Traditional Bow Hunting California Hogs - GIANT BOAR!

This week we travel all the way to the other side of the continent to spot and stalk wild hogs with the Traditional Bow in the mountains of California. I'm meeting up with a couple guys with the Professional Bowhunter's Society (PBS). Huge thanks to them for lining this hunt up. I'm hunting with the fire hardened hickory selfbow I made a few videos ago. The other guys will be hunting with recurve bows and longbows. We're hiking the ridge tops, glassing the grassy slopes to find hogs in a good position for spot and stalk. I've done a lot of bowhunting for feral hogs but never like this. This style of hunting reminds me more of spring bear hunting than chasing boars! With lots of wild pigs around, it's not long before we get in our first stalk.
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[@jimmymccracken9702]

It looked like you were in my old stomping grounds, I was raised in Paso Robles, in 1968 I shot 2 pigs the same morning 202lbs and 222lbs, which was rare at the time, they were near Lake Nacimento, also I shot a bear in Calif in 1969 and was the only one to do so in that yr and the state gave me a dinner and medal and trophy, at the time Fred Bear was my hero his exploits were far greater than mine, but I've hunted since I was a kid, your youngest son reminds me of myself at his age, by the way I was 81 yesterday. I've got at least 10 bows to this day, and have maybe 15 osage staves that are 9 to 11 yrs old ready to make into bows, hope I have enough time yet to build them all, love this hunt, the elk were fewer in my time there. Jim las vegas nv

[@aaizner847]

Is Lake Nacimiento part of Fort Hunter Ligget territory?

[@jimmymccracken9702]

@@aaizner847 Yes it is, I bought an army tent (officers) and set it up with an old ice box on its back on the ground and stayed all summer 2 yrs in a row, it had the best small mouth bass fishing possible, you could catch dinner 27/7 or 6in trout and eggs for breakfast, thoughs were the days, loved it, can't afford to live there now, Jim las vegas nv

[@woodsy3495]

Thanks for sharing your hunting stories! Must have been something being a part of the resurgence of bow hunting! Love hunting with a sweet little longbow my father (89 yrs old now in 2023 and still going) made for me 20 yrs ago.

[@warlock.420]

​@@jimmymccracken9702 happy 82nd birthday! Your story was great, wish I had the chance to go hunting with my dad when I was a kid. He never got the chance to teach me. I hope to have stories like you some day!

[@michaellacy8510]

I spent a lot of time doing wildlife work in those California coastal mountains. They are way steeper than most people think!

[@garrettboothe4053]

Hard hunting!!! Love the videos!!!!

[@outdoorsman9384]

Clay your filming abilities are simply awesome each outings make me feel like I'm there, great stuff 👍

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks much

[@johncom1971]

Agreed :)

[@marcoaguiar1131]

Clay, you had 100% sighting/ opportunity. That you weren’t able to connect puts my hunting skills at rest. Between you and Matt Zirnsak my shooting skills with a recurve have improved exponentially. Welcome to California pig hunting. You had the blessed privilege of doing it on private. Research what us “Public Land Owners” are challenged with. Been here all my life, taken 1 and lost one. Come back soon.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks Marco, I had a blast.

[@severalothers]

Without a doubt, one of the best hunting videos I've seen in a long time. Beautiful country and real deal hunting. I loved it.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks much

[@rsa9082]

These videos are not disappointing!! Love them and to think your hunting with a recurve is insane!! We’ll done And the sheds you found wow pretty much worth the trip!

[@cornholio8098]

i rly hate hunting channels and i dislike bow hunting for fun. somehow i love this channel tho. you seem like you got huge respect for the animals ure going for and the way u go about shooting or not shooting is amazing. long story short i love your channel, ty for the content

[@clayhayeshunter]

Awesome, thank you 😊

[@jimnisbet1969]

In the final few minutes, I was shouting “TAKE THE SHOT!!”, and then they ran away! 😖 Looked like a lovely trip though? Enjoyed your editing of the fishing trip too, Clay - looked professional. 👍🏻 As always, big love to the Hayes family!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks Jim!

