Hunting on the West Coast in California

[liber]

I was replying to @huntinghuasna about pig and deer recently, so leaving this thread generic, and would like to hear from others on this topic.

I currently live in San Jose, which is the southern part of northern A zone 116, and huntinghuasna is in the southern A zone 110. This is mostly applicable to deer in both northern/southern A zones as you can buy a tag in either zone that is valid for both. A zone is huge, it's the largest hunting zone in California.

Pig

Currently a reasonable resident license of ~65/year and a pig tag is $27/year. The beauty of pig is that as of this past season, the tag is unlimited. You are required to call in your harvest, but then are allowed to take another one. You also need to report if you don't harvest. It is a more than fair program, but pigs are becoming a huge problem in California. Anyone with a pig tag for the current season can still hunt pig until June 31st.

Deer

Currently the season is closed and for the new coming season tags will be available mid April. Deer season moves around between the different zones, and you can't use a tag purchased for deer in a different zone, and this is where the system gets a bit complicated. Deer is ~40 for the first deer, and ~50 for the second.

Black Bear

Can be used throughout the entire state, but you need to abide to hunting within the zones. The hunting zones are typically for about 1 to 1-1/2 months, so you need to travel if you want to be able to hit the zones at the proper time. Most Black Bear are either in the Sierras or the Mayacamas and/or along the coast. Bear tag is about $50 for a resident.

Ok, I'm looking for any advice and primarily hunting pig this coming season, black bear after that, and deer after that. Most black bear boars are ~175-200 lbs., hence why I would use a 6.5mm bullet. The reason for my preference is based on cost vs meat harvest, and it seems easier to get a big boar than it is a big buck. Please school me, is that correct? My contractor got a bear this year in the Sierras (one of the X zones), at close to 400 yards. He shoots a 300 RUM, a much larger cartridge than I will use. I would feel comfortable to take game at that distance...but that's about my limit.

Any advice would be appreciated, either in A-North-160 or other. I have some friends to hunt with in 160, and hope to find some pigs and/or a bear or deer. Good thing about pigs is that once all the zones end on Dec. 31st, you can still hunt pigs until the end of June, but you can't hunt with a rifle during any archery season. Is that a common regulation in other states? I've never hunted out of California, but would drive to Nevada or Oregon possibly.

 

[dfanonymous]

The advice is look at the fish and games notes on the website of the zone in question. It tells you everything you need to know of where to go. The rest is up to you as far as the hunting.

Bear taste like **** to me so, I'm no good to you on that. Especially those Bear. They are hunters and dumpster divers a lot because of the ****** campers. The sierras are a good bet though. There's a lot of them around there x-10 and especially d8 have a decent amount. A lot of cats some wolves too.

There's a few counties that have pigs on public land, but the majority of them are on private land. Anyone that has a spot won't give it up and the areas I'm talking about are pretty public and thus over hunted. You can try the oil fields in Bakersfield but beware of cartel activity up there. Stay strapped or get clapped. People go missing and are found in pieces in the river there all the time and hardly anyone cares.

 

[liber]

Bear taste like **** to me so, I'm no good to you on that.

I like it, I have a bear roast in the freezer now... Some folks like venison better, or elk. I like the backstrap of elk, but not crazy about the tenderloin, it's pretty livery taste. I'll eat tongue or heart, but not liver.

Especially those Bear. They are hunters and dumpster divers a lot because of the ****** campers. The sierras are a good bet though. There's a lot of them around there x-10 and especially d8 have a decent amount. A lot of cats some wolves too.

I'll go up there if I need to, but would rather stay at the coast, if possible.

There's a few counties that have pigs on public land, but the majority of them are on private land. Anyone that has a spot won't give it up and the areas I'm talking about are pretty public and thus over hunted. You can try the oil fields in Bakersfield but beware of cartel activity up there. Stay strapped or get clapped. People go missing and are found in pieces in the river there all the time and hardly anyone cares.

There are pigs in 160, just more farther down south. And that's what I would like to understand in CA, where public land is available. There are 2 places around Clear Lake I do plan to hunt this coming season. Cache Creek to the southeast and Cow Mountain to the northwest. Pretty steep but has some water down off highway 20, on the way to Ukiah. The other Eel River Campground is just north of A zone

Seems to me that the majority of pigs are in Monterey County. That was my original question about A-South-110 and/or if I would be better looking for pig down there. That's about a 3 hour drive, well within reasonable distance. FWIW, most of the trails and campground are currently closed as of Feb 3rd, due to the heavy rains.

 

[dfanonymous]

I like it, I have a bear roast in the freezer now... Some folks like venison better, or elk. I like the backstrap of elk, but not crazy about the tenderloin, it's pretty livery taste. I'll eat tongue or heart, but not liver.

I'll go up there if I need to, but would rather stay at the coast, if possible.

There are pigs in 160, just more farther down south. And that's what I would like to understand in CA, where public land is available. There are 2 places around Clear Lake I do plan to hunt this coming season. Cache Creek to the southeast and Cow Mountain to the northwest. Pretty steep but has some water down off highway 20, on the way to Ukiah. The other Eel River Campground is just north of A zone

Seems to me that the majority of pigs are in Monterey County. That was my original question about A-South-110 and/or if I would be better looking for pig down there. That's about a 3 hour drive, well within reasonable distance. FWIW, most of the trails and campground are currently closed as of Feb 3rd, due to the heavy rains.

Clear lake and cache is the public land I was referring too. As far as what's public and what's not..get mapping software. Onx, GOHUNT, whatever. If not look out for signs. It's over hunted and it's a lot of pigs still go end up on private land. Even cache creek there random spurts of private around the 20 and the south of buck mountain.

Monterey was the county i was referring too. Check out big sandy along the Salinas.

