advice for Pa , first time , hog hunter UPDATE

[irold]

I'd really like to take my boys on a hog hunt.  My funds are really limited.  Looking for somewhere fairly close.  I'm located in western Pa.  I've found a couple of places , one in Tioga county, Pa, and one in north western ( ?) Ohio.  Anyone have any experience with these places.....both are preserve hunts.  I believe something like 1500 acreas.  I'm not one for shooting game in a pen...I would think 1500 acreas would be almost like "free roamimg".

Any suggestions.?  regards , irold

Went on the hunt last week at Tioga Preserve.  A great time was had by my boys and myself.  Everyone got their hogg.  I with my 44, both boys with their bows.  For my youngest it was his first bow kill.  Thanks to everyone for your advice.

[drdougrx]

Hi Irold,

What are the names of these places???

[irold]

Hi drdougrx

In Ohio, its: White Oak Exotic Hunting and in Pa. , its: Tioga Boar Hunting Preserve.  I'm just not sure about this preserve hunting.  I don't want to shoot something thats against a fence.  I hunt with a handgun...been doing that for about ten years now....I enjoy it and its the fair chase thing too.

 Know anything about these places ?  

 regards , irold

[Graybeard]

Both are old and respected preserves. I've read in the SIXGUNNER magazine of the hunts at White Oak and if I recall correctly lots of years ago JD Jones of SSK Industries and Handgun Hunters Internation held annual hunts there for HHI members.

I've never been to either so have no personal experience but the reports in general are positive on both.

[irold]

Thanks , GB.......  regards , irold

[drdougrx]

Hi Irold....GB is right on...Tioga's been around forever.  I wouldn't worry about shooting in a fence at Tioga very much as they have some pretty good real estate.  I'll be going to Wild Hill in VT from April 8-11...no fence shooting there...you're welcome to join us if you like.  I suspect I'll be doing a boar with my .41mag BH.

Please keep us posted.....

[irold]

Evening drdougrx

Really appreciate the offer......I was looking at the links from your profile, some really nice places and good stuff.  I looked at the Wild Hill link , looks like a great place.  I got the impression they didn't allow handguns ?  My boys want to use their bows and I would like to use my handgun...not sure which one yet.  Either an open sighted SRH in 454 or my Bisley Hunter in 44....its scoped.  Probably take both, decide which one to use depending on the hunt.  Think we'll try the Tioga hunt......if it goes well , then we'll see about going oother places.  Tioga appears to be only a couple hundred miles from me....I think we'll have a good time.  Again thanks for the offer...maybe another time.  regards , irold

[drdougrx]

No prob Irold!  They certainly do allow handguns and bows and muzzle loaders and rifles.  No spears or knives though.

Here's the last one I took there with a SW29.  May take another in a few weeks with a BH 41mag.

[no guns here]

There are TWO White Oaks... one in Alabama known as White Oak Plantation.  Very nice place to go.  Great food.  Great service.  Great hospitality.  Excellent deer.  Not sure about hogs there though.  Really nice sporting clays course too.  Something like 16,000 acres leased last I heard.  Expensive but fun.  Dadblast it!  Just went to www.whiteoakplantation.com only to find out they are closing...  really sucks...  On the other hand, there should be some GREAT hunting leases coming free near Tuskegee.

Don't know a thing about the one in PA. 
NGH

[Graybeard]

White Oak Plantation here in Bama was sold at auction at least a year or two back. I got a flyer inviting me to come bid on the parcels. At that time they had only 3000 acres and that included the Red Oak land and lodge. I hunted there once.

The other White Oak is in Ohio not PA. I don't know the current status of it but I do recall that many years ago HHI held hunts there same as the one at White Oak here in Bama.

[buckeyehunter2]

It may be a little late to comment on this, but I took my son to White Oak 3 years ago.  It is located about 35 miles from my house.  It was a great experience.  We saw lots of animals.   It was a little pricey, but it was one of those priceless moments when my son took his first big game animal (a Barbourosa/Merino Ram) and I killed a 160 pound boar.   My only lingering negative thought was that I felt a little rushed to kill something so that the hunt would be over with.  

[irold]

updated..........with pics , I posted them in the original post.


Thanks for the opinions.  Glad I went , made lots of memories with the boys.  As far as hunting the preserve , had lots of fun, the people were outstanding.  Once was enough for me though.

regards irold