Pig Hunting Successes?

[Quacker Wacker]

This weather has me thinking about going pig hunting and I was wondering how it's going. ###

We hunted a private ranch in Mendocino County, pay for play, 2 years ago as our first ever try. ###We had a group of about 30 pass us within 50 yards and my 2 friends, who where the shooter, both got pork fever and couldn't get a shot off before the herd got into a draw. ###Boy was it frustrating. ###I'm looking forward to carrying a gun this time. ###All this rain is making me remember the day, seemed the whole ranch was tore up from rooting in the wet ground. ###We went back 6 weeks later, during which there was 0 precipitation. ###The hogs where all gone and so was all the fresh rooting sign.

This ranch is $150/day for access, but if anyone can recommend somewhere for up to $300 with 50%+ success possibilities or maybe up to $500 with a near 100% chance I would love the info. ###No hound hunts please.

[MNHNTR]

I received an email form these people, you might check it out. ###It seems reasonable.... let me know if you go, how it went.....thanks....

www.boaring.com

[Hogskin]

You could go with Tom Willoughby (831) 385-3003. ###He'll guarantee that you get a shot for about 400 bills. ###He hunts with & without dogs, tell him you're a no-dog guy. ###I've hunted with him a bunch of times, more like grocery shopping than hunting but always a blast.

Regards,
Paul

[hntndux]

I'm heading up to Sonoma County in the next week or so, I'll provide a report when I get back. ###This will be my first pig hunt (I finally have access to a private ranch) so hopefully I won't get pork fever too...

[waldo2382]

Went hunting on the Work Ranch and it is guided by Bert Claussen (great guy) it is a 2 day hunt in the Paso Robles area and includes meals and lodging. There is a $200 deposit and then IF you shoot a pig you pay $350. If you get your pig the first day, there are quail, doves, rabbits and turkeys when in season. He does not use dogs and does spot and stalk via his 4x4. I was there Dec. 19 & 20 with my dad and my neighbor and we all got nice hogs the first day and shot doves, quail and rabbits the second. The only catch is that there must be a party of 3 or more. You can give the Work's Ranch a call at (805)467-3262. You can also visit the website of the ranch that works closely with the Work's Rach at www. jackranchhunts.net


(Edited by waldo2382 at 10:29 pm on Jan. 8, 2002)

[Speckmisser]

I've been itching to get out into the rough stuff and see if Porky is willing to come home for dinner, but I swear it's always something keeping me away.

In addition to my regular spots, I'm curious about areas around Lake Berryessa and Lake Sonoma. ###Anyone familiar with these places? ###Willing to share some general info? ###Might be willing to trade central coast intel.

[Quacker Wacker]

Thanks for all the replies and usefull info. ###Waldo I think I'll give the Works Ranch a call and see what kind of chemistry gets sparked up there. ###The situation sounds right and so does the money. ###My best friend lives in Salinas so the area works pretty well for us. ###I'll give a report no matter where we decide, but it probably won't be until February some time. ###

How about a quick fire-power question. ###I have a 30-30, a Rem 7MM Mag, and a recently acquired used .243. ###I just started shooting the .243 and I really like it's size and weight, do you think it would be appropriate for pigs out to 200 yards. ###My friends will be bringing 30-06, 7MM, and .308" so I could leave longer shots, if available, to them.

[Fubar]

Quacker ###Which gun is most accurate? Which gun are you most comfortable with? I think they could all take pigs within their limitations. Shot placement is everything. To take larger pigs at greater distances I would opt for the 7mm. ### ### ### ### ### ### ### Fubar

[songdog]

As much of a fan of .243s as I am, I'd still say go with the 7mm if the .243 was newly acquired. ###Unless you've shot it quite a bit and feel more than comfortable with it you'll end up with more pork in the freezer with the 7mm.

