free hog hunting in Texas?

[Hatchetjake]

Hi, I was thinking the other day about hunting hogs and I decided I would like to go down to Texas sometime and harvest a few pigs. Can you hunt pigs for free over there? I hear about the problems they have with them all the time. Also what kind of caliber would you use? I was thinking of using my .22 Mag with 50 grain hollowpoints and only taking head shots to the ear or eye hole.
Thanks

 

[Caninelaw]

Might start your research here...

Taking Advantage of Texas Public Land Hunts - Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors (JHO)

Key phrase in this article is under the picture in the lower right corner...

Texas is almost all private land, so any opportunity to hunt public land is a gift.

Also, I wouldn't use the .22 mag. That is way under gunned for pigs. You get them PO'ed and they'll come after you.

Also some good info here...http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/pig/docs/pigguide.pdf

In that source is a recommendation for what ammo is good to use for pigs (see page 13). I don't know about Texas but in California a .22 rimfire, LR or Mag, is not a legal weapon for big game anyway.

 

[JvT]

Outfitters and day leases are running anywhere from $150 a day and up. Free on private land is not easy unless you know someone. What little public land can be crowded and often gets the pigs nocturnal.

 

[Caviel]

Well hachet, i'm about to head down to Texas to go on several hog hunts once i get down there. They are right, in Texas most of the hogs are on private land and its pretty hard to find a place where you can hunt them for free unless you have family or friends down there. Do you know anybody who lives down there?, maybe they can help you out. The prices for hog hunts are great compared to California prices, best advice to shop around. You could also check this website, ( to help the guy out and not for advertisment) Texas Hunting Forum - discussion, community, news, events, destinations, and everything to do with hunting in Texas.. This is where I get all my Texas hunting info. Plus you might wanna post in the hog hunting section on the THF and see what offers you get. The guys make some pretty good deals. Some will even offer you deals where you pay lets say 100 dollars a day with no trophy or kill fee and you can kill as many hogs as you want. If you need any extra help, feel free to pm me.

Good Luck
Caviel

 

[257scramjet]

i would not shoot a wild hog with a 22 mag! use a good caliber like a 243,2506,7mm-08, 270, 308, 3006, 7mm mag, 300 win mag etc etc. and have fun! good luck!:hog chewing:

 

[sancho]

I was thinking of using my .22 Mag with 50 grain hollowpoints and only taking head shots to the ear or eye hole.
Thanks

you serious?

 

[Hatchetjake]

Sure I'm serious! On the farm we used to shoot the pigs with a .22 Mag and I'm a great shot with my rifle. I've also heard stories from my mother and grandfather about them slaughtering steers with a regular .22. If the mag is not legal how about a .223? Oh, and thanks for all the help!

 

[Caninelaw]

Sure I'm serious! On the farm we used to shoot the pigs with a .22 Mag and I'm a great shot with my rifle. I've also heard stories from my mother and grandfather about them slaughtering steers with a regular .22. If the mag is not legal how about a .223? Oh, and thanks for all the help!

Yeah, and I've heard of people on farms just clubbing them over the head with a sledge hammer before they butcher them. Care to try that with a wild hog with 2 inch cutters? Comparing hunting in the field to slaughtering an animal (which is used to humans around it) in the farm yard is like comparing the Autopia ride at Disneyland to the Daytona 500.

Why handicap yourself? Yes, we all know you're a perfect shot and never miss but why not use a round that is capable of doing the job, even if your aim just happens to be little off. Is that really fair to the animal to use something that, unless you get it in exactly the right spot, will likely only wound it to run off and die elsewhere a day or two later? Just the type of ammo the anti-hunting community needs.

Suggest you re-read page 13 of the pig hunting guide. Link was in my prior post.

 

[Hatchetjake]

Well Caninelaw, I am not implying that I am "a perfect shot and never miss." I AM implying that I burn more ammo in this .22 Mag than all my other guns combined and can pop a coyote in the eye at 100 yards with it. I would only be shooting from a rest anyhow, so its not like I am going to try to shoot a pig after running around and am out of breath. Furthermore, I am very patient and can and will pass up iffy shots.

I read page thirteen of the pig guide and I thank you for it but maybe you should realize that this is the recommendation for calibers and I agree it is a good one for the thousands of people that read it. However, I am not like many others who only shoot a few rounds a year. That said, I realize you don't know me or know my high ethical standards (I am one of those individuals who believes a head shot is most ethical) so I believe you are an ethical hunter to recommend a higher caliber out of respect for all living. I too agree that most people should use a higher caliber. For you other readers I am in no way saying just anybody should use a rimfire for something like this.

So Caninelaw, I would like to end this post by saying I respect you and do not wish to get rude or sarcastic with you. I hope we can remain peaceful and continue to view each others beliefs and methods. Until next time, Hatchetjake.

