My first hog hunt

Status
Not open for further replies.
R

ramitupurs84

Member
Joined
May 5, 2016
Messages
5
So I've googled various things before joining the THR and posting this. It's about time I join since I read so many posts from my google searches.

I am traveling down to south Texas in January with various buddies from all over the country. I've never transported a gun or gear via airplane nor have I ever been hog hunting. I'm a avid small game, duck and deer hunter.

With all of that said, I'm a shotgun deer hunter and I've elected to hunt with a nicely built AR-15 -.223. I've narrowed my bullet construction to a nosler partition in a 6x gr weight. I haven't shot this combo yet but I have plenty of time to do it. Any other suggestions I should vett? I also plan on taking my G19 with my InForce APL light attachment. I am pretty proficient with it and the most comfortable using it. I've read I want a +p mix with a non expandable. I see buffalo bore has some option called the penetrator or outdoorsman, any other options I should research?

I've picked up a pelican styled case for transporting the AR and the Glock. I should be able to put my empty magazines for both fire arms in the same case. Should I put secondary locks on the case?

I've read up on my airlines firearms and Ammo policy, I'm a little unclear on the Ammo piece how I should do it:

No more than 11 pounds of ammunition may be carried. The ammunition may be packed in the same container as the firearm or in a separate container. Ammunition must be packed in the manufacturer's original package or securely packed in fiber, wood or metal containers. The ammunition inside the container must be protected against shock and secured against movement.

The way I read that is I could get a cheap container, leave my Ammo in factory boxes and put it in my checked bag? Any suggestions on how do that piece?

Clothing and gear: I plan on being their for 3 whole days. I was going to rock a tshirt and some carhardt styled pants along with some good boots. I pack a sweatshirt and the obvious things. I'm a MI man so am I not thinking of? I was told to purchase a green light for my rifle, any suggestions there. I want something quality but not break the bank given I'll likely never use it again when I come home. I have a CPL with reprocity with TX. I am taking bionoclars and some small game calls for coyotes/bobcats. Range finder is in the back of my mind.

Any other suggestions?
 
I haven't flown with a gun for a few years but the rule looks the same. You can place the factory ammo box in the case with the gun if desired. The factory box is the container. If you use reloads,place them in a factory box and don't volunteer info.

The clerks don't know squat about their rules so bring a printed copy of the airline's gun transport rules to show the clerks if they challenge you.

60+ grain bullets need a barrel with a fast twist to stabilize. Faster than 1 turn in 10" is best. I don't know what a typical twist is in an AR so check your barrel before wasting expensive Nosler Partitions in efforts to find a good load.
 
ramitupurs84 said:
Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...


If you are unclear of your airlines ammo policy, call them and have them explain it to you directly. That way you know for sure what their policy is.

As for gear, again, take what your outfitter/guide tells you to bring, if you have it or can afford it. They know what is most effective on the game, the area and the way you will be hunting. If it's just your friends telling you what to bring, go with the consensus. If they are truly your friends they will not intentionally steer you wrong.

Other than that, practice with your new piece, hunt safe and don't be the "That Guy!" of the hunt. If you are the newbie, take the advice and suggestions given to you by those with more experience and/or your hosts. Enjoy the whole experience, not just the kill.
 
The case needs to be hard top bottom and sides, it must be locked and only you have the key at all times in route, no one else is to have any access but you.

I found this out when I flew to see daughter in March.
Hope this helps.

P.S. Any firearm must be unloaded, magazines can have bullets in them but not be in firearm.
I put pistol and ammo in case with magazine empty out of gun.
Hope this helps !
 
No guides involved with this hunt. Basically 10k plus acres with some feeders for deer we have the run of for a couple of days. The one friend has hunted here more than once. I'll call the airlines for sure.
 
Save yourself a lot of TSA hassle and Fed Ex the guns & ammo there ahead of your departure.
 
I didn't know the legalities or could find much on the Fed Ex piece. What's a suggestion for a rail mounted green light set up?
 
Texas in January can run you anywhere from 15-65 degrees. If you are going to be hogging then dusk and dawn will be big activity time so plan for the low end of that scale. You can also get rain/freezing rain/sleet or snow anywhere in there, so bring something like a Frog Tog pullover to handle moisture.

Also, this buddy is not your friend:

cactus.jpg

Don't step on them and don't brush against them. I suggest a good pair of boots that don't have cloth sides or you may find these puppies will go right through the side of the boot and into your foot.

An AR in 60ish grain should do fine against a hog as long as you keep the shot forwards of the shoulder and behind the eyes from the side. Don't try a direct on head shot or a shot behind the should with that combination. A bullet right around the ear hole usually does the trick right away. Don't worry about the Glock unless you just want extra weight. If you have gone through a Pmag on the AR the pig has gone anyways. Also, that shotgun you mentioned using on deer will do dandy on hogs with slugs in it.

