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Hog Hunters and Trappers
Here is some suggestions to find land to hunt or trap wild hogs.
It is far easier to get a landowner to let you trap on their land than hunt. Landowners fear someone running around with guns on their property. It is however possible if you follow some guidelines when searching.
Classified ads
When placing an ad, you need to include as much information as possible about yourself. Pictures are a very effective way to let the landowner know who you are. This however is only a start. You must include experience, photos of hogs trapped or shot and your method. This is only possible through an online service that allows these items to be posted and has a presence in the hog hunting world. One such service dedicated to this is the Hog Map through this site.
Door to Door
Going to remote ranches can be an effective method as well. Property owners are more likely to allow someone on their land if they are able to talk to them in person. You can expect to be successful in finding a place but be prepared to be turned down 10 times to 1. Offer them hog control vs. a place to hunt or trap. Then follow up as needed to keep their hog numbers down. Also with this method you are likely to turn up places that have only a few hogs, but are willing to let you try. Landowners with real hog problems are scouring the internet or talking to locals to find help.
Experience
Don't expect to find a property owner to let you hunt or trap hogs on their property if you have never done so. Never lie about your experience. These farmers and ranchers have hunted and trapped hogs and have been around them most of their life. They will know immedietly if you are a newcomer and have very little practical experience. If you want to gain experience, many of the advertisers featured on this site offer low cost hog hunts that will get you in the game.
It is far easier to get a landowner to let you trap on their land than hunt. Landowners fear someone running around with guns on their property. It is however possible if you follow some guidelines when searching.
Classified ads
When placing an ad, you need to include as much information as possible about yourself. Pictures are a very effective way to let the landowner know who you are. This however is only a start. You must include experience, photos of hogs trapped or shot and your method. This is only possible through an online service that allows these items to be posted and has a presence in the hog hunting world. One such service dedicated to this is the Hog Map through this site.
Door to Door
Going to remote ranches can be an effective method as well. Property owners are more likely to allow someone on their land if they are able to talk to them in person. You can expect to be successful in finding a place but be prepared to be turned down 10 times to 1. Offer them hog control vs. a place to hunt or trap. Then follow up as needed to keep their hog numbers down. Also with this method you are likely to turn up places that have only a few hogs, but are willing to let you try. Landowners with real hog problems are scouring the internet or talking to locals to find help.
Experience
Don't expect to find a property owner to let you hunt or trap hogs on their property if you have never done so. Never lie about your experience. These farmers and ranchers have hunted and trapped hogs and have been around them most of their life. They will know immedietly if you are a newcomer and have very little practical experience. If you want to gain experience, many of the advertisers featured on this site offer low cost hog hunts that will get you in the game.
Landowners
Most hunters are good people that are just looking for a place to fullfill their passion. It is true that their are some bad seeds out there, but if you screen prospects carefully this should easily eliminate them. Go to Hog Map and look for individuals in your area. Then contact prospects for hog removal. You can easily verify their experience level by communicating with them and asking for references.
Hog Hunting Tips
Summer time
Many people don't like to hunt hogs in the hot summer. Others believe hog hunting in 90+ degree heat for hogs is ineffective. This happens to be one of the easiest times to locate wild hogs. If you think about it, where would wild pigs most likely be near in the heat of the day? Two things, water and shade. Wild hogs will visit water frequently in the heat. They prefer to stay within a short distance from water. This can eliminate much of the property you are hunting on. In the southern areas of Texas where it is very hot and has only limited areas with water and good shade, finding wild hogs can be almost too easy. Wild pigs can travel to water and back to their cool hideout. But most likely pigs plan their day and their route. They have several needs that must be met to stay healthy. A good place to rub(cedar, elect. pole etc), water to drink, a wallow and food. When hunting hogs we find that they will follow a specific route that has the resources to meet their needs for the day. Unfortunately for the hog hunter, this route frequently changes. If you concentrate your efforts on the most likely areas, you will have a greater chance of success.
Creeks
Some of the best places to find large boars are in muddy shallow creek beds that offer some shade. On a hot summer day I have walked up on many big wild boar laying in a mud hole out of the sun. Most of the time they will make a horrible grunt and stand up and look right at you. They even give you ample time to shoot. You must however cover the creek bed quietly and take into account the wind direction. They will smell you and jog off before you get there if you don't. One thing to remember is that wild pigs will run after hearing unusual sounds. Just walking normally in the leaves sometimes doesn't even scare them. But clear your throat or make any noise they are not used to and they will be gone. After hearing some pigs in the distance squeal one time, I ran in the direction of the sound and while running through dry crunchy leaves, I accidentally came right up on the herd sooner than I had planned. Two were in plain sight and never even looked up. To them an animal running through the forest was not an odd sound. If from the same distance I was to cough or sniff they would have fled. Although I don't recommend running around looking for wild pigs, this will give you an idea of what makes them scared.
Brush
We frequently find wild pigs hanging out in thick brush. You can find tunnels going into a thicket of B-Brush that a person would have to crawl through. Many times there is more than one exit and this makes it difficult for one or two hunters to get them out. This is where hog dogs are priceless. Without hog dogs your only real option is to crawl in there with pistol in hand. This is not for the new hog hunter. Wild hogs would much rather run from you than attack you, but if you are in their exit tunnel you better be prepared to take them down quickly with one shot. If you have ever seen a 300 lb boar shoot out of the brush, you would know what I mean.
