Not again.......! Feral Hog Control in East Texas - Page 26

Deaf Smith · January 28, 2011, 11:08 PM

I'm very impressed with this thread.

My brother-in-law lives near Laneville Texas, and having nearly 400+ acres of land he to is quite pestered with wild hogs.

But look on the bright side gents!!!

IF THERE IS A DEPRESSION THOSE HOGS WILL COME IN HANDY!

I hope it don't happen but it might! And that's my 'hope and change'.

Deaf

sixgunner455 · January 29, 2011, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Pics from Arizona. I dont know if anyone on here has experience hunting them out here...they are not nearly as abundant and seem to be very localized around permanent water. This spot is a ways out in the wilderness. I saw 3 pigs (or asses of pigs) when i hiked through the canyon but it seems like baiting is going to have to be the way to get them.

How fast do pigs usually respond to bait?

how long will say 50 pounds of buried corn and spread around last?

any suggestions?

I suggest that you be careful. In AZ, we have a lot more javelina than true pigs, and the javelina are a protected game species with seasons and you have to draw out for a tag to hunt them. If you kill javelina out of season and without a tag, and get caught, you will not be happy.

FYI, I do not see hogs on the AZ Game and Fish website, so ... I wonder if we really have any of them to speak of. I've hunted in southern AZ for years, and while I see javelina regularly, I've never seen a hog here outside of a pig farm.

Flint - this is a great thread. I've enjoyed it, and am very impressed with your bows and stone work.

MattTheHat · February 3, 2011, 06:22 PM

Hey Flint,

We're having a real cold snap up here in northeast Texas. It's been getting down as low as 10 degrees at my place in the country. How the heck do the hogs survive that? I assume they just bed down as they normally would (not like they're going to break out the electric blankets). Is it just a matter of thick hide and plenty of fat? I also assume they don't wander around as much when it gets this cold, but never thought much about how the cold affects them.

I haven't been up to the farm for a few weeks until last weekend. The filthy critters have really rooted up several areas pretty badly. In one area they'd rooted up nearly an acre of land and it appears they bedded down in the area once they were done rooting through it. Lots of round depressions in the torn up ground about a foot deep, and say, 2 feet in diameter. Probably a couple dozen of those depressions in various sizes.

Just trying to figure out what the nasty critters are up to and where. I've got about 500 acres and there's plenty of areas that have been rooted up, plenty of wallows and other signs, but I rarely see them, even at night. I know poachers have been hunting them off and on over the past couple of years until we posted some signs and secured the gates a little better. I've got a buddy or two who hunt them from time to time. I'm sure they realize they're better off when humans don't see them.

-Matt

Flintknapper · February 3, 2011, 06:51 PM

Hi Matt,

Yes, the hogs can tolerate extreme weather for short periods of time (several days), before they begin to suffer from it.

The average Feral Hog in Texas is not equipped for extremely cold weather (as are Russian Boar or other European pigs), but they can survive by finding places to get out of the wind, bedding down and riding it out.

Depending upon the terrain and severity of weather, the results might range from a minor nuisance, to mild stress for the hogs. They are pretty hardy animals.

Look for an explosion of movement once the weather clears and temperatures swing back toward normal wintertime lows.

Wind and rain seem to send them scurrying for cover...more than just low temps.

Good luck with them.

Flint.

MattTheHat · February 13, 2011, 09:41 AM

My "hog gun" arrived yesterday. A fellow here was re-homing his .450 Bushmaster, and I simply couldn't resist.

-Matt

Flintknapper · February 13, 2011, 05:04 PM

Excellent Matt!

The "Bushy" will make a fine big bore hog gun!

If you reload for it... you can take .458 caliber bullets and swage them down for use in the Bushy. You get much more bullet selection that way.

Silverado6x6 · February 14, 2011, 12:40 AM

Wow what a thread, its like reading a novel! First time I paid attention to it and I have been a lurker here for years. I noticed you liked using the Barnes, its all I buy and reload, I even have a load for my .45auto using the Barnes Tactical M/LE 185gr using 7.7 grains of Longshot. Its only .7gr more than the Barnes MAX load of the .45auto. Technically its a +P and is what I feel very close to duplicating the same bullet in the Corbon DPX.

