Texas Hogs...

[lockmaster]

At present, I'm in "the heart of Texas" about 60 miles from Waco.
This is a great place for hogs, bust I have not had any luck on sticking one. I have been running all over about 200,000 acres of federal land, but the hogs are all NOCTURNAL. All sizes and weights and even javelinas.

There are thousands of hogs in the area and they try to reduce the hogs by 70% each year just to keep them in check...and they are still over run with them. They even set traps for them, bring them in to a holding pen where they are put down and given to the needy.

Anyway, you can get a 5 day "exotic" non resident hunting license for $45, pay $7 for a bow permit, and $100 for a federal permit to hunt the land (part of FT. HOOD) and kill all the hogs you want. There is no limit!!! So if you can get here, you spend about $150 for all the hogs you want to harvest.

My nephew here is a federal game warden and also a guide in the area. They have hundreds of stands and BIG country to hunt in. He has been showing me places that are up to 30 miles back in the middle of nowhere. Hogs zipping across the trails and rattlesnakes galore with some big cats...but the hogs are laying low in the day time.

I just came here to visit family but wanted to do some hog hunting. It just appears to be the wrong time. They tell me the best hog hunting here is VERY early pre spring..(Feb-March) and late summer, early fall (Oct-Nov).

I AM getting in a lot of great fishing for Crappie, Black Bass, Drum, Channel Cats and enjoying some great GAR fishing. We're leaving here on May 11, headed to Oklahoma, Kansas (where I hope to meet up with "SNOODSLAPPER") , then on to Missouri, back through Indians, Illinois, around to Kentucky and back home to Virginia on the 16th.

Just having a ball and enjoying vacation.

Till later...................

[SPIKER]

Great to hear Roger, it's good to see that your up to some hog hunting again.

Can you hunt the hogs at night out there?

Sounds like your having a blast anyway, and I hope you get something to post for all of us to see.

[royden]

Lockmaster Long time no talk.

My wife grew up in Hillsboro - 30 miles north of waco on the interstate. You must be west of waco in what they call the hill country - ;D now that is a laugh "hill country"

Your right on feb and march being the best month's. My understanding is that hogs need a lot of food to stay warm during the winter and feb is the least food available month. Like you I have hunted 'em around Hillsboro in May and it was tough - they are in hog heaven now ... not too hot and lots of food.

For what it is worth I had the best success hunting from a stand near a feeder at night - dusk to 12pm seemed the best. I used a 12v spot light painted red and turned on by a reostat. When you hear the hogs crunching the corn turn the light on slowly and shoot. At least that is the way it works on paper

Good luck - it is something new for me when I get down that way so it is a blast!

P.s. thanks for the info on the place I will check it out ... the area's NE of there I have hunted where unpenetrablly thick and impossible to hunt without a feeder/stand. They were also private ranches - either corn or brush - no grazing, or CRP lands to be found.

[BT]

Too bad about the hogs.
Maybe you need to visit during the day and hunt at night
The fishing is a bonus though....not a total loss

Good to hear from you and looking forward to some pics when you return home

[lockmaster]

I'm now in Wichita, Kansas. The hog hunting didn't go well, but we were scouting a LOT of territory.....and there is so much food right now that the hogs aren't moving much at all during the day.

Yes royden.....it is not exactly "hill country".

There is a LOT of cactus where we were, and rattlesnakes all over. (Western Diamondbacks mostly) with some copperheads and some hog nosed snakes along with others.

Yes spiker, night hunting is allowed, but I couldn't get any in. The moon was full, but I had no one to go along for a night hunt.

Man, that area is BIG, and a LOT of thick stuff. The hogs are almost impossible to get out. Baiting is allowed but I only had part of a couple of days to get back in there. Next trip will be a little better.

Did get in some fishing in Texas and now headed for Osage Beach, MO and gonna get in some fishing there. Will post some pics later!! Crappie, black bass, white bass and catfish are doing fairly well. Nothing really big, but a LOT of fun!

[BT]

ah well....maybe next time
At least you escaped the snakes ;D

[akdd]

Sounds like you are having a good time.

[jamaltwy]

AWWWWW I miss texas!! sounds like you had a good time!! better luck next time