Im looking for a 'guided' type pig hunt in Texas...lodging etc.

It seems there are more shysters in the pig business down there than anything else...

If not that, its outfits that apparently don't need the business cause they wont return calls or emails..


I am aware of Prickly Pear outfitters that Dan has lined up for the hunt, and can't wait to try them out.


Meanwhile Im open to any suggestions if you guys have any good experiences.


Thanks in advance.


Poobs

Surprised you haven't received any recommendations for musk ox outfitters in AK. Yet...

Holler at Bruce poobs....he's guiding now but leave him a msg.

ingwe, if you are really serious and not just joking, I have hunted pigs quite a few times with the Nail Ranch.. The ranch is not as big as it used to be, but I killed two eating hogs 2 years ago in Feb.. Didn't go last year but plan to this year..

I'll check them out. Thanks!

I'll be hunting predators with Bruce again in Feb. I assure you I'll be picking his brain!

About 8 of us hunted Northern Sky Ranch last winter. Its a small fenced ranch, about 300 acres. They trap the pigs elsewhere and bring them in before the hunt. Nice part of texas, nice people, cheap. We found them running a special on craigslist for 175$ per person for 2 days of hunting, lodging and grub.

Its not really hunting in the sense of how we hunt public land in Colorado. Everything is set up for you and you are pretty much guaranteed to shoot as many pigs as you want. If you are looking for something basic that will result in some full coolers i would recommend it. If you are looking for a more wild hunt it might not be what you're looking for.

Two links for you sir:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...nchester_Ridge_2015-_feral_p#Post9515017

http://www.winchesterridge.com/

Great place and owner Joe is a great guy.

Thanks a bunch! He is right in the area I'll be hunting! I already sent him an email!!


Good info.

Did you ever call Ken Faires?

Apparently not...name doesn't ring a bell....


Did you recommend him in an earlier thread?

956-638-5534
The ranch is 4500 acres in Zapata County in South Texas. I think he told me $200 including room and meals. Pigs are stupid thick there. Right now he's probably booking management whitetail hunts. In addition to hunting, he also does sport fishing in the Gulf. He's a good one to have on speed dial. His father is a good friend of mine. He owns the ranch and the boat, but he's turned over all the hunting and fishing to his son, Ken.

OK, Duly noted! Thanks a bunch! I will be calling him!

Yes. I found your inquiry in my messages. November 14 last year.

Thanks again! Already got him on a post-it note stuck to my desk!

Is pig hunting worth a crap in early May? Been getting mixed answers to that one.....

I couldn't answer that, but Ken sure can. That young man practically lives out there at the ranch.

10-4!

I just talked to Ken. He's waiting for your call.

You might want to talk to him about the deer hunt. Lots of BIG bucks out there.

I'm going to the Austin - Bastrop area April 10th to my nephews wedding and considered pig hunting, this has been helpful.

I Just called Ken, he sounds like the real deal. I really appreciate that tip!

Hmmm...

My thoughts as well.

We may have to talk at the 24HCF pig hunt.......

He is. Hope you have a good time. They have excellent accommodations out there. Anyone else interested, tell him Kelly sent ya'.

I have also hunted with Ken several times. Lots of hogs and great lodging. A real deal for the price.

Thanks for that input!

www.nighthogs.com

www.hogwildadventures.com

Hoglets don't have access to a calendar.

If it's cold they come in before daylight and at dark-thirty.

If its moderate, they come in before daylight and at dark-thirty.
If its 115 degrees F. at 8 PM on June 21st, they come in before daylight and at dark-thirty.

If there is corn or anything edible they will come in all hours of the night.

If you are in the right place at the right time, Voila!! One can perforate a porker.

That simple.

I killem' monthlhy, (sometimes bi-monthly).

Biggest thing is how often the area in which you are set up has been hunted recently (unless its put-n-taek, behind a high fence).

recent volunteers........



















JAPPFT,


GWB

Invest in a decent "Kill Light" and then you can nail the buggers when they come in after dark.........



I'm currently using the Wicked Light 403 with universal mount, variable rheostat and telescoping lens. Good to 400 yds.

One can avail oneself of this for $140 to $250 depending on the kit you buy.........

http://www.allpredatorcalls.com/wic...ator-hog-night-hunting-kit-wuth-red-led/


JAPPFT


GWB

Poobah, May is good. And we kill them year round here at the Ranch, but they do start to get nocturnal when it gets too damn hot here in TX. And if course, cool weather is better to prevent meat spoilage. Another vote for the Nail Ranch. They are only about 60 miles from our Home Ranch, and have a really good reputation, here. Ted Nugent used to do quite a bit of hunting there.

On the big Hill Country Ranch I manage down on the Colorado River, I saw over a 100 hogs yesterday morning feeding on my newly planted wheat. Also about 60 deer, so I was not paying much attention to the hogs. Bucks are just starting to rut here, so they had my undivided attention.

Forgot to mention, I've got a friend that flies helicopters for a big Ranch just north of us up by the famous 6666 or 4 Sixes Ranch. They do some really fun Helicopter Hunts for Feral Hogs. It ain't cheap, but it's just about as much fun as you can legally have. It's around $800 to $1000 bucks per hour, depending if you use your own AR15, or you use one of there Class 3 Weapons! I can get his phone # if your interested.