For my .308 I load the Barnes Triple Shocks in 150gr. Cabelas sells a green laser powered long range spotlight, comes in 30,40 and 50mm sizes for out to I believe 600 yards. I have plans to have one in the future.

I might go with the .450 Bushmaster as well on one of my AR's but what I want for now is to set up my M1A for wolf control up here in Alaska. We have had villages terrorized by packs of them.

I'm glad we don't have wild pig problems up here and even if for some odd chance some were even introduced I doubt they would make it through the first winter.

Did you hear about some yahoos that had several Benelli auto shotguns wired into a remote video camera? I think it was somewhere in the SE.

I think I know your area, I used to live in Carthage TX, never had any time to hunt as I was a drilling rig mechanic there around 1984. But I also don't miss the summer heat and humidity as well, I'm totally cold blooded acclimated now!

If you need advice about setting up any LED lights don't hesitate to ask, I use to have a business making LED lights ten years ago, now I gunsmith, reload and fabricate.

PS: Sorry about all that cold weather down your way, I think it got lost looking for Alaska this year.

HarcyPervin · February 24, 2011, 05:27 PM

I don't know if I'm speaking for everybody here, but this thread is a great read! Can't wait for updates flint! Keep up the good work, and if you see long haired pigs, shoot them first, lets keep em out of the cold and out of MN!

Flintknapper · February 24, 2011, 07:01 PM

"Long Haired" pigs it is! Makes no difference to me.

Coincidentally, I just got back from looking at a pasture on the NW part of the ranch. Lots of new pot holes (rootings), so I'm going to have to get out there and see whats going on.

From the looks of it, I'd say a single Boar (probably long haired).

Flint.

chbrow10 · February 28, 2011, 10:02 PM

The local Wildlife Management Area is full of hogs, but will only let you use a .22LR or bow (arrowhead must be "without points") unless it is deer season. The wardens say that a 22LR shot to the ear will kill a hog, I guess that is a brain shot..?

You can't use a tree stand either, nor a ground blind. And no nighttime hunting or baiting. So you basically are stalking.

There is lots of hog sign, but with all these restrictions, is it worth my time?

jjjjeremy · February 28, 2011, 10:38 PM

Don't use a .22. It's just inhumane. I thought Flint posted here about what happens when you shoot a pig with a .22, but I might be wrong. It's pretty disgusting.

Can you find the post, Flint?

swampboss · February 28, 2011, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjjeremy

Don't use a .22. It's just inhumane. I thought Flint posted here about what happens when you shoot a pig with a .22, but I might be wrong. It's pretty disgusting.

Can you find the post, Flint?

The 22 is not usually the weapon of choice, but will do the job if you make head shots( base of the ear ) under 80 yards. Ive killed dozens.... only because that was the gun in my hands at the time.

jjjjeremy · February 28, 2011, 11:38 PM

I don't doubt that the shot can be made, I just don't think that I would take it.

DammitBoy · February 28, 2011, 11:45 PM

We kill them all the time with .22's out here. Not my preference, but it can do the job.

Flintknapper · February 28, 2011, 11:58 PM

jjjjeremy wrote:

Quote:

Don't use a .22. It's just inhumane. I thought Flint posted here about what happens when you shoot a pig with a .22, but I might be wrong. It's pretty disgusting.

Can you find the post, Flint

I don't recall ever having said "don't use a .22 rimfire" (or any other cartridge). I have killed many, many.... hogs with a .22 (under controlled conditions/in a trap).

I DO suggest that each person know the limitations of their firearm...then use it accordingly.

Yes, I have found .22 bullets in hogs that I have killed, but I have also found large bullet fragments, birdshot and even one broadhead.

If you use a .22 rimfire (even the .22 magnum), a CNS (Central Nervous System) shot is desirable. When dispatching hogs captured in a trap...this is easily done (by being patient and picking your shot).

Under field conditions...the same shot opportunity can be more difficult to get. As much as I loath Feral Hogs....my personal ethics dictate I pass on any shot that has a high probability of wounding. I am similarly bound when choosing a weapon to use.

