Not again.......! Feral Hog Control in East Texas

Thanks for the note. Is Tyler, Jacksonville and Rusk part of your "humid" east texas? My son says it s not bad at all. We come from northern Pa and it's REALLY humid in summer! ^0% and higher.

Annual Average Humidity for that 'area' is about 77%. Can be upwards of 85-90% in the mornings....tapering off as the day goes on. On par with most of Louisiana which is considered a humid State. I moved to Deep East Texas a little over 30 yrs ago, having grown up in Central Texas where it is much drier.

Everyone told me I'd get 'used to' the humidity. NOPE.....or at least not yet. You never acclimate to some things. Or maybe I just misunderstood them. They might have been trying to tell me I would become 'accepting' of it, which I am. I 'accept' the fact that in the Summertime, I WILL swelter in the heat and humidity for 4 months before we get our 8 months of nice weather. ;)

So in the Summertime, I just keep telling myself: 'This too will pass'. And each year it does. Usually like a 'kidney stone' (slow and painful) but it DOES pass.
 
OK Leon,
I could see him well enough under the hog light that is trained on the corn put out. He . I wanted to wait for a better shot angle because the stand I was on is nothing more than a '4 pod' tucked back into a Cedar Tree. It doesn't have a railing (I am working on that) so I have to shoot offhand. He finally turned...but turned so far that he ended up quartering away.
I placed the illuminated dot a bit behind the on-side shoulder...so that the exit would be near the center of the off-side shoulder. I wasn't as steady as I'd like to have been....but I'm pretty sure I was reasonably close to my aiming point when I pressed the trigger.

^^^^^^

Worked on resolving this today. I'm not a 'bad' offhand shot but there is really no reason not to have a rifle rest on the 4 pod stand. So I gathered up some 1-1/2" square tubing I had laying around and welded up a minimal frame work to attach to the stand. Got it set in place then screwed it down tight.

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I wanted to 'pad' the upper rail to avoid making unwanted noise and protect the finish on my firearms so I split a piece of 1" foam insulation and placed it over the top of the rail. Then put two full wraps of electrical tape over that.

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I knew I had some old camo netting someplace in my shop, so I located that and figured I might well use it. It sure as heck wasn't doing me any good sitting in my shop. So I cut a suitable sized piece and zip tied it to the stand.

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It probably wasn't necessary since most of my hog hunting is done under the cover of darkness with the stand about 100 yds. from the bait site, but hey...it makes me feel 'stealthy' ;).

It does help make the stand blend in a bit. This pic taken at a distance of 20 yards.

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I figure now that I have gone to the trouble to improve that stand....the hogs will go somewhere else. Murphy's Law being what it is. But I win either way.
 
^^^^^^

Worked on resolving this today. I'm not a 'bad' offhand shot but there is really no reason not to have a rifle rest on the 4 pod stand. So I gathered up some 1-1/2" square tubing I had laying around and welded up a minimal frame work to attach to the stand. Got it set in place then screwed it down tight.

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I wanted to 'pad' the upper rail to avoid making unwanted noise and protect the finish on my firearms so I split a piece of 1" foam insulation and placed it over the top of the rail. Then put two full wraps of electrical tape over that.

View attachment 952671

I knew I had some old camo netting someplace in my shop, so I located that and figured I might well use it. It sure as heck wasn't doing me any good sitting in my shop. So I cut a suitable sized piece and zip tied it to the stand.

View attachment 952672

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It probably wasn't necessary since most of my hog hunting is done under the cover of darkness with the stand about 100 yds. from the bait site, but hey...it makes me feel 'stealthy' ;).

It does help make the stand blend in a bit. This pic taken at a distance of 20 yards.

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I figure now that I have gone to the trouble to improve that stand....the hogs will go somewhere else. Murphy's Law being what it is. But I win either way.

Good job! Looks like it will work, since the weather is cooler, maybe you will get a shot or two, and connect.

Have a blessed day,

Leon
 
Good job! Looks like it will work, since the weather is cooler, maybe you will get a shot or two, and connect.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

Will be turning my attention to Deer Season as of next weekend, so hogs will only be targets of opportunity unless I have a group start tearing up pasture land or food plots. The cooler weather does usually have them traveling and feeding more in the daytime hours though.

Where I am...they have already started visiting the baited sites less and have transitioned to the mast crops. Acorns are easier to pick up and while they are low in protein...they are high in fats and carbohydrates. Same thing for the deer actually, they will seek out the acorns as well.

But...hogs being hogs (read greedy, opportunistic) 'some' will still visit the bait sites for the easy pickings.
 
