Please help - DIY hog hunt

[talkingcabbage]

Hey guys.  Me and a buddy are wanting to do a diy hog hunt this fall and have no idea where to start.  We both have families, so it has to be as inexpensive as possible.  We're planning on primitive camping (tents, fire, no electric) at least 5 days and spot-n-stalk hunting.  We're from Southern Iowa, so drive and gas will be a factor.  It doesn't matter to me if we're on public or private land, but we'd really like to connect with a hog.  

Does anyone have any suggestions on where to be looking?  Maybe a favorite piece of ground or area that is thick enough with hogs that a couple Iowa boys could make it work?  Maybe a private area that we could get permission to hunt on?  I'm not opposed to paying to hunt private land, but it needs to be within reason for us.  We both have wife and kids at home that we need to care for too!

Thanks in advance for some suggestions!

[macbow]

If you have good hunting spots in Iowa for deer you might want to look for a swap with someone with good hog hunting.

[talkingcabbage]

I do, but I'd feel bad if they came to Iowa and didn't go home with anything.  An out of state tag is around $500 here!  I don't mind setting someone up, but I'd hate for them to have to travel, pay the outrageous licenses, and go home empty handed.

I guess I'd just like some direction, or some advise about where to go from someone who's been there.  Not really looking for a hand out by any means.

[threeunder]

Georgia has a ton of hogs and a ton of public land.  License is cheap.  Its definitely not a walk in the park to hunt any animal on public land, but Georgia has hogs.
A fall trip would require a big game license since whitetail season would be open.
If you wait until after deer season closes at the end of the calendar year, you'll only need a regular hunting license (WMA stamp if you hunt on one of the many WMA's).
I've heard there are many opportunities for public land hogs in Florida, but I have no experience with that state.
I've hunted NC, SC, and GA.  My pick, hands down, would be Georgia.

[Fastltz]

I just went through this and have a trip planned in alabama. What I did was ended up putting an add on Craigslist in the farm and lawn sections that I wanted to help get rid of there pigs. Got a call and a great deal. Feel free to pm me if you want more info

[Whip]

Take a look at PBS and their membership hunts.  Here is a link to a sorry about the latest adventure.
 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=143006;p=1

[Wudstix]

Joe; There aren't any feral hogs in Iowa?

[talkingcabbage]

Thanks for the tips guys.  There are a few, but the dnr won't tell you where and from what I understand they're all in the southwest corner.  I just want somewhere where they are abundant and I have an "almost" guarantee to get one.  I suppose that craigslist ad is a pretty good idea.  I think I will pm you in a bit Fastltz.

[JamesV]

Joe............

Check out Panther Swamp in the Mississippi Delta. Lots of hogs and you can camp in Delta National 10 miles away. There are hogs in Delta national but the locals run dogs on horses there and keep them thinned out.

James

[Jerry Russell]

If you hunt hogs in Georgia the only license required is an apprentice license. It is $20 for thee day license and can be renewed after three days.  Again this is for hogs and fishing only on private land.  WMA's require a stamp but it is still a great value.

[JohnV]

The closest you will find huntable populations of free-roaming hogs is probably going to be Oklahoma.  The are quite a few private ranches there that offer  pig hunts.  This could help you home in on a particular area.  You might try posting some ads in local newspapers.  Try calling state wildlife biologists.  Most would like to see hogs eradicated.