Jesse's Hunting > Hunting Info > California Report > Fort Hunter Liggett California Hunting & Fishing

Fort Hunter Liggett California Hunting & Fishing

FHL HUNTING/FISHING INFORMATION LINE AND WEBSITE

Updated every Thursday with open training areas and registration window hours. (831) 386-3310. You can also check the FHL Hunting/Fishing update webpage here. Email is huntnfish@liggett-emh1.army.mil.

FHL Hunt/Fish Info

FHL main website is http://www.liggett.army.mil/

Weekend check in window staff (831) 386-2677. FHL is open on weekends and federal holidays only. Closed Chrismas Eve and Christmas Day.

FHL HUNTING/FISHING CHECK IN WINDOW

The hunting check in window is located just inside the main gate across from the campground. Take the 1st left turn after you enter the main gate and go about 1/4 mile and you'll see the campground on the right, the check in window is on the left in the building. Hunter check in times are 3pm to 7pm on Friday and 5:30am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday. The hunter/fisherman check in window is closed during the week so fishermen may register at the Environmental office. You must register and check out when you leave. You must also report your harvest on the registration form or creel card. Each angler or hunter is allowed one non-hunting or non-fishing visitor free of charge. Request a visitor pass when registering. You'll need a valid California hunting license and/or fishing license, and a photo I.D.

WHERE TO STAY:

Outdoor Recreation Campground: As of 6/1/01 the campground is open on a honor system basis. The cost is $10.00 per night and $10.00 for each additional vehicle. Campsites have shade, BBQ pits and toilets and showers nearby. There is no electrical hookups or sewage dump stations. Campground is fairly flat and big enough for big RVs and longer trailers. Nearest camping would be at San Antonio Lake, the Los Padres National Forest north and west of the fort or BLM land southeast of the fort. The campground is located just inside the main gate adjacent to the hunter check in window.

FHL Billeting (BOQ): Across from the Hacienda Lodge is the FHL Billeting (BOQ) for $35.00 per night for a two bed single bed room. $40 for a suite. You get 2 single beds per room and a full bathroom and a small kitchen. The rooms have TV and VCRs, the kitchen has a fridge, stove, microwave and cooking and eating utensils. In the suites you get 2 seperate rooms, a sleeping room and a living room. There is no room service that cleans each weekend morning, only during Monday thru Friday. Laundry facilities are available also on the 1st floor. Room registration is at the billeting office. Billeting reservations can be made at ph # 831-386-2511, M-F, 8a.m. to 4:30p.m. Billeting email is billeting@liggett-emh1.army.mil

"The Hacienda" Restaurant & Guest Lodge: Hunters and fishermen can lodge at the 14 room guest lodge at the Hacienda located on Fort Hunter Liggett, see pic. Call the FHL Hacienda at (831) 386-2900 for information and reservations. The lodge also has a nice sit down restaurant with outdoor patio and a lounge. Prices are reasonable and the food is good, the kitchen does fried and grilled food well . There is also a snack bar on the post just down the road from the lodge. There is also a fort commissary but you need a military or retired I.D. to get in. Rooms from $30.00 up to a suite for $125.00 a night. Rooms are spartan with a community bathroom. The Hacienda is the former hunting lodge of the famous newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. The lodge was built mostly for entertainment so he and his guests could ride on horseback the 30-odd miles from his San Simeon estate to spend a night or a weekend. It was designed by Julia Morgan, the celebrated architect of San Simeon, and completed in 1936.

Bryson Hesperia Resort: just south of the FHL main gate about 10 minutes this resort has nice cabins with kitchens for rent. Within minutes of the 85 acre resort you will find some of California's most spectacular attractions including Lake Nacimiento , San Antonio Lake , the historical Mission San Antonio De Padua, and the exquisite Los Padres National Forest.

