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Officers catch poachers hunting in San Luis Obispo County

August 4, 2026

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officers recently caught a trio of poachers as they were allegedly hunting in San Luis Obispo County.

After receiving multiple reports of nighttime poaching, Fish and Wildlife officers partnered with Cal Fire Law Enforcement and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office to conduct nighttime patrols throughout the county. In order to locate poachers, CDFW officers also deployed an aircraft equipped with nighttime cameras and other advanced technology.

During a recent operation, officers spotted suspects shining bright spotlights into fields where wild pigs are commonly found. Poachers use this tactic to locate and kill wildlife during nighttime hours — something that is highly unethical and illegal, the Department of Fish and Wildlife says.

Sheriff’s deputies and wildlife officers worked in coordination and managed to locate the suspects. CDFW’s aircraft maintained overhead surveillance and captured video of the illegal poaching activity. As officers were approaching, the aircraft captured footage of one of the suspects trying to discard evidence by throwing a rifle off an embankment.

Ultimately, officers found three suspects in possession of night vision equipment, spotlights and weapons while attempting to take wildlife. Cal Fire Law Enforcement personnel later recover the .25 caliber air rifle that one of the suspects had discarded. 

Officers arrested the suspects and then released them with citations for several hunting-related offenses, including spotlighting, hunting after hours, hunting without licenses and possession of night vision equipment while hunting.

CDFW says it appreciates the teamwork and support of Cal Fire Law Enforcement and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office in helping protect California’s wildlife. 

 


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12 Comments

That air rifle, is on the lower end of cheap. In .25 caliber, it can barely make 700fps, which may kill a rabbit, but would make a pig scratch the new itch.


I think the F&G officer conflated their spotlighting and night vision, to shooting pigs.


I’m betting they are/were vineyard workers popping rabbits and other varmints that destroy vines and other crops.


0

I see no problem as long as they have a hunting license and permission to hunt the land but I don’t have a badge so…


2

The article details are weak. IF they were only shooting (feral) pigs, I say give them real guns and a $1.00 bounty for each carcass (to be used to feed the beloved homeless in this county).


7

It’s always open season on feral pigs, which Ca defines as an invasive species. Seems to me these guys were providing a public service, but apparently ran afoul of CA law by not having a hunting license with a pig stamp, and for hunting the invasive species at night.


Proving once again that the CA law gets it wrong way too often…


6

Duly noted.


However, it would be nice to have all facts in a “news” article so the reader is not left to assume details.


Sadly, the 5 W’s are a long lost skill in “reporting.”


3

Can’t, unless it’s FDA inspected processing. I friend was giving homeless in the creak bed pig meat and law enforcement told him not to unless it’s FDA inspected, seems ridiculous to me he was giving it away.


2

Obviously. I didn’t mean send the homeless roadkill meat.


1

Wanton waste is often used to describe leaving meat after hunting. This is more a wanton waste of resources. Should be perpetual open season on feral hogs. Invasive, destructive, ruining and contaminating water holes native animals use. And now clogging resources and the judicial system


8

How can you kill a pig with an air rifle?


7

High end PCP .25 cal air rifles delivering >40 ft-lbs of energy are sufficient for reliable kills on heart-lung shots. Some models deliver up to 65 ft-lbs.


That suggests to me that these guys were skilled rather than armatures.


3

.25 caliber air rifle? Really? On a pig?


1

I believe the correct term is “feral pigs” (or at least “introduced pigs”) and not “wild pigs.” They are not indigenous to this area, or even to this hemisphere.


13