Wild Pig Hunting Schedule Camp Roberts - Summer/Fall 2009

The summer heat is upon us. Generally not a good time to engage in hunting boar in California. It is too hot for humans and wild pigs alike.

The animals are stressed from the heat. They spend most of the daytime resting in beds and wallows, preferably in the heaviest thickets and cool, moist places that are most difficult to access. Now more than ever, they are most active only at night.

Hunters who can not wait for cooler weather for fear that we might run out of wild pigs on public land or who have some arcane, secret knowledge not known to most of us, might want to hunt even in summer.

For years, Fort Hunter Liggett and Camp Roberts have been the best places to look for boar on public land.

While Fort Hunter Liggett (FHL) is open for hunting all year long (with a few closures for special military training), Camp Roberts allows hunting only at scheduled times and for certain game.

They just held a July archery only hunt for deer and wild pigs. Though we already reported on their hunt schedule for 2009, here is a reminder for the upcoming wild pig hunts at Camp Roberts.

“Junior Hunt:

AUG 15 - 16: A special junior (under age 16) hunt for buck deer, pig, and rabbit. Hours 4:30 am to 9:30 pm. Junior hunters must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult chaperon, 18 years of age or older, while hunting.

Big Game Hunt:

AUG 29 - SEPT 7: Hunting for buck deer, pig, and rabbit. Hours are 4:30 am to 9:30 pm. Opening day (AUG 29) for deer and pig hunting is by reservation only. After opening day, big game hunters will be allowed on a first-come-first-served basis. To request an opening day reservation form, send a self addressed stamped envelope to the address listed below or visit the website. Reservation forms must be received by JULY 1 to be considered for the drawing. Advance hunting permits for Aug 29 may be purchased at the check station from 1:00 to 8:00 pm on AUG 28.

October Hunt:

OCT 17-18 for quail, waterfowl, pig, and rabbit. (Hunters with A-24 archery deer tags for Monterey County may also hunt in Areas 5, 6, and 7) Hours 5:30 am to 7:30 pm.

November Hunt:

NOV 14-15 for pig only. Hours 5:30 am to 6:00 pm.

NOV 21-22 for turkey, quail, waterfowl, dove, pig, and rabbit. Hours 5:30 am to 6:00 pm.

Holiday Hunt:

DEC 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 and DEC 27-31 for rabbit, pig, quail, waterfowl, pigeon, and dove (Please check California State regulations for season dates for allowable game species). Hours are 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.”

For the full hunting schedule for Camp Roberts, please go to their website at http://www.calguard.ca.gov/CpRbts/ and then to 'Fishing and Hunting'.

General information and numerous links to additional topics are available at http://www.calguard.ca.gov/CpRbts/Pages/HuntFish.aspx.

It is wise to call their taped info line at (805) 238-8167 for up-to-date information on closures and other pertinent facts . Also please note that lead-free ammunition is required at Camp Roberts.

Fort Hunter Ligget and Camp Roberts are both located in the part of California that, according to returned pig tags, produces year after year some of the highest wild pig harvests.

PJJ