[Bwht4x4]

Everyone gets so excited about hunting during the winter with the rain and the cold. ###Trust me hunting is far better in May, June and July. ###Plus if it rains on the weekend that you decide to go out with a guide they probably aren't going to be able to do much driving. ###The dirt roads up here on the central coast get nasty in the winter. ###So nasty that some are a death wish. ###

I second the note before also on guides. ###Boaring Experiences runs a tight ship with good success rates. ###Plus they don't hunt like slobs using dogs.

www.boaring.com

[colby18]

quacker,
what was the name of that ranch that charged you $150 a day and where was it located if you don't mind me asking. ###And was the $150 per person or for the whole group?

[waldo2382]

The 7 mm mag is a great rifle, on that hunt with the Work's Ranch, I used a Browning A-Bolt in that caliber and managed to put a 275# right on his back with legs in the air at 150 yards. However, a rifle and it's caliber is only as good as the person using it. My neighbor's first shot with his 7mm mag didn't even penetrate the shoulder blade of his 175# pig.

As for Speckmisser, the Knowville Wildlife Management area is near Lake Berryessa and may or may not have pigs. I have been there and the area looks promissing. plenty of quail there though. Anyway, I will soon be hunting that area thuroughly for pigs. The DFG office in Yountville has a general map of the area with directions. From Vallejo, that area is about 65 miles from here and takes about two miles due to the windy roads.

(Edited by waldo2382 at 9:07 pm on Jan. 5, 2002)

[Quacker Wacker]

Where to start:

Songdog/Fubar: ###Thanks for the words, I think I will stick with the Mag until I get enough practice in. ###I've gotten pretty excited by the posts on the Varmint page, so I'll try to get some experience there.

Bwht: ###I'll give boaring experiences a call, but I don't know if the price will be right or not. ###I've heard more than once that later will be better and since I have zero experience in the central coast during the wet season I appreciate the heads up. ###The ranch we hunted wasn't that large, 1100 acres, and we mostly walked it.

Colby: ###I was referred to the rancher by a friend, unfortunately he only allows people personally referred by friends at this time. ###I will ask again next time I speak with him if he minds if I pass his info on.

Thanks again to all, I will post regarding our adventure.

P.S. ###Songdog, I will be at Kern for my first trip on the final Saturday this year. ###I would love to say hi if you're there. ###I'll be in a '00 GMC 2500 Wht/Gld. ###I have a son and 2 friends on the ressie or I'd invite you as thanks for all the entertaining posts/picks.

[LavaHunter]

Quacker, You might give Larry Greve at hogswild@thegrid.net. I've bow hunted with him and have had success. He has a seperate ranch for bow and other places for rifle. It was 300 for bow for 2 days and i beleive it is 450 for rifle.

[Quacker Wacker]

LH- Thanks for the referral. ###Do you have any more specifics you can share like, locations, lodging, hunt style, # days included, etc.

[ropes]

I hunted north of the Bay Area out of Williams / Maxwell last Feb with John and Tom of Antelope Valley Hunting Club 530 473-2790. It was a great hunt. Was $150 day fee / $250 kill fee.

http://www.ptialaska.net/~muskegex/images/PIG.JPG

You can find a short story on my links page.

http://www.ptialaska.net/~muskegex/currentphotos.html

Johnnie

[Hook]

Nice hog, Ropes. You put together a very nice web site also. Great pictures and stories. I made my first trip to Alaska this passed Sept. for Caribou. I fell in love with the place. Can't wait to go back.

Here are the hogs (http://www.hunting-pictures.com/members/hook/Dcp_0195.jpg) that we took out of a large ranch near San Ardo, just south of King City with Frank Morasci at Mustang guide service. We had a great time and great hunt. He charges 400 for a 2 day hunt. I have hunted with him several times and I always got my hog on the first day.

[colby18]

hook, when did you go with mustang guide service? ###I went this summer. ###Didn't get a hog but had a great time. ###Franks a great guy. ###He stood by the no kill no pay. ###My buddy shot a hog that had been shot once and was infected in its hind quarters and had a gimp leg. ###Frank didn't charge him for that hog either because it was unedible. ###My buddie also goes with nesson schmidt out of king city I believe. ###He charges around $400 and they always get their pigs within 1 1/2 hours. ###If anyone is interested I can get the number for you. ###
Hook, I almost forgot, what did your hogs weigh?

