Wild Hogs in TX - specific question

[DigMe]

Tree or stand hunting is a presumption. Ground hunting hogs is only called for if you do not value your flesh.

I just can't understand why people who claim to be experienced hog hunters keep posting this nonsense. You've been hunting hogs for that long and you'll only do it from a tree stand?! These are hogs people, not cape buffalo or grizzly bears. All the times I've hunted them I've never feared for my life.

brad cook

 

[MaterDei]

Lonestar .45

Welcome! I like your screen name, btw.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I'm betting we could find some interested parties on THR that are in the Dallas area and willing to drive out to Tyler for some hog-hunting if he has a real problem with them.

 

[Thumper]

Ditto to everything Digme's said so far.

Oh...except my Blackhawk's a .45 Colt.

 

[MikeK]

Hog update. They finally got one in the trap last night ~ 200 pounds. They used some new bait called 'Hog Wild', which apparantly has quite an odor. The guy that sets the traps does it for the meat, so they didn't get to shoot it. But there's still more hogs out there.

(edited to add)

My cousin read all the posts in this thread and thanks everyone for their advice. Since her husband isn't a hunter and doesn't own a tree stand (which many people recommended) and she doesn't want to become a widow she's glad the trap is finally working (hopefully). Thanks to veryone again. I suppose a hog shoot still isn't ruled out.

 

[RaySendero]

I use an 870 turkey gun with than extended threaded choke and slugs.

 

[DigMe]

Since her husband isn't a hunter and doesn't own a tree stand (which many people recommended) and she doesn't want to become a widow

Yes, because he would most certainly be killed.

:banghead:

brad cook

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

DigMe, I get up high nowadays because I'm older, I don't run as fast or far as I used to, and I like being able to enjoy my pig at my leisure, and not vice versa, the pig enjoying me.

I didn't say I never ground hunted. I implied it's a wise idea to have a little safety zone between yourself and tusks. I know how fun it is when you don't get a drop on the first shot with multiple targets. There aren't a lot of quickly climbable trees in the Sabine bottoms I hunt but I knew where they were, just in case .


Let's go get us a pig, ok? See ya.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[Thumper]

If this is a group thing, I'm in.

 

[DigMe]

I'm leaving to go to my land for three days in less than an hour. Hopefully I'll get multiple.

brad cook

 

[mussi]

Down here, hunting wild boars with buckshot is banned.

For a very specific reason, I must add.

We have too regular happenings of Wild Boars 'digesting' .30-06, .300 WinMag and even 9.3x74mm to make hunting them with 12 gauge worthwile, and so far, slugs don't work too well neither (too much grease on the sides).

In Slovenia, they instituted .45 Colt Gov. in lever actions for that reason, and Mr Browny as well.

 

[another okie]

Those hogs have been moving north for years. A pack of them is about 50 miles south of me now, according to our local game warden. Farmers are starting to report a lot of problems west of Fort Smith, Arkansas. I'd rather have them than the fire ants or kudzu, though.

 

[Stand_Watie]

I'd rather have them than the fire ants ...

Good call

 

[Greybeard]

Quote: "I suppose a hog shoot still isn't ruled out."

Have cousin get in touch with me if trappin' is too slow. Contact info. at www.dentoncountysports.com. Another instructor who goes by ScoutSniper here at THR and I might be able to drive out and arrange for several of them to go to hog heaven together.

I just left the related thread over in Hunting forum about "myth of hogs being dangerous to hunt". I've been following Texas Parks and Wildlife Hunting accident statistics for many years. And the fact is, yes, hogs ARE one of the more dangerous animals to hunt. But ... the statistics indicate that the greatest source of "danger" is from other shooters rather than the hogs ...

 

[DigMe]

the statistics indicate that the greatest source of "danger" is from other shooters rather than the hogs

That makes sense...just because of the nature of hog hunting.

brad cook

 

[Greybeard]

Yep, dove is numero uno, deer not far behind, and hog been coming on strong for the last several years as they have bred and spread to places they did not used to be. And more people have got into huntin' 'em.

Tonight tho, I' sure there are several wives out there diggin' with tweezers for some size 7 1/2, 8 or 9 pellets from incidents the game wardens have not have put on paper ...

 

[MikeK]

Greybeard - That is the best shooting range Web site I've ever seen. My cousin is thinking of getting a CHL, if she does your place will be the only one considered for training. Her best friend lives in Grapevine.

If I ever get down there again I will definitely check it out!

Could you be a little more specific on the directions?

