where to hunt this weekend?

[huntingbret]

If he's talking about upper cottonwood then you better hurry. If I'm correct, the area close off this Sunday. Now go get those pigs that I missed.

 

[bigworm]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Krisdude @ Jan 22 2009, 08:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (iforge03 @ Jan 22 2009, 05:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i have been to san luis three times in the last month or so, and i have seen lots of sign but no pigs.[/b]

cool what part?
[/b][/quote]


Krisdude, from what I know of the place, the most activity is the north west corner. It's a very long walk from the parking lot. If you park close to the top of the pass. There is a concrete drainage next to the road. You can park there. Then as you hike west you will pick up the trail. This will make the distance much shorter. There is good cover, water, and borders 2 private ranches. Look on Google earth, you can see the trail and boundries. I have found hogs there, as well as other friends.

 

[map]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huntingbret @ Jan 23 2009, 06:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

If he's talking about upper cottonwood then you better hurry. If I'm correct, the area close off this Sunday. Now go get those pigs that I missed.[/b]

Hi Bret,

Are you planning on Liggett this weekend? I just opened my email, and found that my permit has been processed. It's too late for a hunting trip, but I plan to drive down during the day to have the sticker put on the back of my license. My kid put San Jose State Engineering on the back window of all my vehicles, so I'm easy to find.

Richard

 

[map]

Just returned from Liggett. I arrived at noon, and got my new sticker on the back of my license. Twenty Nine is about as bad as it gets. Like a desert now. The San Antonio River is bone dry without a puddle of water. The lake shore is in the park . The gravel pit is also dry. All the tall weeds are dead, and the green stuff on the bottom is only 1/4 inch high. I didn't check the fence holes in the back corner, because the 4 fresh tracks were headed towards the canyon.

On the way out I checked Argyle Road. The large pond on private land is bone dry, and the swampy area across the road in 13 E is also dry. I have seen it rain every day during the month of March, so there is still a chance that the ponds, creeks, and rivers will get some water. The only areas that were open today were, 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, and 29.

Richard

 

[huntingbret]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mapmaker @ Jan 24 2009, 07:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huntingbret @ Jan 23 2009, 06:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If he's talking about upper cottonwood then you better hurry. If I'm correct, the area close off this Sunday. Now go get those pigs that I missed.[/b]

Hi Bret,

Are you planning on Liggett this weekend? I just opened my email, and found that my permit has been processed. It's too late for a hunting trip, but I plan to drive down during the day to have the sticker put on the back of my license. My kid put San Jose State Engineering on the back window of all my vehicles, so I'm easy to find.

Richard
[/b][/quote]


Sorry Richard, but Liggett doesn't seem to be in my distant future. Maybe you mistaken me for someone else?

 

[map]

Tentative Training Areas open for hunting January 31-Febrary 1st are: 11, 14, 17, 18, 19, and 29.

 

[easymoney]

Like most have said Sandy is primitive weapons only, over run by illegal OHVs and the deer or pigs are nocturnal. I would look at Camp Bob or FHL first. And be very careful around Stockdale Mt(check back on posts on this subject and check your maps) as there is a landowner who calls the law on anyone who trys to access the area.
My best tip is to find some out of the way(see secret spot) water sources as it looks to be another drought year and pigs need to water every day. Hopefully we get some more rain.

 

[iforge03]

i tried both upper and lower cottonwood and the south side of highway. i saw tons of sign on the south side but no pigs. i talked to the game warden, he said the best bet was the south side and to find a trail that crossed the road. get there in the dark, and wait for pigs to come across from the state park

 

[map]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (iforge03 @ Jan 29 2009, 10:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

i tried both upper and lower cottonwood and the south side of highway. i saw tons of sign on the south side but no pigs. i talked to the game warden, he said the best bet was the south side and to find a trail that crossed the road. get there in the dark, and wait for pigs to come across from the state park[/b]

Hi iforge03

That's the kind of tip that puts meat in the freezer. Thanks.