But I'm serious about what I said. A lot of the pigs are traansitional or bedded on public land but will root or move into public land during the day. Less than 10% of hogs killed in that state on on public. All hunting out there is overly difficult relative to other states…and I've hunted all states out west multitudes of times.

 

[liber]

Clear lake and cache is the public land I was referring too. As far as what's public and what's not..get mapping software. Onx, GOHUNT, whatever. If not look out for signs. It's over hunted and it's a lot of pigs still go end up on private land. Even cache creek there random spurts of private around the 20 and the south of buck mountain.

I haven't hunted Cow Mountain yet, but have talked with CDFW in Ukiah, and they definitely confirmed there are pigs in that area. There's a public range on BLM land at Cow Moutain, but it's been closed for about a year, AFAIK.

It seems to me that's getting to the northern areas that pig will live.

Monterey was the county i was referring too. Check out big sandy along the Salinas.

I will check that out. That area seems to be where the pigs originated at, someone put feral pigs in Monterey County.

The other area I haven't mentioned, but there's an outfitter out of Cloverdale. About 30-35 miles sought of Ukiah. Ukiah is where 20 heads over to Lakeport at Clear Lake. They will do an unguided hunt on their private land, and provide you with maps and drive you to the area, then pick you up after you harvest a pig, boars only. But they do that for $350. My main goal is to find public land to hunt, and I know it's not easy in Cali with private land. I have pondered if spending $350 isn't worth the time it will save...but in the end I want to use public land and willing to travel some.

But I'm serious about what I said. A lot of the pigs are traansitional or bedded on public land but will root or move into public land during the day. Less than 10% of hogs killed in that state on on public. All hunting out there is overly difficult relative to other states…and I've hunted all states out west multitudes of times.

This is why I posted this thread. Almost all of them are taken on private land. However, the outfitters on private land want like $1000 for a pig hunt. Sure, you're pretty much guaranteed to get a pig, but I want to do it on public land if possible.

I have a couple leads on private property. One in the Scotts Valley area, north of Lakeport. A friend knows someone with some pig problems. Not sure if that will pan out or not. The other lead I have is my contractor, he has 40 acres just north of city limits and can shoot on his property. He has deer eat from his apple trees, but they don't seem to be regular.

I honestly had not thought about the Cache Creek Preserve, as I didn't think it was legal to shoot over there. CDFW is the one that told me that's the other area to check out. I have seen a video of a guy in Clearlake, or Clearlake Oaks, and he had pigs rooting on his property. On the west side where Buckingham is located, I have never seen a pig, or a bear. But I have a lot of deer at my property. This is a poor video taken by my contractor. This buck lives by the basement. I like to say I provide stud service in Buckingham! LOL (uploading right now) Unfortunately, no shooting at my property, my contractor gave me a venison roast he said he shot with a bow at the property, but I'm not sure I believe him as the neighbor across the street side calls the county on me all the time. I guess there's always one neighbor that's the bad apple.

 

[California hog hunter]

There is public ground close to you. Fort hunter Leggett Los Padres national forest and some ground near Coalinga.

 

[liber]

There is public ground close to you. Fort hunter Leggett Los Padres national forest and some ground near Coalinga.

Funny, that seems to be the biggest area down there and right by Oakstone Outfitters, in Bradley. I will try to get out there this coming season. Oakstone is pretty pricey, and the owner's a nice enough guy, but he's only interested in people willing to pay $2k for a couple days. Nice facility, I mentioned I took a home butcher class there. I skinned the pig and butchered a ham. It was good, dare I say, I didn't know about that gland in the ham. I may have left that in on a boar in the past...ooops, I've felt the shoulder tastes better. I knew about the ones outside the rear leg, but not that internal one... There was a couple glands I didn't know about. My game count is not as high as some of you guys with notches that go all the way around your belts...there was one negative about the butcher class, and that is that it's done in a perfect environment, dress the pig, cut it with a reciprocating saw down the spine. Each half goes in the cold box on a hook/rail, and you butcher it on the hook or a stainless table. My first one was a bit quick, and I didn't do the whole thing...hence why I wanted to take the class. Highly recommended, it was like $300. My one comment to them, it would have been nice to get a diagram of the glands to cut out, they pointed them out but didn't have it documented.

 

[California hog hunter]

When are you looking to hog hunt?

 

[southpa]

What'd I'd do is figure out what units your available to draw with all the point totals you have, make one last attempt at drawing those tags and go there. After that load everything you own up. Guns, family and all and move out of that state and never look back!!! This will help with all the questions you have regarding your OP!

 

[dfanonymous]

What'd I'd do is figure out what units your available to draw with all the point totals you have, make one last attempt at drawing those tags and go there. After that load everything you own up. Guns, family and all and move out of that state and never look back!!! This will help with all the questions you have regarding your OP!

it's all pretty much over the counter….

 

[liber]

When are you looking to hog hunt?

Anywhere down to Santa Maria and up to B zone. I would drive farther, but would like to find public land to hunt them on, that's part of the challenge for me. Anywhere through central, out to the sierras for a bear, but probably not that far for pig. My hope is to be able to find a pig in the morning or evening, for a day pack. I read that the Eel River Campground has a bit of poison ivy, but would keep covered. Also, all that area is closed at current, so no worries until July when the new season starts.

Where do you recommend?

I mentioned the place in Cloverdale, some folks may not mind paying $350. A pretty good deal for an unguided hunt. Read the fine print though, there's a $200 fee if shoot a sow. Not a bad deal considering it may take a couple day packs to find a pig.

Hunts — Wild Pig Hunting Guide Service

www.wildpighuntingguideservice.com

 

[California hog hunter]

When your ready let me know I can bring my dogs out if you want.