[@phillipcondra5770]

Clay, you keep on hunting with that boy and maybe you will be as good as he is one day ! Lol. You have taught him well.

[@kevinwilliamlowe3050]

Popped up while I’m at work, excited to get home and watch !

[@briargoatkilla]

Shit I'm just watching at work. They can get mad all they want.

[@clayhayeshunter]

😆

[@anthonysarabia5058]

Great hunt Clay. You got to see a lot game. Deer, Elk, Pigs, and caught some real nice Stripers. CA is often over looked.

[@clayhayeshunter]

We had a great time

[@kentonward97]

Well it is the land of the fruits and nuts after all.

[@dant4786]

I live in Southern California, about 3 hours south of San Luis Obispo. I’ve been up there a couple times for pigs and turkeys. Beautiful.

[@clayhayeshunter]

It sure is

[@Andrewes122]

broke my steering rack today getting up to my turkey spot in northern california, this video is well needed. those oak hills are something else

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yep, some cool country!

[@srmjr4200]

Great video, Clay. Really captures how deceptively rugged the terrain out here is. One of the biggest frustrations about trying to hunt pig here in Cali is that so much of the best pig hunting land is private and you usually have to pay an arm and a leg to get access or no someone with access/ownership. You have to work real hard on California public land to even find pigs, let alone kill 'em.

[@julianandyvonne]

Ooooooohhhhhh soooooo close! Your heart must have been pounding :) Mine certainly was and I'm sitting in a chair! Keep up the good work Clay.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thank ya

[@fishmut]

Loved the hunt Clay , it doesn’t always turn out with a kill but the adventure and knowing what’s there for next time and hopefully better luck next time as well. You got some nice antlers shedded from the hills so still got something to go home with .👍

[@randyperkins5063]

Awesome stuff clay!!! Thanks for sharing!!!..

[@brancemolnar5884]

Hello Clay. Happy to see you doing a video in my home turf. I’m a guide in central California and mostly take hunters out for pigs. My family owns a game ranch in San Ardo California about 30 minutes north of Paso Robles. We have a very good quality pig population with boars in excess of 200 pounds and with teeth upwards of three inches. If you would be interested in coming out I can send you my information privately. Great content

[@PatheticPeasant]

I'm in California and would love the info to hunt with you on your land. Let me know.

[@jerlee620]

When you point out the sow across the ridge and describe how you’re gonna make your way there..I’m looking at that thinking by the time I got there it would be tomorrow 😅

[@erikcarey215]

Those inclines were crazy! Just kept thinking if he does get a hog how’s he getting it out.great video as always clay,thanks!

[@clayhayeshunter]

There was some steep county for sure

[@thefisharcher6784]

I like your set up buddy!!! I still hunt with my 50 darton and there is just something Bout how the arrow hits a big boar vs doing it with a compound or a crossbow. ( no disrespect at all) also you just made my day when I got to prove to my wife that I'm not the only person that pronounces it "AKERN"

[@peterparsons7141]

What beautiful country. Looks like a heavenly place to be..hunting !

[@clayhayeshunter]

You got that right!

[@caribbeanearthskills9652]

Looks like it was a fun adventure. I love those oak and manzanita areas.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Me too

[@louisbailey4900]

A stick. A string. Alot of practice and determination. Trad is more than a sport,it's a lifestyle.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Truth

[@royhoglund1322]

One of the best pig hunting videos I've seen! Cool hunt!

[@clayhayeshunter]

It was a cool hunt! Very unique

[@swampbiologist]

Sorry I wasn't able to see you in Reno but hogs are a blast! I've always said that hogs are smarter than most people! Great video!

[@clayhayeshunter]

😆I’d agree with that!

[@chocolingo7423]

Simply amazing sir. New sub here and the camera work was of epic stuff. We hunt the hogs in Florida but that terrain you’re in will chew me up and crap me out. Great vid!!! 💯

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks

[@mattwhite9046]

Was thinking the whole time, “Gotta be private land.” Yep. Looks like it was very recent too. Hope to say hi in person at Rendezvous.