I will not use a .22 rimfire under field conditions, but I do not hold others to that same standard.

For longer precision shots....I use a 7mm-08 and am mindful of shot angles.

When I don't want to worry about shot angles, I drag out the .458 SOCOM.

DammitBoy · March 1, 2011, 10:09 AM

Flint, what is your opinion of the .450 bushmaster?

Flintknapper · March 1, 2011, 10:31 AM

DammitBoy wrote:

Quote:

Flint, what is your opinion of the .450 bushmaster?

I'll assume the question is in the form of: As for a hog gun.

In which case...I would rate it excellent. Factory ammo for it...(presently) is somewhat limited in terms of choice. If you hand-load....your choices are much greater. Even so...most bullets for it are .451-.452 pistol bullets, so choose carefully.

IF you hand-load...a way to increase your bullet selection is to take any of the .458 caliber rifle bullets (tons of them) and swage them down to use in your Bushmaster. Some of the Bushy guys have been doing this for awhile.

Its a couple of extra steps....but worth it.

Any of the three (popular) big bores...built on an AR platform (450 Bushmaster, 50 Beowulf, .458 SOCOM) will put hogs down with authority, but they are limited by trajectory as to the practical ranges you should use them for (generally under 200 yds.)

jjjjeremy · March 1, 2011, 05:50 PM

Flint,

I wasn't trying to put words in your mouth. I was just looking for the post with the cyst, to show what can go wrong if the shot isn't placed properly.

If one is confident that the humane .22 shot can be made, take it. I don't think that I've ever been confident enough (or brave enough) to take the shot.

Flintknapper · March 1, 2011, 07:36 PM

Jeremy,

I think you'll find the pics in the thread below:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthrea...ght=hog+shield

Should be on the second page...but read the entire thread, pretty interesting IMO.

jjjjeremy · March 1, 2011, 07:38 PM

That's it! Thanks!

Flintknapper · March 1, 2011, 08:40 PM

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Da Nada!

Hope you weren't eating though, those are pretty nasty pics. (puking smiley)

Screamin'Eagle · March 2, 2011, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flintknapper

Hope you weren't eating though, those are pretty nasty pics.

In the picture of the .22 bullet that's still intact you get focused detail on that stuff and that's when my stomach almost turned! UGH!

tarosean · March 2, 2011, 06:10 PM

great read

Im lucky enough to have none on my property... yet have helped a number of farmers in my area with eradication. They are a serious PITA!

chbrow10 · March 2, 2011, 09:24 PM

Does the behavoir of the hog change in the rain or a thunderstorm? I am trying to go hog hunting Saturday and it is scheduled to rain. If the animal's behavoir doesn't change, then maybe the rain will help hide our scent and noise?

Flintknapper · March 2, 2011, 09:52 PM

chbrow10 wrote:

Quote:

Does the behavoir of the hog change in the rain or a thunderstorm? I am trying to go hog hunting Saturday and it is scheduled to rain.

Light rain or intermittent rain, no...not much effect on their patterns.

Thunderstorm/heavy rain is another story. Hogs tend to "hole up" until bad weather has passed. But...prior to bad weather (and again when it clears off), you might actually see increased movement/activity.

Quote:

If the animal's behavoir doesn't change, then maybe the rain will help hide our scent and noise?

Yes, rain tends to carry air borne scent to the ground and also mask noise (to some extent).

Just the same....try to stay downwind of any area you expect to see hogs, they have the best nose in the business!

Best of luck to you. Post pics of any success.

Flint.

