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

[Flintknapper]

Yes, goats can be nearly as much a problem as hogs (if they are overstocked on the land). Goats tend to overgraze pasture land, then turn to other "browse" such as low hanging limbs.

Goats with long horns (especially Angora's) are constantly getting caught in fences, forks of bushes, etc....

Then...if we consider that goats are not exactly at the "top of the heap" for intelligence, its a wonder any of them survive.

I am happy to hear you don't have hogs though, I wouldn't wish them upon anyone.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Goats are very good at being goats. The natural habitats of goats generally are not cluttered with the likes of lots of trees and wire fences, their preferences generally being to the open country, rocky, and often desert environs.

Domestication and return to being feral hasn't helped them either in the IQ department.

Lots of animals aren't very bright, but they are very good at doing what they do and as such have survived a very long time. Some just adapt better to new circumstances than others. Pigs seem to fall into that category. Armadillos and opossums do not.

 

[AKTexas]

The land we hunt is located in Del Rio just over 2k with access to a section of a 10k ranch. We have two kinds of turkeys,axis, whitetails, and any predators and varmints open for hunting. There are about 300 goats that is after they pulled over 900 of the little bastards off the place. These goats are feral for the most part and there are a few smart ones.

We had one of feeders get demolished by this smart female. She would rear up and head butt the feeder to shake corn out. She would do this over and over until the goats ate their fill or ran the feeder out. The worst part of what they did was the digging out under the feeder. They created a hole that eventually shook the feeder anchors loose.

The turkeys do not mind the goats in fact they scare them off when they fly in to eat. Forgot to mention the raccoons too. Those suckers are smartasses.

Here are some pics I took of some of the wildlife on the lease plus some from the game cameras.

 

[spyder882001]

Flint, excellent thread just read the whole thing. Good luck with your Hogs and great job with the arrow heads, I hope mine look that nice one day. Just recently moved to Southeast Texas and am hoping to help put a dent in the piggie population.

 

[tommyintx]

Flint, how do you feel about this drought we are having? How is it affecting your hog problems? I STILL have not done any maintenance to unused pastures damaged from the hogs last year. Too busy with other things, but i have seen no fresh damage. The trinity is down VERY low, and the property I am on, which borders Clayton Bayou (In liberty, texas), is DRY. Clayton bayou which normally is a pretty good little catfish/crawfish hole, is solid mud. There is no water left, and i can't even get through it with a Longtail mud motor. Only way i was able to get through it last weekend was a friend's air boat. Do you think they're moving north towards you/lake livingston? Since there is no water source here? Our ponds are just solid dirt now..

Also, how'd you like that storm the other night? We got baseball sized hail down here.

 

[Flintknapper]

Hi Tommy,

Good to hear from you.

Drought conditions will cause hogs to move (seeking water) if it severe or long lasting. The conditions you describe (mud holes) will definitely put hogs in search of a reasonable water source.

Hogs depend on water for so much more than just drinking.

Our ponds are getting low...but I still have hog sign around them. Just haven't had time to get out and kill any of them.

That storm system...was wicked, lots of damage for a lot of folks, fortunately it missed us.

Take care Tommy,

Flint.

 

[CathieC]

Last night my husband and I pulled into the drive and our headlights scanned the front pasture.... where we saw at least 12 hogs. We have seen increasing signs they were around, but we had never seen them. I googled this afternoon and have been totally enthralled by your thread! So informative! So well written! And... entertaining as well. Just want to say thank you!

 

[Flintknapper]

Sorry to hear you have hogs Cathie.

Welcome to the forum. I have relatives in Pollock and live a bit outside of "Nac" myself, so we probably share the same hogs. Maybe that didn't come out quite right (I mean the animals).


Flint.

 

[tommyintx]

well we've had rain the past two days in a row, flint. maybe this drought is finally over. about how soon you 'figger 'till i see some activity?

Or do you think the rain won't have enough effect?

like i said a while back, i haven't seen any hogs in a long time now.. and since that last post, i still haven't seen any.

 

[Flintknapper]

Tommy... I think the drought conditions are pretty much the trend right now.

We got some much needed rain as well....but hog activity around here has been very limited. It has been wicked hot and dry. They are not moving any more than have to...in order to survive (at least around here).

