San Diego

[outdoorsman35]

is anyone hunting pig in san diego? did they pass that law that has a few professional hunters eradicating them? is it even worth going out and trying? thanks!

 

[Wild1]

I am. I've killed more than a few, on public land, in SD over the past five years. I've had cameras out the past couple of months and recently got five hogs on one camera. Went out this past weekend and saw a few, including a very large sow - she winded me before I could get a shot (bow) off. Good luck.

 

[outdoorsman35]

you're the man then.. can we share info? I'd be happy to hunt with you or learn? thanks!

 

[MGDeer]

you're the man then.. can we share info? I'd be happy to hunt with you or learn? thanks!

Yo, outdoorsman, lots of luck to you. Since the wild1 has the scoop that's your best bet,if he bites on your request. I've put on some hard earned public miles on my boots in various areas on the Cleveland National Forest (CNF) and had worked on the CNF and know most of the ground out that way. I am not conveniently located to set cams but had came across some old scat, ancient rooting and baked- in old tracks, it's wide open country and from what sign I've read they hang close to private land so knowing some landowner who is willing to allow you to hunt is key.

 

[signguy]

Have not hunted them but when I took my son for his hunter safety two years ago the DFG rep who came to the class for a few hours said San Diego had pigs and that the population was set to explode. He said the weather and other factors would lead to San Diego and Imperial County being overrun in less than 10 years. Will be interesting to see what happens after they tear through a few subdivisions in eastern San Diego!

 

[Dre]

I'd be very much interested in doing some scouting with ya'll. I've enjoyed the hunting up north too much in recent years and neglected SD and SoCal in general.

My buddy and I will probably be doing some deep country discovering shortly...hoping to get out before the growers reclaim their territory!

That's my only issue with deep public lands in SD.

 

[dwikkles]

you're the man then.. can we share info? I'd be happy to hunt with you or learn? thanks!

Not that it ever hurts to ask, but just keep in mind he has put in literally years of constant scouting, cameras, every waking free moment away from home to finally find the pigs that he has. Wild1 is the hardest working public land hunter i've personally met myself. I cant speak for anyone else but it is VERY rare for someone to bust ass to find their spots and then just hand them out to every random new guy that tries to ride the coat tails.

However, he's a great guy that we can all learn from. And i wish you good luck out there!

 

[Wild1]

Thanks dwikkles (Lan)! I came incredibly close this past weekend, as usual, I learned a new lesson. Found five hogs in a sounder, the biggest winded me, had a shot at another one but hesitated (tried to determine the sex before I shot), and it bolted. I'll have to be patient so I don't blow 'em out - hopefully I'll be posting a new pic/story in about six weeks (that's my time frame for this particular hunt).

As a side note, the pigs got the better of me in more than one way. On the looooooong hike out, with light fading fast, I ran into a tree branch/twig (whatever) and suffered a "corneal abrasion". You haven't lived until you've scratched your cornea - constant pain for two-and-a-half days!! The joys of public land pig hunting !

Hogs 1 Wild1 0

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

Good luck Wild1 on your next outing, I bet your eye was constantly tearing, I have done the same thing while hog hunting and busting bush it does suck to scratch your cornia.....tra

 

[MGDeer]

Wild1, perhaps it would be good to know to expect floaters after scratching cornea; I did that several years ago while working a fuel break on some random slope. Floaters? in my right eye I've tiny little brown spots that I was told by my Optometrist was caused by the injury...no worries for me cause it wasn't the worst so my dominant eye is still able to focus well enough to seal a deal-either bow or long gun.

Thanks dwikkles (Lan)! I came incredibly close this past weekend, as usual, I learned a new lesson. Found five hogs in a sounder, the biggest winded me, had a shot at another one but hesitated (tried to determine the sex before I shot), and it bolted. I'll have to be patient so I don't blow 'em out - hopefully I'll be posting a new pic/story in about six weeks (that's my time frame for this particular hunt).

As a side note, the pigs got the better of me in more than one way. On the looooooong hike out, with light fading fast, I ran into a tree branch/twig (whatever) and suffered a "corneal abrasion". You haven't lived until you've scratched your cornea - constant pain for two-and-a-half days!! The joys of public land pig hunting !

Hogs 1 Wild1 0

 

[Wild1]

Thanks MG, it seems to be healing fine - good enough to go out hunting again, which I did....and I now have new nemesis. The most clever, cagey sow I think I've eve hunted - and a BIG one too. She's winded me three times now and has cost me a public land hog three times, lots of gas ($), time, energy and a bitch of an eye injury! She's gotten the best of me for about two months now, but if she sticks around (if I'm smarter than her, which is debatable, she'll stay put), sooner or later she's gonna experience 575grams of humility from a carbon express red and a slicktrick magnum. I'm so ready to let the air out of this one, it's not even funny.