January 28, 2011, 11:08 PM	#626
Deaf Smith Member Join Date: February 7, 2004 Location: here Posts: 1,617	I'm very impressed with this thread. My brother-in-law lives near Laneville Texas, and having nearly 400+ acres of land he to is quite pestered with wild hogs. But look on the bright side gents!!! IF THERE IS A DEPRESSION THOSE HOGS WILL COME IN HANDY! I hope it don't happen but it might! And that's my 'hope and change'. Deaf __________________ “We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality” Ayn Rand

February 3, 2011, 06:22 PM	#628
MattTheHat Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 1,031	Hey Flint, We're having a real cold snap up here in northeast Texas. It's been getting down as low as 10 degrees at my place in the country. How the heck do the hogs survive that? I assume they just bed down as they normally would (not like they're going to break out the electric blankets). Is it just a matter of thick hide and plenty of fat? I also assume they don't wander around as much when it gets this cold, but never thought much about how the cold affects them. I haven't been up to the farm for a few weeks until last weekend. The filthy critters have really rooted up several areas pretty badly. In one area they'd rooted up nearly an acre of land and it appears they bedded down in the area once they were done rooting through it. Lots of round depressions in the torn up ground about a foot deep, and say, 2 feet in diameter. Probably a couple dozen of those depressions in various sizes. Just trying to figure out what the nasty critters are up to and where. I've got about 500 acres and there's plenty of areas that have been rooted up, plenty of wallows and other signs, but I rarely see them, even at night. I know poachers have been hunting them off and on over the past couple of years until we posted some signs and secured the gates a little better. I've got a buddy or two who hunt them from time to time. I'm sure they realize they're better off when humans don't see them. -Matt __________________ "I like to hang upside-down blindfolded, then I take my gun apart and put it back together real fast before my nose begins to bleed." -Major Benson Winifred Payne

February 13, 2011, 09:41 AM	#630
MattTheHat Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 1,031	My "hog gun" arrived yesterday. A fellow here was re-homing his .450 Bushmaster, and I simply couldn't resist. -Matt __________________ "I like to hang upside-down blindfolded, then I take my gun apart and put it back together real fast before my nose begins to bleed." -Major Benson Winifred Payne

February 28, 2011, 11:45 PM	#639
DammitBoy Member Join Date: March 19, 2009 Location: Meridian, Mississippi Posts: 1,938	We kill them all the time with .22's out here. Not my preference, but it can do the job. __________________ "I shoot my gun at the moon like a primitive hick!" ~ dammitism

March 1, 2011, 10:09 AM	#641
DammitBoy Member Join Date: March 19, 2009 Location: Meridian, Mississippi Posts: 1,938	Flint, what is your opinion of the .450 bushmaster? __________________ "I shoot my gun at the moon like a primitive hick!" ~ dammitism

February 3, 2011, 06:51 PM	#629
Flintknapper Member Join Date: May 11, 2006 Location: Deep East Texas Posts: 1,444	Hi Matt, Yes, the hogs can tolerate extreme weather for short periods of time (several days), before they begin to suffer from it. The average Feral Hog in Texas is not equipped for extremely cold weather (as are Russian Boar or other European pigs), but they can survive by finding places to get out of the wind, bedding down and riding it out. Depending upon the terrain and severity of weather, the results might range from a minor nuisance, to mild stress for the hogs. They are pretty hardy animals. Look for an explosion of movement once the weather clears and temperatures swing back toward normal wintertime lows. Wind and rain seem to send them scurrying for cover...more than just low temps. Good luck with them. Flint.

February 13, 2011, 05:04 PM	#631
Flintknapper Member Join Date: May 11, 2006 Location: Deep East Texas Posts: 1,444	Excellent Matt! The "Bushy" will make a fine big bore hog gun! If you reload for it... you can take .458 caliber bullets and swage them down for use in the Bushy. You get much more bullet selection that way.

February 14, 2011, 12:40 AM	#632
Silverado6x6 Member Join Date: March 23, 2009 Posts: 184	Wow what a thread, its like reading a novel! First time I paid attention to it and I have been a lurker here for years. I noticed you liked using the Barnes, its all I buy and reload, I even have a load for my .45auto using the Barnes Tactical M/LE 185gr using 7.7 grains of Longshot. Its only .7gr more than the Barnes MAX load of the .45auto. Technically its a +P and is what I feel very close to duplicating the same bullet in the Corbon DPX. For my .308 I load the Barnes Triple Shocks in 150gr. Cabelas sells a green laser powered long range spotlight, comes in 30,40 and 50mm sizes for out to I believe 600 yards. I have plans to have one in the future. I might go with the .450 Bushmaster as well on one of my AR's but what I want for now is to set up my M1A for wolf control up here in Alaska. We have had villages terrorized by packs of them. I'm glad we don't have wild pig problems up here and even if for some odd chance some were even introduced I doubt they would make it through the first winter. Did you hear about some yahoos that had several Benelli auto shotguns wired into a remote video camera? I think it was somewhere in the SE. I think I know your area, I used to live in Carthage TX, never had any time to hunt as I was a drilling rig mechanic there around 1984. But I also don't miss the summer heat and humidity as well, I'm totally cold blooded acclimated now! If you need advice about setting up any LED lights don't hesitate to ask, I use to have a business making LED lights ten years ago, now I gunsmith, reload and fabricate. PS: Sorry about all that cold weather down your way, I think it got lost looking for Alaska this year.