[Hook]

colby18, we were their July 20th -2001. That's me on the right in the picture. We didn't weight the hogs but i am guessing aroung 150. Yes, Frank is a great guy.

I plan on making another trip up there this spring. Here are the 4 pigs (http://www.hunting-pictures.com/members/hook/Dcp_0204.jpg) taken on our hunt.

[songdog]

Quacker,

If I'm up at Kern I'll look for you. ###I'm torn between hanging up the deks for the year (say it isn't so!) and pursuing my unfilled A31 tag a little bit harder or taking a swing at some of these ducks as it seems to be picking up a bit.

I'll let you know if I'm up there...

[MNHNTR]

Does anyone subscribe to California Hog Hunter news letter?...All the guides mentioned are also listed in the newsletter. ###Lots of good articles on bullet types,calibers, placement etc....... $20.00 a year ### @ ### P.O. Box 9007, San Bernadino, Ca. 92427

It's edited by Jim Matthews,,,,, 909-887-3444

[Bwht4x4]

Hook,

What's up with the long range bolt action rifles in the picture? ###I only say this because of the pig chasing dog in the background with the radio collar on him. ###Those scoped guns wouldn't do much good chasing down the dogs and having to shoot at the pigs the dogs found for you at <10 feet. ###

And the other picture you show a picture of a pig trap in the background. ###Now I would hope that a responsible pig hunter would know that trapping pigs in California is illegal. ###Maybe the traps not yours and it was on the ranch where you hunted, that only says to me you picked the wrong guide. ###Which supports what I've seen by your previous pig pict. of the dogs. ###Look for a better guide next time, don't use dogs (lazy mans way of hunting and it's not fair chase) and pay attention when you take pictures.

[colby18]

4x4, I can vouge for hook on this one. ###mustang guide service is a great place to hunt. ###When I was there you could tell that that trap haden't been used for years. ###Also the only time he releases his dogs is if you wound your pig and can't find it. ###From the people that I've talked to, most of them use so type of dog when looking for their animals.

[Hook]

Well, Bwht4x4

Pictures are not always what they seem....
First of all, the dogs are used ONLY to go after a wounded boar in the brush, unless you would like to do go in after them yourself? And if you look CLOSE at the dog, you can tell that it is NOT a radio controlled collar around it's neck.

Secondly, That pic with the 4 hogs and the "trap" was taken off the ranch and I can't tell you what it might have been used for, but I'AM not one to jump to conclusions based upon seeing an old trap laying around in an place that is not within the hunting area.

Lastly, I, as a responsible and ethical hunter would not stand for any illegal and unethical activity from any guide that I hire. You are totally out of bounds insinuating that I am not a responsible or an ethical hunter. You don't know me and you don't know my background. So I would recommend to you Sir, that you reserve your judgement unless you know all the facts. ###

[MAC]

I've hunted with mustang guide service as well. I would also hunt with them again. safety guidelines were laid out before the sun came up, there were two guides per hunter (at least on my trip), and these guys knew what the pigs were gonna do before the pigs did. we also had dogs along, but the driving through brush was done by the giudes, not the dogs.

everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but the two hunts i have been on when dogs were used (two different guide services) were conducted quite professionally. additionally, i see no difference using dogs on hogs or using dogs on mountain lions, bears, or deer in the southern swamps. however, i will concede that the brunt of the respect on those types of hunts does belong to the trainers.

[Bwht4x4]

Hook,
Sounds like Mustang Guide service doesn't use dogs for hunting, which is good because I have a problem with the use of dogs for pig hunting. ###I wasn't making a judgement call just giving you some helpful advice. ###I hang out with alot of really LAW abiding guys and had I shown them pictures like that they too would of picked them apart and gave me a hard time about the items in the photo. ###Anyways good luck on all your up coming hunts.

