Tejon Ranch

[Jerrya]

I'm going to Tejon Ranch in late Jan. any ideas on what I may expect in weather and hunting prospects? Thank's in advance for any input, Jerry

 

[Speckmisser]

The weather will likely be quite cold.

You can also count on wet, VERY slippery roads. You'll want to be equipped for some fairly serious off-roading, not because you'll (intentionally) be "off" road, but because it gets real hairy up there. This is the voice of experience talking... Just ask Dilxpro or Grtwythunter.

I haven't hunted there during mid-winter, so not sure how the hogs move at this time of year. They're out there, though... just finding them may be a little tricky.

 

[DILPRXO]

Hi Jerry
Welcome to JHO...

I hunt this year's January POR and really had a great time. My buddy and I both scored boars, mine IIRC was 163lbs gutted and my partners was 78 lbs dressed.As for your questions it was very cold at night (in the 20's) and got in the the 40's during the day. As our resident expert, the Roadmisser,(If anyone can get a vehicle stuck Speck can..just give him a Red Bull

) pointed out the roads are hairy, some down right scary, with the combination mud, ice etc. especially if you drive a certain Silver Dodge Tactical vehicle with custom seat covers

. The big obstacle to the winter hunt IMO is that the fog rolls in big time, limiting visability drastically. And the hills aren't any less steep..If your asking for suggestions run a search on past Tejon PORs..lots of good info posted, do anything you can to build your legs/stamina up that you can now. Lots of warm clothes/Goretex, vehicle..ummm cough.."recovery gear." I thought the winter hunt was going to be Feb. 11-13? Did you here of a change in dates? I plan on hitting the Feb hunt.
Roadmisser...up for a drive?...the The Red Bull is on me

 

[SierraExplorer]

Speck- So in short- A Dodge for your commando vheice will be just the ticket for Tejon Ranch?

Cheers Speck

Dan

 

[Speckmisser]

Dil,

The Tactical Vehicle didn't have "custom seat covers" until that little incident. That clench pattern you left on the passengers' side is classic though.

Oh, and I can't make February. Even if I could, if it's raining at Tejon, I'm probably staying in the flat lands.

Dan, I love my Dodge, but if I were to plan on serious time at Tejon in the foul weather, I'd definitely kick in for a good Jeep CJ or an old Toyota LandCruiser. Add hard-core tires, a winch, and a few other tweaks... then we'd be talkin'.

 

[One Track]

JerryA: These guys are right. If it's wet, it's dangerous. Actually, if it's wet you won't hardly be able to access the first 100 yards of dirt road. Just don't get yourself up high when it's wet. If you are up top, and it starts dumpin', get off the mountain. Those roads turn to snot in about thirty minutes.

If it's wet, you can still kill hogs. Find a valley or creekbed that you can access from the paved road. Hunt uphill into the mountains. So, when you kill a hog, it's a downhill drag. You might also consider getting a sled or something to put the hog on for the drag. Trust me, it's brutal even with a sled.

If you start in a valley, or creekbed, you will always know your way back to the truck. Start an hour before light. Get up in them hills. Then, get up on a sidehill with the sun at your back. Find a place where you can see a big area across from you, cross canyon. Some of them might only be two hundred yards across. You can shoot from there. Or, it might be a half mile across. When you glass up some hogs, you'll have to put the sneak on. Just stay downwind.

In January, them hogs will be less harrassed than they are in March-June. You will see hogs, if'n the fog doesn't roll in.

Have fun. It's a great place.

 

[Rancho Loco]

Originally posted by One Track@Dec 5 2004, 07:53 PM
Hunt uphill into the mountains. So, when you kill a hog, it's a downhill drag.

C'mon, that wouldn't be any fun....

 

[larrysogla]

Did they ever lose a vehicle in those mountains???? larrysogla.

 

[One Track]

I've never seen remnants. But, I know they conduct a fewl rescues when it rains.

 

[superduty]

Not much more to add to this one. It took me awhile traveling those roads in the winter months before I stopped leaving grip marks in my steering wheel.

Look out for the fog monster for sure. I've traveled those roads when I could barely see the hood on my truck. Also the rain makes for interesting travel and lets not forget the snow. I had the wife and kids sleding last year off of the top on Gingus in February. If you don't have the proper ride equiped with good mud tires/winch/4x4 then I wouldn't even think about exploring too high. Stay low and on flat ground if you can. There are pigs all over that ranch and fairly easy to spot the sign if you look for it. If it's your first time try and see if one of the other hunters that have been on the ranch will be willing to let you tag along. Good Luck and post up story and pics when you get back.

 

[grtwythunter]

 

[One Track]

Ya know. That doesn't look as bad as it really was.

 

[larrysogla]

Pictures don't tell the whole story. I imagine just passing by Tejon on Fwy. 5 that some of those dirt roads are on the edge of thousand foot drop offs. Just looking up at those dirt roads on the side of those towering mountains visible by the Fwy. makes my stomach churn. You guys are stout hearted. I probably would just stay on the lowlands during winter/rain mush. larrysogla.

 

[Speckmisser]

Originally posted by larrysogla@Dec 5 2004, 10:15 PM
Did they ever lose a vehicle in those mountains???? larrysogla.

Larry, if I remember correctly, they had at least two vehicles come off the hill last winter. At least one of them was right there where I almost lost it.

Nobody was hurt, thank goodness, and I don't have the final word on vehicle damage. But it's easy to lose it up there in the mud... one reason I'll probably never go back during the rainy season. At least not until I get that Willy's.

Oh, and thanks for the memories, Scott.

OneTrack, if you think it looked tough from the road below, you should've been in the driver's seat.

 

[Shot]

Does anyone know if ATV's are allowed on the ranch?

I am asking for a friend

 

[Salty]

No, they don't allow ATV's.

 

[Speckmisser]

No ATVs and all vehicles MUST be street legal and licensed/insured.

 

[SierraExplorer]

Originally posted by One Track@Dec 6 2004, 02:32 PM
Ya know. That doesn't look as bad as it really was.

I cam up wirh a preaty good idea when I was jeeping the sierras back in the late '80s

I would carry (besides a shovel) some home made gizmo planks that consisted of OSB wood tacked down with Asphalt shingle strips. (18"x3')

After the excess mud is cleaned/whipped the best off the tire(s)- place it under and as flat as you can get it with others underlapping....then try Reverse if the opportunity arises.

Silly as it seems- the OSB will crack/fragmate under the weight and will mold to the ground (as long as it is not to soft) and the tire will track off off like an Army Tank.

I actually came up with that idea after listing to the now defunct/ mouth rambling Dr. Bill Wattenberg when a person could actually learn a few things off of his show. On top of that- it worked !

and another time it did not work

(but it was cheaper than a winch and then I always used my comealong and 2 single speed cable CM's as a backup. It did not seem to work out so much in dry/loose terrain as it would kick out.

For that I almost have an idea- it needs 2 eye hooks attatched to each end (for a total of 4) on a pressure treated 2x12x6 with nylon rope, 2 ratches on the same-other end and if you can get the board 95% under the tire it will work like a Catapillar tractor.

Glad you and your rig were safe Speck.

 

[SierraExplorer]

Oh Snot!

I think I just hijacked a thread.

Bed time for me.

 

[Rancho Loco]

Roadmisser's little adventure began when his rig began to tobaggan downhill in a greased skid.

I wasn't there to witness it, but it sounded pretty thrilling.

I also hear he was holding up the show for all the fords there.