[@journeyman7189]

Definitely 100% chance of pigs. They just weren't as cooperative as we would want. Great trip. I'll have to go back and look for that cow at the end. I was so fixated on that sow I didn't see anything. Nate

[@clayhayeshunter]

We had a great time

[@primalbushcraft3540]

Nice video thanks

[@jonathanhoang6253]

Super cool to see ya hunting in my home state! The hog hunting here is some of the best! You gotta come check out the central coast some time. Lots of good hunting and fishing opportunities!

[@clayhayeshunter]

I bet!

[@aaizner847]

Care to share any helpful hints? I've been hunting for a year, harvested 3 turkeys so far, but have had 0 luck even SEEING a hog. I get that nobody wants to give away their spot, but any clues as to what general area I should look at, would be super appreciated. Until this video came out, I was pretty convinced there's no such thing as public hog left in California. Even Rinella hunts/films private when in Cali.

[@aaizner847]

Edit: Oh, it wasn't public either.

[@jonathanhoang6253]

@@aaizner847 3 turkeys in a year is pretty good! Took me a few years to get my first bird with a shotgun! Honestly it's a matter of persistence. The hogs are on public but you just have to be there at the right time. They'll be moving between public and private in most spots. The military bases in the area are good to check out. DFW pretty much laid out all the good public spots in one of their R3 webinars on youtube.

[@aaizner847]

@@jonathanhoang6253 the 3 turkeys were all either private, or public but private-adjacent.

[@josephmartin7359]

What you hunt california!! World's class blacktail, 700 lb black bears, 300" muleys, and unlimited coyotes. Take advantage of it man!!! I hope you got in on our buck hunting up here! Otc for giant wilderness blacktail.

[@MikeHawk_007]

Don't forget the 1,200lb hogs. They are atleast 1,200 lbs minimum. Every one of them...

[@D0nnyy]

@@MikeHawk_007shut up

[@user-zx5yd4cf3y]

Now this is the meaning of bowhunting. No fancy carbon compound bows, 5 pin sights and other high tech equipment.

[@jeffreyarnold2626]

you're tromping around my old stomping grounds. how I miss those hills.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Beautiful country

[@sibrayJP]

Next time you’re in Cali holler! There’s only targets in the desert but the dining is amazing.

[@RiverbendlongbowsOutdoors]

Yah ranchers kinda frown on shooting their Cattle 😅 Man that terrain looks like someone's backyard. I wouldn't mind seeing more of that striper fishing. I love catching those on streamers Great video

[@clayhayeshunter]

That was fun!

[@mikemorrison2M]

Stuck several pigs spot stalk (compound) out of Tejon Ranch. Very similar habitat. Not the easiest way to hunt pigs but by far my favorite 🏹🐗

[@clayhayeshunter]

Mine too

[@stuartabbey5195]

I would really love to learn how to shoot a long bow. Love your videos and loved watching you on Alone.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Grab one and start shooting!

[@georgecuyler7563]

Get yourself some moccasins, it makes stalking a lot quieter.

[@bruceallen6377]

Great video! I see you carting that hickory around a lot lately, is it your new favorite? Thanks Clay!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Just putting it through the paces.

[@caseysmith544]

That looks really similar to where my dad lived from 4--24 though he was in Lompoc on the other side of the same mountains in the start of Central California. I have been there to Lompoc and to San Luis Obispo where I was born a few times. In the majority of South Dakota, a Spot and Stalk on flat ground with small small ridges or if in one of the River Vally some hills is what we have to do as there is so few trees, it is different. This is on all the land outside Badlands or Black Hills.

[@justpassinthrough7]

What cool hunt! Yum thats my favorite fish to eat!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Strippers are good eating!

[@justpassinthrough7]

@@clayhayeshunter Yes they are, be after them as soon as turkey season is over or tagged out. I will say brackish water catfish is some fine eating too.

[@atukque8217]

Mantap Bro..

[@graphguy]

Welcome to California hunting, trials and tribulations of the unaccustomed to steep ravines!

[@robshipley7543]

Those hogs look much bigger than the ones in Georgia I didn’t know California had that kind of beauty looking like gods country

[@clayhayeshunter]

And huge hogs!