[EVAN III]

I would have to agree. Most ranches that I've heard of and the one that I have visited use dogs to track wounded pigs. Also as for that trap in the background, it seems that there are a few good reasons for a hunting ranch to have have a trap. One being sick pigs that may infect the rest of the animals. Yea you could shoot them. but what if you want them alive, or don't know for sure if they are sick. What if the owner discovers a pregnent sow, and wants to hold her tell after she gives birth. O.K. I'm not to current on the laws of owning a hunting ranch, but there seems to be several logical and ethical reasons to have a trap. ###I also don't like hunting pigs with dogs, but I also don't go around telling people how to hunt ,when what they are doing is legal, or if I don't even know the details. Just my .02 cents.

[Brian S]

### Speaking of ethical pig hunts does anybody know how I can get in on one of those naval chopper hunts . I want to fly in on em and open up with the minigun hanging out the window. I supose an m-60 would work but man think of the Chorizo you could make with 6000 .308's flying at those porkers. ###

[Fubar]

Brian ###Did you rent a Rambo video last night? ### ###lol ### ### ###Fubar

[Hogskin]

Hunting hogs with dogs may not be your bag (it sure isn't mine) but it is legal here in Kalifornia and as long as it is, I'm not going to give anybody a hard time that decides that's how they want to hunt. ###The self-righteous b.s. gets a little old after awhile. ###What's the saying, "We must hang together or surely we'll hang separately" or something like that?

Regards,
Paul

[Brian S]

### I second that Hogskin, lets bust balls only after someone admits to doing something wrong. Hook was and is very familiar with the law and as a former deputy I'm sure most of his buddies are law abiding as well. ###I want a pig hunt where they will run em dizzy enough, so I can go up to it and stick it with a Ka-bar like on survivor.
Brian

[Hogskin]

Laughed out loud at the thought of that, Brian! ###As I said, hunting with dogs isn't my first choice but I've done it and the pucker factor was high. ###The dogs will chase those hogs into some nasty stuff and the hunter is required to go in after them. ###It's a crazy scene, dogs barking and running everywhere, hog snorting and popping, climbing through some nasty cover.... I'll tell you, when it comes time to pull the trigger, I think that hunting behind dogs is harder than flinging lead at one that is standing out in a barley field. ###JMHO.

Regards,
Paul

[Hook]

I once tied my K-Bar to a long tree limb and jumped down off a tree from above and killed a 350 lb bore with it.......or was that in a movie I saw?:pullshades:

Hey Brian S, I like the idea of a M-60 from a the door of a UH-60 Blackhawk. ###

(Edited by Hook at 2:59 pm on Jan. 9, 2002)

[Hogskin]

Hook,

Have you been watching my home movies again? ###

Regards,
Paul

[Brian S]

Isn't that the "final solution" ###for our island pigs, set forth by the conservationists wanting to protect their native plants.
Brian ###

[Hook]

Hogskin, we both have the same taste in movies...

I guess I CAN live like a caveman, if I had to. :hittin-stick:

Animal rights, Plant rights, fish rights, seal rights.

How about peoples RIGHTS? Where is my chopper???

(Edited by Hook at 9:50 pm on Jan. 9, 2002)

[Bill W]

I've hunted pig over dogs and I've done spot and stalk. ###I found the dog hunt to be a hell of a lot more difficult. ###We were humping it as fast as we could over hill and dale for over a mile to keep up with the pack which was on the trail of a big boar. ###Once we finally got to them I had to slide on my butt down a hill into a 20 foot wide ravine with a .44 mag handgun and blast the pig while the dogs and hog were going nuts. ###The spot and stalk was a piece of cake. ###Walk up a road for 45 minutes glassing frequently. Spot the right one and trot around the other side of hill to get in position. Take the pig at 175 yards on a quartering away/broadside shot.

I KNOW which one was fair chase.


Bill

[Speckmisser]

Bill,

Some might argue, but I'd say they were both fair chase... as far as that goes. ###

Personally, my hogs with dogs experience was similar to yours, right up to the kill. ###But that's where it fell apart. ###The guide had one shoulder on the dog, and one on the pig... basically holding it down for me. ###Now I'm sure he wouldn't have done that with a big tusker, but this was just a meat sow. ###It was real disappointing to me.

