Wild Pig Hunting Inc IV Report

[Mel Carter]

Well, we all did the normal meet up at the hatchery. We had several guys that had to back out at the last minute, we only ended up with 6 guys, the others are working out their details with George for later hunts.

We had only 5 guys for Friday, the 6th was coming in on Saturday after noon. So, Friday, myself, marlinguy and fourgoats headed back to my favorite spot. The past rains made it to where we had to walk over a mile to get to where I like to start the hunt, roads couldn't be driven. We hunted this area pretty well, Friday and again Saturday morning, plenty of sign but no hogs spotted.

Hogs were spotted by other hunters on Friday night. 5511speed went out with the dogs on Saturday morning and killed a nice boar, he'll probably tell his story.

Myself and and fourgoats went to a different area on Saturday evening. About 1/2 mile in, we see hogs about 200 yards down the road but we couldn't get a good shot due to trees and brush. We start moving in, and every time we would get clear the would go around the bend in the road. We figured if we made it to this log we could get a good shot from there, 10 yards from the log the hogs winded us and off they go, I took a quick shot at the last one but no good. 4 good size hogs about 200lbs, a couple smaller ones then little piggies, about 10 total.

The other group of guys seen hogs. The total seen from Friday to Saturday was about 20 hogs out of 5 guys, every one seen hogs.

We checked weather reports for Sunday and they didn't look good. Everyone packed up and headed out after Saturdays evening hunt, except richmellott, he was still there.

So, when we left Saturday evening, 1 hog killed, 1 missed shot and hogs spotted by everyone.

Hopefully richmellott can add to the total.

Now, can't wait until October 2011:wavin hello:

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

thanks for the report Mel, it sucks that u guys bailed early with one day left to hunt, oh well..............tra

 

[Mel Carter]

thanks for the report Mel, it sucks that u guys bailed early with one day left to hunt, oh well..............tra

Yeah, I know. None of us were really equipped for the amount of rain the forecast was saying, and looking how it's dumping right not in Stockton, i'm glad I did.

 

[Richmellott]

I struck out on foot, and on hogs as well

Here's my report, no pics, since I didn't bring a camera along on both days of my hunting. First day, I got dropped off at a valley called Cassidy's, after Mike, George's assistant guide shot a coyote we came across. I walked in a couple of miles, seeing one hog way up at the top of the ridge, as he slipped between a couple of brush patches. When I got almost to the end of the valley, I found a road going to the top of that ridge, and decided to follow my instinct that the hogs were up high, scattered by all of the rain, and eating all sorts of acorns, which had been dropped by storms.
I took it nice and slow, as I now had the wind in my face, and made the top of the ridge in an hour.

I then hiked the length of it, seeing much sign, and not one pig. I was checking on both sides of the ridge, and saw some oak trees that were rooted like a roto-tiller had been run around in circles for a good 30 foot radius from their trunks... but didn't see one, or even hear anything crashing through the brush. By the time I strolled off the ridge, I was back where I had been dropped off, it was sunset, and I was completely legless, with rubber knees. It was a lot steeper coming down than going up. Mike took me up to pick up Mel and his partner at a reservoir, which is where I heard him talk about having seen all the hogs he mentions in his post. We all jammed into the Rhino, and headed back to camp, empty-handed, but seems we were a happy crowd in that we were in the woods.

Next morning, I was alone on the ranch, as Mel and the others had given up the ghost. My tent didn't leak, and I got out hunting just after light, with George dropping me at the ridge before Cassidy's, where he told me to hike almost up to the top, then cut across to the ridge to the South, and then follow any of the other ridges back out to the road by the Farm House. It had been raining all night, but I was wearing coveralls, and waterproof boots, so I didn't hesitate. It rained off and on during the morning, but mostly just misting, as low clouds rolled through.

