Vandenberg report

[Use_Enough_Gun]

Hunted Vandenberg Sat/Sun (6th and 7th Jan).

Saw at least 20 deer, half a dozen coyotes, pig sign EVERYWHERE...and did not see a single solitary porker.

Of course, having 35 knot winds onshore (Saturday) and about 70 knot winds (very exciting at the top of area 3 for those who've been on the rigdeline) didn't help much. Calmed down on the lee side by about 1400 on Sunday (only 30 knots).

But...someone at least fouled their barrels. I heard two shots on Sunday a.m. at about 0930 and right before dusk last night down in area 6. I hope they had success.

Before anyone gets the wrong impression...I had a GREAT time. Beats the best day at the salt mine and I saw tons of wildlife. (Can't wait for deer season). Vandenberg views are spectacular, saw lots of sign (they ARE there)...

...and where else in south central California can you walk down the beach with a rifle?

 

[Speckmisser]

Welcome aboard, Use Enough Gun!

Vandenburg sure sounds like a great hunt. I hope you guys who have access know how lucky you are. Folks like me can only listen to the tales and wish...

Good luck on future hunts. You seem to have the right frame of mind.

 

[Rampage1]

Yeah the wind gets going pretty good up on top of 3! Was the road in good enough shape for you to drive up there or did you walk? I heard they did some road work up there, some of those roads used to get pretty bad. Yeah vandenberg is a great hunt, I always have a good time with or without a pig harvest. I am hoping to get out there a couple more times before I deploy again in the spring.

Good luck,
Rampage

 

[Use_Enough_Gun]

Like I said...beats a day at the salt mines and how can you beat "rifles at the beach"?

 

[hogwild757]

I went there three years ago. Its amaning if anyone gets to see anything the grass are so tall. almost evrywhere you go. For you know the pigs could be walking right under your nose 50 ft. I hunter the north side where you get up on the hill looking north you can see the sand dunes off in a distance.

 

[pbrdog]

Area 3 does have some high grass at certain times of the year. The nice thing with VAFB though is that it has so many types of terrain to hunt on. It's like each area has a different terrain than another.

 

[7mm RM]

Good stuff...

 

[Use_Enough_Gun]

RE:Rampage1's question...we scouted area 3 on foot one day and found an access road while scouting so we drove up on Sunday.

90% is two-wheel drive truck accessible, but it's that 10% that'll get you in trouble. We 4 wheeled most of the way in. It was nice to see that country and to scout area 4 too. Lots of pasture and cows though.

The brush is down because of the winter season so most roads are passable. I wouldn't want to drive on some of the hills if it had rained a lot (which it rarely does)...but the roads would be pretty challenging to say the least.

As for the grass...all of it was bone dry...and TALL. There was no way to see in there other than to push your way through and just maybe jump one up near the boundary. Lot's of rooting near the grass though...but most of it seems to be in the northern areas. I'm sure in the seasons where it's green and growing it would be a real challenge.

PBRDOG has it right...the terrain and ecology are so varied that it's like hunting in many different regions. Areas 6-8 has lot's of oak/eucalyptus and scrub brush and meadow. Most of those are also populated with cows however...

Again it was a first hunt there so learning curve was steep. Glad to share the experience with anyone who's interested and give a few pointers as well.

The piggies are there...no doubt about it. Can't wait to get back at it next month or so.

 

[buck_in_rut]

Where is VAFB if you guys dont mind?

 

[Use_Enough_Gun]

Vandenberg is midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles is surrounded by the Santa Ynez Mountains, the Pacific ocean, and ranchland of northern Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties.

Nearest "town" is Lompoc.

Total size: Approximately 150 square miles or roughly 96,000 acres.

 

[NFDFFP]

I have to agree about the saltmines....We always consider shooting something icing on the cake. But the cake itself is just being outside with a large gun.....

 

[manteca3]

Spent most of my time hunting the north side. Got pigs from 2a and 4. My buddies got several from 3. If you find a sweet spot on the south side I reckon that you won't have much competition from other hunters. I have seen sign down by the pond in Area 5 around Bear Creek Road.
There are several JHO members cruising Vberg. Check out past posts. We often just camp at Vberg if we are passing through. Welcome aboard.

Manteca3 out.

 

[lasich]

Well i just got back from vandenberg this morn and havent seen a pig yet. Ive gone for 2 three day weekends in a row. I see were there rooting stuuff up but not them. Ive covered area 3 and 4 man some beatifull area and a great walk but i would luv to see a pig. I guess its a good thing i luv just to be out there our I would just give this pig huntig to the birds. Its to bad we cant shoot the coyotes out there. I seen probally 40 of them over the last 2 weekends. ANYONE HAVE ANY LUCK THIS WEEKEND. I will be out there again this weekend. so maybe better luck this time. I dont know if the cold had anything to do with it this last weekend but it was really freezing. Hope next weekend is warmer. At least 32 degrees the teens are to cold.

 

[New Pig Hunter]

I was hunting at VAFB this time of year in 2005, and the before-sunrise morning temps in Area 4 hovered at 32 degrees. Stayed in the field and scouted all day and saw none. Didn't see a pig during that 4 days adventure.

When I returned home I did some 'net research, one fellow said that if it is "too cold" the pigs will just hole up.


Cheers,

Carl

 

[Speckmisser]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

When I returned home I did some 'net research, one fellow said that if it is "too cold" the pigs will just hole up.[/b]

Just a thought...

They're gonna move at some point. Odds are if the cold is keeping them in, then normal nocturnal and early morning/late evening movement will be at a minimum. So when it is warmest?

That's the time to start watching the hillsides below bedding areas.

 

[New Pig Hunter]

Speck,

I had that thought in mind, hence I remained in the field glassing most of the day, no visual sighting(s).

Which of course has several variables:
-- I'm in Area 4 and the pigs are in Area 3, or vice versa.
-- I'm looking left but the pigs are over to the right.
-- I'm not high enough to get sufficient perspective down into the gullies and depressions.

Anyway, nothing like sitting on an Area 3 hillside enjoying the ocean view on a nice clear VAFB day. It sure beats the view I have in my cell at this place.

Cheers,

Carl

 

[Speckmisser]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

-- I'm in Area 4 and the pigs are in Area 3, or vice versa.
-- I'm looking left but the pigs are over to the right.[/b]

If anyone ever figures out how to beat Murphy at this game, please share. Just a hint. A subtle tip. That's all I ask.

One thing I hate hearing from a fishing or hunting guide. "You should have been here yesterday!"

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

It sure beats the view I have in my cell at this place.[/b]

And it all comes down to that, no?

 

[lasich]

Im on a mission to find murphy and beat the tar out of him. I hope the cold is gone by next weekend so i can test that theory. But if that fails your right the veiws are great and it sure beats the city.

 

[Redneck75]

I was up at V-Berg from the 2nd to the 4th. Got two without too much trouble. The roads all seemed fine...until the 4th when the rain hit. Packing pig meat most of the day while it rained and it got real slick coming back down the hills. Saw well over 100 deer, 3 bobcats, probably 75 coyotes and a half-dozen different herds of pigs. Both pigs I got were small meat sows though so nothing spectacular. Tried to hold out for a decent boar but never found one. Figured since I drove up from San Diego and froze my ass off in a tent for 3 nights, I better shoot something. Not a bad trip and it was pretty good.

 

[lasich]

good job redneck just got back from vandenberg ran up there for the evening hunt no pigs. I have another stradegy for tomorrow though. different area different gun that should be good. but well see. i just need to tune my binos for pigs god what was i thinkin.