Two down!!!

[Shot]

I went hunting these past couple of days in the Ventana Wilderness and I got these two nice sows. The first pig was taken at around 4 pm at 200 yards and the second pig (solid gray) was taken the next day at about 4:30 pm at about 50 yards ( I wish I had my bow).

I wanted to post these because we don't get a lot of posts about pigs being taken on public land. While I will never give my secret spot away (you guys understand) I just wanted to encourage people to get out there and hunt public lands, because wild pigs do exist on public land (I know sometimes its hard to believe with the success rate so low). For the new comers to hunting, get out there and do your homework and you will be rewarded, no need to get a guide. Good luck to everyone in 2007, the year of the pig!!

 

[Rampage1]

Great job shot! Im sure you guys busted your tails getting those pigs out of there!

 

[DEERSLAM]

Outstanding! Public land piggys are a great trophy, congrats

 

[Rancho Loco]

Awesome job whacking pigs in Ventana.

I know they're there, but the terrain makes skyscrapers look flat.

 

[Arrowslinger]

Hot damn

It doesn't get any better than that, public land hogs.

 

[rwlittle]

get down charlie brown!!!! way to go!!!

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

thats an exciteing way to start the new year by slamming a couple of wild hogs SHOT, congrats!...........tra

 

[leftyhunter]

Two pigs on public land that size is amazing! I am not sure where the Ventena wilderness is. I know one hunter who makes great sausage by mixing in 80% wild and 20% domestic pork. let me know and I'll get him in touch with you by PM. 95% of the pigs are taken on private land so you really beat the odds!

Leftyhunter

 

[Sasquatch619]

Sooo, ahhh..... Need a hunting partner?

Great pigs man. Especially on pub land.

 

[Speckmisser]

Nice job, Shot!

Ventana has a reputation as a tough hunt... but it's doable to those who are willing. Of course if you ask, most any public land that holds hogs can be a "tough hunt".

Congrats on public land hogs.

 

[birds4me]

Great Job.. I thought for years that pigs on public land was a myth Thanks for the pics!

 

[dw33]

Congratulations, those pigs look big. Where is the Ventana Wilderness?

 

[CAhntr]

The Ventana Wildereness is in the northern section of Los Padres NF.

Congrats on the pigs. Both are great looking pigs, I especially like the grey one. Awesome, and encouraging for us public land hunters!

Eric

 

[Mikey88]

Wow! Great job on those prime pigs! I like the black and white one!

 

[BDB]

SWEET!!!!! Gotta like public land pigs and big ones at that, congrats!

 

[beastslayer]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dw33 @ Jan 4 2007, 07:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Congratulations, those pigs look big. Where is the Ventana Wilderness?[/b]

That's about at least 5-hour drive from our neck of the woods. Big Sur at Highway 1 is right beside Ventana. Ventana happens to be west of FHL. So there is no doubt that there are pigs there. But oh the climbing and the brush-choked terrain! I asked the park ranger at Big Sur once whether there are pigs visiting the campsite. He gave me a knowing look and just told me, that "hunting is not allowed" at Big Sur.

 

[beastslayer]

Shot - Sorry, I missed out the congratulatory greetings for nice hogs. Looks fat too!

 

[kingwouldbe]

Nice job SHOT.

Do you have to back pack in all your gear?
Because it's a wilderness do you have to backpack them out ?
If so, how far in can you go and still get them out?
Do you bone them out or tie them to a pack frame?

Thanks in advance, those look like some good eaters

 

[Shot]

kingwouldbe,

Depending who I am with will determine how far I go. This time I was with my 80 year old grandfather, so I had to limit the distance we hiked. He is a very hard headed guy and will never admit he is tired, so I kind of have to look out for his well being (I just wish I am that active when I am his age). If I am with well fit people I usually pack out all my gear and go at least 2 miles out. Sometimes I can't make it back to the truck in time before sunset and I end up camping out.

If I shoot a big hog I will usually bone them out. The bones weight a ton after an hour of hiking through those hills. If the pig is manageable I will just tie them to my frame pack and haul them out that way. I don't like making second trips for meat so I take it all at once.

This trip wasn't so bad. I am guessing the first pig weighted around 160-180lbs and the second around 150lbs. After field dressing them and quarter them up, I would guess I had about 70-80labs of weight on my frame pack. That kind of weight I can handle with no problem. I was just a little sore the next day and I could feel it in my knees when I was carrying the second pig.

 

[beastslayer]

Shot - What surprises me was that you are actually in a flat ground?

After the Big Sur campground, I highly doubt whether there is a flat surface up there.