Friend and I want to hunt pigs, questions.

[Matt S]

Hey all, my friend and I want to go on a hog hunt somewhere but I don't know where to start or what I should look for. I see lots of you guys do a lot of boar hunting and was hoping I could get some good suggestions on where to go and some good tips on the subject in general. I shoot trad and my buddy shoots wheels so it can't be any trad only places. We are willing to travel as far as Texas(we're in central Illinois) to hunt. Any help would be very much appreciated, Thanks.

[hunt it]

Look up Curtis at 7th AGE Bowhunts a sponsor here. You'll do no better and Curtis will put you on hogs. Nobody knows hogs better than Curtis! You'll get many many good references from the trad gang on Curtis's operation.

[ChuckC]

Matt.  when are you thinking of going.  a frind and I would like to consider going hog hunting in Jan / Feb / Mar.  Something like Curtiss's place sounds great, and we are not at all against that, but we also like doing things on our own.

I have heard that there are a bunch of hogs in Tennessee, Georgia, the Carolinas and such.  Any one up for talking about a week of hog hunting in a place like that ?
Just wondering at this point
ChuckC

[Jeff Holchin]

I can offer a little advice - hogs are one of my favorite animals to hunt.  I have lived and hunted in both Carolinas, and hunt Georgia too. Hunted hogs in Texas too. Don't know anything about hog hunting in TN except you can go to fenced places.  Assuming you want to hunt hunt wild hogs, and that your time and experience is limited, forget NC.  In SC you can hunt hogs year round on private land but must pay - you can hunt them during the deer seasons on public land.  I killed one and missed several in the Francis Marion NF a few years ago, right on the coast.  I like GA for hogs - they are considered small game so that NR license is cheap, but you need a WMA stamp - check the regs but I think the small game season ends in mid to late feb.  Some military bases there let you hunt them year round, and it is cheaper because no WMA stamp is needed.  Check the Georgia site - lots of references to hog hunting, including specific public areas to hunt.  For Texas, you must pay but there are some good options.  Most TX hog hunting is over corn but some areas offer spot and stalk.  I think Curtis's place and Mike Palmer's would be good.  I paid $250/day which included meals and a cabin, and there were javalina too.  License was only $55.

[ChuckC]

Jeff, and others.  

How is that drought affecting hog locations ?  

I would like to hunt wild. free ranging hogs, not caged (penned) critters.  I tend to like researching a sport, area etc and doing it myself.  

I have absolutely no problems with paying to hunt at a lease like with Curtiss or Mike Palmer or the Cadena Ranch (formerly Massey) or the like, but sometimes that "do it yourself" thing is a nice feature.  

A get together with other Trad Gangers might be nice.  I have yet to be able to do that and I have been trying, to no avail.
ChuckC

[Jeff Holchin]

I am the same way - much of the fun is in the planning and any fellowship with Tradgangers is a bonus.  One option to consider is the annual TBG hog/squirrel hunt.  You could check out the TBG using this link...

 http://www.tradbowgeorgia.com/

Membership is inexpensive and you can see that the group events include a hog hunt on public land, held in mid/late Feb.  What better way to hunt a new area and animal with fellow tradgangers and trad bowhunters?  Matt mentioned that his buddy shoots wheels, so that would be a problem for him (unless a good friend loans him a recurve or longbow and helps with the shooting in the next 4 months.......one could be pretty deadly at 10 yards in that time!)

[ChuckC]

Thanks  excellent idea !
ChuckC

[Fenceguy]

If you want to hunt hogs and save yourselves some money then I suggest you look into Southern Oklahoma around lake Texoma area...  Please come a get rid of these things I hate them and they are everywhere....  Thousand of acres of public land at your disposal...  No limits, easy access cheap accomidations 45.00 a night at a local Motel less than 5 miles from an abundance of public land....  PM me for more info....

[bigmike]

aim low and forward !!!!   DO NOT shoot them like a deer !!!   look at  texasboars.com for a good real hog anatomy lesson ,   good luck   mike

[Homebru]

Although it doesn't meet your expectations geographically, next time I get to the Hawaiian islands, I'm going to have my bow.  My wife wants to go there for our 20th wedding anniversary in '09....I'm there...and so is my bow!!!!
homebru

[Curtiss Cardinal]

I'm the Curtiss with 2 "s"es Kellar's is one "s"

 

[vermontrad]

Chuck C Matt and ?, I have had a hankering for hogs as well. Late Jan or early Feb or? The Georgia thing sounds fun and where ever it is it would be a nice break from old man winter!

[adeeden]

If I was looking for a late winter hog hunt I think I would try this one!

 http://www.brothersofthebow.com/html/cabinfeverhunts.html

At the least the company would be very interesting!

[Barry Wensel]

Gene and I spent another two weeks this August in Texas researching new and better hog ranches. We're really excited about what we found. Really excited. We'll be having four, five-day bowhunts this February. Everything should be finalized within the next few days and we'll get it listed on our website as soon as possible. We're having several options of primitive camping or bunks included, so stay tuned. Both Gene and I will be in camp for all the hunts but these will be unguided, "structured, turn you guys loose with suggestions" adventures. We learned a lot over the last few years so we're really looking forward to sharing a few new campfires with those interested. Keep checking  www.brothersofthebow.com  for updated info or send me your postal mailing address and I'll forward you the finalized info via USPS. Thanks. BW

[Brian Halbleib]

Yep, Curtis Kellar, 7th Age Bowhunting  www.cdkellar.com  There you go. It's hard to beat $125-$150 per day to hunt hogs, javelina and rabbits. Plus you get to share camp with a first class dude like Curtis...

-Brian
 www.bowyersjournal.com

[LV2HUNT]

There are lots of places to hunt hogs but really South Texas is a "required" hunting experience.

[Matt S]

Thanks for the replies all, sorry it took me so long to get back but I've been real busy. Looks like me and my buddy has turned in to me and my buddy and two of his buddies lol. So, now we are 4 strong and they all shoot compound, except me of course. I looked over everything on the 7th Age page and didn't see any restrictions on what kind of bow you shoot so I may have to give Curtis(littlefeather right?) a call one of these days. That's where they hunted the rabbits and other critters on the Trad Gang DVD correct? Nice looking place! We are so excited about this and have been talking about it at work like crazy. We been shooting around ideas on some dates and figured I would ask you when the best time to go down there would be. Don't want to too hot or freezing cold at night. Anyways, thanks a bunch guys for your help.

[skeaterbait]

One thing to warn you about hog hunting, it may make all other critters pale in comparison. I got hooked on it about 5 years ago and don't rightly care all that much about deer hunting anymore.

Also, don't be too hard on the "canned hunt", them pigs ain't easy to kill no matter where you are.

[Littlefeather]

Call me when you guys know what dates you are looking at. I'll do what I can to help. Thanks! CK

[Matt S]

Cool, will do Curtis.