On the other hand, spot and stalk, at least on public land, has never been a cakewalk. ###I worked just as hard as I did chasing the dogs, covered twice as much ground, and never even saw a whisker. ###When I take a hog that way, I have no doubt that I'll value that hunt ten times as much as I valued the dog hunt. ###

But that's a personal choice, and I've said that so many times it's probably a little redundant. ###Some folks may be comfortable casting judgement on other hunters.... but for my part, I draw my own lines and then color within them with my own crayons.

[Hogskin]

Spec,

I'm curious who you were hunting with? ###That's a guy that wouldn't get my repeat business. ###Might as well run up and down a hill for an hour and then shoot one that's been hogtied. ###I'll bet you paid some decent money for it, too.

Regards,
Paul

[Speckmisser]

Hogskin,

Check your email. ###I hate to badmouth the fellas on the board, because they really went over backwards to take care of us. ###The part with holding down the pigs, though, really ruined it for me. ###Fact is, though, if they hadn't got between the dogs and the pigs, the dogs would've killed them anyway. ###When those sows couldn't run, they pretty much gave up. ###

There won't be any repeat business from me... for him or any other operation using dogs. ###Apparently it's not too unusual for the dogs to catch the smaller pigs, and walking up and popping a cap in the animal's ear just isn't what I want to do. ###Granted, I'm sure it's exciting as hell to see a big tusker at bay, and the hounds leaping in and out... ### kinda like the video the guy showed us when we booked. ###But talking with the guide afterward, it's pretty clear that those scenes are not the "everyday" occurrence. ###I should've asked more about it beforehand.

At any rate, anyone else is welcome to do it if they want to. ###I just don't think it's my cup of tea. ###

[Hogskin]

Speck,

Got your e-mail, appreciate it. ###I've hunted behind dogs a couple times but I've not experienced that kind of "hold-em down" hunting. ###I worked my fat fanny off chasing those rascals and they were all big hogs at bay. ###If they were 125lb. sows, I could see how what you described could happen, but I wouldn't like it. ###

But as I said earlier, as long as it's legal, I'm not busting any cajones.

Regards,
Paul

[Speckmisser]

Paul,

Glad you got the email. ###My system's been acting a little strange.

Anyway, I'm with you. ###The sows we got were about 150+. ###Nice meat pigs. ###As to working our butts off, we definitely did that. ###Covered a lot of ground, maybe not quite as much as I'd cover in a public land hunt, but a lot. ###

Got the hella poison oak on that trip too. ###First time ever. ###

[American Patriot]

Bwht4x4,

### As a hunter who uses dogs to hunt hogs and other animals, I am NOT offended by your opposing viewpoint. ###I am however offended by your labeling of dog hunters as "slobs". ###Where do you get off making such a comment? ###Why must you resort to name calling? ###
### ### I would gladly discuss the merits of hunting hogs with dogs as sporting and the most effective means of management any time you feel up to it, but regardless, I would hope that you can keep things civil ###and conduct yourself with maturity and professionalism. ###
### ### By the way, upon what factual evidence do you base your opinion on? ###Have you ever hunted hogs with dogs? ###Have you ever trained a dog to hunt hogs?

### ### ###
### ###

[boarrunner]

bwht 4x4
### ### ###I don't understand what you mean by dog hunters are lazy slobs. I don't see how a lazy man could ever keep up with my dogs.whats fair about shooting a unsuspected animal from a long distance.
if you want to be fair go to a state were you can use a knife to kill them and go hand to hoof with a mean boar after all he only has a set of knives. I have done quite a bit of hog trapping in california,and its not illegal but does require a permit from df&g which allows you to remove them by any means ie. trapping spotlighting . ###I was wondering if a guy uses his dogs on bear and they bay it up on the ground and are pulling hair.Is he a slob for shooting it at 10 yards or feet. In my opinion
a lazy slob would sit home and dream about hunting.
not taking care of a pack of dogs. As for the original topic the hunting has been great in my neck of the woods (santa cruz county) thanks to some excellent dog work