Public Land Hogs

[szwags]

Anyone have any tips on how to hunt hogs on public land?
Have no idea what state to go to either any help is appreciated.

 

[Ozarkansas]

Most southern states will have some WMAs with pig problems, you can usually find threads on state-level hunting forums discussing the topic at length. As far as how to hunt them I’ve found it’s tough to beat just still-hunting with the wind in your face through a lowland area with a good amount of forest cover, pigs are noisy and lack the periscope neck of deer so they’re easier to creep up on. Plus you usually smell them before you see them.

 

[SteveCNJ]

They travel in packs and can be mean. It's safer not being at ground level.

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[hflier]

Anyone have any tips on how to hunt hogs on public land?
Have no idea what state to go to either any help is appreciated.

What state are you in?

 

[LostArra]

I have not found this to be true. Maybe our hogs are different. If cornered a hog will not hesitate to run at you but only to escape. They are mean as hell to each other.

 

[LostArra]

They travel in packs and can be mean. It's safer not being at ground level.

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Above post refers to this. They do travel in groups.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

Public land pigs, may as well go for unicorns. In Cal. the only public land hunting that I know is on Ft. Hunter Liggett. Well not public but open for hunting. Not great because it is surrounded by private property so most of the pigs turkey, deer and elk don't spend a lot off time on the Fort but every so often you will get lucky if you manage to get into right area, of which there are 32. Pigs are mostly in, maybe three ares.

 

[Poser]

Used to hunt them in TN. Never saw one while hunting them. Kicked one up rabbit hunting once. Walked up on some in the dark while getting into a Turkey hunting spot. They seemed to be exclusively nocturnal. My experience was that hounds is the only feasible way to hint them.

 

[Yarak]

Alabama WMA's all have hogs on them but the issue with hunting them is you have to use the firearm applicable to which season is in
Say youre hunting hogs during deer season then you can used the centerfire rifle of your choice
Say you want to hunt them during the summer well youre screwed because theres no season opened even though the law says hogs can be hunted anytime,,,,except WMA's
During turkey season you can hunt them with a shotgun but with turkey loads and i do not recommend this because you have to be close and can really piss them off if you dont kill them first shot
We have stupid laws and stupid people in G&F dept just like everyone else

 

[OdinIII]

There are plenty on Georgia WMA’s but like Yarak said, you have to hunt them with legal guns for open season game. Most people use .22’s during our long squirrel season.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Come on down most of the state has hogs, south of Columbia there are more pigs, more bugs, more gators....only need a small game license...season is open all year on private. Francis Marion NF has got plenty.

 

[Superkodiak38]

Come on down most of the state has hogs, south of Columbia there are more pigs, more bugs, more gators....only need a small game license...season is open all year. Francis Marion NF has got plenty.

I'll be in Myrtle Beach in Mid December was planning on bringing an extra cooler and my 45-70. I'll have to check that out. Thanks !

 

[FLATHEAD]

Alabama WMA's all have hogs on them but the issue with hunting them is you have to use the firearm applicable to which season is in
Say youre hunting hogs during deer season then you can used the centerfire rifle of your choice
Say you want to hunt them during the summer well youre screwed because theres no season opened even though the law says hogs can be hunted anytime,,,,except WMA's
During turkey season you can hunt them with a shotgun but with turkey loads and i do not recommend this because you have to be close and can really piss them off if you dont kill them first shot
We have stupid laws and stupid people in G&F dept just like everyone else

Yep, public land hunters down here definitely get the short end of the stick.
And I've yet to see the infestation I keep hearing about.
I use a 22 WMR and mix it up, calling Bobcats and Hog hunting.
Gets me out of the house.

 

[Jbogg]

Not sure how far you are willing to drive, but North GA has plenty of Hogs on public land. I have only been hunting the National Forest in the North GA Mountains for the past five years, but I have taken close to a dozen pigs mostly during small game season in January and February. Hogs don’t thermo regulate well, so they need to feed regularly. I have had the most luck hunting on those cold sunny days when the temps only climb above freezing for 3 - 4 hours in the afternoons since this is when they will feed. Find a lush green clover plot on a mountain WMA with fresh hog sign and then wait for them to show up.

While our mountains are not the Rockies, they are plenty steep and rugged. Lots of remote places for a pig to die of old age, so they can and do grow big. All but two of mine were over 150 lbs, with three being over 300lbs. Come on down and shoot them all.

 

[Ozarkansas]

There are plenty on Georgia WMA’s but like Yarak said, you have to hunt them with legal guns for open season game. Most people use .22’s during our long squirrel season.

I’ve found a couple good ways around this (depending on the legal methods of take for small game in your state). One is to use a .22 WMR, the other, better option is to use a shotgun with the largest allowable TSS shot. BB TSS will completely pass through an average sized pig and I’ve seen enough shattered shoulders and femurs to believe that even the largest boar out there would get dropped in one shot. You could probably drop down to #2-#4 and still get adequate penetration on pig skulls if it was necessary to be legal in your state.

 

[HGrodner]

I’m in central Georgia and hunt public land that adjoins rivers. Early season seems to be the best for me. Stalking into hardwood bottoms with wind in your face seems to b your best bet here. August they are gorging themselves on hickory nuts, September/October find the dropping oaks and soft mass. The local wmas have gun hunts that have a lot of pressure so after those the pigs seem to go thicker during and after those hunts. If you come to central Georgia send me a pm and I’ll try to help out any way I can. In addition to work arounds to the legal weapons during small game season, muzzleloaders and archery equipment are legal options.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

I'll be in Myrtle Beach in Mid December was planning on bringing an extra cooler and my 45-70. I'll have to check that out. Thanks !

Add some hip boots or waders to that list...gets swampy quick, depending on recent rainfall totals. Dec shouldn't have to worry to much about rattlers or gators. They will still be there just slower.

 

[SOJ51]

In my experience in California, there is quite a bit of public land but the hogs seems to be pushed towards private land due to all the pressure. I did some scouting in the western Elk Creek area near the Mendocino National Forest. I did see some signs of wallowing but didn't get eyes on any hogs during my time up there.

 

[FLS]

They travel in packs and can be mean. It's safer not being at ground level.

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I’ve killed a lot of hogs. The only ones that were ever aggressive were cornered or had a dog attached. Had a few pick the path I was on for their escape but there was no malice in them.

 

[SteveCNJ]

I’ve killed a lot of hogs. The only ones that were ever aggressive were cornered or had a dog attached. Had a few pick the path I was on for their escape but there was no malice in them.

Until you shoot at them.

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