What signs should I look for?

[shanedante0917]

I've been trying to find a place to hunt hogs on public land because that's all I've hunted my whole life until recently. I live in redding and people always tell me there's pigs here or there but I never see any so there probably isn't a huntable population. I here a lot about red bluff having pigs, but idk were to start. The tehama wildlife area is closed for pigs unless you have the g1 hunt tag for deer? What about paynes creek recreation area and mouth of cottonwood creek? I figure if I cant find public land I would try to find some private ranches and ask permission. What should I look for? i don't want to just knock on doors unless I'm fairly sure there are pigs. Thanks everyone ahead of time.

 

[Bubblehide]

The reality is that getting permission to hunt private property is pretty slim, unless you actually know the owner; but you never know unless you ask. With that said, I would start looking at the DFG's pig dispersal data by county, along with any dispersal/habitat maps from DFG that you can get your hands on; I know first hand that they have produced them, but finding them will likely be challenging. From there I would start looking for riparian areas that match up with any data/habitat maps. At this point, you'd actually be ready to start looking on google earth or maps, and then actually venturing out in the field and looking for fresh sign.

Best of luck!

 

[easymoney]

What bubblehead said...
Also, look for areas with permanent water, good cover(thick nasty stuff) and a reliable food source, all usually found on private ranches. Then look at the adjoining public land (which usually has the thick nasty stuff) for areas with sign that the pigs are moving back and forth from bedding to food or water. Pigs have to have water daily especially in the heat of summer as they do not sweat and wallow in th e mud to cool off and drink.
As to the question of sign, look for obvious fresh tracks (sharp edges), wallows (muddy water not clear), rooting (still moist and the grass still green) rubbing on trees (mud usually from knee height down to the ground along well used trails)and trails that look like cattle trails.
When all else fails, hire a guide, which will up the odds on scoring considerably, as well as giving you priceless tips on the game, hunting and possible locations to scout out on your own. Your success ensures future customers...
Good luck...

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

Signs to look for, active trails wallows fresh tracks rooting my favorite, fresh piggie poo! most important when hunting hogs no one ever mentions too often is useing your nose to sniff out some well used bedding areas that reek of hogs .......tra

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[dtj6ppc]

Tra, what do hogs smell like, wet dog?...........Don

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

Dtj I think a wild pig smells better than a wet dog, now that I put myself on the spot on what a wild pig smells like my mind and senses conjures up a sweet musky porky earthy smell. Hard to imagine I guess until u get hit with the funk someday! LOL.....tra


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[easymoney]

Great photos roman...
IMHO, Pigs smell like a musky combo of mud and poop. Unmistakenable when you smell them and then see them to confirm that smell. Their beds have that smell, especially those that are cave like under the oaks, where they have been bedding for generations.

 

[Bubblehide]

What bubblehead said...

"bubblehead"! Are you making fun of me again?

 

[easymoney]

"bubblehead"! Are you making fun of me again?
Sorry, typo...

 

[Bubblehide]

"bubblehead"! Are you making fun of me again?
Sorry, typo...

No problem Easy, I was simply making light of your typo.

 

[mtnsammy]

This forum is the best for info. Roman and bubble I like the free telling others have here. Now that my dad is passed and we cannot hunt I forgot what it was like to share about hunts. Good photos, sharing of sites we have hunted all are like the good ol days. Hunting is so much more than killing the beasts. I enjoyed the campfire and tales more than anything. Yes I do like the taste of meat over tag stew but for now I still have money too.

Keep up the traditions and encourage more knowledgable hunters. If we know what to do we are less likely to offend those who don't hunt at all. Soon I will be back out there this time with a camera. Best of luck to all hunters.

 

[Caninelaw]

This kind of sign can be helpful...

Sorry...couldn't resist that one...

 

[Criley]

This kind of sign can be helpful...

Sorry...couldn't resist that one...

lol...here's your sign! try looking on the california dfg website and check out the pig harvest totals by county.

 

[mtnsammy]

Caninelaw that sign would be good if we knew where in Huntington Beach it was.......... I remember seeing some big ones by Pier 17 in Newport but they took that sign down.

 

[russ209]

I've been trying to find a place to hunt hogs on public land because that's all I've hunted my whole life until recently. I live in redding and people always tell me there's pigs here or there but I never see any so there probably isn't a huntable population. I here a lot about red bluff having pigs, but idk were to start. The tehama wildlife area is closed for pigs unless you have the g1 hunt tag for deer? What about paynes creek recreation area and mouth of cottonwood creek? I figure if I cant find public land I would try to find some private ranches and ask permission. What should I look for? i don't want to just knock on doors unless I'm fairly sure there are pigs. Thanks everyone ahead of time.

I worked at Lassen volcanic national park last season on the fire crew and there is a shitload of hogs all over the Lassen forest! Just go down hogsback road past the wildlife refuge and you should see a pretty good burnt out area. We did a prescribed fire right on hogsback road and we were flushing hogs out of the burnside of the road wich was the south side and they were booking it north hell we even had to have LE take a pig down because it was harassing an engine crew that was working on a spot fire and it wouldnt let them get water on the trees that were torching! its pretty thick and nasty in there and a buttload of poison oak so be carefull! Also the forest service 17 road outside of mineral has hogs rumbling around! Hop this helps! take care Russ

 

[shanedante0917]

Thanks Russ! That help a ton. I will go out there next weekend. When did you work on the Fire crew? So it's supposed to be 88 degrees next weekend, hottest day of spring yet. Is that good for pig hunting?

 

[russ209]

Just this last summer I wanted to go back but I got a fire use module out of pinecrest this year so I am staying close to home. I would say poke around bodies of water out there the ones we had the Ranger take care of was a pretty big pig!

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The road right there is hogsback road

 

[shanedante0917]

Okay, I've heard of people hunting off hogback but it's pretty well known on the Internet it seems so I didn't think there would be to many pigs. I will go an see though. Where is the forest road 17 by mineral, I can't seem togind it on my map, there is a ton of roads in that area.

 

[russ209]

Umm its right on the left hand side of 36 once you pass batte creek bridge right before the National parks headquarters it dumps out by shingletown.

 

[CTJ2387]

Paynes Creek Recreation area has had several horse back riders at the trail heads from Bend and Jellys ferry bridge the last couple months. Doubt there are any pigs hanging out in that part of the area right now. I know they are all over from Hogsback down to Dairyville, but mostly on private land.