Wild Pigs missing - Carizzo Plains Ecological Reserve Still There!

My hunt with a special drive-on access permit from the DFG on this Reserve turned out to be a nightmare. First time around, in December 2008, I damaged my knee all over again. Had to cancel. Was drawn again for January 2009.

I became ill the Sunday before the hunt. Went anyway but had to drop out and leave early. Result of the hunt: One puny cotton tail!

Located a little over approximately 2 hours north of Los Angeles, the Carizzo Plains is a vast plain surrounded by mountain ranges in the east and west. It is very cold in winter and extremely hot in summer. Hunting is permitted all year round within the appropriate hunting seasons, of course. It is quite popular with hunters from Southern California seeking to avoid overcrowded and over hunted lands near major urban centers.

On the western borders of the plain lies the Carizzo Plains Ecological Reserve, Chimineas Unit. It is a special area jointly administered by BLM and the Department of Fish and Game. The unit is divided into Northern Chimineas and Chimineas South. The latter includes part of the Caliente Mountains.

The Department of Fish and Game lists the Caliente Mountains in the guide to wild pig hunting as holding 'transitory' wild pigs.

During my albeit brief hunt I could not find any signs of wild pigs, old or fresh. The land was very dried out with little green vegetation and even less sources of food that would appeal to a wild pig. There are however several springs on the property and additional muddy areas from an underground creek along one of the canyons. We also saw several water troughs. Furthermore, the area we visited held enough dense cover and thickets that would make it attractive to boar as bedding areas.

In fact, my extensive research confirmed exactly that. Wild pigs are mainly found on the few private ranches still in operation. Food supplies are better on private property. Most of the active ranches run cattle. They need to supply additional food for their animals. The wild pigs profit from it.

Since private land is interspersed with tracts of public land, wild pigs must transit in order to get from one private ranch to food resources on another. That's where the 'transitory presence' of wild pigs on the Carizzo Plains and in the adjacent Caliente Mountains comes in.

There are wild pigs on the Plains and in the Mountains, though few. Locals and hunters from Southern California who visit the area have taken boar. Some more regularly than others. But only hard work is rewarded with wild boar! Where the wild pigs are exactly is a well guarded secret. And a gamble: You must be in the right spot at the right time to get one.

Look for springs or other sources of water. Find the few mud spots and check there.

Scout the perimeter of private ranches for signs of wild pigs transiting to and from.

Check heavy brush and thickets for signs of bedding and rest areas. Dogs can be a great help for that but make sure hunting with dogs is allowed.

Concentrate on the northern parts of the Reserve and the Plains. It is much better wild pig country. Several outfitters and guide services hunt the private ranches in that area for wild pigs.

Wherever and however you decide to hunt the Carizzo Plains and the Reserve realize that Artemis requires very hard work before she rewards you with success.

There is plenty of other wildlife on the Carizzo Plains. We saw quail. My hunting partner even came across a large covey of quail which is kind of unusual this late in the season. Usually by mid-January quail are found no longer in coveys but rather in very small groups or in pairs. They also tend to run instead of flying.

There were also plenty of rabbits, mainly jackrabbits.

And even more evidence of coyotes. We observed coyote dens everywhere in the hillsides.

Finally, upon leaving the Reserve to get my car for my premature trip home, we saw a herd of close to thirty elk on their way down the mountain.

Because of the drought (and possibly the number of hunters) the population of most game species is down. They have declined steadily over the past few years. Despite that deplorable fact, Carizzo Plains is well worth a weekend visit, especially in early spring when the cranes bring abundant life to Soda Lake. Explore the rock paintings left by indigenous people and check out the visitor center. If you are very lucky, there might be a wild pig in transit to the garbage cans.

PJJ