 

[sancho]

100 yards..coyote eyeball? wow.

anyways. most of my hogs killed have been with a .22. but these are slaughter animals, and the gun is held to the head. pop! dead piggie.

hunting..i wouldnt do it..but i'm not a seasoned hunter with mad sniper skills like yourself. i currently chose to do the wet work with a bow an arrow..and apparently, i'm not any better..i have only 3 dead pigs to my credit with a bow. all 3 of them were texan pigs.

 

[Farmerdoug]

Last year I took one of my aging sows down to get slaughtered. She was a mean old beoch who ended up taking (3) .22lr at point blank to the head. Point blank! If you think you can go Lee Harvey Oswald with a .22 mag, more power to you. Personally, if was driving or flying all the way to texas to shoot a pig, I'd bring a little more fire power. I'm not sure where you live or how from Texas you are, but if your coming from California, you're already gonna have quite a bit of money invested before you even get there. I'd rather be a little more safe than sorry. But that's just my opinion.......:hog chewing: Wish you luck. Post the money shots when you get back....

 

[RoosterKiller]

I just came back from hunting hogs in Texas. We shot several hogs probably 12 in all.
However we had 2 that were head shot with 30-06 that once they quit quivering on the ground. They were just laying there all dead and all. Next thing you know they were up a running with half thier head blown off never to be seen again.Another friend head shot one with a .223 that one got up and ran into the lake and drowned and sank to the bottom.
So good luck with that .22mag. I am sure you will kill some and I am sure you will lose some. No matter what caliber you use.
Prices in Texas vary a lot. Take your time and you'll find a good deal.
Good Luck!

 

[k_rad]

I just came back from hunting hogs in Texas. We shot several hogs probably 12 in all.
However we had 2 that were head shot with 30-06 that once they quit quivering on the ground. They were just laying there all dead and all. Next thing you know they were up a running with half thier head blown off never to be seen again.Another friend head shot one with a .223 that one got up and ran into the lake and drowned and sank to the bottom.
So good luck with that .22mag. I am sure you will kill some and I am sure you will lose some. No matter what caliber you use.
Prices in Texas vary a lot. Take your time and you'll find a good deal.
Good Luck!

hey where are the pictures???

 

[spectr17]

Next thing you know they were up a running with half thier head blown off never to be seen again.

So those pigs ran off half cocked Glocked?

Yeah, where am the pics?

 

[RoosterKiller]

Fair enough-Some pics

Here are pics of my two pigs. There were six of us total.Everybody got at least two pigs each.

 

[Hatchetjake]

Ok, So no go on the mag. How about a .357 Mag loaded with 180 grain Hornady XTP bullets shot from a rifle. I know a guy who might let me borrow one. Either that or my 30-30 with 150 grain loads. Also, thanks for the other info. Could anybody give me more specific outfitters to check out? I am looking mainly for small pigs in in the 100-150 pound range and preferably to be a young sow.

 

[Caninelaw]

Ok, So no go on the mag. How about a .357 Mag loaded with 180 grain Hornady XTP bullets shot from a rifle. I know a guy who might let me borrow one. Either that or my 30-30 with 150 grain loads. Also, thanks for the other info. Could anybody give me more specific outfitters to check out? I am looking mainly for small pigs in in the 100-150 pound range and preferably to be a young sow.

Out of those two I'd go with the 30-30. That should be good inside 100 yards, maybe a little more with those smaller pigs. From what I've seen on TV of Texas pig hunting I'd bet most shots will be under 100 yards anyway. The .357 might be ok in a rifle but the 30-30 would be better.

 

[Killzone]

Ok, So no go on the mag. How about a .357 Mag loaded with 180 grain Hornady XTP bullets shot from a rifle. I know a guy who might let me borrow one. Either that or my 30-30 with 150 grain loads. Also, thanks for the other info. Could anybody give me more specific outfitters to check out? I am looking mainly for small pigs in in the 100-150 pound range and preferably to be a young sow.

Dude, in Texas you can hunt with feeders and at night with lights.

Hell you can hide inside a feeder at night and jump out at your 100 pound sow with your pistol, knife or whatever. lol

Unless you have a free ride to texas, by the time you add the cost of getting there to the cost of the hunt its way cheaper to hunt Calif hogs, the weather is better too here.

 

[Sully]

My boy and I use 30-30s all the time. I use the leverrevolution, and he uses the rem corelokts. (when we are shooting lead). The leverrevolution is a good round to reach out a little further, but I havent had the expansion that my boy has. He doesnt like them. The exit holes he's had with the rems are incredible.

On the .223, I havent thought of shooting a pig with mine (browning A-bolt). But I would probably take a shot if the circumstances were right. I shoot this rifle a ton, and we have taken ground squirrels with it at 400 yards.

Good luck, would like to hear about a texas hunt and see some pics too. We've only hunted Ca and Florida.

 

[RoosterKiller]

In California it costs about $600 to shoot a pig.If you are unlucky you may not even see one or get one. In texas that $600 will get you unlimited pigs plus room and camp cook,skinner, guide and gas there and back.for 3 days and two nights.Not to mention that in Ca you can't hunt at night or over feeders. So for the money I'll go to texas twice a year and keep the freezer full.