 

[vogel002]

I'm sure you'll get her, you can't lose if you never quit..... i think

 

[Land Cruiser]

Are there any good private land outfitters around San Diego?

 

[Georgia Archer]

I've turkey hunted a little on Palomar, seen fresh hog rooting once, but it was maybe 20 yds from a boundary with private property. I've been digging around on this and other forums/websites looking for good hunting areas, but haven't been able to get out in put in much leg work yet. I got a hog tag burning a hole in my pocket (bought it thinking I'd get up to NorCal this year), so if any of yall want to team up to try to find them, hit me up. I've deer hunted all my life in GA, and turkey hunted there and here, but haven't killed a hog yet... hoping to change that!

 

[Georgia Archer]

I heard the national forest was trapping and removing a bunch of hogs... has anyone heard how successful they were in that and/or how much of a dent that put in the population?

 

[DrQuig]

I've turkey hunted a little on Palomar, seen fresh hog rooting once, but it was maybe 20 yds from a boundary with private property. I've been digging around on this and other forums/websites looking for good hunting areas, but haven't been able to get out in put in much leg work yet. I got a hog tag burning a hole in my pocket (bought it thinking I'd get up to NorCal this year), so if any of yall want to team up to try to find them, hit me up. I've deer hunted all my life in GA, and turkey hunted there and here, but haven't killed a hog yet... hoping to change that!

Hey Georgia,

I'm a brand new hunter, but looking to spend some serious time chasing pigs in CNF when I move to San Diego at the end of March. I don't offer much, but I do come with a GPS loaded with maps that should keep us off private property Shoot me a PM if you want to try and meet up sometime.

Cheers!

Jeff

 

[Wild1]

Fellas, it is possible to hunt and kill a wild hog, on public land, in southern CA., but it's extremely difficult. I've done it in three different counties in SoCal, but it takes an enormous amount of time, effort, energy and (gas) money. Most hunters will tell you that it's a lot more efficient, and probably more economically sound to just hire a guide in Central CA. Another option is a Tejon Ranch Pig Management Hunt - which is basically a trespass fee ($500.00) for 2 and 1/2 days of non-guided hunting. Good luck in whatever you choose!

 

[DrQuig]

Fellas, it is possible to hunt and kill a wild hog, on public land, in southern CA., but it's extremely difficult. I've done it in three different counties in SoCal, but it takes an enormous amount of time, effort, energy and (gas) money. Most hunters will tell you that it's in a lot more efficient, and probably more economically sound to just hire a guide in Central CA. Another option is a Tejon Ranch Pig Management Hunt - which is basically a trespass fee ($500.00) for 2 and 1/2 days of non-guided hunting. Good luck in whatever you choose!

I've heard this and am prepared for it, mostly look at pig hunting as a chance to be in the wilderness year round with an outside chance at something. Appreciate the tip on Tejon!

 

[Georgia Archer]

Same here... looking at pig as a possibility to literally bring home the bacon while scouting for deer and turkey... but if I find a honey hole for them that may change! I'll wait till my once a year trip back home to GA to hunt before I pay 100s for a guide or trespass fee. I have nothing against it, just it's expensive enough in this state with all the different tags and driving all over the place to find anything. I guess I got spoiled being able to drop $60 on a sportsman license that would let you hunt anything state-wide and came with 10 deer tags. BTW, DrQuig, Tejon did a drawing last year, I think for the Cal Deer Assoc, for a free pig hunt to help get their numbers down; keep your eye open, they may do it again this year. I put in for it, but wasn't one of the lucky ones...

 

[Felq]

I heard the national forest was trapping and removing a bunch of hogs... has anyone heard how successful they were in that and/or how much of a dent that put in the population?

Yes, to the best of my knowledge, they are. Doug (from Doug's Wilderness Adventures - Descanso) shared with me that the forest service has put up traps and have completely cleaned up the area. I later learned that he is relocating to (Idaho) because San Diego County was doing some funny zoning stuff. I have also reviewed the project proposal between CA, BLM, USFS, and San Diego County to drop a few million $ to eradicate the pig problem in San Diego. Money better spent would be to enable/assist us eager and hungry SoCal pig hunters to find those pigs and take em out! Seriously.

So yes, it is happening, and it appears to be effective (at least in Descanso area).