I am back home again! When I left home this afternoon the tentative areas open at FHL were 11, 14, 17, 18, 19, and 29. I hate slug guns, so I threw my deer rifle behind the seat and headed for Liggett thinking that I would be hunting in 19. Well, while I was in route the open areas were updated to Training Area 29 (only). So, I had to drive all the way back home to pickup my slug gun. Lesson learned, bring everything you have when hunting at Liggett. I never give up, so I will be back there sneaking into 29 before first light tomorrow morning.



Richard

 

[map]

where to hunt this Weekend?

Sunday nite Feb 1st:

29 was the only area open at FHL, with 7 hunters on Saturday and 8 hunters on Sunday. We had it all to our selves. I was the last one out, because I hunt on Sunday eventings after the check station closes. I don't know for sure if any hogs were taken, but it was bone dry. I seen one hog under a tree on private land, and I finally found one water hole. We are not to stake out a water hole, so I walked pass it a few times hoping to see something.

The deer were out all day long during both days, and were being chased by something, I guess?

Richard

 

[spectr17]

Hey Richard,

There was a big cat hanging out down near the river in 29. Pete (Bigbubbadaddy here) found a cat cache of pig bones up high and to the right from parking spot #2 along the private fence. That may be what was chasing those deer.

Thanks for the report. Was the fort crowded this weekend?

 

[map]

Scouting for the 3 day weekend

Jesse,

Thanks for passing along the information about a lion. I plan to stay out of Twenty Nine for a while. Too scary for me. Seven is listed as open this weekend, so I will probably hunt there instead. The historical figures are not all that great for Seven, but I could see plenty of rooting from the highway as I passed by. Nine has Del Venturi and Upper Stony, plus 5 springs are marked on the quadrangle, but it has worse historical data than Seven. The 1989 -91 sheet for a 2 year total was 4 pigs for Seven and 1 pig for Nine.

During last weekend the place was empty, and I expect the same this weekend. We only had 7 hunters on Saturday and 8 on Sunday. The water that I found was 2 miles from the gate, so getting there before first light will mean teasing the lion while walking out there in the dark.


Richard

 

[map]

The Rain Gods are good to us.

Hey Jesse,

With today's fresh rain, and all, I'm bringing my Hitch-Haul and 150 Quart Cooler. Hit it this weekend if you can.


Richard

 

[CaliJeephuntr]

Map. You looked at the historical data that far back? It seems to me like there has been more pigs taken than what it seems you're talking about. I know of 5 pigs out of 9 personally since i've been hunting there and always hear stories from my dad about the late 70's and early 80's of 9 being their best pig area. I've seen them in there lots of times and the sign to go with it.

Just the problem with hunting pigs at FHL is you only get to hunt the weekends (generally except around xmas) and you're not guarentee'd to get into the same area. So it's a lot harder to pattern the pigs there on what they do because of that. But you do learn things over the years on the places they routinely pass through or bed up in in the areas.

For me personally I've seen, shot at, taken or been with someone who got a pig in 9, 16, 19, and 24. But buddies have taken, seen, or shot at lots of pigs over the years in 2, 3, 6, 7, 10/13, 30, 29, 24, 16, 9, 8, 15, and 14.

They're there. But just have to be in the right spot at the right time and have an understanding of the area.

 

[map]

Cali,

I only saved a few sheets with totals, but with the present yearly total at around 70 pigs and the 2 year 1989-91 totals at 60 pigs per year, not much has changed. Below is a sheet that I scanned:

Are you hunting this weekend?

 

[CaliJeephuntr]

Pretty cool to see that data from long ago. I didn't start hunting FHL myself until 96'. Though I was taken out as a little guy in the early 80's... but I remember nothing about it. lol

As for this weekend, no I won't be up there. I have to drive down to LA for the weekend for a vball tournament. I am thinking of making my way up to FHL next weekend though. These rains should help stir up the piggies there.

Good luck up there this weekend Map.

 

[map]

Cali,

There have been controlled burns and over grazing since 1990, so the figures will shift around a little. I can tell you from past experience that most of my pigs came out of 24 and 27. My boy got lucky in 29 during the 2005 season. See you next weekend.

Richard