Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Where to go for Hogs ????

Looking for suggestions to take my boys in the future for public land hog hunting with a good chance of success.

Also how big can hogs get before they are considered inedible?

Thanks,

I don't really know about public land hunts, but I'd think that private land hunts for hogs-only aren't all that expensive, especially after deer season. As far as size goes, I don't know that a sow can get too big to eat. I talked to a guy yesterday who showed me a photo of one his father killed that had a lot of domestic hog blood in it. The weight of that sow was north of 500lbs and they claimed it ate just fine. I've given away several sows in the 200-230lb range and they ate fine too. Concerning boars, it seems to be hit and miss regarding table fare, regardless of size.

The biggest boar I have ever shot weighed almost 400 lbs, live weight, and was one the best eating hogs we have had in the freezer.

BD, you don't say where you live, but hogs are starting to be common, and even a bit of a problem, on public land here in New Mexico, despite the ongoing drought. They are not evenly distributed, but are common in many places in the southern third of the state.

Edited to add: Contact NM Department of Agriculture. They have a feral hog specialist who will steer you to places where they need problem hogs removed.

Thanks guys, I am in Northern MN.

Kind of looking for something different to do with my boys.

Check out the military base in Georgia for public hunting.

Local welfare office has a damn good crop.

Right!

Texas has hog hunts by draw on Wildlife Management Areas for short money, and the one near me is full of hogs, and they have stands in place for hunters. There is also some public land hunting but it is daytime only, no feeders or permanent stands allowed. We have more hogs than any other state, but less public land. The state has looked at all sorts of options to reduce hog population, but I think at least in East Texas, a short open season and stingy bag limit would do the trick, much like it would in Louisiana. Wasn't long ago deer were nearly an endangered species in East Texas.

So far Idaho has only a few, located in south central Idaho. Considering where they are, they have to have been illegally released. They're too isolated to have wandered in without help.

Release is the way they got in southwest Arkansas. They have taken over some places. Damn Fools.

Florida, lots of open public land with and without draws. Depending on your weapon preference seasons range from August to March on public land. PM me if youd like more info.

It's not public, but Spike Box Ranch in Texas has hog hunts fairly reasonable.

I wish I had hogs up here to hunt.. There are a few but they don't last. Up here in Wisconsin we are so desperate to hunt something cause the deer numbers are down. They wouldn't stand a chance around here. We could track them down in the snow or hunt them with hounds. I don't understand why folks complain all the time about hog numbers but charge the day lights for a hunt. 50 bucks would seem fair to help pay for the damage. Then ya got some pork for 50 bucks anyway.

"I don't understand why folks complain all the time about hog numbers but charge the day lights for a hunt. 50 bucks would seem fair to help pay for the damage. Then ya got some pork for 50 bucks anyway."

I have to agree with that. If they're that much of a problem in TX, they should pay us to hunt them.
There are a few hogs near Tucson but because you don't need a license or tags, they're very heavily hunted and it almost has to be totally dark with the hunter being awfully lucky too. There's some hunting on private ground but getting access has not been easy. I have some friends I know that do have access but hooking up at a time that's mutually attractive so far hasn't happened.
Paul B.