Hog Blog Guide Review – Chopper’s Wild Hog Adventures
I’ve talked about Chopper’s place before, but I thought it might be worthwhile to do a straightforward guide review. I’d say this is the first of a series, but since I’ll only review operations I’ve actually hunted with, the series will be pretty short. If you run a guided hog hunting operation and would like to be reviewed, drop me a note and let’s discuss.
Wild Hog Adventures is the actual name of Chopper’s archery-only, semi-guided hog hunting operation. He’s situated on about 6000 acres in the hills between Hollister and Salinas, CA. This is prime hog country, and the property shows it.
Most of the ranch is a mix of rolling oak woodlands and canyons layered thick in chaparral. A swamp demarks the lowest point of the property, while the higher ridgetops (around 4000 ft) are populated with big pines and live oak. The variety of habitat and food sources means the hogs are on the property almost year-round, except when an exceptionally harsh winter pushes the hogs to lower elevations.
It is a working cattle ranch, so much of the area is accessible either on some of the many roads or by following cattle trails. The cattle knock down a good bit of underbrush, and they make trails through areas that would otherwise be too dense for anything on two legs to push through. As it is, some of the chaparral is pretty much impenetrable, which makes for great bedding and refuge areas.
Chopper runs his hunts for two and a half days. During that time, bowhunters are allowed to take up to two hogs. Most hunters will see hogs, and odds of success are reasonably high… although I’ll be honest and say that very few hunters have actually managed to take two hogs in a weekend. It’s nice to have the option, though, since most hog hunts are for one hog.
During the hunt you’ll stay in “The Cabin”. This is a very nicely appointed hunting lodge, set on a high point overlooking the canyons with a view all the way down to Salinas. It’s a great place to relax after a day in the field. The lodge is powered by generators and gas, so there is hot water (two full bathrooms with hot showers), a full kitchen, and electricity for any necessary appliances. A satellite TV, VCR and DVD player provide a little additional entertainment if the woods and scenery aren’t enough for you.
The lodge holds about eight hunters quite comfortably… a good sized group for this much property. I’ve hunted there with 11 guys on the place, though, and we were never really crowded. Still, six to eight is a better number for a group hunt. If you don’t have a group, don’t worry. Give Chopper a call and he’ll try to work you in with a group that’s already booked.
There is also a big, walk-in cooler for storing your hogs over the weekend, and a good, covered shed for skinning and butchering.
Current prices (check the site for updates) put a hog hunt at $500. During the turkey season, he offers a combo hunt for one turkey and one hog at $650. This is for semi-guided hunts, so don’t expect someone to be at you side throughout the weekend. Even so, Chopper or one of his able assistants is available to provide intel about where the hogs have been seen, and to make suggestions on strategy if you ask. There is usually some help available for recovery, although you’re usually expected to track and recover game on your own.
I’ve hunted at Choppers probably a dozen times over the past several years, and every trip has been an excellent hunting experience. I’ve found late fall/early winter to be an ideal time if you can time your hunt with the first rains of the year. Once the ground softens up, the hogs seem to come out of the woodwork to root in the open. Springtime hunts are also productive, as the green growth provides succulent feed for the pigs.
Mid-winter is probably the least productive time I’ve hunted with Chopper. At this time water and feed are plentiful and the hogs seem to stop moving as much unless it’s very cold. Even so, I’ve had multiple shot opportunities in February hunts… so even the slow season isn’t that bad.
Hog hunts run from November through early June. He doesn’t hunt through the summer due to deer season. Chopper offers guided deer hunts as well, and while I’ve seen some great deer on the property, I’ve never done one of his deer hunts.
It’s a great hunt, and not a bad price…especially compared to the cost of fully guided hunts in CA right now. I know I can’t wait to get out there again!