So being a northerner who wants to hunt hogs on public lands, I'm left without any places in my Michigan home to do so. I would love to do a do it yourself on public land someplace south and was wondering if anybody had some tips they could share?
Do a search on "Hill style hog hunt" or similar words. There are WMAs in the south that have plenty enough hogs for chasing.
CHuckC
I'm gonna give this one a bump as I'm also interested in the same thing. Especially the Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas areas. :campfire: :campfire:
Panther Swamp federal management area in the Mississippi Delta. Check online for information and regs.
Texas has WMA hunts that are as fair chase as you want.
I chase them almost every weekend on our WMA's. I would gladly help you guys out if we could make a weekend of it.
I will warn you though, these hogs here are not your typical "stupid" hog. They are some of the smartest I have ever heard of. I have been busted over 100 yards away several times while walking in near silent conditions.
WMA's here will allow a non resident to hunt them for under $40 a day.
Do a search on line for Texas Park and Wildlife public hunting areas...I think the non resident license is about 40 bucks for 5 days as long as you're not hunting deer...and the permit is another 40 or so...
We have WMA's in the north and east of the state that are loaded with hogs and varmints...
I've actually heard some good things about Panther swamp. Michugan traditional Bowhunters used to do a hunt on wma's in Georgia that I regret that I never attended.
Lungbuster,
Don't disregard Georgia. There is an insane amount of public land there that has hogs. That is where the Hill gang has held their last couple.
There is no shortage of hogs in Georgia.
Ken
I did Georgia last Jan and it was a great trip. So good we went back in Feb. Have a trip planned again this JAN.
Hog hunt sounds great but don't want to travel all the way to Texas etc. anybody hunt va or North Carolina wma. Coming from nj.
Virtually no hogs in Virginia on public land. There are very, very, very few in a couple of scattered pockets on private land in Virginia.
I'm sure that will change in a few years.
Hogs will never be much further north then South Carolina. Period, Been here for 500 years and it's going to take more than a "few years" for then to get north.
Lungbuster just start hitting the very southern states DNR web sites and divide what they say about the "hog problem" by 7 and you'll get close to the truth. Only a few states have real good public land hunting for hogs and Texas isn't one of them. Texas has lots of pork but it's mostly on private land. Search sites like this one for old hog hunting posts and you'll get a good starting point. A lot of guys get it in their head you can just pile out of the truck and start killin swine on a WMA but it's not that easy. Sign is sign, it's not pork. Pig sign can last a long time in the woods. If it's not a streaming turd, all it means is a pig was there at one time. Pigs can be anywhere and you just have to walk look and really listen to find them.
Thanks guys. I won't lie I'm a bit intimidated heading out in unfamiliar wilderness. But I really wanna get a crack at some pork on their turf. All the input is helpful!
Lungbuster, I sent you a pm
Lots of wma hunts available in the South for sure. Georgia has more public land than you could hunt in a lifetime. Hunting in January and February will give you hunts with virtually no one around. Our $20 apprentice license makes it very affordable as well.
Don't be intimidated by an away hunt. It is the exploring aspect that makes these kind of hunts so much fun.
Be aware of the rules in the Georgia WMAs. There is a WMA fee. I made a half dozen calls and got two very different answers (from their DNR).
From the best of my knowledge, you NEED to have a WMA tag. No matter what licence you carry. That is around $70 if I recall, but worth it, and it is good for a year.
I enjoyed my short hunt in GA this year, except for the big storm that came and ended it early.
Chuckc
Bump....this topic has peaked my interest.
Lungbuster, pm again
Forget NC, not enough here to hunt. This would be why I head south to Jim and Irv at True South Adventures every spring/summer
It's exactly as killinstuff said.
Pigs are not just everywhere.
When it comes to pigs and taking meat home consistently, it's best to hunt where they are attracted and centralized because of their voracious appetite. Best results usually means a corn feeder.
They'll eat most anything and will come to root, devour acorns, eat watermelon and other fruits, but you gotta be somewhat lucky to time it just right.
On a typical 3-5 day hunt, if a guy wants to have a reasonable expectation of getting a shot, and if your vacation time is worth anything, your best bet might be a free-range, non-high fence, reasonably priced outfitter hunt.
Welcome to True South Adventures.
There are other sponsors here that offer good hog hunts as well.
Believe me, Jim and I tried a lot of WMAs before launching TSA.
Most, (in Florida) have strict rules, short time frames, lots of hunters when they do open up, trespasser problems, lots of vehicles, and firearms mixed with bows.
There might be exceptions, but we spent a lot of time scouting and not so much time shooting.
I just gave Jim the dates I will be in Fl. Hoping to meet you Irv. I'll arrive on Jan. 19th and be there for a couple of weeks.
Looking forward to my first hog hunt.
Wayne
I also am diy on pork. I went to the panhandle a wma. Found little by way of pigs. Punctured a tire so I went to town for repairs and the fella there told what the government didnt. The sniped the pigs (couple hundred)out of helicopters two weeks before we went there.
Left a bad taste in my mouth for texas.
Wasted time,money and vacation. I feel they should of told me as we talked several times over the phone.
Lungbuster Im in WI. If you need company.
Lou (not to texas)
Wayne,
Looking forward to meeting you as well.
Two weeks is a nice long time to get acquainted with the area.
Lots to do there in addition to hogs.
I enjoy my winters there whether working or relaxing.
Irv