Check to see if the land you are hunting is full wild growth, cattle land or wild growth with Senderos. That will tell you what to shoot. Full wild growth will be close up engagements. Cattle land tends to be longer range shots. Senderos are lanes cut through full wild growth that give you long shots down a very narrow corridor.

Also, spend some time studying the difference between Javelina and wild hogs. Javelina are regulated game animals with a bag limit. Wild Hogs are not a game animal and pretty much open season to anyone with a hunting license. Oh, yeah, make sure you get a Texas hunting license. Any Wal-mart will do.
 
Advice: Head/neck shoot them with a .223. You don't want to track pigs in rattlesnake country. Bring plenty of water. A thermocell is another good idea. And good pair of shooting sticks. Light weight long sleeved shirts will help with the sun. Might check into "Huk" brand name or similar. FedEx your rifle.
 
Get the 5 day non-resident hunting license:

Non-resident 5-Day Special Hunting (Type 157): $48
Legal for any period of 5 consecutive days (valid hunting dates will be printed on the license when issued). Valid to hunt: exotic animals, all legal game birds (except turkeys), all nongame animals, squirrel, javelina and alligator (not valid for other game animals, NOT VALID FOR DEER). Stamp endorsement requirements apply.
Click to expand...

Shoot hogs in the neck, NOT behind the shoulder.


Know the difference between Javelina and Feral Hogs.

If there are feeders, hunt over those. Dribbling corn out along Senderos can also be productive.

Kill as many as you can PLEASE!

Have a good time and welcome to Texas.
 
Last edited:
So this is the 2nd annual hunt. I'm a new addition to the camp. It's a friends brother in law setting this up. So I asked my buddy to send me pictures - definitely Senderos for sure. My gun case isn't quite a double but I'm thinking I can put my 870 in their broken down with the AR. He said shots are anywhere from 30 to 500 yards if your feeling crazy. My farthest shot is 150 yards with another slug gun. I'm really comfortable with a shotgun. So that should work out. Even though it's in January I've made a list of things I need to pick up before the holidays/try to catch sales kind of thing.
 
No snakes to worry about in January.

I'd bring a sidearm too. Especially if it's a 9mm I'd want a heavier FMJ with a wide meplat or hard cast lead. You want penetration. +P's.
 
Mgaines said:
The case needs to be hard top bottom and sides, it must be locked and only you have the key at all times in route, no one else is to have any access but you.

I found this out when I flew to see daughter in March.
Hope this helps.

P.S. Any firearm must be unloaded, magazines can have bullets in them but not be in firearm.
I put pistol and ammo in case with magazine empty out of gun.
Hope this helps !
Click to expand...

NO!!!!
If you've gotten away with that in past good on ya, but generally speaking this is a huge no no.

Do not attempt bring loaded magazines as checked baggage. Just make it easy on yourself and find and print the airlines regulations and the TSA regulations. Comply, bring the printed regs with you and if you have any issues show them the copy of their regs.
 
I have a total of one night of hog hunting under my belt - it was awesome. I am from Oh so 2 of us went to Macon Georgia area. We hunted at night. The green light you mention was great. Looking through the scope with the light on lit things up like daylight. The outfitter we used rented them to us. The lights were - UniqueFire, HS-802 - they were bright & did the job.
I used a Swiss K31 for my gun. Ammo was a PPI soft point. We found we took way to much ammo - I shot 1 time for 1 pig& my brother shot 2 shots for 1 pig.
I don't know if you will have bugs that time of the year but I got introduced to Thermacells Earth Scent while there. They kept the bugs at bay for us.
I found - don't over think everything. Keep it simple & have fun.
 
No snakes to worry about in January.
Click to expand...

WRONG!!

Snakes don't use calendars. Snakes may be less active during cooler weather, but once temps get into the 40s, you certainly should be wary of snakes, and you really can't rule out their activity unless it is below freezing.

Here in north Texas, I have seen snakes (and turtles) out during every month of the year. All that is necessary is for the temperatures to be above freezing and the more you get above freezing, the greater your chances of encountering them.

I like to wear my snake gators much of the year and you might want a set for your trip. During cold weather, they help keep your lower legs warm. They protect your lower legs from snakes, but also from the more persistent threat of cacti and briars, serving the job of being short chaps.
 
I hunted rattlesnakes as a youth and couldn't find them in the winter.


"Q. What time of year and time of day are rattlesnakes most active?

