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Anyone have any spots around laguna mtn,
chews ridge Monterey area? Hollister Blm. Los padres? Even Mendocino? Im New to pig on public lands and trying to find where to go. Don’t mind the work, but any advice I’d appreciate. Don’t need to hear about how all pigs are on private ranch’s and that I should get a guide.
 

Darrell2000

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I don't think anyone here is going to tell you that you need to get a guide, but nobody is gonna give their spots either. Especially since this is the first and only post you've ever made here. Join in some conversations and make some friends first. But the pigs are out there, Good luck finding em.
 

JPHunt44

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I hunt some private land in hollister and they definitely got a good pig population. Gonna need to glass a lot to find out where they are at. (Probably lots of walking too) when it’s hot find water cause it gets sparse out there.
 

LosPadre

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Seems every new hog hunter starts out going to Fort Hunter Liggett near King City. It is a pay to play situation AND you have to jump through what used to be ridiculous hoops. It used to be call ahead to check to see what areas were open. Show up morning if at 4am and stand in line ten hunters deep while Private Snail processes your paperwork, looks at your licenses, collects your fees and let's you know if you were fast enough to get the few spots in the area you wanted. Otherwise you get another area. Then you drive to your spot hopefully still before sunrise and hunt it. When done you must check out. It was a huge pain. But there are hogs on FHL. Guys might tell you what areas are hot. Iirc 24,25,26 might have been good. 10/13 can be good. 6 can be good. It's always all about the water and where they bed. I haven't hunted it for 25 years because I got sick of the petty games (Federal Police manned the checkpoints and checked every serial number in every gun as assumed you were Osama. Nightmare.) But they might have refined the process, put stuff on a website and made the experience easier and better. You should start there.
 
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I hunt some private land in hollister and they definitely got a good pig population. Gonna need to glass a lot to find out where they are at. (Probably lots of walking too) when it’s hot find water cause it gets sparse out there.
I was thinking on checking out Hollister but wasn’t sure, I’m glad to hear it’s a good idea. I’ll make sure to come prepared, thank you
 

Oldtool

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All they areas you mentioned have good potential. I’d pick the one that is most accessible to you and learn it inside out. You can get em if you stick to an area and hunt it often . Learn their habits . It’s challenging fun and can pay off . I believe you are getting in the game at a good time . Good water years equal high pig populations. Find travel routes between water food and bedding. My public hog days are over. I was successful at hunter ligget a couple times but never blm. Saw plenty of sign just never got on em. They are smart fun animals to hunt. good luck
 
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Seems every new hog hunter starts out going to Fort Hunter Liggett near King City. It is a pay to play situation AND you have to jump through what used to be ridiculous hoops. It used to be call ahead to check to see what areas were open. Show up morning if at 4am and stand in line ten hunters deep while Private Snail processes your paperwork, looks at your licenses, collects your fees and let's you know if you were fast enough to get the few spots in the area you wanted. Otherwise you get another area. Then you drive to your spot hopefully still before sunrise and hunt it. When done you must check out. It was a huge pain. But there are hogs on FHL. Guys might tell you what areas are hot. Iirc 24,25,26 might have been good. 10/13 can be good. 6 can be good. It's always all about the water and where they bed. I haven't hunted it for 25 years because I got sick of the petty games (Federal Police manned the checkpoints and checked every serial number in every gun as assumed you were Osama. Nightmare.) But they might have refined the process, put stuff on a website and made the experience easier and better. You should start there.

Thanks for the heads up, I’ve thought about the fort as well I’ve heard great things, but as you the hoops are not my thing.
 

Oldtool

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I haven’t been back to hunter ligget since 9/11/2001. They had shut it down for a bit as I recall and things got more complicated as far as access. Before that we would have to call in …… and yes I remember sleeping in my chair at check stations at both fort Bragg NC and hunter ligget. I was an army guy and we were used to hurry up and wait. So it seemed like the normal hahahaha . not much different than hunting the public duck refuge now. know it’s a computerized system at most military bases now. I’m very sure the hunter ligget guys are saying oh good we don’t want any more people to compete with us . Military bases offer some great hunting opportunities especially when I was a soldier. It’s very cool to go hunt BLM no hassle’s till your fighting through miles of manzanita and chemise and marginal habitat. Some good stuff out there just have to find it !!! Best of luck to you
 

Rodburner

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Anyone have any spots around laguna mtn,
chews ridge Monterey area? Hollister Blm. Los padres? Even Mendocino? Im New to pig on public lands and trying to find where to go. Don’t mind the work, but any advice I’d appreciate. Don’t need to hear about how all pigs are on private ranch’s and that I should get a guide.

you probably know this but just in case, Laguna mtn. rec. area is archery only
 
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