Patches of oak trees
If a grove of trees is near water, hogs love to root in the shade. They are fairly easy to walk up on this way and are usually making a lot of noise themselves. This is most effective in areas where the trees are in scattered patches across the property. Not much else to say about this except that is is a worthwhile percentage chance.
Night hunting
Night hunting in the summer time or in times when human activity is high during the day, wild hogs will be very active at night. Actually they can be active at night anytime, but considering the above factors will help you get on the same page. We have had equal success day hunting as we have had night hunting. Wild hogs don't disappear off the face of the earth at either time. If you are still hunting from a stand or from cover, night time has it's advantages. Wild pigs do tend to move more freely at night when it is cool and they have less distractions from humans. With the winds dying down at night, it can be difficult to determine where to place your ambush. The wind can be slightly erratic and the humidity can hold your smell for a longer time.
Some facts about hogs
The Internet and some publicized incidences have fueled the rumor that hogs are vicious killers. Specifically speaking about feral hogs, this happens to be the exception not the rule. There are two times when feral pigs will be very dangerous. One is when they are wounded. If they feel they don't have the option to run, they will most certainly charge you. Never believe that a feral pig is too wounded to charge. Secondly, if their are dogs involved, wild hogs(especially Russian) will become unpredictable. Of course like mentioned above, if you are in their exit path, expect the obvious.
Hunting wild hogs can be more rewarding than most any game. They are incredibly smart and unpredictable. What else would a true hunter desire?
Many people don't like to hunt hogs in the hot summer. Others believe hog hunting in 90+ degree heat for hogs is ineffective. This happens to be one of the easiest times to locate wild hogs. If you think about it, where would wild pigs most likely be near in the heat of the day? Two things, water and shade. Wild hogs will visit water frequently in the heat. They prefer to stay within a short distance from water. This can eliminate much of the property you are hunting on. In the southern areas of Texas where it is very hot and has only limited areas with water and good shade, finding wild hogs can be almost too easy. Wild pigs can travel to water and back to their cool hideout. But most likely pigs plan their day and their route. They have several needs that must be met to stay healthy. A good place to rub(cedar, elect. pole etc), water to drink, a wallow and food. When hunting hogs we find that they will follow a specific route that has the resources to meet their needs for the day. Unfortunately for the hog hunter, this route frequently changes. If you concentrate your efforts on the most likely areas, you will have a greater chance of success.
Creeks
Some of the best places to find large boars are in muddy shallow creek beds that offer some shade. On a hot summer day I have walked up on many big wild boar laying in a mud hole out of the sun. Most of the time they will make a horrible grunt and stand up and look right at you. They even give you ample time to shoot. You must however cover the creek bed quietly and take into account the wind direction. They will smell you and jog off before you get there if you don't. One thing to remember is that wild pigs will run after hearing unusual sounds. Just walking normally in the leaves sometimes doesn't even scare them. But clear your throat or make any noise they are not used to and they will be gone. After hearing some pigs in the distance squeal one time, I ran in the direction of the sound and while running through dry crunchy leaves, I accidentally came right up on the herd sooner than I had planned. Two were in plain sight and never even looked up. To them an animal running through the forest was not an odd sound. If from the same distance I was to cough or sniff they would have fled. Although I don't recommend running around looking for wild pigs, this will give you an idea of what makes them scared.
Brush
We frequently find wild pigs hanging out in thick brush. You can find tunnels going into a thicket of B-Brush that a person would have to crawl through. Many times there is more than one exit and this makes it difficult for one or two hunters to get them out. This is where hog dogs are priceless. Without hog dogs your only real option is to crawl in there with pistol in hand. This is not for the new hog hunter. Wild hogs would much rather run from you than attack you, but if you are in their exit tunnel you better be prepared to take them down quickly with one shot. If you have ever seen a 300 lb boar shoot out of the brush, you would know what I mean.
Patches of oak trees
If a grove of trees is near water, hogs love to root in the shade. They are fairly easy to walk up on this way and are usually making a lot of noise themselves. This is most effective in areas where the trees are in scattered patches across the property. Not much else to say about this except that is is a worthwhile percentage chance.
Night hunting
Night hunting in the summer time or in times when human activity is high during the day, wild hogs will be very active at night. Actually they can be active at night anytime, but considering the above factors will help you get on the same page. We have had equal success day hunting as we have had night hunting. Wild hogs don't disappear off the face of the earth at either time. If you are still hunting from a stand or from cover, night time has it's advantages. Wild pigs do tend to move more freely at night when it is cool and they have less distractions from humans. With the winds dying down at night, it can be difficult to determine where to place your ambush. The wind can be slightly erratic and the humidity can hold your smell for a longer time.
Some facts about hogs
The Internet and some publicized incidences have fueled the rumor that hogs are vicious killers. Specifically speaking about feral hogs, this happens to be the exception not the rule. There are two times when feral pigs will be very dangerous. One is when they are wounded. If they feel they don't have the option to run, they will most certainly charge you. Never believe that a feral pig is too wounded to charge. Secondly, if their are dogs involved, wild hogs(especially Russian) will become unpredictable. Of course like mentioned above, if you are in their exit path, expect the obvious.
Hunting wild hogs can be more rewarding than most any game. They are incredibly smart and unpredictable. What else would a true hunter desire?
Wild Hog Map
Post your ad free on this map that brings landowners, trappers, hog hunters, buyers and sellers together.
Post your ad free on this map that brings landowners, trappers, hog hunters, buyers and sellers together.
Wild Hog Trapping, Hunting and Removal Resources
For hog hunters, trappers, and landowners