Well....I was really wanting to watch the election results tonight....but as luck (at least mine) has it, a group of hogs got into a food plot I have planted way back in the woods and pretty much wrecked it.

It's a hard place to get to and plant to begin with and I was pleased that this year it had a chance to sprout and grow some, mostly undisturbed. I was just about ready to fertilize it but I'm not sure there is enough of it left now to bother with it.

Generally, I don't harbor any animosity towards the hogs and as I've stated repeatedly in the past, I take no pleasure in killing them. I don't hunt them for sport or pleasure, just out of necessity. BUT today.....I'm feeling a twinge of anger and a little retribution might be forthcoming. It's not my nature to feel that way....but every man has his limits. :fire:

 
Well....I was really wanting to watch the election results tonight....but as luck (at least mine) has it, a group of hogs got into a food plot I have planted way back in the woods and pretty much wrecked it.

It's a hard place to get to and plant to begin with and I was pleased that this year it had a chance to sprout and grow some, mostly undisturbed. I was just about ready to fertilize it but I'm not sure there is enough of it left now to bother with it.

Generally, I don't harbor any animosity towards the hogs and as I've stated repeatedly in the past, I take no pleasure in killing them. I don't hunt them for sport or pleasure, just out of necessity. BUT today.....I'm feeling a twinge of anger and a little retribution might be forthcoming. It's not my nature to feel that way....but every man has his limits. :fire:



Good shooting, I hope you get a group lined up and put one of those big ole bullets through all of them. It will make you feel better, I know it will. :)

Have a blessed day,

Leon
 
The large sounders are back at the “woods” trap but I wanted to get some of the small group up by the cabin before I moved my control box from the portable trap. My Buddy down there is sick with a stomach bug, so they got a pass tonight. Maybe those others will come in tomorrow night.

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The large sounders are back at the “woods” trap but I wanted to get some of the small group up by the cabin before I moved my control box from the portable trap. My Buddy down there is sick with a stomach bug, so they got a pass tonight. Maybe those others will come in tomorrow night.

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Those piglets look like they could walk right thru that fence :rofl:
:D
 
The large sounders are back at the “woods” trap but I wanted to get some of the small group up by the cabin before I moved my control box from the portable trap. My Buddy down there is sick with a stomach bug, so they got a pass tonight. Maybe those others will come in tomorrow night.

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I was beginning to think all my hog hunting friends had died! Just kidding! :) I realize deer season is in full swing and ya'll are chasing them. Good luck with your trapping these rascals.

Have a blessed day,

Leon
 
Well, not a big group but better than nothing and I can move my control box to the more active trap this weekend.

Went back to eating shortly after the gates dropped.

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Last bites of corn though.

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Yes or No.

Got this boar coming in regularly at a site behind my home (400 yds. away). The weather this evening is supposed to be cold and windy. Wind direction is not 'great' for that stand. Sort of blowing in the direction of the bait....but at an angle. Depending upon where the hog comes in from, it might work, might not.

The stand is just a two man ladder stand (so open to the weather). Forecast the next few days is for much of the same (wind direction) but not as strong.

Lastly, I know....I just know.... he is going to fall into that mud hole behind him if he doesn't drop straight down in his tracks. And worse....it is so wet down there right now, I can't (or don't want to) drive down there with the tractor to get him out.

So I'd have to drag him by hand about 100 yds. uphill where I have dry land OR run a bunch of cable down to him and winch him up.

Not real confident of the set-up if I were to go the next few days, but the hog might start rooting up my pasture If I don't...or move on and keep procreating.



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The 'wind' made the decision for me last night. 15 mph with 24mph gusts, just too much.

Game cam video shows the hog didn't come in until 11:00 p.m. last night and hung around for about 3 hrs.

Probably give him another night and let this front finish blowing through. Then go sit for him.
 
Yep, right IN the mud hole!

Didn't have to be that way, but that's how it worked out.

Game Cam from last night showed the boar on the bait about 7:30 p.m.

Wind today was much less and I figured it would 'lay' a bit after sunset, which it did. I got on stand early (5:15), settled in and waited for dark. There was a very bright full moon out and the whole area was so illuminated that I could actually see flying squirrels going from tree to tree. That was kind of a treat.

Hog showed up early (6:55) and immediately stepped into the mud hole! Don't know why he did that since there was corn spread out on the other side.

So I'm watching the boar through my scope waiting for him to exit and hopefully give me a broadside shot.

On evenings when I hunt this stand behind the house (about 400 yds. away) my wife is NOT supposed to let our Dachshunds out in the back yard because they bark (Dachshunds ALWAYS bark) and can cause me trouble at times when hunting.

