Author Topic: Do you hunt Free Ranging Hogs? (Read 5336 times)

Ironwood · « **on:** April 12, 2008, 01:34:00 PM »

I was just wondering how many of us hunt free ranging Feral Hogs and how many hunt preserves. Some of the hogs in the photos posted in this forum look like European Boar. Those are some mean looking hogs! I'm not sure I'd like to meet one of those on the ground and with only my 22-250!

I've always hunted free ranging feral hogs. For some time now I have killed most of my hogs from a stand. In the almost 40 years I've been hunting hogs I've only had one seriously charge me. Hunting from the ground is lots more fun, but I'm getting a little old for that kind of fun!

When ever I got myself into a stand off, so far I've always come out the winner. Well maybe both the hog and I won since I didn't get to kill the hog.

kevthebassman · « **Reply #1 on:** April 12, 2008, 04:46:40 PM »

I'm brand new to hog hunting. I have been after free-ranging feral hogs.

I can't see myself paying to go killing. If it's behind a fence, it's not hunting, period.

Ironwood · « **Reply #2 on:** April 12, 2008, 05:18:02 PM »

Kev and everyone else, lets not start a high fence free ranging battle. I just was curious as to where everyone hunts. People up north, if they want to hunt hogs they may have to go to a preserve.

kevthebassman · « **Reply #3 on:** April 12, 2008, 05:28:37 PM »

Quote from: Ironwood on April 12, 2008, 05:18:02 PM

Kev and everyone else, lets not start a high fence free ranging battle. I just was curious as to where everyone hunts. People up north, if they want to hunt hogs they may have to go to a preserve.

Just my (not so humble at times) opinion, of course.

Willie496 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 12, 2008, 05:35:37 PM »

Never seen a wild one in South Dakota..

deernhog · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2008, 05:59:09 AM »

I only hunt free ranging pigs if I want to shoot one behind a fence I could go to several around my area. I help a friend trap hogs and trade them out to the hunt preserves. I have never had one attack me unless it was cornered or hurt then it doesn't matter if they are 30 or 300 lbs. Last attack occurred a week ago, I had her by the back leg (50#), she had me by the left boot. Sure skinned up that Wolverine lace up.

drdougrx · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2008, 02:49:14 PM »

I'd hunt them free range if there were any in my area (Northeast). IMO hogs can be eaten up to the oink so shoot'n one on a preserve is just a weekend away from phones and work and everything else for a buncha tasty meat. It isn't worth the gas or airfare to hunt them free range unless they are part of another trip.

Ironwood · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2008, 03:41:25 PM »

I know what you mean DrDoug. I'm not sure if we are blessed or not with the free ranging hogs we have here in East Texas. I do think they hurt the deer population in some areas. Doesn't matter if you are on the ground in Texas or on the ground in the Northeast you still have to make that first shot count! If you don't put that first shot in a kill zone you have problems. Makes no difference if you are in a 100 acre enclosure or 300,000 acre open range! After all a person can only run or climb so fast!

elmer · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2008, 03:52:42 PM »

I have hunted both ways. Now I hunt them free range on the deer lease. I got a couple last Friday night in fact.

Ironwood · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2008, 04:05:40 PM »

Way to go Elmer!

I don't suppose there is anyplace in this state that doesn't have a population of hogs.

markc · « **Reply #10 on:** April 14, 2008, 08:46:30 AM »

free range East Texas hogs. Shot 2 Fri evening with my contender in .35 Rem..

drdougrx · « **Reply #11 on:** April 14, 2008, 09:41:51 AM »

As long as you're gonna eat'm and don't lie about the situation ie high fence. I'm OK with it. The preserve I use is several thousand acres and is a nice weekend away hunt.

Graybeard · « **Reply #12 on:** April 14, 2008, 10:50:57 AM »

I've hunted them inside a fence twice; once on 2000 acres and once on 1100 acres. In neither case did the fence play any role in the hunt and it would not have mattered had it not been there as hogs were running wild all over the land outside the fence as well as inside. In fact on the first they used traps outside to catch the hogs put inside for hunting.

The vast majority of my hunts however have been free range in Alabama, Georgia and Texas. The preserve hunts were in TN and FL.

chutesnreloads · « **Reply #13 on:** April 14, 2008, 02:59:44 PM »

Don't know if we're fortunate to have 'em or unfortunate.Would'nt pay to hunt feral hogs but since we have 'em here in central Tx. I get into 'em pretty often.Hunt from a stand or stalk depending on how energetic I feel.Them fences,whether high or otherwise will have to be pretty stout to keep hogs from crossing if they want to.

S_J_KENNELS · « **Reply #14 on:** April 14, 2008, 07:08:03 PM »

Only way to hunt them LOL. However even with my dogs big high fence places are no walk in the park.

qajaq59 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 15, 2008, 12:06:58 AM »

I hunt them free range because here in Florida we have enough of them running around to do it. But if we didn't, I'd likely hunt them in a high fence area. So long as it had some size to it at least.
Note though that I said I hunt them. That doesn't mean I always get to shoot one.

jmayton · « **Reply #16 on:** April 16, 2008, 10:30:38 AM »

Free range (6000 acres in the Texas Hill Country). I just drive around 'till I see 'em. Get out. Walk a little. Shoot 2 or 3. Get back in the truck. Repeat.

drdougrx · « **Reply #17 on:** April 17, 2008, 12:40:29 AM »

Lucky J....

