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

[Flintknapper]

Feeder/Hog lights work great, I use both actually….but sometimes hogs pop up outside the available light at the bait site, that’s when I use my rifle mounted light.

Where possible, I like to mount Hog Lights as high as possible... pointing them downward, which illuminates only the bait site.....(versus flooding the area between my stand and the hogs). I will usually set up 50-75 yds. away.





Below is a group of hogs that came in a bit before dark (no light needed yet).



On nights when there is a full moon out…no light at all is needed (if you have a good scope and the hogs are contrasted against their background).

 

[Twmaster]

Flint, thank you. As always very informative and well written.

So, did you shoot that bunch of hogs with anything other than a lens?

 

[Flintknapper]

Twmaster wrote:

So, did you shoot that bunch of hogs with anything other than a lens?

Yes, but my Daughter pretty much took care of this group. Over a period of several weeks she took out about half of the group before they moved off.

We would leave them undisturbed for a few days and then go hunt them from one of two bait sites.

Here are a couple of nice sows taken from that group.







Same group, different day.




At one point….a good boar joined the group….but stayed out on the periphery. The game cam pics showed the group coming in just before dark.

My daughter had planned to go out with some friends that evening… but I talked her into going down to the Hog Stand for just 30 minutes. Told her she didn’t need to change or put on any “Scent Shield” (we had the wind).

We hadn’t been on the stand for 10 minutes when the group showed up, she quickly picked out the boar and made the shot.

From that point on it was “Hurry Dad…..”, as I positioned the Hog for a quick picture. NO HELP from “junior” since she didn’t want to get any hog smell on her…or God forbid…break a nail!



Anyway, it all worked out. One more hog taken out of the populace and my Daughter still made her date.

 

[Twmaster]

Flint, nice photos. And a good job that young lady of your's is doing. Got a hog and made her date too!

Is she still shooting that 7MM or borrowing Dad's Hog Hammer?

 

[DammitBoy]

Does she know you killed Spot?

 

[SimplyChad]

Dammitboy that never happened. The speaking of such things is strictly well just dont do it

 

[Twmaster]

DammitBoy, hush yer mouth!

{Mike waves his hand} Those are not the piggies you are looking for.....

 

[Flintknapper]

DammitBoy wrote:

Does she know you killed Spot?

Actually...I was NOT the "hitman" on that outing, her favorite cousin is the one that took out Spot, but I did help orchestrate the whole thing. See post #309

And.... yes, she does know.

So no more talk of "spot" or my complicity ('cause I will deny everything).

 

[Mike1234567]

One cannot deny that which he has already admitted... unless he is a politician.

 

[Flintknapper]

Twmaster wrote:

good job that young lady of your's is doing. Got a hog and made her date too!
Is she still shooting that 7MM or borrowing Dad's Hog Hammer?

She is partial to her 7mm-08. I don't know how many deer and hogs she has taken with it, but she has never missed, never made a bad shot with it.

 

[texas chase]

Flint! Great to see that you're back at it! Seriously, glad to hear that you've fully recovered and are back to the slaying...

comment #1 that boar is just plain nasty lookin'! wow! looks like a lot of russian in him.

comment/question #2 Is your daughter's rifle a savage? Looks like it from the pic and I am a big fan

comment #3 My baby girl (which is child #2) turns 1 a week from today. I just hope she grows up to be a hog killer like your's!

great job on this thread as usual - keep up the good work

chase

 

[Flintknapper]

texas chase wrote:

comment/question #2 Is your daughter's rifle a savage? Looks like it from the pic and I am a big fan

Correct Chase, it is a Savage M16 Stainless. 22" tapered barrel, trigger job, dual pillar supported, action and lug bedded, barrel free floated (of course), barrel fire lapped.

It will shoot sub MOA all day long with my handloads. She is deadly with it, if she can see it....see can hit it.

 

[der Teufel]

This is what I use, but there are other good alternatives out there.

http://www.batteryjunction.com/premium-olight-m20-warrior.html

200-250 lumens will be good for about 150 to 200 yds. (Depending upon atmospheric conditions), how good your scope is AND what the background is.

300+ lumens will take you out to 250+ yards. Most shots on hogs at night (most places) will occur less than 150 yds. (many times under 100 yds.), just depends upon where you hunt and your ability to get closer.

