Advanced Hunting Clinics – Keeping And Sharpening Your Hunting Skills

Highlights of the 2009 Schedule

Here is a great way for beginning and advanced hunters to hone those hunting instincts and skills. Stay on top of the game (pun intended) at all times. The California Department of Fish and Game in cooperation with various chapters of the Hunter Education Association has put together an ambitious schedule for Advanced Hunting Clinics in 2009. Each of the wild pig hunting clinics will cover pig biology, hunting considerations and requirements, methods of take, methods for locating wild pigs, hunting techniques, locations to hunt, care of game and more. Clinics for hunting other big game follow a very similar syllabus.

The clinics are held on multiple locations throughout California, usually close to popular wild pig hunting areas or ranches. Among them you will find Fort Hunter Liggett, Lake Sonoma, the Tejon Ranch to name a few of the better known location. Other clinics are held at the WU Ranch (Wilderness Unlimited is a private hunting club) and on various other locations located near good hunting areas.

Besides learning about big game hunting or refreshing skills instructors, game wardens, private game patrolmen and fellow hunters will share much coveted information on hunting methods, big game and at times even locations of game in the area.

Let us also not forget that big game hunting always carries a potential for accidents and unforeseen difficulties. Hunters should in my humble opinion also take a survival and land navigation clinic at least once. You never know when you might get stuck . . .

Readers of this blog know that I took a wild pig hunting clinic last year at the Tejon Ranch. It was a good experience.

Here is a selection of big game Advanced Hunting Clinics offered between April and August of this year.

• April 25 - Fort Hunter Liggett
  Wild Pig Clinic

• May 16-17
  Big Game Clinic

• June 6 - Sonoma
  Wild Pig Clinic

• June 20-21 - Northern CA
  Land Navigation and Wilderness Survival

• June 27-28 - Tejon Ranch
  Land Navigation

• August 1 - Tejon Ranch
  Wild Pig Clinic

The complete list is at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/advanced/wildpig_FHL.aspx.

You need to make a reservation for the clinic of your choice. The price is generally $ 40.00 per hunter. Junior hunters (16 and under) are free when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Wild pig clinics also serve lunch for $ 10.00. What is served? Wild pig, of course.

These clinics are a good way of socialising and learning with other hunters.

PJJ