A. Generally, rattlesnakes emerge from hibernation in March or April, or when the average daytime temperatures reach and remain about 60F and higher. The snakes are then most active when the temperatures are between 80-90F. This means that the snakes may be active most of the day during the spring, and during the early mornings and late afternoons throughout the summer. Exposure to temperatures above 110F for more than a few minutes is enough to kill a rattlesnake; therefore, during the hottest part of summer, snakes are seldom observed, except occasionally at night. Snake activity picks up again as temperatures begin to fall in late summer and early autumn before they go into hibernation as early as September or as late as December."

http://www.alongtheway.org/rattlesnakes/faq.html
 
Double Naught Spy said:
They protect your lower legs from snakes, but also from the more persistent threat of cacti and briars, serving the job of being short chaps.
Click to expand...

Yup. I almost always wear my snake boots out in the brush anywhere south of Austin. Not just because of the snakes, but because there are a lot of things below knee level that do not want to be your friend. Chiggers and I are in a particularly nasty war of attrition.
 
As a life long resident of the country those pretty green things in ClickClick's post grow in I would advise you to not depend on leather boots to protect you either and those thorns are hard to dig out of leather. Just give them some room.

As to chiggers: They don't live where I do. They aren't tough enough. :D I'm very glad they don't. A little tip: I got this from my mother as she grew up in chigger country. A little dab of clear fingernail polish on each is a very cheap and effective way to kill 'em if you get 'em. Used it many times when fishing in Texas and it works.
 
"Q. What time of year and time of day are rattlesnakes most active?

A. Generally, rattlesnakes emerge from hibernation in March or April, or when the average daytime temperatures reach and remain about 60F and higher. The snakes are then most active when the temperatures are between 80-90F. This means that the snakes may be active most of the day during the spring, and during the early mornings and late afternoons throughout the summer. Exposure to temperatures above 110F for more than a few minutes is enough to kill a rattlesnake; therefore, during the hottest part of summer, snakes are seldom observed, except occasionally at night. Snake activity picks up again as temperatures begin to fall in late summer and early autumn before they go into hibernation as early as September or as late as December."

http://www.alongtheway.org/rattlesnakes/faq.html
Click to expand...

That's pretty funny. If south Texas was in Nevada, I might give it a little more credence. Last I checked, it wasn't.

When the "experts" talk about snake 'hibernation,' I question their knowledge. Snakes do not hibernate. They brumate, which is a different process. Maybe he was just trying to talk to the general public.

In Texas, denned snakes tend to emerge from dens in late Feb or early Mar, about a month sooner than in Nevada. However, since that isn't 100% and snakes became active early this year due to the mild temperatures we had over the winter.

During brumation, snakes still need water, though they may not need to eat. So they will seek water, temperatures permitting, then return.

So while snakes are not as active, they still get out and about some if the weather is nice.

Here is an interesting link...
http://www.venomousreptiles.org/forums/Experts/54030
 
Thanks for all of the replies. I'm going to do my due diligence with the transportation piece. I'm really partial to the G19 - but relistically I have a GP100 .357 with a Alaskan Double Chest rig I take deer hunting or longer small game walks. As stupid as it sounds I could wear my uninuslated carhardt overhauls as well too saving some additional costs vs buying different pants to wear the holster (not a big fan of jeans since I sweat and hunt hard). Why didn't I go straight to that? I am a much better shooter with the G19 then I am a GP100. I can still shoot the GP100 well, just not laser percision as the G19. I think I need to just bring it out more then my other toys. I travel quite a bit. I've never did a travel hunt but do travel quite a bit for work. I'm pretty pumped about the case coming in - I can play around with some options for guns. Running water is on location of the bunk house and I think electricity. The bunk house sounds like some sort of shipping containers of double wides. I don't plan on packing a lot, I just don't want to be that guy who doesn't think before I get there or drive my costs up waiting last minute.
 
All this talk about rattle snakes cracks me up. I had a hunter come up here once on a moose hunt. Fly in float out hunt. There where so many bear tracks on the sand bar we where camped on he was afraid to come out of the tent.
Come on people it's not Disney world.
 
Didn't mean to turn this into a "rattlesnake bio lesson" thread. But they can be active early. We ARE talking south Texas. My point was when most of us start tracking blood, we are focused on finding blood, not looking out for other hazards like rattlesnakes. A CNS shot with a well constructed 60gr .223 will eleminate that potential hazard.
 
Even TPWD says something a bit different:

http://tpwd.texas.gov/education/resources/texas-junior-naturalists/snakes-alive

I was never quite the avid hunter per se, but certainly was after them around the San Antonio area and didn't see them until spring.

Late fall and early spring they were quite sluggish due to the temperature. I should have been bitten as a teen lifting a piece of old flight line in the fall.

*EDIT*

The link doesn't just show the portion I meant to provide. But in it it suggests that they can indeed be somewhat active during the colder seasons but tyically aren't out until spring.

They taste like dry chicken, but bony. It's a bonus in my book.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top