Public Land hunting

[Richard]

Hi, new guy here.  Anyone ever harvest a pig from public land?  I was told to go to San Luis Obispo County by DGF.

 

[songdog]

Once, but it was pretty tough going.  Up in the Laguna Mountain area.

Steep and thick is the best way to describe it.  If you can swing the $300-500 you'll have a much better hunt on a private ranch.  I'd recommending doing this before you try the public land approach so you can get a little more farmiliar with the way those pigs work.  It helped me.

 

[Richard]

Thanks.  Which ranch would you recommend. I only know of Tejon Ranch.

 

[feelinducky]

I got one, and so did my buddy last year at FHL.  Two in the same weekend, I thought the people in the campground were going to kill us after that.  But right now FHL is closed to hunting due to the Sept. 11 attacks.  83# and 87# field dressed and skinned.  Anyone have an idea what these might have weighed on the hoof.  

 

[Richard]

Thanx Feelinducky, I checked out FHL a few days ago and yep closed so i will keep checkin.

 

[Hook]

Public land pigs are hard to come by, mostly because the pigs stay on private ranches. I used Mustang guide service several times and had great luck with him. $400 is average for a hunt in Ca.
Here is a pic of our most recent hunt.
http://www.hunting-pictures.com/members/hook/Dcp_0195.jpg

 

[songdog]

I met Hook a few days ago (good to meet you) and had a bite of that pig.  It was pretty good.

I'd second his opinion on Mustang.  $400 is actually pretty decent for one of the better pig ranches.  And as long as you know which end of the gun is the dangerous one, you should get your pig.  It's pretty rare that they don't have 100% success rates.  From my experience, you'll typically see dozens of pigs in a trip vs. the one that you'll see on public land.

 

[californiacoyotes]

richard if you decide to go with a guide i used cross country outfitters in paso robles. i had a great time with them and they made me feel like they were old friends!! lots of pigs too!! i got a nice 150 pound boar, definately good eaten!!!

 

[Hook]

Thanks Songdog, Good to have met you too.

If you are going to hunt pigs for the first time, I would save up for a guided hunt. It will get you introduced to pig hunting. then you can plan and go on a non-guided hunt. My 2 cents.

 

[californiacoyotes]

hook i couldn't agree with you more!! i thought i knew something about it until i got out there. it was nothing what i expected!! i learned more the first day then i did reading all those books!! for your first time i would definatley go with a guide. well worht a few hundred $$$!!

 

[Speckmisser]

I'm with the others on the benefits of a guided hunt.  If you can afford it, go for it!  Definitely the best odds of getting your pig, and in the right circumstances, it'll teach you a lot that you can use later to get one off public land.  In the long run, it's more economical too.  

One thing to check on when talking to guides.  Well, there's a lot of things, but one that matters a lot to me anyway...  ask if they use dogs, and if they do, see HOW they use the dogs.  I found out the hard way that some of these hound hunts end up with a guide or a dog on one end of the pig, while you stick your gun upside the other end and pull the trigger.  Nothing wrong with that, if it works for you.  

But it doesn't work for me, and nobody told me that's what it would be like when I plunked down my money.  Those videos you see with the hog at bay and the hounds whipping up a frenzy...well apparently that only happens with the big boars.  

Anyway, not knocking hound hunting.  But it sure pays to ask even the "dumb" questions before you pay someone a big chunk of money.  Would've saved me and my girlfriend a pair of disappointments.  

 

[Richard]

Thanks to for all the input. I does look like I am going to look into a guided hunt the first time.

 

[Thonzberry]

Hook, cool pic of you and buddy's pigs. who's  the funny looking guy on the left (LOL).

 

[MNHNTR]

I've hunted Laguna MTN and the Sweetwater area mentioned in the Bob Robb book about Pig hunting.  the terrain was steep, we saw lots of tracks, no pigs.  This year I decided to try Tejon ranch and I saw lots of pigs and deer. I got one pig. Thus year I want a bigger boar so i will try a Guide. more than likely Cross Country Outfitters

 

[Bwht4x4]

(Edited by Bwht4x4 at 10:20 pm on Oct. 30, 2001)

 

[Bwht4x4]

A couple of things about guides though.  Many of them use dogs to hunt pigs.  Which can be seen in the picture in the previous reply.  Personally I dislike chasing dogs that have a pig at bay.  Basically your following the dogs who are doing the hunting.  Trust me you are not hunting.  Many of the guides that run dogs for pigs also have questionable integrity.  I'll bet if you look at all guides in California that used dogs for pigs and asked them how many have been written for fish and game violations it would be staggering.  Anyways I would suggest Boaring Experiences.  Check out their website at http://www.boaring.com.  Good luck and make sure you ask alot of questions.

 

[huntducks]

I have to second what Bwht4x4 has to say about dogs and pigs, I perfer drive and stalk or spot & stalk.

I hunted with a dog pig guide many moons ago and the DFG contacted me 6mo later about the hunt (which was a joke) he did some jail time over his operation and lost his Lic for years, this past year I saw him advertising in WON again.

I have a pig guide that is super, I just don't recomend him any more as it is almost impossable to get a date with him as the amount of hunters are overwhelming him, I also have hunted with boaring experience and they did a real good job have lots of land 50,000+ acres and lots of pigs.

(Edited by huntducks at 1:14 pm on Oct. 31, 2001)

 

[Speckmisser]

Huntducks,

Can you drop me an email re: this guide you're talking about.  I've a curiosity starting...

Thanks.

 

[bohunter7]

For you other Pig hunters, I've used "Hogs Wild" ranch in Coalinga CA. the past two years. I would go anywhere else. I always have seen pigs. Ive hunted the bow side 1st year( blew my shots) But this year I got one with my rifle. The crew is really good and work had to help you get a pig. I highly recommend them. its $425 for rifle/$275 for bow. You can call them at (559)935-5788. Good Luck

 

[bohunter7]

Well my typing stinks, I meant to type I wouldnt go any where else, and the crew works very hard to help get your pig.