Beginner Hog Hunting

[Crazy Uncle Al Gore]

I've never been hog hunting before in my life, but an older man I know has some land and a hog problem in central Florida. Out of the "goodness" of my heart, me and a friend are going to try rid some of the hogs. Can anyone point me in the right direction as far as a good source for beginner hog hunting info? I already tried the search function and and Google and I'm not really sure any of those gave me exactly what I need.

When I scout what do I look for?

When should I hunt?

Where should I set up my position, or should I still hunt (I won't be able to use a tree stand)?

Since these hogs are a nuisance is it acceptable to use bait?

Judging from other posts on here I assume slugs should be acceptable, but would it be worth bring my an AK for extra range?

I would really appreciate any advice you can give me.

 

[nitetrane98]

Well, I'm in NE Texas and I'm kind of in the same boat you are. They are friggin everywhere around here but it's not as simple as deer hunting. You can see rooting activity from last night and set up on it and never see a thing. They just range far and wide at anytime day or night.and if there is food and water anywhere they go there is nothing to keep them coming to a certain spot.

That's where the game camera and corn baiting work for you. Even then it's not a sure thing. I've heard that hogs will walk over a pile of corn to get to a pile of acorns. Go figure.

My health won't allow be to go brush busting for hours trying to follow trails so I'm trying to get them to come to me. We've just recently got some freezes that might dry up some food areas but still plenty of rain that produces all sorts of mudpuddles for them to drink from.

Hopefully hogdogs, mcgunner et al will chime in. They'll likely know how to do it even though his hunting is geared more for commercial trapping and dog work.

Let that land owner keep thinking that hunting will control the hog problem. Everything that I've read suggests that it's a fools errand to suggest that it is so.

From my experience so far, baiting and game camera have produced some nice shots of squirrel in the daytime, coons and coyotes trailing coons in the dark. It's still hunting of a sort, just not productive yet.

 

[TIMC]

I hunt them from a box blind and we bait them with corm feeders as well as dusting the roads with corn from a vehicle mounted feeder. I would suggest using a decet bolt action hunting rifle, he AK will not give you much range with accurate fire. My rifle of choice for pig hunting is an AR-10 but I will also use my Beowulf once in a while just for grins.

 

[qajaq59]

This site might be a help to you. And if you need any help shooting them just let me know. ha ha Myself I like the hog feeding pipes best, as people don't seem to steal them as they do the commercial feeders.
http://www.texasboars.com/hunting/baiting.html

 

[amanda k31]

We are in central florida

Jay and I stalk hunt hog in the wma's of central florida. Private land has more perks for sure. You can bait them, that helps alot to improve the haul. How much time will you have? and what type of area? We both use wwII rifles when the wma allows or shot gun with slugs per rules.

 

[bswiv]

Private land in Florida...... According to state law they are his animals and he is free to harvest them just about however and whenever he wants.

You may even be able to get permission to shoot at night with light. Be sure on that one though as the land owner may need a permit from the FWC for that. It can be done though.

Depends on terrain as to what to bring. If it's central Fl. orange groves then you need a rifle. If thick swamps then a shotgun with buckshot works good. We use 000 because it penetrates better but most folks use 00.

Anything from a 30-30 on up is plenty of gun. My wife has taken dozens with a .243.

And do plan on how you will take care of them after you shoot them. They are way better eating than store bought pig. Especially if they have been wild for a few generations and if the land has had a good acorn crop this year.

 

[Crazy Uncle Al Gore]

I'm a college student so I should have all weekend when I go out to hunt. We figure on eating what we shoot, and I doubt we'll shoot excess meat, but in the event that we do, does anyone know of any Hunters Feeding Hungry type program near Tampa? Also how does one go about hunting with lights at night with out spooking the pigs?