Supposed secret spots

[spectr17]

<rant on>

I get a giggle out of the folks who moan about their supposed public land "Secret Spots" being given up here or on the Internet. The lastest moaning is over FHL and spots being posted here. Let's check the facts.

I arrived in CA in 1980 and right off the bat when going to FHL the nice older couple there at the campground pointed me to certain training areas. The warden and police also pointed out training areas. The maps people showed me had training areas marked. Some folks at the check in and campgound also shared training areas with me.

And you know what, those training areas on the maps are the VERY SAME TRAINING AREAS that hogs are being taken in today, 27 years later. For those who are dilusional and claim their secret little honey hole is being given up at FHL I hate to break your bubble but your spot IS NOT secret, never has been a secret and you probably found the spot from someone else showing you the place. If you stumbled onto the magic X all by yourself, take a bow, most don't get that lucky.

I'm also going to ask you not try and shut others down who want to talk about a training areas on a map. As several have already pointed out, you still need to know when to be at the X, which way to approach the X with the wind etc etc to get a pig. If you only have one "Secret Spot" you may want to expand your horizons and actually go scout more spots as someone may be in your spot when you get there. Moaning and blaming the Internet. JHO, me or whoever for someone beating you to your hole is really getting lame around here. It's a convenient crutch to reach for when you don't see any hogs.

One other thought, it's public FREAKING land. If you're so worried about someone actually walking on your hallowed ground you may want to buy yourself some private land and you can patrol it 24/7 to ease your pain. Trying to claim certain spots on public land has always bewildered me. How's that work anyways? First there? Biggest guy? Biggest group? Biggest gun? The big watch/little penis club all over again.

</end rant>

 

[Shot]

Its very simple, post one honey hole you have, and I am not talking about FHL, and see how many more people you will see at your spot. I don't how what your upset about exactly. I mean, for example, someone can say they shot a pig at FHL in TA 24, and thats fine, and thats a big zone to hunt. You still need to know how to hunt the area.

But posting specific spots is something non of us experienced hunters do. For example, I shot two pigs in the Ventana wilderness just before New Years. I said what general area I shot them at, but would no way in hell say exactly where. Once I post it here everyone on JHO that hunts FHL would simple make the extra drive to my so called honey hole.

I am sure you know what I am talking about. As I am sure you will never post here where your honey holes are on public land, and I am not talking about milliary bases where everybody and their moms hunt.

 

[bhrhunts]

I get really disappointed when people try to shut down posts, this is a public hunt...

come one, come all. Oh yeah, and bring your children so they can teach their children and on and on. I will do everything I can to help including posting successful harvest information (looks just like it did 25 years ago) and it will still be really hard and a whole lot of fun.

I forgot to post this little tidbit. In Monterey Co., CA the F&G deprivation permit hog kills outweigh the pig tags by a whole lot. There is not a shortage of hogs here. Just a shortage of hunters who are willing to broaden their horizons by hunting different areas. They just keep hunting "their honey holes" and blame their unsuccessful hunts on the internet. P.S. Iv'e got maps with x's on them...willing to share... Camp Roberts had trappers in there (until recently) killing the pigs because the hunters didn't keep the hog numbers low enough.

 

[spectr17]

I'm talking about someone saying they got a pig in say 28. I get tired of people harassing folks in here because they post what area they got a pig in, not even the exact spot, just a training area, a huge training area. The same info you can get at the check in window.

My advise, if you don't like reading the info then skip over it. In fact turn off the PC just in case you might see someone else's "Secret spot."

I take issue with that and the false claim these areas are "Secret" according to a certain misguided few.

Shot, you obviously don't know me and don't read my posts here. I've written about my secret honey holes since day one here, that'd be 1996. Lake Arrowhead turkey, we even had a JHO hunt right in the middle of my spot there, Deep CReek turkey, Muddy Springs, D14 deer, Bacon Flats dove shooting, etc etc etc. I have many spots to go to and people find them without the Internet anyways. I also don't lay claim to public land like some goofs do. If you don't want to post that's fine also, my post was directed at those who think they own the public land and come in here and try and run people off or shut them up. They are so brave they have to hide their nonsense in emails, they can't post it out front so everyone will know who they are. If they are such believers in their theory, why the sneaking around in email?

