Hog hunting in California

I thought I saw a couple posts in here a few months back about it, but can't seem to dig 'em up.

I'm down in the South Bay area, trying to figure out where to go.  I see the BLM and DFG maps and whatnot, but maps are nothing like eyes on the ground. 

I can't afford private hunts -- just looking for areas within about 2-3 hours of San Jose.

Oh yeah, I'm one of "those" guys who's into flyfishing and bowhunting.  Don't hold it against me (much.)

 

-mox

Mox, Lake Sonoma is your best best for public hog hunting.  It's a boat-in area which makes it nice for us kayakers. Their archery season usually runs from Nov thru the middle of April.  Last February, they opened it up for one month of shotgun hunting.  I don't know if they'll do that again for this season.

I'm looking forward to kayaking in with my bow this year.  Let me know if you're interested.  It would be nice to have some company.

How very strange, I opened this section to start a thread pleading that someone take my wife hog hunting! She's deadly serious. She has not (yet) done hunter safety and does not (yet) own a weapon, but we can take care of that pretty easily I think. She did take a Hog Hunting clinic at Ft Hunter Liggett last year. The biggest problem is finding somewhere public where there are hogs? (Or somewhere private that we can access).

ChuckE; we'd be into going to Lake Sonoma for sure, if you don't mind newbies tagging along?

Can anyone else help?

I can promise in return that she cooks a mean pig!

Thanks for the heads-up on Lake Sonoma.  That gives me a nice hard "date range" and location to prep for.  I have to repair some gear (couple shafts and a ton of fletching from 20yd groups) so the timing is excellent for building up wife points and paper-tuning ....   

Are you running traditional or modern compound gear? (I'm in this category)

-mox

NB -- Your wife must be serious to go all the way to Ft. Hunter Liggett for a Hog Clinic.  I'm impressed.  Is she planning to use a rifle, shotgun, or bow?

Mox -- I use a compound bow and fast carbon arrows like most guys these days.

My brother in law just joined a club that only charges $250 a year.  It's down by Lake Nacimento.  Let me know and I'll get the number for you.  I've hunted for free at Condon Peak, do a map search.  Another good place is Delilas Lookout up by Kings Canyon NP.  Now that I'm a northcoaster I do my pig dusting down by Garberville, on private land.
Tim

NB -- Your wife must be serious to go all the way to Ft. Hunter Liggett for a Hog Clinic.  I'm impressed.  Is she planning to use a rifle, shotgun, or bow?

She was planning on starting with a rifle, based upon that being (apparently?) the simplest and most certain method if dispatch. I think having some folks to go with is more important tho', so she might be persuaded into other methods if it meant we could go in a group. (I was planning on going without actually hunting).

Moxford - Have you checked out Panoche?
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/recreation.1.html#Hunting

My brother in law just joined a club that only charges $250 a year.  It's down by Lake Nacimento.  Let me know and I'll get the number for you.  I've hunted for free at Condon Peak, do a map search.  Another good place is Delilas Lookout up by Kings Canyon NP.  Now that I'm a northcoaster I do my pig dusting down by Garberville, on private land.
Tim

Clear Creek (incl. Condon) is closed due to high levels of asbestos.  I'll probably have to pass on this one.  

I'll do some research on the others...thanks!

-mox

Mox,

Give a call to Perry Ralston at Ralston Rod and Archery in Scotts Valley. His number is (831) 440-0700.

He'll shoot anything with a bow. And he's a darn nice fellow.

Course I'm partial to guys and gals who ride Harleys.

Rich

I'm down for using my little klamath for a lake sonoma hog trip. Let me know when a trip forms.

-Brian G

Moxford - Have you checked out Panoche?
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/recreation.1.html#Hunting

I have now...thanks for the link!

-mox

Just an FYI, lake sonoma is a shotgun only deal, so be for warned. I do hear it's a good place to hunt the hog, but I."ve never done it there.

CHEERS

Just an FYI, lake sonoma is a shotgun only deal, so be for warned. I do hear it's a good place to hunt the hog, but I."ve never done it there.

...and that was only for one month last season, with the balance of the Lake Sonoma Season being archery only.  The special ACOE/DFG regs for the 08-09 Lake Sonoma Season have just been released. There are quite a few very unique regulations to be able to hunt pigs at Lake Sonoma... here are the regs for this season (below)... note that SHOTGUNS will ONLY be allowed in the month of February... the balance of the season is archery only... also, the shotguns may ONLY fire slugs, no buckshot, and the zones for shotgun hunting have nominally different boundaries than the archery-only areas.

If you do decide to hunt here... keep in mind this hunt is a temporary privledge... there have been a lot of issues with this hunt, from angry tree huggers that like to use the park, to angry neighboring landowners... please be a good steward of the land and a stand-up hunter.  There are many more eyes on this hunt, and hunters, compared to the balance of the state, and it would be a shame to lose what is arguably the best public land hunting opportunity in the state.

November 19th is the 1st day of the season... My Mathews Switchback is tuned and ready to slay... is yours?

Backcountry

***************************

It’s Official.
Park Manager Perry Crowley has given us the “go ahead” on this year’s pig hunts! There are only minor changes from last year primarily in the beginning and ending dates. See the information below.
Joel

2008-2009
Pig Hunting Information

There are major changes to the hunting policy at Lake Sonoma. Most importantly: the shoreline will be off limits from November 19 to April 11 to any vessel that is not registered at a campsite, registered to hunt that day at the visitor center or any vessel whose occupant/operator is not within shouting distance of the vessel. Any vessel not meeting one of these three exceptions will be considered “abandoned equipment” and it’s owner subject to citation ($150.00) and possible impound fees (TBA).

Absolutely no pig hunting on Mondays or Tuesdays.

Hunters will initially be required to check in with the visitor center staff. Hunters will also be required to show: a driver’s license, valid hunting license, and pig tags. They will then be issued with a hunting pass for their vehicle and vessel and given a brief orientation on hunting at the park.

Hunters may self-register only after they are issued a parking/boating hunting pass. Self registration will consist of filling out their name and vehicle/ vessel hunting pass number as well as date in and date out of the park. This check in process can be done before or after hours at the visitor center.

Shotguns with slug loads may be used on the Dry Creek arm of the lake during February ONLY. Refer to the Shotgun Slug map for details on actual boundaries (no hunting Mondays or Tuesdays).

Crossbows and bows may also be used in February on both arms of the lake (no hunting Mondays or Tuesdays).

Hunting stands and game cameras are permitted provided that they do not permanently scar the trees.

Hunting dates are as follows:
Archery and Crossbow November 19, 2008- April 11, 2009 with the exception of all Mondays and Tuesdays.

Pigs must be gutted at least 100 yards away from any man made structure, trail or campground. Do not dispose of entrails in garbage cans; leave them in the field to attract other boar.

Stay within park boundaries even if an injured animal crosses onto private land. I may not see you but our neighbors do and they are very vocal in their disapproval of trespass.

Hunters are subject to all park rules and regulations as well as all county, state, and local laws

We should plan a kayak bowhunting/camping trip.  If the timing is right, we can do some fishing and shroom hunting too.

Mahi, Brian -- Do you guys own a bow?

Backcountry -- Thanks for the Lake Sonoma info.  I was going to look that up.