So....I'm watching the hog, all is well. He is getting near the shallow end of the mud hole and about to make an exit when what do I (we) hear, BARKING!

The hog lifts his head high, turns straight towards me and the house behind and just freezes. Well...this isn't good. I don't know if he is going to bolt or stick it out.

Not wanting to chance it....I decided to take a frontal head shot. Generally I avoid taking head shots because its a relatively small target and the one area on a hog that is apt to be moving.

I made the shot alright....but as you'd expect it dropped the hog right in the mud hole. In the shallow end at least... but still a horrible mess. To make matters worse, its so wet down there right now....I can't drive to the hog with anything and not bury it to the axles. So I'll have to drag it by hand about 100 yds. (uphill) where I can get a cable on it and winch him out. Not sure this was worth it.

Mrs. Flintknapper said she heard me shoot a few seconds after the dogs barked and THEN 'remembered' they weren't supposed to be out. :scrutiny:

In the morning when I go to retrieve the hog....I'm going to tell her she has to go with me and help. Pretty sure she's going to Veto that though.

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Yep, right IN the mud hole!

Didn't have to be that way, but that's how it worked out.

Game Cam from last night showed the boar on the bait about 7:30 p.m.

Wind today was much less and I figured it would 'lay' a bit after sunset, which it did. I got on stand early (5:15), settled in and waited for dark. There was a very bright full moon out and the whole area was so illuminated that I could actually see flying squirrels going from tree to tree. That was kind of a treat.

Hog showed up early (6:55) and immediately stepped into the mud hole! Don't know why he did that since there was corn spread out on the other side.

So I'm watching the boar through my scope waiting for him to exit and hopefully give me a broadside shot.

On evenings when I hunt this stand behind the house (about 400 yds. away) my wife is NOT supposed to let our Dachshunds out in the back yard because they bark (Dachshunds ALWAYS bark) and can cause me trouble at times when hunting.

So....I'm watching the hog, all is well. He is getting near the shallow end of the mud hole and about to make an exit when what do I (we) hear, BARKING!

The hog lifts his head high, turns straight towards me and the house behind and just freezes. Well...this isn't good. I don't know if he is going to bolt or stick it out.

Not wanting to chance it....I decided to take a frontal head shot. Generally I avoid taking head shots because its a relatively small target and the one area on a hog that is apt to be moving.

I made the shot alright....but as you'd expect it dropped the hog right in the mud hole. In the shallow end at least... but still a horrible mess. To make matters worse, its so wet down there right now....I can't drive to the hog with anything and not bury it to the axles. So I'll have to drag it by hand about 100 yds. (uphill) where I can get a cable on it and winch him out. Not sure this was worth it.

Mrs. Flintknapper said she heard me shoot a few seconds after the dogs barked and THEN 'remembered' they weren't supposed to be out. :scrutiny:

In the morning when I go to retrieve the hog....I'm going to tell her she has to go with me and help. Pretty sure she's going to Veto that though.

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Great story, (a long time coming), but, even though I have never met your Mrs., I know that you are right about her Veto. She will give you that "not on your best day" look, turn and walk away. :) I've only been married to my Mrs. for 56 years.

Great shot by the way.

Have a blessed day,

Leon
 
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Great story, (a long time coming), but, even though I have never met your Mrs., I know that you are right about her Veto. She will give you that "not on your best day" look, turn and walk away. :) I've only been married to my Mrs. for 56 years.

Great shot by the way.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

Congratulations on 56 years. That is really something to celebrate and be proud of. You have me beat by exactly 20 years (been married to mine for 36 years). I believe you are a few years my senior, so I hope to match you at some point.

Yes, my Wife 'declined' the offer to take her along (so she could help). And I must say...was a little curt about it.

I did finally get the pig out of there. I ran out of cable but found some rope I had in my shop which kept me from having to drag it as far. And no uphill dragging (for me). Still had to tug it across the wet ground a good 150' feet though. After that I let the truck do the work (uphill) drag.

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Congratulations on 56 years. That is really something to celebrate and be proud of. You have me beat by exactly 20 years (been married to mine for 36 years). I believe you are a few years my senior, so I hope to match you at some point.

Yes, my Wife 'declined' the offer to take her along (so she could help). And I must say...was a little curt about it.

I am a few years Senior to a lot of people. :) That is, if you are younger than 77 years on this old planet, and I believe you are. But that's ok, I like to hang out with the younger crowd, especially the real deal guys. Keep up the good work.

Have a blessed day,

Leon
 
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