Pig hunting in central and Northern California

[dive-n-in]

I'm from Reno Nevada and would love to do a DIY hog hunt. I'm a experienced Nevada big game hunter but have never chased pigs. I'm looking for areas that would produce pig that might be close to me as well as some information on scouting. Any info would be great, I was looking at California wildlife and the information there is very veg and old. Can you help??? Thank You


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[Colorado Cowboy]

Used to hunt pigs when I lived in California, shot lots of them, all in central Cal. ALL on private property and all guided. Never found any on public land.

 

[sneakypete]

I did a lot of hog hunting in the Healdsburg area. Check out lake Sonoma recreation area, they used to have archery hunting there. Also search Cal. Game and fish site for pig hunting. There's another area west of Willows I believe to hunt. I belonged to a club west of Healdsburg. Good luck, there fun to hunt and better to eat. If gun hunting take the head shot, no meat wasted.

 

[mgriffith80]

Finding public land that holds pigs in this state is the hardest part. For as big as California is, the public land for pigs is rough. I was successful on public land this last summer but it was after dozens of scouting trips, setting cams, and failed attempts to harvest a pig. Like CC said, Central Cali has some good public land but its still going to be a tall task to find some pig action. There are a bunch of great outfitters up north though that might be worth doping $500 or so for private land access and a good weekend. There is also Fort Hunter Liggett on the Central Coast that has been a good producing area.

 

[olref]

Hello dive-n-in,
Sent you a PM.

 

[bghunter]

I used to hunt pigs a lot but didn't have enough time last couple years due to out of state hunting. I was very sucessful on private lands, it looks like it is hard to find pigs on public land but possible, require a lot of time.
Good luck!

 

[sneakypete]

bghunter, question who is your taxidermist? If you use one.

 

[dive-n-in]

Alan Barrail
Fur & Feather Taxidermy
(775) 425-0116


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[sneakypete]

Dive in, search the Tejon ranch, I remember they do archery and maybe rifle hunts. I think the two day hunts include a place to stay ? I searched the Tejon ranch for hog hunting very pricey!

 

[Tim Hughes]

Wild hogs on public land is a challenge in CA. I have hunted Lake Sonoma many times and done well. It is archery only and is open to the public from the close of the youth deer hunt in the beginning of Nov. to the opening of turkey season in March. You need to register ahead of time at the visitors center. Cash Creek BLM area Cow Mountain BLM and Knoxville WMA are other options with huntable populations of hogs. Lots of guided options too for around $500-700 depending on what you want. All of the vineyards complain about wild hog damage but very few will allow hunting. Most of the best hunting is on private property though and guys hunting with dogs do the best. Good luck, it's a great hunt!

 

[bghunter]

bghunter, question who is your taxidermist? If you use one.

I used one is Santa Rosa area, don't remember his name but he screwed up very badly. I used Tropy Room Taxidermy in Wilton, he did ok job on my bear rug but I didn't see his final work on any other products. I still have my son's mule deer cape frozen from last year, haven't decided yet who will do that. There is one close to my house in Granite Bay, I heard some good feedback about him but haven't tried him yet. I do european mount on most of my tropies.

 

[sneakypete]

I am using Dicks Taxidermy in Granite Bay, he's doing my BC moose. I really like his work! I used to live in Petaluma and I've had Forrest Farnsworth do a pig and a deer both turned out very well.

 

[bghunter]

I heard very good feedback on Deeks Taxidermy, they are in my neighborhood, I'm driving by them every day, have to try them.

 

[dive-n-in]

Alan does a GREAT job!!! And he is really cheep. He told me he loved doing it and he keeps it cheep so the common hunter can have a beautiful professional mount. He has done a bighorn sheep, antelope, and deer. Look up Alan Barrail on Facebook he puts a ton of his work on there


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[sneakypete]

bghunter, If you stop in tell him I recommend you to him. Curt loves to talk, I've learned a lot from him. Good luck.

 

[Arrowslinger]

Don't call him Curt, it's Kirk and he does great work! I've got a bear, two hogs, a deer and numerous skulls from them. Dick, Kirks dad does the birds.

 

[bghunter]

bghunter, If you stop in tell him I recommend you to him. Curt loves to talk, I've learned a lot from him. Good luck.

I will, was planning to.

 

[dive-n-in]

How did this turn into a taxidermy blog. I'm looking to kill pigs in California. Total hijack


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[Arrowslinger]

Good point, sorry. Finding pigs on public land is almost as difficult as lassoing a 3 legged unicorn. But they are out there and you need to think of them as visitors, not primary residents of the public land. Hunt the edges and do it all n crappy weather, that's when/where I've seen the most and have been successful. Look up tejon ranch and do a non-guided hunt there, I've done two archery ones there and had numerous opportunities and killed both times. As far as other places, good luck.

 

[dive-n-in]

Very cool thanks. And thanks to all for the DIY hunt info


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