Public Land Piggies

[Talondale]

Well, it doesn't look like I'm going to make the draw hunt for pigs on the VA coast so I was thinking of after season hog hunts.  What States have piggies on public land that allow hunting year-round, or during the "off-season" for deer? and how good are the chances for an outer-stater?

I know SC, and GA have pigs running around on public land.  Any others?

[the Ferret]

Fla, Texas

[Ray Hammond]

Georgia, SC

[SOS]

Plan to come to Trad Bowhunter's of GA January Pig hunt or put in for a pig hunt at Ossabaw Island.  Great fun.

[rawshaft]

Texas and are there a bunch of them....

[jimneye]

Public land pigs in Tx?  I thought Tx was mostly private.  Would love to chase a few.

[the Ferret]

Texas is 95% private, but there is some public land there.

[sabas silva]

Texas has the state type 2 you can purchase for $48.00 and you get a booklet with location of areas available to hunt. Some areas have specific hunt periods, but most are very good.
Texas Core of Engineer properties are public and free, they just require a hunter safety certificate.Lots of walking and lots of hogs.
Most of the areas are in East Texas.

[Matt Fowler]

Public land in Florida has some complicated regs regarding when and where you hunt. I've been thinkin' about a trip to that Cohutta Wilderness area in GA. Probably won't get it together this year though. There was a good thread on here about this area.

[Talondale]

Any wild pigs in KY, TN?  I'd like it to be somewhere within easy striking range for a long weekend hunt.  How far south do you have to go to see pigs?

[TheArc]

You are maybe a bit too far for a weekend trip to Monterrey County. Out of staters can get a two day hunting lic for $37.30 and non-res pig tag for(gulp!) $59.60 each. Now that pigs outnumber deer taken as the #1 big game animal, DFG jacked the price for tags up a couple of years ago.

[VA Bowbender]

Chuck,
If I remember correctly I think Tenn. has a fair number of pigs as well as Kentucky.  I think with a little research we could find public land with pigs.  I'll start looking.   In 1995 I went with a friend to Clark Range hunting lodge in Clark Range, Tenn. on a pig hunt.  It was $350.00 then.


 

[Talondale]

Doing some research online. From the TN Game commission website:
"In 2000, the state of Tennessee classified wild boar as any wild hog killed on Catoosa, Cove Mountain, Foothills, or South Cherokee Wildlife Management Area (WMA). These animals have specific hunting seasons and are required to be checked-in as a big game animals. All other wild hogs in the state of Tennessee are considered feral hogs and can be hunted year round on private lands and they are not required to be checked-in. Those animals that have been checked-in in counties containing the above mentioned WMA’s have been deemed wild boar and placed in their respective WMA."

Seems Catoosa and South Cherokee WMAs have the most kills, based on harvest reports. With S. Cherokee being the most kills and consistently higher numbers.  That's about 5.5 hours from here.  Anyone hunted there?

[Talondale]

Hmmm.  Seems "Wild Boar" hunting on WMA's and public land is restricted to deer hunting seasons only.  It's open year-round on private land and is refered to as "feral hogs".

[huntsmanlance]

Oklahoma has a whole lot of em down in the southern part. There are allot of public lands there.

Another thing i found out is if ya call the local game warden of an area find out who keeps up with the migrations and they are happy to tell you where the best places are to hunt at any given time "this also includes all the other animals too!"

Good luck!

[rbbhunt]

Most of Oklahoma's public hunting areas have hogs and like huntsmanlance says, probably the southern part of the state is better, but there is a hitch.  According to current regulations, one cannot hunt hogs on public land except in conjunction with another season such as deer.  Best to check the regulations to get it correctly.   www.wildlifedepartment.com   On private land, it's a different story.  Of course, coyotes are open year round and it it leagal to hunt coyotes with a bow.  Put a coyote call in your pocket and have at it!