- Thread starter kaosken
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thewolfman
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Try pine flat lake...look it on the web...also coalinga to Monterey to fort hunter legit to cotton creek by san luis reservoir off of hwy 152...go to fish and game website and download the pig huntin booklet...u gotta do ur home bro...than ask if this place or tha plac is good fo pig...and i m sure somone here will direct u...hope tha helped...goodluck and welcome to the forum
OVHunter916
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BLM lands near Coalinga are probably the best bet. Of these Condon Peak and Laguna Mt/Sweetwater seem to be the most consistent. I have seen sign in these areas and talked to guys who have taken pigs there. Key seems to be really getting to know the area and hiking back in. Some guys get lucky near the parking lot at Condon Peak but this is rare. Most good spots will be a couple miles back. I have seen pigs on public land and all I can say is that it's all about persistence, boot leather, good binoculars, and playing the wind.
Steve Walters
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Not a lot of public with hogs on it there. But a bunch of private thats has a lot of them rooting around. I would spend some time and do some "Knock & Talk"...
thewolfman
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I ve done my share of knock and talk....almost the same reply....No Huntin...No Trespassin!!!!!...the funny thing is...same ppl turn around and cry bout how much pig damage they hav so state hires other hunters frm outer state to kill these pigs..thus spendin our tax money wen hunters lik us here can tak care of it...a good example is san diego...but other than tha...good huntin...lol
OVHunter916
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The pigs are there on public land, especially in Coalinga area. You just have to really work to get them. The best public land pig hunters consider one pig in three weekends a high success rate. Ultimately, pig hunting is all about the experience. If time is money and you have family commitments or a great job you're passionate about and just want to shoot a pig and give hunting a try, hiring a guide will put you dollars ahead in gas and gear and save time. If you want a real challenge and great physical fitness activity, chase pigs on public land. You should invest in a good weather resistant rifle, good binocs ($200 plus here), great boots, a nice pack, and maybe a GPS and a game cart. You will probably spend at least three weekends, hike at least 20 miles before you get your first pig which will need to be packed at least two miles to the road. Too many guys pull into the parking lots at these BLM properties, look around and maybe hike in for a day and write the parcel off as devoid of game when they just see a few old rootings. You really have to get to know the property. Many BLM pieces lack either sufficient water or cover to hold pigs all year long. Hence, hunting the borders with private land can prove productive. In general most folks underestimate how nocturnal pigs are, especially when pressured.
cali-carnivore
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Public land pigs are a trophy, regardless of how long it takes. Less than 10% of all pig tags are filled statewide. Private land accounts for almost all of them. Tejon is crawling in pigs and has about a 40% success rate. FHL accounts for most public land pigs. Over many years I have taken 14 public land pigs, all from Carrizzo with the help of a friend that educated me on them. I do all my pig hunting on private ranches now that my friend moved away since he did not belong to the club that I do. Pigs on public land are either passing through or use it for a bedding area close to private land with water and food. Where ever you decide to hunt pigs are challenging and require a lot of work. The reasons guides do so well is they know where the pigs bed, feed and water. They know this because they spend 40+ hours a week chasing them. The key to most of my public land success has been locating a bedding area and never going close to it! Once you locate a bedding area, locate the travel routes and you hunt those. This has allowed me to harvest multiple pigs from the same heard. If you disturb them on travel routes or food sources they will still use the same bedding area for a while (sometimes months!) I also do not hunt too close to a water source when they are scarce because this will also force them out of an area. It comes down to good boots, good optics, a lot of hiking, research and failure. You will not save money getting a pig from public land but you will get more time outdoors which is something I treasure. The cheapest way to get fresh pork is from the grocery store. Enjoy the experience and success will come. my first public land pig was the result of a mentor and over 40 days in the field.
Its never a wasted day walking around the hills. But if you want even a remote chance of finding something I'd recommend going to Fort Hunter Liggett. Get familiar with the area and have a decent chance at success. Thats probably your best best as fa as price vs. success. I'm in Visalia and tried for years to find public ground with a chance at pigs. After hearing so much good stuff about Tejon Ranch I became a member a few years back. I had also been a member of Wilderness Unlimited for about 4 years with some decent success. Some of the best money I've ever spent was signing up at Tejon. It isn't cheap, but you see game EVERY time you go. So to me its worth it, if you want to go a cheaper route focus on FHL.
thewolfman
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Read the fhl post...1 of the member here scored...area 2... lol
