Reality of hunting in vicinity of the Bay Area?

[gottarollwithit]

Hi Guys and Gals,

I'm completely new to hunting (this forum too) and live in the bay area. I posted this same question out at Calguns.net and a couple of folks told me to as you guys. So far i've earned/purchased a hunting license and wild hog tag.

Realistically, is there anywhere within 300 mi or so of the bay area (between Concord - San Jose) to hunt anything sizeable and worthy of eating? I don't want to be shot by fellow hunters or wish to eat a contaminated animal. I see that a lotta folks here hunt So. Cal in Tejon and maybe Lake Sonoma.

I'm strongly considering hog hunting, but know very little about the sport. Is there anywhere around here that's currently in open season and is relatively easy to find hogs at? Better yet, does anybody want to play guide/fellow hunter for myself and a buddy?

Ideally, i'd like to find a place where i can camp for a night, then hunt the following morning. Drive home after taking the animal.

Any advice? I'd hate to blindly go down to some public hunting lands and waste a buncha time making newbie mistakes. I also don't want to needlessly take an animal that isn't going to be consumed because it's contaminated or diseased.

Thanks!

 

[Backcountry]

300 miles? Dude, you can drive to Nevada in 300 miles and hunt all over California in 300 miles... plenty of excellent deer, hog, waterfowl, upland, etc... hunting to be had well within that range. Shoot, I live in the heart of the Bay Area (Redwood City) and I can go shoot ducks less than 2 miles from my house in the bay.

Welcome to JHO... use the search function, or just scroll through the forums and you'll find TONS of information on places to hunt.

 

[WildlifeBranch]

Read up on some of the basics-- Here is a link to a guide to wild pig hunting: WILD PIG GUIDE

It's a few years old, but much of the info is relevant. Good Luck.

 

[gottarollwithit]

Thanks WildlifeBranch!
I was searching around the forum and I think i came across a link to that, but it was dead.

I'm not a big fan of reading, but this'll definitely be worth taking a look at.

Thanks again!

 

[easymoney]

Welcome aboard...
As has been said, do some reading to get some very good tips. Thanks to our very liberal legislators and local governments there is not much public hunting to be had other than on the National Forests or wildlife refuges. Check out the links at the top of every species topic page for the info posted there.
Pig hunting will be slim to none unless on a private ranch or public hunting area. Other species abound here but it too takes work to find a "good spot". All the wild pigs I have taken have been very healthy and realitively free of parasites. Hard work but great eating...
IMHO, for a higher success hunt odds I would look at going on a guided hunt with a reputable guide to start and learn the ropes, then strike out on the public land agenda after... Money well spent.

 

[Speckmisser]

Welcome to the forum, Gottaroll...

I'll second what Backcountry said... there's a ton of hunting well within the radius you describe. Deer, hogs, turkeys, waterfowl, small game... you name it.

Odds of getting shot by "fellow hunters" are pretty danged slim, despite the horror stories and hyperbole you may read on the Internet or hear around the shooting range. I don't remember numbers well, but the stats for the last couple of years bear a pretty favorable report... especially for big game hunters. Very few accidental shootings, mostly among upland and waterfowl hunters, and only a small handful of fatalities. Almost all of these involved either self-inflicted injury or accidents involving hunting buddies... very few incidents where a hunter was shot by a stranger.

Easymoney's recommendation is a good one too. If you can, make your first couple of hunts with a guide. You'll get a much better introduction to the sport. If not, try to join up with a group of experienced hunters... like the JHO Tejon Hunts or one of the impromptu gatherings at Fort Hunter Liggett.

Other than that, you'll pretty much have to learn the ropes the way many of the rest of us did... get out there and do it.

 

[hatchet1]

contaminated or diseased?

dude, just go huntin!!

 

[norcal-noodler]

I started on rabbits and pheasant then moved up to deer !!!! ALL along all I wanted was a pig
I've hunted hard and so far have seen every wallow this side of &%^#^& and to date I've seen a group of pigs at night crossing the road !!!!! But I've taken four deer so far.....
I'd say focus on deer at this point or go with a guided hunt best odds of actually coming face to face your goals. Lake Sonoma can be great fun, alot of work and soo far all I have found was a pile of warm @#$%.........made me happy !!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyways call DFG ask for some local wildlife areas (WA's) and go out and start the learning
curve. Get your deer tags and start the points coming in.

At this point I've been hunting 5 years accumulated about 6 guns from rifles shotguns to .22's
and a couple of bows. Plus a big truck with a comfy shell and full size bed (weekend only) and a pointing dog plus a NEW pup coming in about five weeks !!!!

PM me if you'd like, I can take you out if you like but for now its down to jackrabbits for a few months. They do make a fantastic JACK ON JACK BURGER though !!!!!!!

If you really want some practice I would recommend spearfishing until deer season comes !!!!!!!! Thats what I do !!!!!!! and a little mushroom hunting --------