[@darkpassenger65]

Excellent hunt.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks

[@lss922]

How many lbs does that recurve pull?

[@russianmedia5019]

Sir, I'm making a bow and I'm new. I'm finding difficulty in putting the string,as I put the string the bow itself fall backs reducing my brace height. What should I do? Both the limbs are about the same. Its look kind of heavy but I'm afraid that if I go any longer I might end up with low poundage. After so many failure this one is far the most success. But now I'm stuck

[@MiscMitz]

Awesome!

[@wyattpoovey9575]

What quiver are you running in this video and how do you have it attached?

[@primalbushcraft3540]

Nice vid thanks

[@msheezzy]

Looks like you’re up in Mariposa or north fork area!

[@germansahidbeltranardila2985]

Huuuyyyyyyyyiiii se buenos esos vinoculares o prisma q resoluciones tiene q valen y como aria para comprar uno

[@mryang3644]

Looks to be the northern CA area... Redding area? .... especially fishing them Stripers..Upper Sac river . Huh

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yep

[@protectyour2a482]

First like and comment

[@justafloridamanfromthe75thRR]

you messed it up, that was a clean shot

[@Soft-Hard_Diyer]

great shit

[@skydiver6711]

It is tough being quiet while you are hunting hogs. There is all that loose ground and of course the fact that you kept talking to the camera while they were almost in bow range had absolutely nothing to do with it. I think you should just assume that hogs are stone deaf and don't ever hear any strange sounds around them. Yeah, that's the ticket.

[@fishmaniachannel]

Amazing wild👌👌👌👌

[@cliffordbaldwin9157]

Good God there must be some crazy ass stayed out there for them all to be that big

[@kennethstine2419]

Clay,,,I just found your channel. I really enjoy your hunting videos, but your instructional videos are what got me to subscribe. I am getting both hips replaced this spring. I was wondering if you know of a good place to hunt hogs that wouldn't be super hard to hunt. I will have to see how my rehab goes and talk to my doctors, but I would like to have something special to work toward. I live in Pa. but am willing to travel. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Hi Kenneth, many of the WMAs in southern georgia and Florida have good hog numbers. A good place to start would be to call the Fish and Game offices to ask about where they have good numbers.

[@lifeofp44]

Just found your Channel and i wanna see all videos instead of going to work 😅

[@clayhayeshunter]

ah, work's overrated!

[@vidanointerior6146]

Baaa tche faltou oque pra conseguir a caça?

[@johncom1971]

Great hunt, and another great video! Did my little keen eye pick up on a new broadhead? Looks like the new Bear Razerhead doubles? Have you used them much? Opinion? Thanks. - Nova Scotia

[@clayhayeshunter]

These are the Tuffheads I’ve been using

[@johncom1971]

@@clayhayeshunter When you have the bow up ready to draw on that hog between 4:31 and 4:39 of the video, is that a Tuffhead?

[@lifeoflp4251]

Did he ever say if this was public or private land?

[@clayhayeshunter]

This was on private but most of my hog hunts are on public

[@georgefairweathermoonlight4]

great stuff, watching from NZ, wondering why y'all wearing long trousers is it for snakes or cold?

[@clayhayeshunter]

It’s cool in the mornings, thorns, etc.

[@tsr_outdoors]

Near country Hard to put a sneak on , but neat country

[@clayhayeshunter]

Hard stalking for sure!

[@a-sleeping-lion]

Hey clay, was your first hunt done with a rifle or a traditional bow?

[@clayhayeshunter]

I nevertheless owned a rifle until just a few years ago. It was all bow and muzzleloader before that.

[@alexschultz8041]

Whereabouts in Cali were you? That looks like my old stomping grounds 😁

[@clayhayeshunter]

Not far from Sacramento

[@theguyinmaine]

Looked like surf and turf for a few seconds.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Almost!

[@DanielReyes-hz1qk]

Welcome to California! I'm curious whereabouts in CA you're hunting. Super awesome to see you in my state

[@clayhayeshunter]

Not far out of Sacramento

[@DanielReyes-hz1qk]

@@clayhayeshunter Very nice sir! Enjoy the hunt. My sister has property in the central valley a little ways south of you

[@lugia233]

was this on public land or did you get permission to hunt private, Ive been eyeballing a spot and stalk hog hunt like this for a long time it is just hard to do a DIY hunt for pigs because they like to stay on private.