 

[bhrhunts]

One more thing, to all the wonderful JHO'ers that e-mail me asking for help on Liggett, the Las Padres Forest and Camp Roberts, we need to give Jesse a big round of applause. Jesse sets the tune here as far as "hunters helping hunters". Thank you Jesse for keeping it real & for all sharing all that you know.

 

[el_vaquero]

Jesse, Bhr....you guys are great. I'm new to hunting and don't mind getting a little help once in a while. I'd never ask for someone's "secret spot" but maybe an area to check out. IMO, hunting is about sharing the outdoor experience with others and trying to promote the sport. Many people new to the sport would try hunting and quickly get discouraged if everyone they spoke to refused to share any information with them. That would not benefit the sport. I don't mind sharing what little I know in here, in fact, I already have. I'm not gonna post GPS coordinates in a forum, but I might e-mail 'em to someone in here that posts regularly and I know has put in time and effort. I wouldn't share the info with someone that just shows up and has a whopping ten posts under his belt....but that's me. This is my first year hunting for anything and I didn't get anything, but I had fun scouting and spending time with buddies learning from them (where to go, what to look for, etc.). I've also learned a lot from this forum. I spend a lot of time here reading posts and sharing my experiences.

I've talked to quite a few people who hunt out of state and they all have told me the same. You wanna know what area the elk are in? Ask in town...they'll tell ya what area they're in. You still gotta find 'em in the right spot, right time, right conditions, etc.. Jesse, I think the attitude you talk about prevails here in California, where it's all about me, me, me. Screw everybody else. At least, that's my opinion.

 

[BLASTMASTER]

Dang Jesse, someone reallty ticked you off.

Just to make a formal statement on the subject: Thank you all who have helped me with hunting areas and strategies on public land! With your help 2 out of 3 of my kids brought home the bacon from CR on their first trip out.

BTW, I got secret spots in CR and Laguna Mt. if anyone's interested, just let me know. I'll even spill the beans over that fat flock of turkeys that like to roost 200 yards from the private land block at Sweetwater Springs...

 

[easymoney]

Yes, we all need to thank jesse for all his hard work, knowledge and for providing us all a venue to spill our guts...
That being said, I agree with all you have said on this touchy topic. There are no secret spots on public land or water, period. Someone at sometime has already been to your secret spot and one day someone will show up there again. This is the price one pays for utilizing public land. IMHO, the bulk of those doing the whining are newbies who are ignorant of basic outdoor skills, have unrealistic expectations and are too used to getting their way everywhere, everytime.
The bickering over this topic(like the bickering over poaching, skybusting and who got here first)is actually minimal on here JHO compared to other sites. We have jesse and the mods to thank for the reasonable civilty...


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

If you don't want to post that's fine also, my post was directed at those who think they own the public land and come in here and try and run people off or shut them up. They are so brave they have to hide their nonsense in emails, they can't post it out front so everyone will know who they are. If they are such believers in their theory, why the sneaking around in email?[/b]

Very well put!

 

[Huntin Fool]

Jesse i would have to say that the secret spots don't even get given away. My dad started to taking me to Liggett 12 years ago and as of that year i have gone every single year. I would have to say that the secret spots don't get given away but the web does attract attention to FHL in general and if people consider FHL secret they need to point the finger at the WON magazine for advertising. As you said it is public land. To me telling a person i shot a deer in TA 1 may mean nothing to many, as you and I know you can have some what of secret spots in zones. Just because you tell someone a zone doesn't mean they know what canyon or draw to walk I have been to plenty of spots without a sight of a person, some of the zones are huge that beginners can get lost in. I know many at Liggett never leave the vehicle in many in areas and i think if you play that to your advantage you can find a secret spot but telling someone a TA another got a deer or pig in does nothing more than give a person another number to juggle in their head while waiting in line.

 

[ducslayer]

The shareing attitude is what makes this such a great site!

