I just moved back(Escondido)about 3 years ago after 27 years in TX. They didn't have deer zones when I left..man what a mess. I have a good place to hunt Bear and hopefully will be chasing them this Nov. or Dec. I've always enjoyed just trekking around and chasing Jack rabbits also but my brother tells me where we used to do it there aren't many left and hardly worth the trouble.
Looks like hog hunting is not too good either unless you have lots of $$$..going to miss that, I'm thinking it would be cheaper to fly back to TX. to hunt than to hunt them here. I was reading like only 10% of the hogs are taken on public land all the rest come from private land. I was looking at the Tejon ranch..that might be an option. Any tips on where to hunt hogs either free or at a reasonable price?
And what about some clubs or 3D around the San Diego area?
Do any guys get together and hunt or have a get together?
TIA
*
Tejon is magical. The most beautiful piece of property on earth and their archery only hog hunts are only $300. By the time you finds even old hog sign on public land gas will exceed that.
Good luck!
QuoteBy the time you finds even old hog sign on public land gas will exceed that.
:thumbsup:
How many times you been there? Are you a full time member?
Mike, This is only my second year hunting trad.Last year I was the only hunter in my group to get a shot (missed). I'm the only trad hunter in the group.
So far this year Thare seems to be more action , one buddy has already killed a deer and a bear, another guy killed a deer but so far I havent got a shot.I have an archery only tag and an a-31 (which is a late season either sex archery only hunt in the LA area that lasts till the end of the year). For the archery only I like to hunt in the d-9 area.
Thereseems to be a lot of animals this year so I may have a chance. I just wish my friends shot traditional also.
Tejon Ranch is about the best bet for the $ Its 300.00 for a week end and the place is crawling with hogs
I am not a member, have a 3 month old daughter but am considering it.
I do at least one hunt there a year. I swear that getting free reign on that much land for a weekend is worth the price. Getting to kill a hog is icing.
I truly love that place. It is my happy place...
I may try and count the pennies for next year as a member but doubt it. The pig tags for a member are still more than the archery hunt cost, though if you are a member you can hunt 100 days to kill "the one" whereas on the archery hunts you get 2 days.
If I were back in SD I would hunt treestands in A22 up in the Laguna Mt area. It is bow only. A fell that took the time to figure out how the deer are responding to the hunters up there can do well. Plus it is either sex so the opportunity is high. Good luck. Let me know if I can point you in the right direction.
The Cleveland National Forest has some of the best turkey and hog hunting in the state. San Diego county recently adopted a second turkey season because of the increasing numbers of turkey; just ask anyone in Julian - they consider them pests! The hog population is so out of control, just this summer they hired professional hunters to take out a bunch of hogs from helicopters. The San Diego River Gorge is the best place to start.
CalArcher, another forum has had a lot of discussion regarding those CNF hogs. It doesn't sound like many, if any, hunters have found them due to a low population in an extremely difficult to access area. The general consensus is that the state has over reacted rather badly with their plans for professional hunters.
Guy
Surprisingly our government over reacted...
I know a lot of guys in SD that cover miles upon miles in the backcountry there and have not seen a pig. All of the reports seem to be of old sign.
There are surely guys hammering them on private land, but access in CA is hard to come by when you have money. A handshake and some chores doesn't seem to get you anywhere...
Balboa archery range by the zoo is a great range. Check it out!
Good luck.
Thx for all the tips guys..much appreciated. I'll probably holler at you in a PM.
QuoteCalifornia by way of Georgia
That's funny
Not too many CA. Tradgangers are there.
Mike welcome back to San Diego, not alot going on with hunting lots of private land to deal with,a ton of turkeys around, and there are some good 3-D shoots. :thumbsup:
Quoteton of turkeys around,
I'd love to hear more about that, I have yet to take a Turkey with a bow. Last time I took 3 arrows with me missed all 3 shots out of a blind. Then the Turkey walked up and about climbed in the thing with me, I swear I could have hit him with my bow.
Mike,
I live in Bonsall, just north of Escondido. Escondido has the only archery shop i go to, Willow Creek Archery. They've helped me out with a lot. Last time i was there the owner was telling me about a San Diego sportsman's club that offers good land for hogs, deer, and turkey. I forgot the annual fee but if i remember correctly it was fairly steep but maybe worth your time to check out.
Either way you should drop into Willow Creek and talk to the guy there. Im sure he can point you in the right direction.
Im in maryland right now for college but when im back maybe we can meet up and chase some rabbits.
m134242@usna.edu
Here's the link to WCA
http://www.willowcreekarchery.com/
I know that one of the guys at "the bow n arrow shop" shoots a Stalker recurve by South Cox. The owner (Bruce) is the best guy I have ever met in an archery shop. He seriously will meet someone and immediately care about them. When I lived there and hunted with a wheelie I didn't know his shop existed, and regret it. (never went to willow creek though, it was the other one).