[@clayhayeshunter]

This was on private land

[@aaizner847]

Clay, what river were you guys fishing? That bridge looks so familiar, but I can't put my finger on it, and it's driving me mad.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Sacramento

[@aaizner847]

@@clayhayeshunter Thanks, Clay!

[@cliffordbaldwin9157]

I got a question for you how in the hell can a hog be that fat climb in that kind of crazy train I need the angles they’re at

[@clayhayeshunter]

They’re surrounded by almond groves and agricultural field!

[@paytonmerriman3827]

I live in CA and I am trying to make my first bow do you know any good bow wood I look up to you thanks for giving me a hobby

[@clayhayeshunter]

Pacific Yew, vine maple

[@paytonmerriman3827]

@@clayhayeshunter much appreciated do you think that black oak will work I live higher up in north east CA Plumas country where the Dixie fire happened this last year thank you so much

[@doughudman3098]

At 15:50 in the video it looks like a pig right over your right shoulder where there wasn't supposed to be pigs.

[@bradboisseau749]

What kind of poundage do your bows run on average?

[@clayhayeshunter]

This one is mid 50s at 29”

[@bradboisseau749]

@@clayhayeshunter nice, just seeing how overboard I went with a 55lb bow

[@nuttjeffable]

Clay what pack are you using?

[@clayhayeshunter]

StrykerXL from Kifaru

[@johnadubato7247]

Anything over 90* is to hot for me.

[@outdoorsandy4685]

Is it public or private land?

[@clayhayeshunter]

This is all private land.

[@outdoorsandy4685]

@@clayhayeshunter thanks cClay! Love your videos. Was just curious. Thanks for the response!

[@jeremymueller2848]

300 WSM = Bacon 🥓 😜

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yep! But not as fun😆

[@biakmawia]

If possible i really like to buy your bow for my collection im a big fans......

[@lowennunn6312]

I ;pve the lond bow

[@FISHUNTREECOUNTRY]

Good job not taking the shot. Takes more skill and experience to make a decision like that than it takes to hit a bullseye. ...but of course you know that

[@nickblaylock5115]

Best time of year here in comifornia...give a month those hill will be dry and brown..California offers great hunting....to bad the politicians suck....

[@clayhayeshunter]

Agreed

[@bigKANG420]

California is such a beautiful state. Shame whats happening to it.

[@oinn8003]

It is what’s it is…keep fighting and vote red

[@bigKANG420]

@@oinn8003 yeah, I do but it doesn't feel like much.

[@D0nnyy]

Nothing wrong with California

[@michaelbalansag7543]

Booooo

[@aleksivac]

Lost 20 minutes of my life and not a single arrow was fired 😒

[@johnfletcher5782]

Why make people watch this video only to not shoot anything?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Hunting isn’t only about killing something. It’s about the entire experience. If you want kill shots there are plenty of other channels to choose from.

[@Arwar555]

Thats 23 min of my life wasted !!

[@jackmarecic2283]

M. khan, you are apparently not a bow hunter. Clay is out in God’s Country, sharing his tremendous skills for all to see and enjoy and learn from. He’s the epitome of an ethical hunter. That was 23 minutes of pure enjoyment for me and others that enjoy the thrill of the hunt. Most anyone can sit on a ridge and shoot wild boar with a scoped high powered rifle. Clay’s way is for those that thrive on challenges. Most are not up to the challenge. That’s why we have bacon, conveniently packaged at local supermarkets, for those not up to the challenge. You get to choose your challenges in life. It’s good to recognize your limitations. Now you can head over to your local supermarket for a pound of bacon, from a hog that never lived free and wild, raised in a pen with thousands of others, that offered no challenge to hunt. Enjoy your meal.

[@xtremefloridasportsman]

Always love your videos your the best spot and stalk traditional hunter in the country brother! And i would love to buy one of your hand made bows brother please contact me