I have noticed in years past that the bulk of the hogs will move from our property (dotted with farm ponds) to the River Bottom (about 2 miles away) when we have an extended drought.

The overall condition there is just better and sows still have piglets/shoats to provide for.

Not to worry though, they'll be back, they always come back! :banghead:

 

[Nimrod2]

Flint: I am glad to see that you guys got some rain. Last Sunday I was traveling from Dallas to Houston when they shut down I-45 at Madisonville due to the wildfires. After wading through a massive traffic jam, I got to see some nice east Texas countryside. I hope you guys got enough rain to help with the wildfires.
The hog situation in Louisiana is so bad that the governor signed a bill last week to allow hog hunting with suppressed rifles. I will be looking into that idea since it would seem to be a big help with night hunting. I would think it would allow additional shots into a sounder before they can scatter.
Have really been enjoying this thread. Good luck when the hogs return.

 

[tx_packmule]

The drought is changing their usual routines, but after the recent rains they are sure to target a few pastures.

 

[bdickens409]

Flint thanks so much the very cool thread, I also live in East Texas on about 50 acre farm with 220 more leased from the timber company adjoining us. The hogs around us come and go. It seems that they show up for 1-2 weeks then gone for 6 months or so. Is this normal? I do a lot of reading on THR but almost never post but I had to let you and the staff of THR know much I like this thread. They should put you on the payroll. I have learned so much from you and THR in general.

 

[Flintknapper]

bdickens409 wrote:

Flint thanks so much the very cool thread, I also live in East Texas on about 50 acre farm with 220 more leased from the timber company adjoining us. The hogs around us come and go. It seems that they show up for 1-2 weeks then gone for 6 months or so. Is this normal?

Hi BD,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for your participation.

In regards to your question, yes...Feral Hogs are known to be quite transient. So... even on large parcels of land (with good habitat) it is not unusual to see them relocate from time to time.

On smaller pieces of property (such as yours) ...the tendency for them to 'move around' seems to be more frequent simply by virtue of boundaries.

The hogs probably move onto neighboring land and might not really go all that far (1-2 miles).

Of course, all of this assumes there is suitable habitat for them and no other influences such as heavy hunting pressure. Hogs can (and will) move many miles to escape human pressure or when seeking out better conditions.

It is just impossible to keep up with them on small parcels of land....except to put out game-cams...which allow you to pattern them when they ARE there.

Good luck with yours. ANY... that you can take off of your property helps the overall situation.

Flint.

 

[deanp100]

Hi Flint, Just read this from beginning to end. Great read. Very interesting the differences between pig hunting in Australia and Texas. Same problem, different techniques. Your pigs on a whole tend to be in better condition but that may relate to your local conditions. I found it interesting that people spend weeks hunting on 120 acre properties. We couldn't feed 2 sheep of 120 acres in a lot of the hard pig country and properties need to be 120 000 acres to survive. We have a thriving export industry in wild pig to germany and hunting pressure in some areas is extreme. We tend not to see the same pigs all that often and there is lots of spotighting done over crop paddocks. Dogs are used a lot and lots of trapping by the professionals. And absolutely no AR based weapons which is a crying shame. The hunting days of the 80's has largely stopped where you just shot everything and properties welocmed you with open arms. These days a lot of properties let the pro hunters have the run of the place and keep the amateurs out. Too many idiots or incompetents.
cheers
Deano

 

[AKElroy]

Even with this extreme drought, we are not seeing a reduction in the hogs on our San Saba county lease. I am training the youngster to have a healthy desire to render them immobile, however!! He is not quite old enough to swing that 94, but next year he likely will have his opportunity.

 

[nortexeric]

Flintknapper,

I just recently joined this forum and stumbled upon this gem right off the bat. What an outstanding read! Thank you for your time and effort providing this info. A few friends and I are trying to take care of our local hog problem. One is on 270 acres and the other is on 500+. After reading this, I believe I have a better understanding of what we are going up against and what we need to do to be more efficient in this task. Should I have any questions, I know who I'm going to ask.

-Eric

 

[tommyintx]

Welcome to THR nortexeric!

You've come to the right place for hog hunting intel.

Hope to see you around in the future.


