hunting pressure goes I have been up in this area 3 times in the past 10 weeks as I have tried to make sure not to push them out of the area. As for other people I know there was someone up ther in the past month as we saw there shotgun,223, and 9mm shels in a open area most likely just tinkering around. The fence line we were having trouble with (question)was very deteriorated and in a good amount of areas pushed over or non existent. There were cattle moving from the private to public areas at will. Fresnohunter I received a tip on a large parcel of land adjacent to the area we have both hunted in that may give access to the property for a small Tresspass fee. PM me if you would be interested in the owners phone #

 

[Speckmisser]

Pigdream,

I wasn't ragging you for leaving early or anything... I've left a lot of times way earlier than I should have, and not always for good reason.

Anyway, it might be worth it to get back out there a few times when you can stay longer. Pack a lunch, relax and even nap if you need to... but stay out there.

As to the whole moon theory thing... someone could write a book on that. Oh wait, they already have!

I'm sure the moon phases have an impact on herd animals, particularly if they're living in a natural, undisturbed habitat. For example, according to conventional "wisdom", deer will feed out at night on a full moon, and stay bedded most of the day. However, I've killed a lot of deer on mornings and evenings during the full moon.

The new moon is supposed to make them feed out during the day and bed at night, under the assumption that they can't see predators in the dark. And maybe there's some truth to it. But again, I just don't think it has as much impact as some folks would have you believe. I've certainly seen deer afoot on dark nights.

I expect this should apply to hogs in the same way, however I don't think the moon has nearly as much impact as weather and hunting pressure. I've seen them out in the middle of the night during a snowstorm, and I've seen them at noon in August!

So I guess what I'm saying is not to discount the moon phases argument, but I, personally, wouldn't base my hunts around it.

 

[pigdream]

Oh I didn't think you were ragging on me I just felt like a P**** because of my back. Usually there is nothing that can get me out of the field, but with the combination of that and forgetting my jacket I was done.

Thank you for the words of wisdom and I think it all comes back to the most popular saying and thats if you can get out in the field it's a good day with or without the kill/harvest.

 

[Kentuck]

Hey Pigdream,

Don't feel too bad. I hunted Lake Sonoma for the first time in Dec and after hiking most of the day, wimped out on a stalk to about 15 pigs due to leg cramps. I should of sucked it up.

 

[Mel Carter]

Hey Kentuck,
Glad to see you back on the board, hope all's good. I'm heading over next week to the lake, hopefully my buddy isn't going to fake on me, or change the dates again. You up for it?

 

[Kentuck]

Mel,

Things are still tough especially now that I am back home and Mom is in KY. Dr.'s are trying to get her strength back so they can try treatment to buy more time. I don't think I can take any time off right now to hunt because I am sure I will need it for this situation. Good luck though.

Kentuck

 

[Mel Carter]

Kentuck,
I totally understand. I'll post here when I get back to let you all know how it went.
On another note, remember the guys ranch I was telling you about that borders the lake sonoma area. Myself and a few of my buddies will be heading over there to hunt April 23rd through the 25th, I should have some meat in the freezer after that one, and hopefully some great pics.