Case in point tell him Zeke sent ya. He will remember me and we have only met once (5 or so years ago on a hog hunt at Tejon). His shop is a wheelie shop but they are great people and will point you in the right direction.
I hunted catalina island in the 70's. Got stationed back at Pendleton in the 80's and heard they killed all the goats from helos. The game management takesbsome odd paths there. I shoot tourneys in central CA and there are a few stikbow shooters io this way. Petaluma is coming in Sept. Go there to make contacts
I moved from Calif last year. Love Texas.......
Hi Mike,
Jim Conners owns Willow Creek Archery, great guy and great place. Mostly a wheelie shop but Jim used to have a traditional league a few years back and at least speaks the language.
My country club is the lease type deal mentioned above, they have some very nice property Jim is a member and can point you in the right direction. I think Turners outdoorsman will have a hand out for them too.
The A22 San Diego either sex archery only tag is a great deal. It is a split season that starts 9-3 I think. Lots of does around here that need shooting.
Bear State Bowhunters used to have a great range in Escondido but the city decided they could better use the property and kicked us off. The club moved the range up by lake Henshaw but as far as I know they are not taking new members right now. The website is still up though.
http://www.bearstatearchers.com/
Take care,
Lance
Those guys at The Bow and Arrow shop are number one even though they are a compounders shop. I shot my first trad deer last year on public ground less than 20 miles from my place, and yes alot of the ground that holds hogs is mostly private, the public land tags are slightly reasonable at I believe 19 bucks each with no purchase limit. I live in Ramona and if you are going to give it a try you better buy your tag soon they sold out last year. I will be hunting public ground again and I plan on harvesting again.BTW Laguna mtns are hit very hard by every body and there brother,be patient with the hogs they will never get a handle on the population. The agencies in charge of the handling of the population control have a hard time finding there own ass with both hands.Ohh yeh one more thing you will be dealing with alot of public land gate closures just because they can, it's actually quite ridiculous.
I don't live there now, but I grew up just outside the west edge of Yosemite.
I did well at Laguna by patterning the hunters. Most leave stands at 0930 or so.
Another option out there is the desert. There are some mammoth bucks in the desert but I have never hunted out there.
If you are prior or current military Vandenburg is awesome.
I spent a little time on the edge of the Tejon ranch just a few weeks ago. Do to my truck being slightly angry I had some time to spend glassing the contry side while waiting for a tow truck. I counted 19 hogs on the one Tejon hilside that I could see. Beautiful country. I have been hunting hogs on Vandenberg AFB the last few days. Seems to be a fair number of them. They just live in big holes and thick brush
Thx. guys am starting to feel a lot better about moving back here now.
QuoteZbearclaw
Let me know if I can point you in the right direction.
Another option out there is the desert. There are some mammoth bucks in the desert but I have never hunted out there
Thx. I'd like to talk to you on the phone if that's OK? If so I'll PM my #.
QuoteGrey Taylor
another forum has had a lot of discussion regarding those CNF hogs.
Got a link? I'd like to read it & search the forums.
Thank you.
QuoteCalArcher
The Cleveland National Forest has some of the best turkey and hog hunting in the state.
Could we talk on the phone also?
Quoteredant 60/65
Mike welcome back to San Diego, not alot going on with hunting lots of private land to deal with,a ton of turkeys around, and there are some good 3-D shoots
Thank you. I'd like to talk Turkey & 3D with you.
QuoteSequoia
Im in maryland right now for college but when im back maybe we can meet up and chase some rabbits.
Am up for that, give me a shout when you get back home. Thx.
QuoteRoadkill
I hunted Catalina island in the 70's. Got stationed back at Pendleton in the 80's and heard they killed all the goats from helos. The game management takes some odd paths there. I shoot tourneys in central CA and there are a few stickbow shooters out this way. Petaluma is coming in Sept.
My bother took some goats out there in the early 80's. I don't understand why they would wipe them out and not capitalize on the money from hunting. Probably has to due with politics and the rich folks that live there. Petaluma is a long haul for me, doubt I could make it...thank you.
QuoteDesertDude
I moved from Calif last year. Love Texas.....
Yeah I think we PM'd right when I was getting ready to move here, sorry I missed you. Where in TX. did you move to?
QuoteCrotalus
Bear State Bowhunters used to have a great range in Escondido but the city decided they could better use the property and kicked us off. The club moved the range up by lake Henshaw but as far as I know they are not taking new members right now. The website is still up though.
]http://www.bearstatearchers.com/ (http://www.bearstatearchers.com/%5B/quote)
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I went there, the website is pretty much broken for me in Firefox..am going to make the Sept. shoot. You still in the area?
Quotemotorhead7963
I shot my first trad deer last year on public ground less than 20 miles from my place,:I live in Ramona
I'd like to talk with you also. What you are 20-30 mins. up the road from me?
QuoteMike Mecredy
I don't live there now, but I grew up just outside the west edge of Yosemite.
