DIY hog hunting

Hey guys I’m gonna also post this in the Southern California discussion as well. I’m trying to line up a hog hunting trip next year. Complete DIY and preferably on public lands I’m trying to get a feel of where are some hog hot beds in the state of California. A buddy of mine’s grandfather has a place in Milpitas that seems fairly productive but I’d like to do more than just hunt private lands. I’d prefer a more Northern California hunt just because I’d like to drive down and camp, but I’ll take anything I can get.

 

bowhunting? at least a crossbow?

 

just find someone in Texas that has some land and wants the feral hogs taken out lol

 

Lake Sonoma is popular for that and it is public land. But that's about all I know about it.

 

i can do anything from modern firearm to bow hunting

 

well, then Lake Sonoma is your place.

i rank a hog from there, to have the same prestige as a bull elk. they are smart and the landscape is brutally rough. it's going on right now. usually starts around Nov, thanksgiving ,and ends in March. the hogs are there. i have pinned two with arrows, but the hogs shrugged off my arrows.

you have to have the standard hunting liscense and a hog tag. PLUS you need a hunting permit from the FRIENDS OF LAKE SONOMA. you can buy them at a few local archery shops or the Lakes visitor center. it is $30 (maybe $35 now).

it is archery only. and crossbows are legal. it is army corp of engineers so they allow the crossbows.

there are camping spots, no wilderness camping allowed. damn it if they are not the smartest hogs on the planet,. i hunted it alot..,now that i moved closer, i have not hunted it. i landed in a work office that is crazy busy and have little time to hunt. irony

 

I'm in for a hog hunt (or just about any other hunt for that matter). I live in San Jose so Nor Cal/bay area only for me. I've been to a bunch of public spots within ~3 hour driving distance from SJ. Never been successful though I personally bow hunt only but have no problem with going out with a rifle hunter.

 

I’m willing to share LS intel. It’s a good place, but it’s so huge. The hogs are damn near nomadic

 

Upper cottonwood has been yielding alot of hogs

 

Last time I was out there (~2months ago?) I heard a gun shot within an hour of sunrise. Heard later they got a huge hog. We didn't see any though :/

 

Knee is on the mend but would love to go when i can walk again, never been hunting but love shooting.

 

Anyone interested in hunting Fort Hunter Ligget over some upcoming weekend? There's are campground on the base. My preference would be to go Friday night and return Sunday night. I bowhunt and suck at it.

 

Is it recommended to actually eat the hogs?

I have heard of folks getting worms, or brain eating parasites from eating game.

 

Wild pigs can have trichinosis but properly cooking the meat kills it and makes the meat safe to eat.