Recommendations for Hog hunt in Texas

[sirgilligan]

I would like some recommendations for a hog hunt in Texas.

Briefly, every year the "boys" do something. (All brothers, cousins all of us around 50 years old now.)

Cousin in Texas has suggested a hog hunt. Sounds interesting to all of us. None of us have done such. Being raised on a farm, most of us know how dangerous a domestic hog can be, but no experience with feral animals.

If you have done such a hunt, what recommendations and advice would you share?

Any and all information is appreciated.

• Where you went
• What firearms did you use
• Did you hunt through one of the Hog Hunter type outfits
• Tree Stand
• From the back of a truck
• Seems dangerous to be on the ground
• Some places advertise night vision and AR's, that seems like they are appealing to tactical hot shots, am I wrong
• Can you shoot them and leave them lay? Don't want brucellosis..

I read like 20 pages of the hog hunt thread at the top. It looks like a difficult animal to hunt, and could easily end up spending money and not even seeing a hog.

 

[ldlfh7]

Refer to the thread by Flintknapper

 

[sirgilligan]

I have read much of that thread.

 

[calaverasslim]

Ground level stand with orange/yellow spot lens, got about 100 yds.

In areas where hunted, they have turned nocturnal, hence spot. I like a 35 Remington with a 4X scope.

Where they have not been hunted, they will come out 5 or 6 inna morning and then about 6-8 in the evening.

Good luck

 

[LeonCarr]

www.tacticalhogcontrol.com

Big Fun, fun for anyone not just Hot Shots .

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[sirgilligan]

Thanks.

 

[adelbridge]

Texas is big so pick a city and work from there. Best hog hunting is when no one else wants to hunt like July when it is 105 durring the day and 90 at midnight.

 

[sirgilligan]

Thanks to all.

 

[nathan]

THe bad side is , hog meat can get spoiled right away if not cold down right away. Summer time is not a good time to hunt. If you do kill one, get it under the shade right away and gut it ....

 

[41 Mag]

Tactical is a top notch run group. I don't know their prices but have met them at the shows and they hunt areas close to where I hunt. There are more than plenty of hogs in that area.

Check with them on the leaving them in the field if you don't want them. I don't know what their deal is with the landowners so that might come into play. As for being on the ground, it's no different than deer hunting MOST of the time. When it gets squirrely is when you have to go in after one that you already put the hurt on. None of them like gunfire and your more likely to get run over by them up in thick cover where they are trying to leave than on purpose. The folks at Tactical usually hunt over pasture or crop land so most of it is pretty wide open.

As for the meat, its about as good as it gets IF you get it dressed out and on ice ASAP. This time of year it is VERY hard to get them on ice quickly especially if you are just starting out with your hunt. We have freezers set up for nothing else but to put them in, so when they hit the ground we go to work on them. WE toss them in the freezer on top of wire racks to chill out. There is plastic in the bottom to catch anything that drips. It is a team effort but we can get them in there within about 30 minutes from skipping through the pasture to quartered and on ice.

Good luck and shoot all you want, there are plenty to go around.

 

[sirgilligan]

Thank you for the info.

 

[fragout]

There are guides that have set up bait stations on some places. From my experience, this type of tactic can work really well, provided that they have them set up in the right places for hogs.

Early morning, or late in the evening is always a good time generally to dump them critters, but nothing wrong with hunting thruout the night either if that's what you like to do.

As far as a rifle goes, pick the rifle that YOU shoot the best with. Hogs are tough, but I haven't found any as of yet that are immune to a well placed centerfire rifle cartridge.

My favorite hog slayin rifle is my M14S or M1A Bush rifle. I spend more time with them than any other by a long shot, and know um inside and out. (Iron sights, optics, and NVS....depending on when and where I'm out after them.)

I have also tried a wide assortment of different loads, and most any well placed bullet will get it done.

South African 146gr ball makes um dead for less $$ per round, and 168gr OTM is my M14S "pet" load for long range hog hurtin.

As of late, I have taken a few using a 175gr subsonic load with a can.


Your right about it being more dangerous on the ground however. Not hogs, but fire ants, ticks, and chiggers. ( Hint...... Bring plenty of bug spray, and don't be afraid to use it often this time of year.)

I don't leave um lay where they were shot however. ( My land or another's). I do not personally know of any land owner who would like them left out there either. If in dought, load um out.
Whats worse........ leaving trash behind, so make sure you police up behind yourself.

Be safe out there and good luck.

 

[sirgilligan]

Thanks. I hate chiggers.

 

[303tom]

So exactly what does it take to hunt hogs in Texas ? ie; license, caliber of rifle, time of day, what ? My little brother has 20 acres or so down there & has been asking me to come down & go hunting...............

 

[KMatch]

In Texas, you need a license UNLESS you are killing them to help a land owner get rid of a nuisance. In that case, anything legal to do otherwise is legal to apply to pigs. Bait, guns, snares - if it's legal to use, no problem.

Most areas the hogs have gone nocturnal. You might catch some in daylight, but not near as likely as any hour during the night.

Another thing - if you have pigs on camera at 9 PM every single night for a week, don't expect them to show up at 9PM tonight. They don't have a schedule or wear a watch. Simply put, they vary in their actions based on whatever works "at the moment". Game cams are nice to show that pigs are around, but don't set your watch to their patterns.

.223 is the smallest rifle to use. It works, but not well. If you're hunting next to woods, expect anything you shoot at to be lost. Sure, you'll drop some "right there" sometimes, but don't expect this. Anything .30 and up is better.

Head shots hurt more pigs than are killed as their brain is small and not where you might think it is. Below the ear works, but your best efforts allowing the most error are right above the front "elbow". No, there's not a leg bone there, above the elbow is a direct shot at the boiler room. A well placed shot between the eye and shoulder (following the centerline of the neck for a spine shot) works well with less room for error.

 

[adelbridge]

If you choose the San Antonio area I know a lot of guys within an hour drive, PM me if interested. Going rate is about $100-$200 per night hunt. If you are a noob stay as many days as you can, expecting to show up the first night and all shoot hogs probably wont happen. Use a scope with an illuminated reticle and insist on an outfit with feeder lights.