Hey AKTexas, just now noticed your post and pictures.
I hunt out of dryden on a 30k acre ranch lease. Some great pictures you have there.
I've seen pretty much all that, including coyotes and javelinas too, but no turkeys. Is there anything your doing to attract them to the property? I've been on this lease for two years now, but i haven't seen any turkeys yet, and I've never been able to take one, and would like to this year.
Thanks,
Tommy

 

[nortexeric]

Thanks Tommy!

Well, I went out to gather more intel on the group of hogs on my buddy's property Sunday night, and it seem they have relocated. As mentioned earlier by someone else, my guess would be due to water. The creek has pretty much dried up, and the pond is starting to really take a hit.

On another note though, we were able to observe 2 bucks, and 3 doe as they grazed the edge of a field about 200m from our position. It was pretty cool just to watch them, but sadly Grayson County is still bow only, so even when season does come around, we won't be hunting those particular deer. This does however make me realize I need to bring a camera with me.

-Eric

 

[Flintknapper]

I must be crazy....

Really frustrating hog!



Not even a big hog, but very cautious. I’ve been trying to bait this hog up out of a wet weather creek bed for about 3 weeks now.

The banks of the creek are about 8’-10’ high most places …so it is difficult to set up a stand where you can see the hog.

This animal will eat corn right up to a trail that leads out of the creek bed, but no farther.

It doesn’t go to the Fish Pond, which has a good water supply and is only about 400 yds. away, but instead…. prefers to drink and wallow in a nasty little mud hole (see pic) in the creek bed.

Hog is definitely camera shy, I’ll get a single pic (like the one above)….always in the wee hours….then the hog doesn’t come back for two or three days. I had to mount the camera down in the creek bed about 20’ from the water/mud hole.

Even though I covered it well with brush, it stills gives off an IR signature and makes a very slight sound when the shutter trips. That’s all it takes for this hog to spook.

I went ahead and set up a stand today and put up a hog light that will shine down onto the water hole, so we’ll see if the hog will tolerate that or not. I dread having to put in an “all nighter” for a single hog (not even a big one), but the only other practical method would be to snare it. With this hog…I don’t think I could get in and out of the creek without leaving too much scent behind (thus spooking it away).

In years past….only big mature Boars….or the Alpha Sow in a sounder…were this wary, I honestly believe hogs (as a whole) are getting smarter….with respect to being hunted.

Anyway, we’ll see how it plays out, only one of three things can happen.

1. I’ll get lucky and will get a shot at the hog before it detects me. (Flint wins).

2. The hog will come in and circle downwind, detect me and slip away quietly. (Hog wins).

3. The hog will wait until about 4:00 a.m. to come in, by which time…the mosquitoes will have sucked the last drop of blood from my body. Then…when my dead, dried up carcass falls from the stand….the hog will come and eat me…in a final act of triumph! (Hog wins).


Why do I do this?

 

[41]

Is that the only hog that you are getting pictures of right now?

 

[SciFiJim]

Flintknapper,
As the incautious hogs are hunted out, the wild hogs are being selectively bred for intelligence and caution. Only the smart ones survive.

 

[Flintknapper]

SciFiJim wrote:

Flintknapper,
As the incautious hogs are hunted out, the wild hogs are being selectively bred for intelligence and caution. Only the smart ones survive.

No question about it Jim.

In fact, I hold that to be the primary reason we don't often see what is known around here as a "Piney Woods Rooter". Not that it is a different species (ALL feral hogs are genetically the same), but the Feral Hogs we see now... do have a slightly different physical appearance, but more importantly...they RUN (if given a chance)!

The old PWR's would just as soon stand and fight as run away. As a consequence...they are few(er) in number now. Largely replaced with a Feral Hog that is ever learning and becoming a better survivalist than it's predecessor.

 

[mod60rimfire]

I would give anything to go inna woods with my saiga rifle and hunt pigs all day.
damn IL!

 

[Nimrod2]

Ain't no Kryptonite in East Texas!

Flint, you are starting to get me a little concerned. You seem to be insinuating that a new "super" pig is emerging in East Texas.
Dare I even think that this new pig may be "Flint proof"?
No...NO...that is not possible. We (your fans) expect you to get out there and uphold truth, justice, and the American way.
Now quit whining about the skeeters and go get that pig!