Time To Start Hog Hunting?
February 4, 2013
Well, the Stupor Bowl is over. Traditionally, at least to me, that means we’re heading into the winter doldrums.
Waterfowl seasons wrapped up (or are wrapping up now) with the last of the youth hunts. Upland birds and small game are pretty much done (except here in TX, I guess, where there’s no closed season for squirrels or rabbits). Elk seasons are long gone, as are the seasons for whitetail, blacktail, and mule deer. Alas! What’s a hunter to do?
This is the time of year that always used to really get me down. The guns are put away. It’s too cold to fish (nothing personal to my readers who do this, but ice fishing is for crazy people). And, unlike a bear, I can’t even hibernate until these next tedious months have passed.
But then, for me, one thing changed all of that.
Hogs.
With year-round seasons, generally liberal limits, and huntable populations across several states (including Hawaii), there’s a reason these are my favorite animals to hunt. They can be a great challenge to hunt, especially in places like CA where you have to get out into the backcountry to chase them, and they’re awesome on the table.
They became my preferred game, and are also the raison d’etre of this blog. So…
If you haven’t tried it yet, and cabin fever is already setting in, then there’s no better time than now. And if you’d like to learn a little more about it, shoot me a line right here in the comments. I may not have every answer, but I’m pretty handy at finding the resources to help you get what you need. On top of that, there are a bunch of pretty experienced hog hunters reading this blog, and I expect they will have some thoughts and suggestions as well.
So pull the guns out of the safe, or the bows off the rack, and let’s get ready to do some hog hunting!
Well, I guess it’s time to update this bio just a touch since I’ve now evacuated California and made a new home down in the Texas Hill Country (the southern part, not the fancy part). Besides that, most of the info here is still accurate.
I finally started hunting hogs a couple years ago and now I am completely addicted. What a great challenge and what great table fare as you pointed out.
End of Summer last year, I quit my job. Well my old VP wanted me back. After a couple months, he made me an offer. To sweeten the deal and make sure I couldn’t refuse, he offered to take me on guided hog hunt. So of course I accepted. A free guided hunt??? Who wouldn’t say yes to that.
Anyway, he is flying out here in a couple weeks and we are booked for a hunt on February 22 and 23rd with my regular guide in Lake County, CA.
Wish us luck.
PS – I am pretty sure it was reading all of your postings and this blog that got me so darned interested. So I guess I blame you for my addiction. Well…actually…I guess I thank you for my addiction…My wife however…she might blame you…
Or you can just shoot pigs all year long! I’ll opt for whacking a pig over anything else any day.
Ha! Happy to be of “service”, Dave! Yet another unsuspecting hunter lured into the dark world of hog hunting!
And Chad, I definitely like hunting them all year. But I do love some venison from time to time as well.
Bad news for our group….tried to schedule our annual trip yesterday….area we normally hunt is closed. Drought/fire danger. Outfitter doesn’t know anyone in his area allowing hunters. Man, we all really need some rain/snow…
Bummer to hear that, Mike. Are you looking at other areas? I am about to do some digging around here (I have some new ammo I need to test), and I’d be glad to send info your way.
Phillip, thanks for the offer. We are interested. We generally hunt south of Childress. We’re spot and stalk guys. Have never been very interested in sitting over feeders.
Look forward to any help you can provide…
Honestly, everything I can find here is going to be either stands or Texas safari. I do have a buddy involved with a 10,000 acre ranch (definitely big enough for spot and stalk), but I don’t know if they allow it. I need to give him a call anyway, so I’ll check. I’ll also keep my eyes open for other opportunities in this area.
It sounds like you guys would absolutely dig the Tejon Ranch, back in CA. How much travel are you willing to do?
not that much anymore… We hunted a 20,000 private place in Mendicino county for 7 years. Turkeys and hogs in the grasslands and redwoods. It was a gas. Steep, steep. We’re all a lot older now. Would appreciate you calling your pal.
I’ll let you know what I find, Mike.
Hi there,
My buddy and me are new hunters and want to cut our teeth on hogs. Looking for advice on how to find a guide, or a recommendation on someone? We’re in Austin. What’s your fav hog caliber?
Welcome to the addiction, Jeff. That’s what hog hunting is, once you start. Are you sure you want to do that?