Hey Mike :)
I grew up on the east side(Bridgeport)for two years I was the care taker of a ranch and the property line backed up too Yosemite's back country. Know the area well. It was little piece of heaven.
QuoteFerretWYO
I spent a little time on the edge of the Tejon ranch just a few weeks ago. Do to my truck being slightly angry I had some time to spend glassing the country side while waiting for a tow truck. I counted 19 hogs on the one Tejon hillside that I could see. Beautiful country. I have been hunting hogs on Vandenberg AFB the last few days. Seems to be a fair number of them. They just live in big holes and thick brush
Could we talk also?
Once again thank you guys for taking the time to respond. I have plenty to research just from the posts. What do you guys know about hog hunting around Lake Sonoma?
Lake Sonma (http://www.spn.usace.army.mil/lake_sonoma/hunting_information.html)
Tell ya what after living in TX. for 27 years and my best buddy competing in BBQ cook offs and hanging out with him I learned how to cook a brisket, even though the stores around here look at me with that "doe in the headlights" look when I ask for a brisket. I BBQ at least twice a month if not more. I have a decent sized back yard as far as city living goes and have two 3d targets(hog & Coyote) and a couple bags targets.
If any of you guys want to get together eat some good BBQ and shoot the BS and some bows y'all have an open invite, just give me a shout.
:campfire:
My son and I live south of San Francisco, we hunt out of state more than we do here. We have found great free range hog hunting west of Lake Sonoma; but not on public land.
Stick with it your area has some promise-best of luck.
Lake Sonoma is a hike for me and I'm a few hours north of SD. I would hunt Tejon or wear out boot leather hunting the CNF hogs.
Good luck. Feel free to pm me.
I was a Native Californian, but I headed to Tejas as soon as I could :) Actually, the Army and the Fire Service landed me in Texas. I come back to Cali to visit Family and to get a In & Out Burger. However, now that In & Out has opened stores here in Dallas, I'm going to miss my Family. I was raised in Banning, but Dallas has been home since 86. Miss the Mountains.... Tu Compadres, Sutty
My office is in Escondido across from Willow Creek. Great trad community here, and the best shooters in the state (i.e. Redant). PM me if you want to meet some of the crew.
Hey,
I live in Cali and am just getting into trad archery and bowhunting. I live in Sonoma county and know some folks with ranches and lots of pigs and turkeys so I will probably be doing my first season of hunting this year on private land going after pigs (and turkey if I am ready for fall season)
I have not been to Lake Sonoma, but heard there are pigs there. Check out this article about a hunter getting attacked by a pig there earlier this month!!
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110803/ARTICLES/110809839
Too bad it sounds like CA is definitely not the best state for hunting...
I used to live in San Diego,I have definitely heard that the turkey populations are a problem in the Julian area.
good luck
i live in california, there i some beautiful land up here, looking forward to finding out how the hunting myself :)
beachbowhunter:
QuoteMy office is in Escondido across from Willow Creek. Great trad community here, and the best shooters in the state (i.e. Redant). PM me if you want to meet some of the crew.
Im really glad this thread got started! I thought I was one of the only ones in the North San Diego County area. bbhunter, I dont know if thats an open invitation but i'd love to meet other tradhunters from around here. Thats crazy that your office is right across from Willow Creek. I've been there so many times. It seems like the only place i spend my money!
Mike, I'll definitely let you know when im back in the area, might not be till Christmas time though. I usually spend my time home shooting at 'big game' like ground squirrels and cottontails. Ive never tried turkey or deer hunting around this area though.
Excited to see this thread continue to develop...
California native... mostly hunt private property for hogs. Camp Roberts has some hogs, deer but hunting has been suspended for now.
Fort Hunter Liggett in Jolon, CA has hog hunts and they have archery only areas.
http://www.liggett.army.mil/sites/fishhunt/update.asp
You'll have to do some driving to hunt here!!!
Good hunting
I Have lived in CA for about 3 years now.
QuoteI went there, the website is pretty much broken for me in Firefox..am going to make the Sept. shoot. You still in the area?
Mike I live in Escondido.
Lately I've been hanging out at Willow creek and shooting a bit on Saturday afternoons.
Lance
Im in Modesto dead center of the vally. not much of a dear hunter,too many coyotes to chase. Getting permision to hunt is posible . Lots of leg work and knocking on doors.
Mike check out the DFG website. They have a regional map and list wildlife areas. Infromation about game and hunting methods. The Big Sandy WA seems to be the closest area with pigs. 850 acres, no rifles or pistols. I've never been there, nor heard of anyone going there. Any info CA hunters? Corvus.
www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/wa/index.html (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/wa/index.html)
Mike check out the DFG website. They have a regional map and list wildlife areas. Infromation about game and hunting methods. The Big Sandy WA seems to be the closest area with pigs. 850 acres, no rifles or pistols. I've never been there, nor heard of anyone going there. Any info CA hunters? Corvus.
www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/wa/index.html (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/wa/index.html)