im not any help to you wooden,have same intrests though, im also interested in wild hog hunting. ilive in central vermont and not exactlly sure where to start looking. if any one has any suggestions please feel free to lend them.. thank -you
jonesy

i bought a map packet from my local blm office which gave me several maps from the nappa valley where i would be able to hunt I will be trying my luck this weekend

How did the hunt go? I've hunted upland birds for years, and am interested in branching out to some real hunting. I read a book on hunting wild pig and it looks like fun.

Jesse

using my maps i found some property that had a pond and lots of track of different game. I went on morning and sat for 3 hours and had only seen 2 does and 1 buck (3 pointer) the lands in napa valley i will admit is a great place for turkey hunting i could not count the number of turkey that i had seen there.

Sounds good! Looks like you already know where you're headed for Turkey and Deer season! Did you see any Hog sign?

yes lots of signs footprints, where they were bedding down and could even see where they had been eating the tule. We watched the pond for 3 hours and nothing happened, we seen 1 - 2 lb bass jumping from the lake that was about it

I can't say that I'm not jealous! You most certainly don't need to tell... but what area did you say this was? We're planning to go hunting for hog at the end of Bird season.

its the napa valley: Napa St. Helena, Calistoga, and middletown area

You don't need to be so concerned about tracks as for accurate hog sign. You need to look for rubs. Hogs rub on the side of the trees, telephone poles, rocks, just about anything. They rub the sides and their belly. When they do they will leave mud on the side of it usually. This sign will usually indicate near a trail that they come into the pond. The freshness of the rubs and the mud will indicate to you about how long its been since they were last there better than what the wallows in the mud will or their tracks. Also remember, these animals are not deer. They do not do a lot of movement during the day. The best hog hunting is done in the evening, morning and about 75% of the successful hunts are at night. They are NOCTURNAL animals. They are probably hitting the water at night. Try hunting them under a full moon night with lots of moonlight.

I dont remember in California been a few years since I lived there but here in Oregon night hunting isnt legal. If it legal in Texas you guys have it way to easy.

It would be a bit of a drive but you can also try Hunter Ligget for boar hunting. I have been a few times and they seem to be plentiful, although I was unable to bag one I saw a few that had been taken.