Vandenberg AFB hunting after-action report

[New Pig Hunter]

This is the after-action report from the Monday - Wednesday (06 - 08 JAN 2003) hunt at Vandenberg, see Gordy Countryman's post 3 or 4 below, "PIG HUNT - Vandenberg"

OK, as most know, you must be Military to hunt VAFB, and Tim and I are Navy retirees.

SUMMARY: 3 days: we didn't see a pig, we didn't hear a pig.

Tim and I arrived Monday morning, got the VAFB pig stamp, checked in with the DF&G folks, then headed out to the Schumate Wash area (Area 2A ??). If you have base maps, find Antenna Road and go west to the ocean, we parked right at the spot where the railroad tracks make a 90-degree turn from northbound to east bound.
We humped west toward the ocean, saw old sign. We humped back east, lots of pig tunnels and tramplings in the brush, but no recent sign and no pigs.

So we headed up the south-end of Dumbar Road, which is the north-south ridge road. Tim had taken a pig here last April. This time: no sign, but a great place nonetheless due to habitat. We ambushed here Monday evening and Tuesday morning, nothing at all.

Tuesday morning we headed east to Area 4 (I think). Found a great place, lots of sign, some very fresh. Stayed there Tuesday and Wednesday. Saw no pigs at all.
What we did find was the barbed wire fenceline (running east-west), under which were many pig trails. We surmised that piggies find sanctuary north of the fence on private property, then come south onto VAFB to feed under the dozens and dozens of oak trees.
We set up our ambushes, but no luck.
We also surmised there may be but one or two or three big boars in that particular area, and we weren't in the right place at the right time for the ambush.

So, is VAFB the greatest place to hunt ?? Yeh, Tim and I think so. Where else can you find a Burger King and a shoppette and a hot shower within 5 miles of where you're hunting ??
In three days of hunting, Tim and I heard only one evening gunshot (results unknown). So if there were other hunters out there, they weren't seeing anything either.

Is VAFB hunting as fantastic/easy/simple/guaranteed as some postings might lead one to believe ?? Not for us these past three days.

Therefore, are we doing something wrong, or did we just have 3 days of bad luck ?? Tim and I are very new at this pig thing and don't know what pigs might be doing, etc. We glassed from high ridges and low ridges: we saw no pigs at all.
And it sounds like RookieHunt21 is doing things right !! Go Navy !!

 

[sportyg]

Great post >>. Thanks for the follow up..

Now all you military types and retired types.. Have an idea of what to expect at the AFB.. One thing however I think hunting has been closed on base for awhile due to what is going on.. So I'd check before any of you go.. If you want to give it a shot..

 

[New Pig Hunter]

To All,

Gordy made a comment above re. VAFB closed to hunting.

On Wednesday Tim and I drove onto the base one last time, and at the main gate I saw a small sign adjacent to the guard which read, "No hunting until further notice."

Now we were smart enough not to ask any questions about it, but the sign was there. So as Gordy said, give the DF&G folks a call beforehand.

Cheers,

Carl

 

[rookiehunt21]

just a missle launch

 

[rookiehunt21]

carl

on top of that ridge along that fence line is where you want to be. the pigs cross there during the night. almost every morning i saw little pigs crossing the road on top of the ridge. my buddy put a 12 gauge slug into one and in his greed of trying to get another one it disapeared. we found a chunk of meat but that was it. it was almost like it just vanished. the pig could not have weighed more then 40 lbs. anyway i have been told that 2a is not so hot theses days. they think some disease or something kinda killed them off in the area or something. i really don't know that is just what one of those seargants told me.

 

[New Pig Hunter]

RookieHunt21,

Good to hear from you again !! Haze gray and underway.

I have my VAFB map in front of me, and to clarify: what I called Schumate Wash is "Shuman Creek" on the map, at the south end of Area 3/north end of Area 2A.
Tim and I were on that ridge road at it's most southern end, accessed via the Point Sal Road. As you mentioned, pigs cross over from private land to VAFB land during the night. We unfortunately saw none Monday evening nor Tuesday morning.
Tuesday morning we drove about 1/2 mile further north along the ridge road to glass from the heights, but saw no animals at all. Then we headed over to Area 4 for Tuesday and Wednesday.

As regards the no hunting sign at the gate, we were told VAFB usually will only close down those areas along the coast near the launch silo, and allow hunting in other areas. I never did call to find out what the real story was, so I hope that a missile launch is what it's all about.
When Tim and I hunted VAFB last April there was a missile launch and we were told to hunt Area 4 until after the lauch, then we could hunt Area 3 again.

I reckon I'd best get back to VAFB soon.

Cheers,

Carl

 

[rookiehunt21]

carl
i know exactly where you are talking about. alot of quail in that area. all my pigs in that area have came from up on top of the ridge. i like to hunt area four also. it seems that it gets more pressure though. about a month ago i saw six big pigs running through the thick brush right by the hwy. i might have to go to iraq next week so my hunting season may be coming to an end. hopefully not. if i dont go i probably will practically live at vandenburg in march.

 

[Mnfshrman]

I'm in the same boat as ROOKIE, but I know I'm on my way. I work with ATG and have to ride a ship over to get them ready for UD. They haven't told me where I'll be getting off or when, but when I get back I'm ready to head up there with you all. I'll get back to you when I return.

David