I am planning on a hog hunt to the Lone Star State with 4 buddies next spring. One of the guys would really like to have a chance at a javelina while we are there, which puts us in south Texas where there is no closed season (we will be going in April). I have contacted a couple of outfitters, and it sounds like the drought has had some effect on the hog population. Any of you Texicans have any recommendations on a place that would have lots of hogs plus javies. We would prefer bowhunting only, but don't know if that is a feasible thing or not. Any input would be appreciated.
solana ranch was a hoot. I saw bunches of hogs and shot two in three days. I hope to go back again this winter.....they are tradgang sponsors, so....
Joe
There are a mess of them at Solana and its run by straight up people. I saw one large sounder on my last years hunt there that outran me on a foot chase in the dark and heard another fighting and squealing that took too long to get to me before the sun went down. Im going back next month for a rematch. Longfellow ranches is also a sponsor which has me wanting to do a javi/hog hunt my own self.
Anyone else?
There is no closed season on feral hogs, but some counties in Texas do have a season and bag limit on javelina.
In some Texas northern zone counties there is a season and bag limit on javelina. While other southern zone counties don't have a closed season or bag limit on javelina.
Below is a link to Texas Parks & Wildlife game animal hunting seasons. Once on the page, scroll on down to the "Javelina" animal category and check for the Texas county you plan on bowhunting javelina and feral hogs.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/season/animal_listing/#javelina
Although Solana is a great ranch with lots of feral hogs, you are NOT likely to ever see a javi there. You need to go further south. I will ask around and see if I can come up with anything for you.
Bisch
Yes, we are looking to the southern counties that hold both javies and hogs, but the ranch guys I have contacted down in Webb county say that they are thick with javelina but the hog population is down due to the drought. Hoping somebody knows a place that might have both in decent numbers.
The place I hunt is not that far south but we are experiencing some "oddities" with our hogs too. I have been hunting there for 10yrs and never had trouble killing pigs there....until this deer season. I think the numbers are still there but they sure have turned nocturnal on us. There is an oil boom in our area right now too and we are dealing with way more traffic then normal so that may have somrthing to do with our situation also.
Bisch
Izzy,
The Longfellow Ranch doesn't appear to have hogs, just javies, and anyhow, it is above my pay grade. I did do some javelina shooting near Ft. Stockton a couple of years ago, and that area sure has lots of javelina if that is what you are after. If you are interested, PM me and I will give you the information on where I went.
Talk to Glenn Smith at Brush Country Bowhunting, in Freer, Texas. A good friend of mine...he has hogs, and javies, and bobcats, and turkey, and deer, and badgers, and..........
GREAT GUY. GREAT place to hunt......
Hey Trooper Centaur, I will back up what has been said above. You will definately need to go south. I will be at the Claggett Ranch (Southwestish out of George West) in Feburary with about 25 other Firefighting Bowhunters. Other options are the Cadena (Near Realitos,I have the #) and depending if you want to go W.Texas you can contact That fellow tradganger ,Charles (I Think) at 7th Age Bowhunting... Let me know if I can help out . Tu Compadres, Sutty
Gracias, Amigos,
Now we are getting somewhere!
Another reason why I like to bowhunt javelina. They're "not" nocturnal.
Also, if it's real cold, I think javelina like to "sleep in'. I see them feedng after 9am when it's real cold at first light.