Some pictures of the hunting lodge in Zapata.

Thanks guys! I feel like stick having to answer posts like this:


GW: I got the kill light covered, a benevolent member hooked me up with a green one, used it last Jan on pigs...it worked !!!!


Chili: Cant do the helicopter thing, no matter how much I'd like to...got an inquiry to the Nail ranch in, and should get an answer when they aren't covered up in deer hunters.


KMS: Thanks mucho for the photos! I'm thinking thats the cream of the crop that Ive contacted thus far!

A pix of my lodge in July.......





and when it's a mite cooler......



JAPPFT,

GWB

GW, did you ever get my Laredo Bowie bloody on a hog yet? That was one sharp SOB!

Even got a concrete swimmin' pool that Ellie Mae might envy!



Perfect for coolin' down, or takin' a whore-bath with a tee shirt after 4 or five days of sweatin' like a politician telling the truth.

CI,

I've become a wuss in my old age.......



Shot three hoglets last week. Only one was DRT. I've decided after 40+ years of tracking the suckers after dark on my hands and knees, with a pistol in one hand and a light in the other, the odds of me and a bad mofo boar coming face to face are stacking up. So no, I've not had the pleasure of sticking one. However, it is a sharp SOB. No doubt about it.

Best,


GWB

If you would let me stick one with your Randall, I'd jump in that swimming' pool!

No problem. Just say the word!!

If you're ever in the neighborhood.................


I'd be willing to bet we could find something that would suffice in a pinch.

JAPPFT,


GWB

The one at the 3 o'clock position.....



and BTW, when Im headed that way, you'll have to tell me what neighborhood you are in!

So now we're talking knives?

I did order a new Swearingen last week, which he says will be done before Christmas. Big Honking gorgeous forged blade, and it will cost me less than a similar size Randall

Welllll......actually I went " Hog-Doggin" last year, we killed 17 pigs that night with knives ......thats my quota.
Glad I had the experience.


Don't need to do it again.




But Ive often thought that Randall at the 3 o'clock position would be absolutely ideal for what we were doing.

That Randall Dagger GW has is the Shizzle. I'm envious!!!

mmm...just guessing it's a model 2-7, maybe a 2-8.

I ordered one of these "Der Camp Knife", though with a slightly different handle.

http://www.swearingenknife.com/camp-bowie.html

Interesting knives....

The pigs are still there in May, but will be mostly nocturnal as it will be hot. Most places will want you to go during cold weather months, which even then in South Texas can be very warm. The meat is very good, much better than the pork from the grocery store, so take care of it and take it home.

I leave the backstrap attached to the ribs, and then split the ribs in half lengthways. The top half with the backstrap attached is only for special occasions. Cook it slow over low heat around 275 for 7 - 8 hours, and it is really tender and tasty. The internal meat temp should reach 160F to kill any nasty stuff.

For an all inclusive package hunt with lodging on a large low fence ranch, try John Austin who books through the Cochina Hunting Club. This is the heart of Golden Triangle, so you may see some really big deer as well. There are some pigs in this area that have Russian boar genetics, and so there is a chance for one that will make a nice Euro or shoulder mount.

They have a nice camp, not luxury, but good, clean, well run, with decent food.

Capt. Mike Powell is another option with a long established business. He is mainly on the east side of South Texas near the coast, so that country is not as harsh and there are lots of pigs, mostly smaller than the ones on the Cochina.

Here is a video from a large ranch where I used to hunt, which is near the Cochina Ranch. This is typical of the habitat and size and appearance of the pigs.



Good size from the western side of South Texas.

Jeff, I agree with you on the quality of wild pork. It has the full flavor of the pork we used to get when I was a kid, eating outdoor pen-raised hogs raised on the family farm in Saskatchewan. Good eatin!

And thanks for the tip on butchering the backstrap with the ribs... I'm gonna try that on the next hog I kill.

Poobah, I realize you've prolly got your hunt all set up, but next time around if you're interested in a free hog hunt in a prime location, with comfortable lodgings at Casa de la Rocket, give me a PM or call.

fyi corrected my post above after checking notes instead of just my memory - cook at 275 and the internal temp of the meat should reach 160F to kill any nasty stuff.

Yep, let's do so. Nuthin' but time here...

to the original poster ......i dunno how mutch that hunting lodges cost but your more than welcome to come out here for a week, ill take you to several properties, shoot some pigs, catch some with dogs and depending where we go get some other game like bulls donkeys etc. wont cost you a cent other than flights. shoot maybe couple hundred animals for the week

I would LOVE to do a hunt in Oz but my days of long plane flights are pretty well behind me...

Hell, I avoid any plane flights as much as possible. Our airlines and Homeland Security have made flying a real chore....


For instance, on the Texas trip in question, Ill be driving 3 days each way...six days total, rather than spend 6 hours on a plane here....

With guns & dead critters? yeah, think I'd drive, too. Guess I'll have to fly, should I ever go to Alaska or Africa