February 24, 2011, 05:27 PM	#633
HarcyPervin Member Join Date: December 9, 2010 Location: Minnesnowta Posts: 450	I don't know if I'm speaking for everybody here, but this thread is a great read! Can't wait for updates flint! Keep up the good work, and if you see long haired pigs, shoot them first, lets keep em out of the cold and out of MN!

February 24, 2011, 07:01 PM	#634
Flintknapper Member Join Date: May 11, 2006 Location: Deep East Texas Posts: 1,444	"Long Haired" pigs it is! Makes no difference to me. Coincidentally, I just got back from looking at a pasture on the NW part of the ranch. Lots of new pot holes (rootings), so I'm going to have to get out there and see whats going on. From the looks of it, I'd say a single Boar (probably long haired). Flint.

February 28, 2011, 10:02 PM	#635
chbrow10 Member Join Date: June 12, 2007 Posts: 332	The local Wildlife Management Area is full of hogs, but will only let you use a .22LR or bow (arrowhead must be "without points") unless it is deer season. The wardens say that a 22LR shot to the ear will kill a hog, I guess that is a brain shot..? You can't use a tree stand either, nor a ground blind. And no nighttime hunting or baiting. So you basically are stalking. There is lots of hog sign, but with all these restrictions, is it worth my time?

February 28, 2011, 10:38 PM	#636
jjjjeremy Member Join Date: February 2, 2011 Posts: 58	Don't use a .22. It's just inhumane. I thought Flint posted here about what happens when you shoot a pig with a .22, but I might be wrong. It's pretty disgusting. Can you find the post, Flint?

February 28, 2011, 11:38 PM	#638
jjjjeremy Member Join Date: February 2, 2011 Posts: 58	I don't doubt that the shot can be made, I just don't think that I would take it.

March 1, 2011, 05:50 PM	#643
jjjjeremy Member Join Date: February 2, 2011 Posts: 58	Flint, I wasn't trying to put words in your mouth. I was just looking for the post with the cyst, to show what can go wrong if the shot isn't placed properly. If one is confident that the humane .22 shot can be made, take it. I don't think that I've ever been confident enough (or brave enough) to take the shot.

March 1, 2011, 07:36 PM	#644
Flintknapper Member Join Date: May 11, 2006 Location: Deep East Texas Posts: 1,444	Jeremy, I think you'll find the pics in the thread below: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthrea...ght=hog+shield Should be on the second page...but read the entire thread, pretty interesting IMO.

March 1, 2011, 07:38 PM	#645
jjjjeremy Member Join Date: February 2, 2011 Posts: 58	That's it! Thanks!

March 1, 2011, 08:40 PM	#646
Flintknapper Member Join Date: May 11, 2006 Location: Deep East Texas Posts: 1,444	^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Da Nada! Hope you weren't eating though, those are pretty nasty pics. (puking smiley)

March 2, 2011, 06:10 PM	#648
tarosean Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Location: Madisonville, TX Posts: 2,006	great read Im lucky enough to have none on my property... yet have helped a number of farmers in my area with eradication. They are a serious PITA!

March 2, 2011, 09:24 PM	#649
chbrow10 Member Join Date: June 12, 2007 Posts: 332	Does the behavoir of the hog change in the rain or a thunderstorm? I am trying to go hog hunting Saturday and it is scheduled to rain. If the animal's behavoir doesn't change, then maybe the rain will help hide our scent and noise?