HOG WILD : BOARS OFFER HUNTERS SOME UNIQUE CHALLENGES.

Byline: Rochelle Kaplan Daily News Staff Writer

To the untrained observer, the black specks appearing through the lens of the binoculars at a distance of more than two miles could be trees, cows or even small sheds. But to the expert eye of Tom Willoughby, the dots could be nothing other than wild boar.

Standing at daybreak on the crest of a dry hill on a private ranch about 35 miles northwest of Paso Robles, Willoughby scans the northern ridge in search of groups of pigs. Surrounding him are the hunters who have enlisted his help - and have doled out $400 for each pig hunted - in tracking down the evasive hogs.

Knowing the behavior and migratory patterns of the pigs like a biologist, Willoughby - considered in hunting circles as one of the foremost authorities on wild boar in California - wants to be in the right location when the pigs pass through the area. The nocturnal mammals would be scrounging and rooting for nuts, berries and worms for only another few hours before retiring.

``This country used to be full of hogs when they farmed barley here,'' said Willoughby, who has been a hunting guide for 16 years. ``You used to be able to see 200 pigs come through here at once. These days, you don't see that many because a lot of farmers have given up farming barley.''

As the sun begins to creep over the mountains, diffusing its light through dust and morning haze, Willoughby notices one of the groups of pigs he has been tracking has changed directions, turning east. Still, he remains where he is, hoping the other band will soon arrive to its cool bedding area in the thick sage at the bottom of the ravine.

Within 15 minutes, however, it becomes apparent that the six hogs are really piglets, about five or six months old, according to Willoughby. The hunters quietly watch them trek to a watering trough built for the cattle.

Although the Department of Fish and Game has neither size nor bag limits on wild pigs - it lifted all bag and possession limits July 1 after determining that previous limits were not effective in keeping pig populations under control - most hunters will not take piglets, hunting the boar or ``dry'' sow (a female without a litter) instead.

The waiting game continues.

California's wild boar are a cross between feral pigs brought into the region by the Spanish in the mid-1700s and pure-strain Russian hogs introduced at the beginning of the 20th century. Although they possess poor eyesight, they have an extremely keen sense of smell - especially for humans.

Willoughby's reputation for guaranteeing that his clients will come within ``shooting range'' of the wild boars has been nearly unblemished. It's up to the clients, of course, to use their skills in killing the animals.

``Tom has a success rate between 90 and 100 percent,'' said Ed Wiertzema of Garden Grove, who was on his second hunting trip in as many months. ``That's why people come to him.''

While the DFG allows wild boar to be taken by pistol, rifle and bow, Willoughby restricts his hunters to using only a rifle with a high-powered scope, as it's the most accurate weapon for long-range shooting.

Although hunting wild boar is less expensive on public land - there's no cost to enter and no guide to pay - hog populations aren't as plentiful there, according to Bob Robb, author of ``Hunting Wild Boar in California.'' And public land is generally more rugged, with less accessible roads, forcing hunters at times to transport harvested pigs long distances on foot.

Because of the abundance of grains, berries, acorns and especially water on private ranches, hogs thrive and proliferate much better there. Thus, many hunters choose to hire a guide who has access to private ranches.

It's a system that works because ``it's good for the hunter, the guide and the landowner,'' Wiertzema said. It is up to the landowner to enforce his own regulations on what can be taken.

With the sun quickly rising and, with it, the heat, Willoughby decides to change locations in search of some other groups of pigs. This new locale, he decides within five minutes, will not do either, as the hogs - a herd of nine sows and a piglet - abruptly move east.

Driving about a mile in the opposite direction, then maneuvering his truck nearly vertically up a hill, Willoughby arrives at a location he deems perfect. With his keen vision and years of expertise, he spots a group of four hogs across a ravine resting in the shade of an oak tree.

One of the hogs - with a white triangular marking on his head - is perfectly situated at a distance of about 175 yards. Wiertzema quietly jumps out of the truck, and with a little verbal assistance from Willoughby, sets up his shot.

