New hunter planning for first hunt

[natedawg]

I've been sitting on a goal to get my hunting license for a couple of years now, so finally got around to taking the ed course and buying 2022 license. Also picked up a tag for pig. Planning a trip with another first time hunter to explore public lands in Monterrey Co.

Plan is to do this by the book with written hunt plan since it's first time. Fully expect to get skunked, but it would be great to spot some oinkers. Overall plan it to get there early, cover lots of ground, and glass from high points. To that end, does anyone have any tips? Feel free to dm.

[Mesa Defense]

Bring plenty of TP.

[natedawg]

Bring plenty of TP. Yeah that's on my list. Also water to wash hands and some wet wipes. Great point.

[RandyD]

When I first started going hunting, I was close to home and it was just for doves or quail. If I forgot something or needed something, I made a mental note. Today, if I go hunting a distance from home, I make a written list of items to bring, and that written list is made on a word processor and the file is saved and it is amended as needed.

Start with a list of items that you use at home every day such as food, water, toilet paper and soap. Then items you need for your firearms, vehicle, to field dress the game, clothing items for the area you will hunt, and the weather.

[2Stroke]

Plan for success, even if not right away.

Bring a friend. If you harvest a pig, an extra set of hands will help.

Have a plan for taking care of the meat, to include keeping it cool. I like a 168 quart ice chest and 8 -10 frozen gallon jugs of ice. Just buy gallons of drinking water and put them in your garage freezer. You don't want your animal swimming in melted ice water on the way home.

Decide if you will butcher it yourself, take it to a processor, or whatever. If you will have someone else process the animal, know their hours and maybe give them a call in advance.

[edgerly779]

Not much public land in Monterey county.Check blm maps and forest lands and get onyx. There is Clear Creek above Coalinga .Must get permission and permit from BLM.Good campground at entry from west side. Condan peak is just south of there as well. Good motels in Coalinga.

[PoorRichRichard]

Nate, Randy gave you some good info. I’d also add rabbit hunting (both Jacks and Cottons) and coyotes to the list of animals to learn to hunt and a precursor to chasing pigs. What area do you live in? I might be able to point you in the right direction.

[Bainter1212]

If you forget everything else, don't forget TP or water.

Coleman makes a neat little plastic cylinder with 2 or 3 dumps worth of TP inside. Even works as a dispenser. Real tiny packs up easy in your pack.

As a hunter with Crohns disease, this is sorely bought wisdom.

Good luck OP!

[Jeepergeo]

Splurge and hire a guide for your first few trips. You will learn a lot from a good guide in just a hunt or two, plus you will be able to hunt some private land.

Experience is a great teacher. Tap into the experience of a good guide and cut years off the learning curve.

[bigboarstopper]

For pigs, you can certainly scout out new areas. However public land isn’t worth the effort unless it’s the wettest, rainiest, greenest part of the year. And since that didn’t really happen this year your just spinning your wheels on public land even more so than normal.

[CVShooter]

Hunting is like hiking or just hanging out in the woods for a day but with a weapon and a kill kit for processing -- more stuff on you. Prep the same as if you were just going to hang out for a day. Keep the binoculars ready. Glass when you can. Go VERY slow when you can't.

The rest you'll pick up over time & experience. Were you hungry? Bring more food next time. Thirsty? More water. Tired? Lighten your gear or get in better shape. Cold? More layers. Did your meat spoil a little? What do you need to do next time to ensure that it doesn't? What did you take that you didn't use? Can you do without it? What did you really find yourself wanting that you should take next time?

If I'm only a mile or less from my vehicle, I'll leave the kill kit there. It saves me weight during the day. Plus, it gives me time to let the animal rest quietly & pass in peace while I go back for the kit. Keeps my curiosity from getting the better of me & bumping the critter before it expires. If I have the kit on me (like when I'm further out), then I sometimes smoke a small cigar to pass the time -- a ritual I'll only indulge in on a hunt and only after I put an animal on the ground. Over time, you'll develop your own habits, good luck tokens, rituals, rain dances & other "necessary" items to have or do.

And, yes, I agree with others on having TP around. My "s*&^ kit" has a small trowel and wad of TP in a plastic ziplock. If I'm out for a few days or along busier trails, I'll also pack an extra ziplock that's duct-taped to avoid punctures so I can take the TP out to trash later. D*&^ sierra whiteflower really blooms whenever crowds come in.

[natedawg]

I live in Oakland near the Chabot park shooting range. I see deer and coyotes almost daily but there's no opportunity to harvest them that I know of, since I'm in city limits.

[natedawg]

If you forget everything else, don't forget TP or water.

Coleman makes a neat little plastic cylinder with 2 or 3 dumps worth of TP inside. Even works as a dispenser. Real tiny packs up easy in your pack.

As a hunter with Crohns disease, this is sorely bought wisdom.

Good luck OP!

Thank you!

[ysr_racer]

.

As a hunter with Crohns disease, this is sorely bought wisdom.

I'm also a hunter with Crohn's disease. I feel you pain.