- Thread starter Speckmisser
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Speckmisser
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Hey guys,
I've been doing some thinking and reading lately about this price increase and your reactions to it.
First of all, I agree... hog hunting is just getting too danged expensive in CA. I think too many landowners are realizing what a commodity they have if there are pigs on their land. And I think there's a little bit of the greed bug biting too... if I can risk saying it. But that's capitalism, right? Free enterprise and all that, and it's the system that lets us live in the prosperity we enjoy... so it's hard to knock one aspect while embracing the other.
A trip to Texas sounds like a bargain until you REALLY sit down and figure the costs relative to a CA hunt. Personally, I'm not sure how excited I'd get about shooting over a feeder (I've done it, and will probably do it again, but it doesn't do a whole lot for me), and I know I'm not real nuts about using dogs. But that's just me.
I was looking at the lastest Hog Hunter journal though, and see that hunt prices are sneaking upward all over the state. Guided hunts are quickly moving upward of the $500 mark, with some premium properties charging more than $750 for a weekend (that's for one pig, which you are almost guaranteed to kill the first morning). Semi-guided hunts, when you can find them, are also headed over the $400 mark. There's a trend, apparently, to charge for the hunt PLUS a kill fee.
There are still better deals out there, and please, if you find them post them up. But overall, it's looking more and more like Tejon's PORs are still gonna be competitively priced. I know, I say this at the risk of sounding like a shill for Tejon, but trust me, I have no vested interest in helping their business.
$400 is a lot of money, especially for a non-guided hunt. It'll probably price some of us out of the game. But looking at the bigger picture in CA, it might not be as out of line as it seems. It's a damned shame. But it's a fact.
I've been doing some thinking and reading lately about this price increase and your reactions to it.
First of all, I agree... hog hunting is just getting too danged expensive in CA. I think too many landowners are realizing what a commodity they have if there are pigs on their land. And I think there's a little bit of the greed bug biting too... if I can risk saying it. But that's capitalism, right? Free enterprise and all that, and it's the system that lets us live in the prosperity we enjoy... so it's hard to knock one aspect while embracing the other.
A trip to Texas sounds like a bargain until you REALLY sit down and figure the costs relative to a CA hunt. Personally, I'm not sure how excited I'd get about shooting over a feeder (I've done it, and will probably do it again, but it doesn't do a whole lot for me), and I know I'm not real nuts about using dogs. But that's just me.
I was looking at the lastest Hog Hunter journal though, and see that hunt prices are sneaking upward all over the state. Guided hunts are quickly moving upward of the $500 mark, with some premium properties charging more than $750 for a weekend (that's for one pig, which you are almost guaranteed to kill the first morning). Semi-guided hunts, when you can find them, are also headed over the $400 mark. There's a trend, apparently, to charge for the hunt PLUS a kill fee.
There are still better deals out there, and please, if you find them post them up. But overall, it's looking more and more like Tejon's PORs are still gonna be competitively priced. I know, I say this at the risk of sounding like a shill for Tejon, but trust me, I have no vested interest in helping their business.
$400 is a lot of money, especially for a non-guided hunt. It'll probably price some of us out of the game. But looking at the bigger picture in CA, it might not be as out of line as it seems. It's a damned shame. But it's a fact.
superduty
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Supply and Demand. Obviously pig hunting has been recognized as a growing sport here in Cali. It shows in the pig tag prices to the hunts. It just bothers me and worries me about where this all might be going for our future and our childrens. Reflecting back on my youth hunting I have nothing but great memories but all of the hunting I did was on public land. Hunting oportunities were abundant. Times are changing along with peoples views and opinions on us hunters. The liabilaties alone to a land owner could scare the average Joe to post his fences. It took me along time to be able to afford to pay for a hunt on private property. I just wish that all of my fellow hunters that take care of our lands and dont abuse them can afford to experience the private property hunt. Our childhood hunting memories are still out there I have discovered, there just on private land and it costs to be there. Good luck to all and I pray for our children to have the hunting oportunities they deserve and also the pleasures of being able to raise there own someday using the skills we have installed in them to survive and succeed.
P.S. Did anyone notice that Jesse's web page was the first mentioned in this months California Hog Hunter under wild hog resources on the web!!
P.S. Did anyone notice that Jesse's web page was the first mentioned in this months California Hog Hunter under wild hog resources on the web!!
Rancho Loco
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What was the name of that guy doing drop hunts up in Sonoma County?
The price was around $200 or so?
$400 sounds pretty pricey for tresspass rights to Tejon for a weekend, but if it's a JHO event, the extra hunnert bucks is well worth meeting and BS'ing with the crew.
And also seeing what trouble Speckmisser gets into.
P.S. - Hey Speck - just picked up the Lever action from the smith, new 3 1/2 lb. trigger installed...They still have lots of SxS's in he rack.
The price was around $200 or so?
$400 sounds pretty pricey for tresspass rights to Tejon for a weekend, but if it's a JHO event, the extra hunnert bucks is well worth meeting and BS'ing with the crew.
And also seeing what trouble Speckmisser gets into.
P.S. - Hey Speck - just picked up the Lever action from the smith, new 3 1/2 lb. trigger installed...They still have lots of SxS's in he rack.
Speckmisser
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Amen to that, Superduty.
I also remember all the great opportunities as a kid. When I first started hunting, the only people who posted their land were the "damn yankees". As long as you didn't tear up the crops or shoot the livestock, you could go where you liked.
Last time I was back home, the little bit of farmland that hadn't become housing developments was sporting more signage than a bulletin board!
I also remember all the great opportunities as a kid. When I first started hunting, the only people who posted their land were the "damn yankees". As long as you didn't tear up the crops or shoot the livestock, you could go where you liked.
Last time I was back home, the little bit of farmland that hadn't become housing developments was sporting more signage than a bulletin board!
Mel Carter
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Yeah, i'm with you guys on this one. I've never hunted Tejon, but always wanted to, $300 is a good deal with a good chance at gettinga hog. But for $400, I could head over to Ken Whitakers place, save me $50 and about 2 hours of drive time. Me personally, i'm running about a 60% success rate at his place, think i'll stick it out over there. Atleast until the next trip to choppers!
huntducks
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Texas is the way to go you can do 2 pigs and one goat or sheep for $300 guided, this is in west Texas 2 day hunt.
Myself I will drive a little farther to my brother place in OK. loaded with pigs he shoot about 1 every couple of weeks that's into his garden, none of his friends will even answer the door when he stops by think he might have a pig in the back of his truck.
I had hunted with a guy up in the Paso Robles area guided $350 for 1 $450 for 2, the second one has to be a meat pig. I have not hunted with him in 2 years but 3 of my friends did in Feb. and he went up $50 on both.
Myself I will drive a little farther to my brother place in OK. loaded with pigs he shoot about 1 every couple of weeks that's into his garden, none of his friends will even answer the door when he stops by think he might have a pig in the back of his truck.
I had hunted with a guy up in the Paso Robles area guided $350 for 1 $450 for 2, the second one has to be a meat pig. I have not hunted with him in 2 years but 3 of my friends did in Feb. and he went up $50 on both.