Local Motels

There are motels and restaurants in nearby King City which is about 25 minutes northeast of FHL on highway 101. Paso Robles, which is about 45 minutes southeast of FHL on highway 101 has motels and restaurants also.

Best Western Inn - 1190 Broadway Road King City, CA, 93930. PH# 831-385-6733.
Days Inn. - 1130 Broadway. King City, CA 93930. PH# 831-385-5921.
Motel 6 - 3 Broadway Circle, King City, Ca. 93930. PH# 831-385-5000.
Western States Inn - 1099 K Street, San Miguel. PH# 805-467-3674. This motel is about 25 minutes south of FHL on Highway 101.

WHAT CAN YOU HUNT AT FHL? Wild pig, jackrabbit and coyotes, all year.  Refer to DFG regs for seasons to hunt bobcat, rabbit (cottontail), quail, tree squirrel, turkey (spring and fall), elk, dove and band-tailed pigeon. Hunting hours extend from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. Please remember that Fort Hunter Liggett is a military installation and all hunting and fishing areas are subject to closure at any time due to military training.

HUNTING AND FISHING FEES AND LICENSES:  Hunting Permits. The annual FHL hunting permit is $70.00 and the 2 day weekend hunting permit is $25.00. Both permits are available by mail order or by downloading the the hunting permit application below. YOU CAN NO LONGER BUY THE WEEKEND HUNTING OR FISHING PERMIT AT THE CHECK IN WINDOW!

Fishing Fees: As of 1/1/01 the fishing fee has been eliminated.

Usually the hunter registration window is open at 3pm Friday until 7pm. Saturday and Sunday the check in window is open from 5:30 am until 1pm. You must register and check out when you leave. You must also report your harvest on the registration form or creel card. Each angler or hunter is allowed one non-hunting or non-fishing visitor free of charge. Request a visitor pass when registering. You'll need a valid California hunting license and/or fishing license, and a photo I.D. No hunting/fishing licenses or pig tags are sold on the Fort. Nearest place to get tags and licenses is in Paso Robles south of the Fort about 40 miles at Wal-Mart or Bridge Sportsmen's Center, 1319 Spring St. Paso Robles, ph # (805) 238-4407.

HUNTING PERMIT APPLICATION. Click here for a hunting permit application that you can download and print out to mail in. You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download this form. You can get the free Acrobat Reader here.

FIREARM RESTRICTIONS: Handguns are authorized for hunting with the following restrictions: Handgun barrels must be 6 inches or longer. Handgun caliber must be .38 or larger. Rifle/Wildcat calibers must be .243 or larger. No 'plinking' or target shooting allowed. No rimfire calibers allowed. Treestands may be used if they cause no damage and are completely removed each day at the close of hunting hours.

MEAT STORAGE AND PROCESSING:

There is a meat cooler and skinning area next to the check in window by the campground. Contact the Military Police (MPs) to get access to the meat cooler after the check in window is closed.

Roy's Swiss Sausage Factory .... Roy Rachina (spelling of last name may be wrong), Cherry Ave, Greenfield, CA, 93927. PH# 831-674-2070. About 45 minutes north of FHL on Hwy. 101.
S&D Custom Meats .... Joseph Muracchioli. 4890 Estrella Rd., Paso Robles, Ca 93446. PH# 805-238-5776. About 45 minutes south of FHL on Hwy. 101.

CHEAPEST GAS: There is a 24 hour gas station that takes credit cards on the fort just down from the Hacienda Lodge near the theatre and bowling alley. No diesel is available at this station. Nearest diesel would be in King City 20 minutes away. The AM/PM in Paso Robles at the Highway 46 exit off Highway 101. King City north of FHL on Highway 101 also has several gas stations.