I actually use a Red LED light most of the time (out to 100 yds.), though I have the tactical light listed above mounted at all times.

<SNIP>

If you expect your shots to be consistently under 75 yards, then a decent light of 100-125 lumens would handle it easily. If fact, you'll probably find that a white light of that intensity will spook them (they either freeze or run...you never know). Some lights (the one I listed) have different "modes" you can select...I.E. intensity levels, etc.

Thanks! That's useful info. I think it will be quite rare for me to take a shot at night at any distance over 100 yards. I do like your setup. The lights may look like a big cluster, but it appears to pretty well center the weight, not letting it get too far forward.

 

[Hugo]

whoops. Duplicate

 

[Hugo]

For the extreme cases

Wow. Great thread. I have an idea for extreme cases like Hawaii.

This overpopulating hog problem is sadly what the "remote silenced rifle on a motorized tripod with night vision live video camera" was made for. Wireless internet and encryption would keep things safe but have a good IT guy keeping it safe. It wouldn't be too sporting though but the dang things are overrunning the USA and hurting the native animals and crops.

Hawaii definitely needs the "remote silenced rifle on a motorized tripod with night vision live video camera" since the Hogs are killing the rainforest and some incredibly rare birds there. [Hear that PETA? Critically endangered birds!] Perhaps at first let the park rangers run them then let some vetted hunters help. Tons of feral (decades feral) cats are really bad for the rare birds in Hawaii too.

Also remember to remind people that Hogs are a invasive species causing terrible environmental damage and crop loss. Donating some hogs to feed the hungry will help change minds about hunting too.

 

[Hugo]

To be stealthy and the "Sam Fisher" [Splinter Cell, great game series, and someday movie] of hog hunting I am saving up for Thermal Infrared.

Thermal infrared or night vision (night vision less expensive) would be a good investment if you have lots of hogs. Thermal cameras can be $2,000, scopes are more. Night vision I think stats at $500 for camera and scopes must be more.

Yeesh hogs are sure expensive coming and going.

 

[The Termite]

der Teufel,

I have a Fenix TK15(337 lumens claimed) with either a red or green lense cover mounted on my Marlin .375 Winchester. I find the red light sufficent to about 75 yds, and the green light to about 125-150 yds.
Battery Junction sells the Fenix TK15 for $80.
You can buy a light mount that clamps directly to the barrel on Ebay for $15:LINK

 

[der Teufel]

Here's what I'm going to try . . .

Based on the comments so far, and my inherent cheapness (my army buddies used to say "you're so tight you squeak when you walk!"), I'm going with a SolarForce L2i flashlight from eBay and This Mount from Amazon. Colored filters are available for the light and I'll no doubt try them, too.

The light will be mounted below the barrel on a small weaver mount attached to the bayonet lug on my AR-10.

Thanks to all who commented. I really had no feel for how bright a lumen was.

 

[interarm]

not again feral hog control east texas

Mate could you possibly put up some photos of the trigger catch on your
trapdoor
Is the door sprung or does it drop from the top

 

[Flintknapper]

Interarm,

I think there are enough pics left in the thread/link below to answer your question.

http://www.texashuntingchat.com/how-build-hog-trap/524-hog-trap-saloon-doors.html

Good luck with your hogs!


Flint.

 

[texas chase]

thanks for the info on the savage. how about that cheek rest? looks like leather...

 

[Flintknapper]

texas chase wrote:

thanks for the info on the savage. how about that cheek rest? looks like leather..

Well…. we’re kind of getting off the subject of the thread, but to answer your question, it’s Deer-Hide.

When I put a new scope on my Daughter’s rifle, it required taller rings, which in turn…. required a Cheek-Pad in order to maintain a solid Cheek Weld on the stock.

Lots of pads to choose from out there, but this guy makes a nice one (if you’re not in a hurry).

http://www.cheeknstock.com/

They are custom made to your specification(s), nice work….fits well and is easily removed (via Velcro fastener).

 

[DammitBoy]

That looks very nice. Thanks Flint.

 

[308win]

I see you have your come-ups taped to the stock. I keep mine on laminated cards that I keep in my Eagle Industries cheek rest.

 

[MrWesson]

Why not a semi auto rifle with a red dot so you can mow them down ?