We have all this from correspondent Gary Kramer, who has just finished a book on wild hog hunting in California. It's called Guide to California Wild Pig Hunting, and it will be released sometime this fall by Safari Press. In the course of researching that book, Kramer found several hog hunts that are head and shoulders above the do-it-yourself and no-frills outings that typify the sport. We asked him to do a short write-up on those outings. Here is what he came up with it:
Dye Creek Preserve is a 37,000-acre ranch near Red Bluff, delivering some of the best hog hunting in California. The ranch is operated by The Nature Conservancy, but the hunting is managed by Wayne Long of Multiple Use Managers. Wild pig hunting is permitted on Dye Creek between December 1 and May 30, and there are plenty of meat hogs along with a respectable number of trophy boars. The hunting is strictly by spot-and-stalk, and the habitat is a mixture of blue oak/foothill pine woodlands, open grasslands and dense brush. A two-day hunt is $700 per hunter and includes one hog, ranch house accommodations, meals and hunting services. There is a $200 trophy fee for boars with tusks two inches and longer.
Rock Springs Ranch is a well-known bird hunting preserve that also offers hog hunting. This 19,000-acre ranch has been in operation since 1994 and is located 30 miles northeast of King City. The habitat is oak woodland and chaparral, ranging from 1,500- to 4,000-foot elevations that support a thriving population of wild hogs. In May/June and August/September they offer three-day/three-night/two-hunting-day packages (Wednesday to Friday or Friday to Sunday) that include hunting services, accommodations and meals for $800.
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