GETTING STUCK IN THE FAMOUS FHL MUD: When it's raining the FHL mud is notorious for getting stuck in. DO NOT go off the well graveled main roads or you will get stuck. Take a 30 foot tow strap, long handle shovels, high lift jack and a winch if you have one. Mike Jardine (805-472-2226, cellphone 805-610-6119) charges $175 to get you out. AAA will NOT do calls off of the pavement and because of liability, the cops, military and firemen on the fort cannot help you. You may have a long walk and a long wait if you do get stuck also.

BEST FOOD: North of FHL about 20 minutes there is a 24 hour Denny's in King City along with fast food. Spanish Peaks and City Cafe in King City are good.

Tenth St. Cafe in San Miguel has good Italian food.

Paso Robles has a 24 hour Denny's along with fast food.

The Hacienda Lodge on FHL also has a nice sit down restaurant with outdoor patio and a lounge. Prices are reasonable and the food is good, the kitchen does fried and grilled food well . Call the FHL Hacienda at (831) 386-2900 for information and reservations. There is also a snack bar on the post just down the road from the lodge. There is also a fort commissary but you need a military or retired I.D. to get in.

GROCERIES/SUPPLIES: Wal-Mart in Paso Robles or Bridge Sportsmen's Center, 1319 Spring St. Paso Robles, ph # (805) 238-4407. There is also a fort commissary on FHL but you need a military or retired I.D. to get in.

SHOOTING RANGE:

A target shooting range is available to use. Check in at Range control and see if the range is open.

MAPS:

8 1/2" X 11" training area maps are available when you register. U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps can also be obtained from drafting/engineering stores or backpacking stores or ordered online here USGS Topo maps.  If you would like info on aerial photos, computer topo map programs and how to download free topo maps off the Internet, I have this on my other webpages here: aerial photos or topo maps.

These FHL area maps are large (60k to 175k), so give them time to load, especially if you have a slower connection than 56k speed. You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download these maps. You can get the free Acrobat Reader here.

Overview map of all the FHL areas

Map of Area 1
Map of Area 2 Thanks to Rick for this map.
Map of Area 3 (Archery Only). Thanks to Bill Bacheller for this map.
Map of Area 4
Map of Area 5
Map of Area 6 Thanks to Rick aka "feelinducky" for this map.
Map of Area 7
Map of Area 8
Map of Area 9
Map of Area 10-13
Map of Area 11
Map of Area 14
Map of Area 15 Thanks to Rick aka "feelinducky" for this map.
Map of Area 16 Thanks to Neil Chitwood for this map.
Map of Area 17
Map of Area 18
Map of Area 19
Map of Area 23
Map of Area 24
Map of Area 25
Map of Area 26
Map of Area 27
Map of Area 28
Map of Area 29 (Walk in bow, shotgun, muzzleloader only area.)
Map of Area 30 (Walk in bow, shotgun, muzzleloader only area.)

A huge "Thanks" to Dave Kiper for supplying a lot of the FHL maps above for me to scan.

HISTORY: Fort Hunter Liggett was purchased from the estate of William Randolph Hearst in 1940 to train soldiers during World War II and later was used for that purpose during the Korean conflict. The installation was named in honor of Lt. Gen. Hunter Liggett, who served during the Spanish-American War and later as the Chief of Staff for General John J. Pershing during World War I. Gen. Liggett also was the first commander of I Corps. After the Korean conflict the base was used as a training site and controlled by the Army Command at Fort Ord, Calif. The Seventh Infantry was the primary user of the fort until the closure of Fort Ord in 1992 and the deactivation of the Seventh Infantry. The installation was then under the command of Fort Lewis, Washington and utilized by Training and Experimentation Battalion until its disbandment in 1997. In 1995 the installation was taken over by the U.S. Army Reserve Command.

Total Acreage: 165,500 acres, with all but 500 acres available for training purposes. Additionally, Fort Hunter Liggett has use of 95,000 acres of the adjoining Los Padres National Forest for special operations training. Fort Hunter Liggett is the eighth largest Army installation in terms of available training acreage.

FHL main website is http://www.liggett.army.mil/