I made it to the shoulder of the ridge, after carefully scoping, glassing, and low-level prowling, and saw a pig...back on the ridge I had seen a pig on the day before... I watched him for quite a while, but the range was probably in the nature of 600-700 yards, across a valley and way up on the bigger ridge. Then, I started glassing the other slope, and saw deer everywhere. I was treated to a regal parade as a 5 point buck slowly strolled across a short canyon at a range of about 200 yards, stopping to watch me, even though I was up under an oak tree's hanging canopy. He took a good five minutes to cross a wide area of open grass, really rubbing it in.

When I got up to the shoulder where I was supposed to cross, I found pig beds everywhere, and a huge pile of scat, flies all over it, looking pretty fresh. I circled the area, trying to make sense of the sign, see which direction it might be best to go in, but there was so much, and everything was so roiled up, there was nothing that I could decipher. I saw trails going off in all directions, and while I scouted around, it was total silence except for bird calls. I watched more deer, headed down a trail toward the other ridge, and watched a spike buck move away slowly at about 25 yards.

I slowly made it down the ridge to a creek, then went up the other side, glassing everything, but did no good. By now, I was also suffering with wet feet, as the boots I was wearing were failing miserably at remaining waterproof. I squish-squished back along the top of the last ridge, and made it down to the farmhouse about an hour later than scheduled, but it was another great hike. I broke camp with George waiting on me patiently, and he followed me to the gate.

Upshot is, I made it as far as King City, then crashed in a motel. I tried to line up another hunt for the next day in that area, but could get no takers on short notice. When I got home, I got some new boots, mailed off the old ones for a return, since they were only about 4 months old, and bought a new hunting pack. I'm wondering, when is the JHO Fort Tejon hunt? :stir pot:

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

Rich, thanks for the great report! hard core all the way, glad u stuck it out! u have to be in physical shape for sure if u want to hunt the cooley ranch, and good gear like boots is a must (ask 559Hog), its all mountian range and valleys for sure unless u want to hunt from the rhino, that quad country for sure with 22,000 acers to cover.

i would like to hunt the cooley ranch agian someday butt if i did i would use the dogs for sure, great succes rate and they always come up with some nice hogs! have a great day!....tra

 

[Live2hunt]

Ken Whittaker used to let us roam around by ourselves in our own quad. One very successful method is to ride around the ranch looking for signs. Once you find signs, stick to it during early morning and late evening hours.

George would not allow roam around with your own quads. That draws back alot of advantage. With only two days of hunting, and you are on foot, with those steep hills to climb, sometimes by the time you locate promissing signs, it was almost near the end of your two day hunt. Also if you find good signs somewhere at the top of one of those ridges, by the time you get there on foot in the morning, the pigs are already singing good night sleep tight. And for evening hunts, you want to hunt the spot until the last minute of shooting light. That would mean you have to walk back down that big mountain in the dark. If you had your own quad, it's just a quick ride up and a quick ride down. That advantage lets you get to the spot quick and without any hassle.

If George run the operation the same way Ken does it, I'm definitely going back.

 

[Richmellott]

I bought the trip as is, so I took my lumps, main reason being to be out in the hills, looking around, and sharpening my skills. I knew I was getting into a good area, and would have loved to stick around, but I am now a little more confident that I can go where the pigs are, regardless of the terrain. Slow but steady, I will be able to hit the back country, and sooner or later I will be there at the right time. I will probably not go back to the Cooley Ranch without making sure I go out with dogs, because that would be the most effective way to hunt those hills.
I also think I want to take a try at the Fort Tejon hunt, because I've read about how the guys there tend to share info and make sure everybody gets an opportunity...and there may just be more pigs. Not to mention the fact that I live an hour from Lebec, as opposed to 8 hours from Cooley. If I get to move up North, that would be a different story, of course.

 

[Mel Carter]

I doubt that will ever happen, George was letting people take their quads for transportation only, but last year had a guy roll his quad and broke his arm, major surgery involved to get it fixed. As or right now, George will not allow quads.

Rich, glad you made it back in one piece, it was surely a long haul for you.

 

[Live2hunt]

Mel,
I know what you mean about the hazzard of riding quads on those roads. If you are an experienced rider, it's not a problem. But new quad owner who only rode a quad a few times, you better stick to the more levelled roads.