Although Wiertzema aims the scope on his rifle slightly above the white marking, the slug drops more than he calculated, hitting the hog in the nose.

Squealing in pain, the boar rolls down the hill as the other pigs flee. Wiertzema's next shot hits the pig in the hip, but the hearty animal will require an additional shot to kill him.

``It was a new experience for me and very exciting,'' said 10-year-old Jake Wiertzema, who accompanied his father on the hunt. ``But I kind of wished the hog hadn't suffered.''

The boy would have to wait two more years until he could get his shot; the state requires him to be 12 before obtaining a hunting license.

Even though hunters assist the guides in bringing their hogs back to the truck - Wiertzema's hog was estimated at about 250 pounds - the benefits of a guide go beyond the hunt. Other services - like gutting, skinning and quartering, if desired - are offered, too.

Whether hunting on private ranches or the tougher terrain of public land, shooting wild boar takes as much tenacity as it does skill. Hogs learn how to dodge the bullet.

``The older pigs are a little wary of hunters,'' said Willoughby. ``They've had some lead come out of them.''

Unlike deer hunting, wild boar hunting is open year round. But food sources change throughout the year, having a profound effect on the quality of the meat. Barley and wheat, which grow during the spring, fattens up the pigs. During the fall and winter, however, pigs must rely on acorns, berries, worms and green grass. So the best hunting is done from May through September.

``In the winter, they will scrounge around for anything and get their bellies full, but they're not fat,'' Willoughby said.

Having hunted at the right time of year, Wiertzema would be afforded plenty of good-tasting meat. After cleaning and skinning the animal, Willoughby loaded the carcass into Wiertzema's ice-filled trunk for the long ride back to Orange County.

Said Wiertzema of the hunt, ``I'm filling up the freezer is what I'm doing.''

Boar Hunting

The California Department of Fish and Game might have lifted all limits on taking wild boar, but hunting the elusive animals hasn't gotten any easier.

``Pig hunting is a high-demand activity,'' said Ken Zanzi, assistant division chief of wildlife management for the DFG. ``Pigs are no dummy animals. They're good at evading humans.''

Even when one is within shooting distance, a pig is difficult to take down.

One of the reasons is the cartilaginous sheath, the so-called ``armor plating,'' found beneath the front shoulders of big boar that can go over an inch thick. Bullet or arrow placement is critical to getting a clean shot.

Also, because of the overall fat around their bodies, pigs don't leave much of a blood trail, making them difficult to track when wounded.

Because many hunters take pigs from distances of 100 to 300 yards, rifles (often .30-06, .30-30, .243 and .270 calibers) with high-powered scopes (2X to

7X variables or 4X fixed) are the firearms of choice. Midrange-weight bullets (140 to 165 grain) in a spire-point design will afford maximum penetration with minimal decimation of the meat.

Hunters who plan to come in close proximity to an animal often choose to use handguns (frequently .357 or .44 magnums, or .454) or a bow and arrow.

The classic shot, according to Bob Robb, author of ``Hunting Wild Boar in California,'' is at an animal that is standing broadside. A shot to the ``pocket'' right behind the front shoulder is the most effective - likely to hit the heart. Another deadly shot, if you're positioned slightly above the animal, is between the shoulder blades, where the neck meets the spinal cord. The most difficult shot - but the one Robb prefers - is in the head. Aim at the base of the ear if shooting broadside, or between the eyes if facing the pig.

Robb discourages shots taken at any edible meat, which can ruin a good ham, as well as those aimed at the intestines or stomach, which can just wound the animal.

State residents may purchase wild-pig license tags in packets of five for $7.90 total. Non-residents may buy individual tags for $11.55 apiece. Hunters must carry these tags - on their hunting license - with them during the hunt.

Other information can be found in the DFG booklet ``California Hunting Regulations for Mammals and Furbearers.''

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

PHOTO (color) Hunting guide Tom Willoughby pulls a wil d boar up to a truck after it was shot on a ranch north of Paso Robles, Calif.

Tina Gerson / Daily News

Box: Boar Hunting (see text)