Author Topic: North Texas Hog Hunters (Read 929 times)

nealglen37 · « **on:** January 16, 2006, 11:19:14 AM »

With this drought going on as long as it has what are the hogs doing in your areas....................I know most of the pastures are to dry to root in.............so i guess they are staying close to water............have you guys noticed if they are moving more......................any burned out areas..........what are you guys seeing...

Thanks

rockbilly · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2006, 02:02:48 PM »

I talked to a guy Sunday at a gun show that owns land about fifty miles north of Abilene on the Clear Fork of the Brazos, he said there are plenty of hogs up there. He said they were hunting at night, and t were killing large numbers of hogs each hunt According to him, anything over two hundred pounds is shot and dragged out of the field and dumped along the fence rows. He said they were killing two-three big ones every time they go out. He said the pigs were destroying his land, yet he won't let anyone hunt unless he takes them out, then it is $500. per person. :cry:

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2006, 10:08:43 PM »

That sounds like a big crock of brown stinky bovine gravy to me!!

rockbilly · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2006, 06:36:05 PM »

Dusty. I have no reason to doubt my friend, for the twenty plus years that I have know him he was always a straight shooter. He said they hunt from an old Chevy Blazer 4x4 that had a hole cut in the roof so the hunters can stand and shoot as they are moving. There are several high powered lights mounted so they can be moved to follow the pigs. Several family members are involved in the hunts, and they usually hunt from just after dark to 4-5 in the morning.

Several members who post on this fourm have hunted the Lambshead and Nail ranches near Albany Texas, they can tell you about the nimber of hogs there, and that is on ranch land. My friend is a farmer, his crops are usually peanuts and watermelons. According to him, the hogs destroy 5-10 acres of crop each nigh that someone is not there to run them off. There are no crops growing now, the watermelons were gone in late Sept, in late Nov the peanuts were harvested, but many are left in or on the ground. That is the bait that draws the pigs in.

According to a recent Texas Parks and Wildlife statement, there are an estamited 2-3 million wild pigs in the state. The cost to the farmers is exceptionally high in crop loss and destroyed fence, water tanks/holes, etc. Several areas are taking extream actions to remove or rid the area of pigs, from trapping, slaughter and leave them, to putting out a birth control product to stop reproduction.

STexhunter · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2006, 05:46:20 PM »

Where I hunt in the South Texas brush country the drought has really been bad. Didn't see any hogs during the regular deer season. Believe they are staying close to water. Last season they were everywhere. If we get some rain I think we'll start seeing them again.

VTDW · « **Reply #5 on:** January 28, 2006, 06:03:51 PM »

Rockbilly

I believe he is referring to the $500 price tag. :oops: I agree! BUT if ya can get it, that is just good business eh? :cry:

Dave

FWiedner · « **Reply #6 on:** January 29, 2006, 07:26:23 AM »

I was hunting down between Dallas and Houston anout 4 weeks ago and there were plenty of hogs to be found. Shot two within about 10 minutes.

They've been kind of dry down there, burn bans and all, but they also have good running ground water in a lot of places. I was hunting on the edge of a marsh.

I've got a buddy who has a lease out near Abilene, he says the hogs are out there and there are plenty of 'em. He's just started baiting them, so it will probably take a few weeks to get them feeding and travelling in a regular pattern.

Then...a hunting we will go... :grin:

.

rockbilly · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2006, 03:31:31 PM »

It's funny how much people will pay to hunt. There is a 5500 acre plot next to my place, I had it leased for 10-12 years and sub-leased for people to hunt on. I charged $300. a gun for the season. The owner moved back to this area and decided he didn't want to lease to me anymore. For about five years no one hunted the property. He built a nice cabin on the property and started week-end leasing the place. He gets $1,500. a gun for the week-end. This includes use of the cabin, two four wheelers, and he has a cook to come in and prepare two meals. He will also pick you up at the airport and drive you out to the property for a fee. He was booked with two-three hunters almost every week-end this past season.

We've had 278 acres next to this place for over twenty-five years. During that period, several nice trophys have come out of the area, but that is the exception rather than the rule. My point, people are crazy, someone will pay whatever you ask for hunting property.

PEPAW · « **Reply #8 on:** February 03, 2006, 01:22:53 AM »

I haven't see many hogs this year, but honestly haven't hunted them much. It was a terrible drought year at both of my hunting areas (several hours apart). Spent more time helping everyone in the family get a deer (except me!

My friend in South TX who has irrigated crops reported the same as above:

"My friend is a farmer, his crops are usually peanuts and watermelons. According to him, the hogs destroy 5-10 acres of crop each nigh that someone is not there to run them off. There are no crops growing now, the watermelons were gone in late Sept, in late Nov the peanuts were harvested, but many are left in or on the ground. That is the bait that draws the pigs in. "

They are killing lots of pigs and have finally brought in the dogs.

I may or may not hunt this weekend, but do plan on installing my new "hog-light" over a feeder. Battery powered red lights that come on at dusk and off at dawn. Recharged by solar charger. Can't wait to try out an early evening hunt a few weeks.

pepaw

Dee · « **Reply #9 on:** February 27, 2006, 12:08:14 PM »

I live north of Dallas. It is very dry, or was until Saturday. However, hogs have to eat and they are. It is not too dry for the hogs here to root up pasture land. And what little wheat has come up. I am killing them around goverment lakes that have pasture and farm land around it. I guess you can dunk this info in your bovine gravey.