If you look at other sites you will see a pic of some guy with limits of ducks ,they will not even say what refuge only a refuge in north Calif,What help is that to a fellow hunter who wants to hunt a public area next week ?

 

[Wild1]

 

[Shot]

Jesses, thanks for clearing that up. Also, my apologies about assuming you don't post your honey holes. Thats great for everyone.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (easymoney @ Jan 24 2007, 06:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

There are no secret spots on public land or water, period. Someone at sometime has already been to your secret spot and one day someone will show up there again.[/b]

There is a big difference in someone showing up and posting it on the internet. Do you realize how many people frequent JHO on a regular bases and don't even post? I don't want to get into a battle over this but all the regulars know that they will never post a "secret spot" on the internet (and I am not talking about undiscovered land).

 

[rusman66]

I thought we beat this horse already. Well here is my 2cents.

It takes hard work to be good at something plain and simple. Just becouse Tiger Woods points me to the golf course doesnt mean I am gonna break 70.

This is the Hog forum so I assume were talkin hogs. I doubt by giving up info on an area, that other hunters could possibly eradicate the population of hogs. Look at the Hog distribution map, its just not happening.

Now if running into other hunters is your gripe I can understand, but good hunters still get animals out of the crowd. And as Jesse put it How Secret Is Your Spot Really?

Now I gotta go get ready I am heading to Tejon to find a secret spot for myself LOL.

 

[easymoney]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

There is a big difference in someone showing up and posting it on the internet. Do you realize how many people frequent JHO on a regular bases and don't even post? I don't want to get into a battle over this but all the regulars know that they will never post a "secret spot" on the internet (and I am not talking about undiscovered land).[/b]

This is why those of us who have worked hard at finding "our own private Idaho" never speak of it in the present terms or give out locations exactly.
The internet has opened the door for many to join us, but many of those new folks do not have the wherewithall to figure it out any other way. They tend to come online and ask "where to go to get pigs", and what I always say is to do a little research and look up the info that Jesse has so kindly provided.
In the "old days" (long before the internet)we used to have to go out and physically check out every rumor we heard. I would hike for miles and not see a thing, every time out it seemed. But that was the beauty of it, getting out to see new country on my own two legs...
Now it seems that the folks who are just getting started think they can google up "hot spot" and instantly they have a private secret spot no none else knows anything about... It takes a little home work and the need "to read between the lines"... The info is out there for all to see.

 

[500+grns]

It's a bummer sometimes when you find your spot has been infiltrated by others,but this has been a public land story for as long as I can remember.
I never post or even talk about my honey holes to anybody.It's a code of honor between my hunting partners and myself.If it's broken,we no longer hunt together.
A quick story that happened last year,
One day at Lake Sonoma we took a huge boar early and were home by noon.After a couple of phone calls boasting about our heroic efforts as public land masters of the woods,we found a few close friends picking our brains about the location of where it all took place.We gladly gave them mapped out area on the other side of the lake that we wanted to scout (miles away).The next morning one of the guys killed a massive boar.I now have another honey hole.
I truly don't worry too much about other hunters because 80-90% walk the the ridges expecting animals to appear right in front of them.
I ussually try to make a positive of other hunters pushing animals in my direction or into areas where myself and the other 10-20% dare to commit themselves to.
A negative attitude takes the fun and enjoyment from the hunt and is not welcome in the circle of hunters I choose to share my hunting experiences with.

 

[Wild1]

Did I read that correctly....? You gave a few close friends directions to a false honey hole you had never hunted but wanted to scout, and they ended up scoring there....?

 

[Shot]

easymoney,

Your last post is exactly how I feel.

 

[SacFireJT]

 

[PIGIG]

i had a great honey hole at lake sonoma evey time i left i used a pine brow to erase my tracks so no one would find it! but evey time i came back there were foot prints all over the place. next time i will use a bigger opine brow

P.S jessie, GET EM BOY!

 

[Lurediver]

The honey hole off of Rockpile Rd. has been hammered lately by a number of hunters so I guess the secret is out and "someone" will be finding some new hunting partners for breaking the code of honor!


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