TEJON- POR- 12-6-02

[MNHNTR]

Hello fellow fighters for freedom! Myself, Bro, Dad and friend have sent in our money for the Dec 6-8 Pig O Rama and I was wondering if anyone else was going to be there. I've been checking the curent weather pattern there and it seems it will be cccoolldd! We will be hunting the southside of the ranch. Anyone have any tips or ideas for the hunt. My Dad taught us everything we know about hunting,shooting, ethics etc. and since he is getting older , we (my bros and I) are trying to fit in as much hunting, shooting, camping and together time as we can. Hopefully I will get to meet some JHP's while there. It would be nice to put faces to the names........

 

[Speckmisser]

Hey MN.

I won't be making that hunt, but you'll probably have a ball. It is looking cold, and will probably have a little rain by then (maybe snow up on the peaks). Ought to have the pigs out and about.

As far as advice, drive and glass a lot! I mentioned this way back after the May POR, but it's worth saying again. I don't usually hold with road hunting, but at Tejon it's definitely the best way to start. There's a lot of places those pigs can be, and a lot of ranch to cover.

I tried to do it "my way" on my first day and a half at Tejon, and all I got was sore feet. Once you commit to hiking and scouting, you're really limiting yourself to a relatively small area. Unless you get lucky and hike into a good spot right off, you'll be walking dead ground. It's certainly possible to jump right into a good spot, though. There's a ton of pigs on that ranch.

Best bet is to drive and glass until you find a hot area, then you can get out of the truck and hump into the hellholes. Of course, some folks end up taking their pig right next to the road. That will never be my kind of luck, though. Mine is always gonna be somewhere ugly.

Get up on the ridges and check the saddles for sign. (A map will be very helpful..especially one that shows all the ranch roads... could be worth the few bucks the ranch will charge.) First light and last light are the best times to look down at the edges of the chapparal as the piggies head to and from feeding and bedding. Glass the little clearings real close, especially as the day comes on. Just like deer, watch the edges real close.

One other thing, don't hesitate to ask around. I found the staff helpful, although of course they aren't supposed to tell you exactly where to go... they might drop a nicely pointed hint or two. They want you to have success and come back, not go away empty handed and pouting.

Oh yeah... take LOTS of rope.

 

[MNHNTR]

Hey Speckmisser, thanks for the considerate reply. I didnt expect so much info. Again thanks... I'll see what we can do with it ....PS I think the rope was an inside joke from what I remember!

 

[One Track]

Not an inside joke. You need a lot of rope or cable. I have been collecting rope, and am now up to about 600 ft. Them hills are steep, and those hogs bed in the brush-choked bottoms. A few hours before dark, you can see them come out of the thick stuff and start heading up the mountainsides to do some roto-tilling. Sometimes they don't make it all the way to the top. We have taken pigs a half mile straight down. So, the more rope you can tie off to your truck, the better. With that said, we have taken hogs on level ground too. But, just in case, pack a mile of rope if you can.

MNHNTR - You will have a blast. In the colder temps, they will stay out longer. In February, we took a pig at 11am, and another around 1pm. In May, they didn't seem to stay out that late. If it rains, the roads turn to snot and are impassable, even with 4x4. Every road out there has some very steep grades. Take snow chains. They were crucial in helping me get out of the mud, twice, in February.

Let me know if I can help.

 

[spectr17]

Hello MNHNTR,

I'm already committed to help Hook with his deer hunt that weekend or I'd be up there with you. Going to try and make the Jan POR if I can.

Good luck.

 

[Speckmisser]

No problem, MN. I wish I'd had a list like this when I first started in CA. It's a great place for info.

The rope is only a semi-joke. Ask Grtwythunter... after our experience up there, he went and bought a 1000' spool. If you can tie them off and drag them up the hill, that's a BIG bonus. I used my winch with 125', plus all the rope pieces we could find to tie together. Still had a pretty hefty drag with both my brother's and my own pigs before we could hook 'em up.

I'll be carrying 100 yards this year myself, in addition to the winch.

By the way...not sure yet, but I may be getting a POR hunt for Christmas. If so, I may be out there in January and again in the spring.

 

[MNHNTR]

Thanks guys! This site is the best I've ever seen. I appreciate the info and the "Forum Camraderie" and will make sure we got ROPE! PS Since my Bd ay is March (10) I will be going to the March 7,8,9 POR also! Happy b day to me!

 

[One Track]

Looks like March is shaping up. Wish I could be there in January. March and June are for sure though.

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

MnHntr,

I'm not confirmed yet, but I plan on going. One of my good huntin buddies has never killed a hog, so I think this is right up his alley. It looks like him and I will be attending. I've heard a lot of good things about Tejon, I would love to take a hog out there...Cant wait, who else is going? Would also be nice to put a few faces with the JHP'rs on here.

Bryan

 

[MNHNTR]

I spoke with Barbara at Tejon the other day and she said that it s 1/2 full for north or south hunt requests. Thanks for the info One Track, and Hoghunter as it gets closer let me know if you are confirmed. Anyone else going?

 

[mattsdad]

what the heck is por hunt? and were do i get in? someone e-mail the info im very interested

 

[MNHNTR]

Mattsdad welcome to the show........ I sent you an email with info. In case you read this first call Barbara Boeck at Tejon Ranch 661-663-4288 and request an application. They have hunts coming up in Dec, Jan/feb Mar april and june

 

[mattsdad]

thanks for the info.got your e-mail this morning I'll call this morning to find out the specifics

 

[4kie]

My huntin' buddy and I have sent in our $ for the 12-6-02 hunt. We were told (by Barbara - the coordinator) that the south hunting area was full and the north almost full. We chose the desert area because she said it'd give us a better chance to learn the terrain. She also said she expected the success rate to be good in all three areas! Has anyone hunted this portion of the ranch? (Neither one of us have hunted pigs before, but we're going to try our best to fill two tags!) 4kie

 

[MNHNTR]

hey 4kie I'll be on the south side, i'm sure someone here has hunted the desert side...anyone...anyone......good luck...i t s going to be cccold!

 

[MNHNTR]

Well Fridays almost here....im chomping at the bit. I guess 4kie and I will be the only JHP'RS there unless anyone else is going? I will be driving a white tahoe towing KARSTICS old trailer painted tan....look for the jhp stickers!

 

[Speckmisser]

It will be cold, but it oughtta be a good hunt.

We'll be waiting anxiously for pictures and stories. Remember, the misses are often as much fun as the kills... take notes and take pictures!

Good luck!

 

[One Track]

Hope you guys have a great time. I'm jealous. Take lots of rope. Take lots of photos. And don't forget your tp.

Wishing you a successful hunt.

 

[spectr17]

Good luck you guys. After seeing that big hog at FHL I've been wanting to get back after them iddy biddy piggies.

If you guys are around the scale when they weigh a hog can you put a tape measure around the hog behind the front leg to help get our hog weight girthing chart going? Let me know that weight and if it was gutted or skinned to. Ask Barbara too if you think about it, if she would keep a record for us. I'll try and call her and see if she will help us out.

I also have some business cards with our forum address on them if anyone wants to pass them out to the other hog hunters there. Email your address if you do.

Thanks.

 

[MNHNTR]

Thanks guys.... I read this a little too late Jesse, I will measure any hogs we see being weighed.