California Hog Hunt

[steadman]

Last weekend i was able to get out to Northern Ca to try my luck on some hogs. I met my good friend Shane at his home for a couple days. We were fired up to say the least. I had traded a hunt with Alex(dawnpatrol) and was headed out for a couple days.
Shane and I arrived at 5:30 to meet Alex and head to the ranch. The intro was short as we were ready to hunt. On the drive in we got aquainted and I knew that Alex was going to fit in with Shane and I just fine.
We bailed out of the truck and got geared up and started heading to the crossings that Alex had scouted previously. As the sun started to light the world, I could not believe the hog sign. I was also treated to redwoods towering over me.
We didn't see or hear anything the first couple hours, so we hooked up and went to "jump beds".
Since I was the only one in our party who hasn't killed a hog, Alex let me take the lead. Now I was expecting to sneak around huge redwood stumps hoping to catch hogs bedded. We did that the first two, then Alex showed us some burnt out stumps that he said the hogs liked to bed in. He told me to sneak up to the log, then draw back and hurry and peek over the bank!  :eek:       Are you kidding me?! Well he wasn't, and lucky for me there were no hogs in there, the only escape would be through my legs.
 
Here is a pic of Alex doing the bed jump the next morning.
Alex also showed us the mother of all hog wallows, It's too bad they weren't using it at the time.
 
The pic doesn't do it justice.
We then headed back to the truck to regroup and do a little stump shooting.
 
The rest of the day, was spent hiking through some of the steepest country I have been on, and I have hunted elk in ID. Alex would hike Shane and I up one hill to jump a place where he had seen hogs before, and when that didn't work, he would hike us over to another place. We did this until late afternoon. The last valley we looked at had more sign.
 
There was fresh rooting in this little valley.
We spent the rest of the evening sitting various trails. But no hogs were seen.

[steadman]

Shane and I were exhausted. But happy. The next morning we set out in seperate directions. Shane went to the little valley and Alev and I headed for the crossings. We weren't 10 minutes from the truck when Alex heard pigs in the trees 60 yardds to the right. As he did I spotted a hog entering into the trees. We both hurried up in seperate directions. I figured there might be a few more bringing up the rear. Just as I knelt down, with an arrow knocked. A nice red boar crested the ridge about 20 yards away. I drew back, came to anchor, even picked a spot. The shot looked great as it left, only the pig saw me do all this and at the sound of the shot, turned to look at me. I didn't heat a hit, but it looked good. I walked up to get my arrow, it was spotless, a clean miss. Noe I've got to say that this was the best shot I have ever made on a game animal, I did everything I was supposed to do, and that alone was worth the trip. We spent the rest of the morning jumping beds, but with no other sightings. We hooked up with Shane to find otu he had been in pigs that  morning as well. He got a 25 yrd shot and hit just low.
All in all this was one of the funnest, best hunts I have ever been on.
 
 

[steadman]

I have to say that I have never hunted with a guy that can move like Alex. He moved quickly, but extremely quiet. Shane and I marveled at how light he was on his feet. I also have to give a huge thanks to Alex     You would have thought that we had paid him a huge sum of money the way he was trying to put us on pigs. I am humbled that he would put that much effort into a hunt for a couple of strangers. Now I can't wait to take him elk hunting.
 

[steadman]

If any of you are thinking of trading a hunt with a fellow trad ganger, don't hesitate. I know I have found a new friend and can't wait to meet up again.
   

[vermonster13]

Sounds like a great time and experience.

[DesertDude]

Sweet, great looking country.

[Chris Surtees]

Great pics! Sounds like you guys had a blast.

[mountaindog]

very cool..  :eek:    that area looks familiar...

there is a lot of hogs around here too...

[LEOPARD]

Cool pics! Looks like you had fun!    

[JC]

Beautifull country....thanks for sharing the pics.

[MRD]

Not only does Alex walk quietly, but trying to keep up with him is not for the even slightly out of shape!  That is a beautiful ranch, isn't it?

Mark

[steadman]

You got that right Mark! Yes that is a beautiful ranch.

[Steve O]

Ryan,

One of the things on my list before I leave this earth is to hunt hogs in CA.  Nice!

How's the bear hunt looking?

[steadman]

Steve, look for a thread to start soon. Nothing on the baits yet, but it's still a little early. Thanks.

[Bear Heart]

What does it cost to hunt hogs in CA. Seasons?