STUMPJMPR · « **Reply #18 on:** April 17, 2008, 02:58:41 AM »

i hunt free range here in the marshes of south ms....however, here lately more and more guys are starting to do it so they are getting kinda scarce....we should have kept hog hunting a better secret....lol

jmayton · « **Reply #19 on:** April 17, 2008, 04:04:18 AM »

drdoug, lucky doesn't even begin to describe it...more like blessed beyond measure. The landowner has me come out to help control the population and I get to hunt for free and sometimes he even pays for my fuel and ammo. But to get there I have to drive through another ranch that is twice the size with about 5000 acres high-fenced. They charge $500 for a hog hunt but that is only if you've already paid for another hunt on the place (prices from $1500-$5000)!

markc · « **Reply #20 on:** April 18, 2008, 07:07:52 AM »

Amazing that folks pay that kind of money to shoot a feral hog.

drdougrx · « **Reply #21 on:** April 19, 2008, 04:19:45 AM »

Hi All...

I hear ya Mark. The place I go charges $750 and you'll get a hog that's about 180 - 250ish lbs. He gets $1000 for a 300+ and $1500 for a 400+. Kinda high for the large ones to be sure and the 400lb+ are really fat and not worth the extra $$. The $1000 hogs are the better deal in that they can be 100 to 150lbs better than the standard sized animal.

BUT......animal aside....the price includes 3 nights lodging in very nice, clean lodge with made beds. Three breakfasts, three lunches and two dinners that are all very tasty and there's plenty of food which generally includes a meal of buffalo/bison. The only thing not included is tip and butchering which is about $80 or $100. Arrive on Thurday eve and leave on Sunday.

Like I said...If I could hunt'm free range I would...but...this works fine for me.

BTW...if anyone is interested...I'll be going back for a winter hog hunt in Dec. so if you live in New England/NY and want to connect, send me an e-mail.

Mohawk · « **Reply #22 on:** April 19, 2008, 05:18:37 PM »

Like MarkC said, most of the hogs in Texas are free ranging. There is just something about the habitat that they like and they stay. Many places in south and east Texas they are a pest.

Ironwood · « **Reply #23 on:** April 20, 2008, 04:52:29 AM »

Mohawk, you are absolutely right. The hogs on my lease will empty a tube feeder within 24 hours of filling it. A trap will work once or twice but then they get wise to it. My lease has a big creek with several sloughs running though it. Lots of hardwoods and palmetto. Ideal habitat for hogs.

S_J_KENNELS · « **Reply #24 on:** April 20, 2008, 01:29:52 PM »

Quote from: Ironwood on April 20, 2008, 04:52:29 AM

Mohawk, you are absolutely right. The hogs on my lease will empty a tube feeder within 24 hours of filling it. A trap will work once or twice but then they get wise to it. My lease has a big creek with several sloughs running though it. Lots of hardwoods and palmetto. Ideal habitat for hogs.

Sounds like time for you to get some dogs lol.

Mohawk · « **Reply #25 on:** April 20, 2008, 02:23:17 PM »

Yep, that looks like prime habitat. Looks alot like the place I hunt near Centerville, Tx. It is because of bottoms like this that the deer and hogs continue to flourish in the pineywoods of east Texas and surrounding areas, even among public hunting pressure. I love the Angelina National Forest.

Ironwood · « **Reply #26 on:** April 21, 2008, 05:28:17 AM »

Mohawk, My lease is south and east of Centerville. Over in Polk County. I used to visit the Angelina National Forest quite a bit. I haven't been down since Rita came through. Hate to see what it looks like now. I understand it was worse there than in Polk county. If so it's a real mess.

Mohawk · « **Reply #27 on:** April 21, 2008, 08:13:35 AM »

I hunt hogs in Leon County, just east of Centerville about 12 miles on HWY 7. Angelina looks good, it must have recovered well. Haven't hunted it for deer, I hunt on family land in Marble Falls and we have tons of deer and very few hogs, but for hogs, without having to pay, I think Angelina would be productive, especially on a night hunt. I think there are places there that have never seen a human being. Granted you are walking 3 miles or more off of the road but it is worth it and I always find game.

Ironwood · « **Reply #28 on:** April 21, 2008, 12:13:15 PM »

Mohawk, I'll have to take a run down to the National Forest. However at my 71 years of age I don't do the long trekking for game.

As I get older I hunt closer to the ground and closer to the road. The 3 mile walk in wouldn't be much of a problem, but getting a 200 pound hog out might be.

Anyone interested in hunting the Angelina National Forest of East Texas should check out the Upland Island Wilderness Area. Also there's lots of open land in the Davy Crockett National Forest. Try the Big Slough area and along Hickory Creek. Although I've never hunted them the Sam Houston National Forest and Sabine National Forest of East Texas should have a good hog population. Just be sure when hunting these forest you know which is National Forest and which is private property.

chutesnreloads · « **Reply #29 on:** April 21, 2008, 02:05:05 PM »

Gee whiz neighbors,I hunt along the county line of Bastrop and Fayette counties.Quite a few piggies in the Colorado river bottoms and its feeder streams.I don't do it but other good spots for hogs is on Army Corps of Engineers land around some of our lakes.