SD pig - close but no shot

[Portuguese Pointer]

Took today off and chased mountain quail in circles in the San Diego backcountry for a couple of hours early in the a.m. My dog was on injured reserve this week so not a lot of luck. There were about 20 of them in 2 coveys same spot and they schooled us.

Then headed quietly by foot towards another spot. Along the way we heard grunt..grunt grunt grunt..snort..snort snort...grunt...grunt grunt. Hog was right there next to us within 20 yards! Didn't think about piggy and didn't have piggy ammo with me. So ran back to the truck and grabbed my 3" pig loads. Chased him through the bushes but lost his tracks a short distance later. Exciting 5 minutes. Hope to get one some day. This was a completely different area and had not heard of pigs being there so it caught me off guard. Lesson learned, always carry pig loads just in case.

Also have never seen so many fresh mountain lion tracks in one outing. So three separate spots with fresh tracks. Mountain lion bottom left. Wasn't positive on the top track. Looks to be deer but there wasn't a second one to compare. Lacks some of the pointy aspects of a deer track. Anyone guess the track on the top?

 

[thewolfman]

Its a pig track...but i m not sure thats a mtn lion track cuz it seems on top of track are claws...which mtn lion track dont sho...looks lik a dog...but wow!!!..pigy huh???...u should tak me wit u...lol...thax fo sharin bro

 

[Bubblehide]

^^^Ditto^^^

 

[flingem71]

Its Wolverine track.....with Durashock sole...size 10.5
Ok, I have to guess at this one. I'm saying pig track for sho! Boar, well traveled, alone and done breeding for now. About 160-170lbs and has a slight sideways gate. The middle looks like smaller sow cause of the wide dewclaw? The other is coyote.

DISCLAIMER: some of the things I say may be unfiltered, offensive, or even complete B.S.

 

[Portuguese Pointer]

Its Wolverine track.....with Durashock sole...size 10.5
Ok, I have to guess at this one. I'm saying pig track for sho! Boar, well traveled, alone and done breeding for now. About 160-170lbs and has a slight sideways gate. The middle looks like smaller sow cause of the wide dewclaw? The other is coyote.

DISCLAIMER: some of the things I say may be unfiltered, offensive, or even complete B.S.

Yes, I know. Looks like a couple of claws extruding in the photo but I think just the shadows in the picture. It did not have that appearance in person. There were coyote tracks running right next to several mtn lion tracks and it was night and day in terms of both size and shape. Mtn lion tracks were round with no claw marks showing.

Thanks everyone for the input on the top track. Much appreciated. Willing to travel up north or TX for a wild pig but really want to harvest a rare local one.

 

[bisonic]

Lions front paws are larger than the back paws and usually when they walk they put their back paws on top of where their front paw just were (or very close by). See attached. Other one is definitely a hog.

 

[cali-carnivore]

Pig for sure. The track is rounded compared to a deer track. A dew clay would be nice, but its still swine or midget feral cow. The other is the rare manbearpig takiing the shape of a lion. they are even more clever than pigs,

 

[spectr17]

Pig for sure. The track is rounded compared to a deer track. A dew clay would be nice, but its still swine or midget feral cow. The other is the rare manbearpig takiing the shape of a lion. they are even more clever than pigs,

We can't call them midgets anymore, the PC word is height challenged cow. :big-grin-aqua:

 

[thewolfman]

If ur size 10...thats a big pig...i say 180 plus...u best go back and hunt the area again...good luck

 

[jimmyvidrio]

going with the board members above pretty sure its a pig track more rounded, deer tend to be pointy......good luck on your next trip

 

[Steve Walters]

The hog that made that track, had some size to it. Not a huge track, but a good size one. The other looks like a large canine made it...

 

[dwikkles]

Hell lets go week after next

 

[Revulshawn21]

Dog and piggy. Woohoo!

 

[Fighterjock]

Here are some things that help identify this as a canine track.

A: The claw marks. Dogs usually show claw marks in their tracks. However, it is possible to see claw marks in cat tracks, but this is usually when the animal is running or pouncing.

B: The lack of a third lobe on the hind edge of the heel pad. Although it is visible in some dog tracks, the third lobe is located higher, not aligned with the other two as it is in cats.

C: The shape of the leading edge of the heel pad is a single lobe.

D: The alignment of the front two toes. They are side-by-side, or very close to it, in dogs tracks. There are exceptions, such as when the animal is making a turn or walking on a slope.

E: The almost triangular shape of the pads of the outer two toes.

F: Dogs have a little point where the heel pad turns. Cats share this feature.

 

[Portuguese Pointer]

Been out a couple of more times scouting around. Signs where I didn't expect and no signs where I did expect. Seen a fair amount of rooting various places but always seem to be a day or two behind them. Still waiting for Wild1 to bag that big mean SD boar and post up.




Fresh following a heavy day/night of rain

 

[Portuguese Pointer]

Went out scouting again. Getting a little closer but need some luck. Ran into more fresh tracks and rooting. Finally have enough pics and patterned the below pig and it's running buddy/mate. I think this one is decent size because that oak tree behind is large in diameter. Working on patterning another one a few miles away that I stumbled on mid morning accidentally a couple of months ago but unsuccessful so far. This is way harder than quail hunting! Quail are shifty and quick but feels like playing a game of chess with these dang San Diego pigs.

 

[mezcan]

I recognize the dirt access road in your original photo . I went turkey hunting after a light snow there a couple years back and missed a group of pigs by minutes. Only had #5 turkey loads so I guess that's ok. I believe you are on to a survivor of the pig slaughter on vista irrigation property awhile back ( they claimed about 30 trapped and killed). Good luck !

 

[Portuguese Pointer]

Another day of scouting San Diego pigs (can't use the term hunt or harvest yet). Trying to check out one new spot each outing following one of the mainstays. Mixed bag but found both recent and fresh tracks at a couple of different new spots including some good sized tracks with dewclaws. And a somewhat ugly mate made some time systematic photo appearances during the last couple of weeks. Looks female and maybe even pregnant. Will leave that one alone even if given the chance.



New Spot - followed this fresh set of tracks 300 meters down an old dirt road, then a short distance on a pig trail to a bedding area with 1/2 dozen dugout holes that were next to a nice water seep. No luck.


Pregnant female? Not sure.

 

[Rob P.]

If those tracks were here I'd say they were most likely from a cow. A 4" very rounded pig track is just unlikely - at least in my neck of the coastline. You should check the spacing between prints. Longer spaces = bigger critter.

I can't tell what the other print is from. Except to say it's more in size to a large bobcat track than cougar. Whether it's from a dog or not depends on if the trail/road is used for day hikers with pets or not. Way too large for coyote.

 

[1withthewoods]

That's a good pig for sure