Seriously, it is a kick and if you’re out of Austin, you’re in a great place to start. Central Texas is loaded with hogs, and you shouldn’t have much problem finding a quality hunt without driving across the state. Unfortunately, I haven’t made too many connections here yet, so I can’t offer recommendations on guides or outfitters. You shouldn’t have much trouble finding someone, either online, or checking around local outdoors and gun shops. In general, I will recommend that you go into this with a clear idea of what you’re willing to spend on a hunt, and do a little comparison shopping to see if you’re being realistic. Keep in mind that cheaper isn’t always better, and any deal that sounds too good to be true usually comes with a catch. Ask for and check references. There are plenty of good websites out there you can use as well, such as Texas Hunt Fish (http://www.texashuntfish.com/app/home). Check out their discussion forum, and ask around.
I can give you more direct recommendation for a hog hunting caliber… it’s not flashy or exciting, but the 30-06 is simply hard to beat. It’s a killer on close-range, treestand hogs, and it will also reach out down a sendero if your shots are out there at 200 yards. The .308 is a great option too, and a lot of folks are fans of the .270. These are all versatile, big-game hunting calibers that you can find in any sporting goods shop. I know there are a fair number of guys, especially down here in Texas, who swear by the .223. I know it works with a good bullet, but I’ll never recommend it. It just doesn’t offer the margin of error that the heavier calibers do.
For a bullet, most good big game bullets will work. However, I recommend something that holds together and penetrates, such as some of the bonded bullets like the Winchester XP3 or Accubond. The lead free options like the Winchester ETip, Barnes TSX, and Hornady GMX are good too, as they tend to penetrate deep in even the heaviest hogs.
Thanks a lot for the tips, will check out that site.. I know the 30-06 is a versatile caliber. I have hearing damage already from a previous issue. Is there much of a difference in the noise level between a 30 06 and the .270?
Jeff, I don’t think there’s an appreciable difference between the two, all other things being equal (no muzzle brakes, normal barrel length, etc.). For that matter, some people have claimed that my .243 is louder than my 30-06, so go figure. Caliber isn’t necessarily an arbiter of how loud a gun will be… at least not once you get into centerfire hunting rifles.
Even if hearing damage wasn’t already present, I do recommend looking into some of the digital hearing protection, like SportEar (which is the brand I’ve been using). I like these things a lot, and while they do take a little getting used to, they can really be a big help in the field and at the range.
At the very least, keep a pair of regular old ear plugs on a string around your neck while hunting, and pop them in as you set up for a shot. It only takes a second, and under most circumstances, you’ll have plenty of time to do it.
Great info! Hearing protection was next on my list to research. Gracias!
Hi Phillip. Me and friend of mine are new to pigs hunting. And this is my first year of hunting at all. I live in Orange county, CA and we want to go and look in Cleveland National Forest for pigs. Can you please point us in a correct direction of the area. I called CNF office, but did not get much help. Area is just too big.
Dmitriy, I would love to have some specific information for you, but I have never spent any time in the CNF. If the National Forest office isn’t providing much help, you might also try to get in touch with the regional CA DFG biologist. I’ve had mixed success talking to them, but you might be able to squeeze a little bit of information. You might also take a look at the maps on this site to get a good idea of a starting point. (http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/cleveland/home/?cid=stelprdb5304654&width=full)
Remember that you need to find water to find pigs. It doesn’t have to be a river or lake. I’ve found that the little, isolated springs far from the beaten trail can be great places to locate hogs. Generally, you’ll want to get as far away as possible from the main roadways, parking lots, and trailheads. Use the maps to identify possible habitat. Google Earth can be helpful as well, especially when it comes to locating the wet spots (look for dense green growth).
Good luck!
i live in clear lake cali.i have been pig hunting several times and no pigs can any one help with direction to hunt on public land
Craig, public land hog hunting in CA is the hardest method, with the lowest possible odds of hunter success. The best advice or direction I can offer is to get out there as much as you possibly can, learn everything you possibly can about your hunting area, and hunt the heck out of it. Seriously, the best way to be successful on public land is to find out where hogs have been (recently), and then beat it until the day comes when you and the hogs cross the same point at the same time. That’s what it takes to be successful on public land. Well.. either that or a dose of crazy luck. Sometimes it takes both.
The reward is that if you are successful, you’ll have done something that only a tiny fraction of California hunters have ever been able to pull off.
Your fallback plan is to find an affordable, pay-to-play operation and go guided or semi-guided on private land.