 

[JohnKSa]

Shooting hogs at night from a vehicle in TX is perfectly legal as long as you have a hunting license, permission from the landowner and are not on a PUBLIC road. Shooting at night usually warrants a courtesy call to the game warden beforehand.

 

[Greybeard]

Mike -

Thanks for the compliment about the web site. Folks seem to either love it or hate it. We got a real odd letter in mail this week from a guy in Colleyville (near Grapevine) who said he'd stumbled across it via TP&W's web site. The man said he was an old dope smoker from Lost Angels and had been clean for 32 years, but after going to the DCSA web site, said he had to light up ... ' Musta also stumbled accross "Serious Humor" page ... Did ya forget to put the after directions question? As the crow flies, about 13 miles NNW of DFW airport.

But, back to the hogs ... ScoutSniper's go-to gun for such is lever action Marlin in 45/70 while I'd probably use old Remington Woodmaster (semi) in 30/06. And/or, we've got identical 7 1/2" Super Blackhawks in .454 ...

Hogs do tend to migrate tho. Next week, they may be off wrecking havock on someone else's place ...

 

[MikeK]

Greybeard - Yes, I was just kidding about the directions. I forwarded the link to your website to a few people, including my cousin. Here's part of her response:

Well-----the pigs came again last night - really tore up the lawn AND went
into the trap and ate every scrap of Hog Wild (it looks like fertilizer) and
didn't get caught! When we caught the first one (we're sure there will be a
second) it broke the trip wire and Roy re-set it but too loose. We went and
bought new wire today and he thinks it's perfectly set now. Hope so. He
figures he'll catch two - one for the trap owner and one for him to shoot.
I don't know if he'll really do it but he says he will.

Thanks again for all your help. I read the Greybeard posting and looked at
his web site. He sure says it like it is - especially about the cell phone
and being able to read!! I enjoyed it. Also read your conversations with
each other. We wouldn't feel right about someone coming all the way out
here, because as Greybeard says "they migrate". We go months without seeing
one (not that we've ever seen one - just the damage) and then they come
back!! Oh - I forgot - we DID see one - the one we caught! If I had known
how quickly he'd be gone I would have taken a much better look, even though
it was dark. I just remember the long snout and the size of it.

 

[Greybeard]

Mike - It sounds like Roy may need to buy at least a 5-pack of slugs for "cage kills". Points of aim: between the eyes or in an ear, preferably at downward angle. Slugs may still cut cage after complete penetration.

 

[Stand_Watie]

I just remember the long snout and the size of it.

The long snout makes me think that your cousin's hogs (or that particular one anyway) are more of the Russian boar variety that was released down here back in the 1930's, rather than the domestic feral pig variety that I have seen some Texans on this board posting pictures of (which I understand were released or escaped from original Spaniard colonies and early texas settlements of the early 1800's). They are much leaner and don't have the hams and bacon that domestic feral hogs have.

I read somewhere that almost all of them are mixed to one ratio or another though, and that the only way of finding out what you really have %wise is dna testing.

 

[Sisco]

I'm betting we could find some interested parties on THR that are in the Dallas area and willing to drive out to Tyler for some hog-hunting if he has a real problem with them.

I'm 6 hours away but I'd be up for that! Cousin has access to a lease in the Wichita Falls area, we're still working out the details.

Anyone ever hunt them with a black powder rifle? My son (16) bought a .54 cal blackpowder and wanted to know if he could hunt hogs with it. Told him he probably could but I'd sure have someone there with backup.

 

[MuzzleBlast]

Saw a link to a hunting guide once, where one of the more popular hunts is to take feral hogs with nothing more than a pack of dogs and a really big Bowie knife. The dogs hold the hog by the snout, while the Hunter gets down on the ground with it and stabs it. THAT, my friends, is HUNTING.

 

[MikeK]

I guess he didn't need a tree stand after all (No, I don't want to start a TS/non-TS 9mm/45acp debate). Here's the latest and thanks again for everyone's great advice. They had shot at one with buckshot the night before (tailshot) and it just ran off. Roy went out the next day and bought some slugs. Night two:



Roy set up a floodlight before we went to bed last night and it lit up the
area where the pigs tear up the lawn. Our laundry room is right off the
bedroom and has a window overlooking that exact spot. He figured it would
either scare them away or we'd be able to see them. I woke up at 11 and
looked out the window. I couldn't believe my eyes - there were so many pigs
I couldn't count them. I woke Roy and he went out our back door, on foot,
and crept around the side of the house with his shotgun loaded with SLUGS.
He killed two of them and terribly wounded a third which went into the woods
and I'm sure is not alive now. ............. All your responses about ammo were
correct - slugs it is!