First time hog hunter here.

Hello all!

I looked at the forums, and I think this is the most appropriate place to post this, but if I'm wrong don't hesitate to move it or delete it.

I'm getting in to hog hunting this summer, and I've spent quite a bit of time now looking over the various guides out here on the internet and watching videos. I'm 21, and not meaning to toot my own horn in any way, I have a good amount of experience from other activities I ought to be able to apply to this. I'm a good marksman, been shooting since I could hold my dads Browning .22 semi-auto. I'm a fairly experienced outdoorsman, with 500+ days slept under the stars (well, a majority in a tent) under my belt, and countless miles hiked in anything from the Grand Canyon to the Appalachians. Additionally, I am an adequate tracker, as I enjoyed attempting to stalk animals in Pennsylvania. I am competent in several other skills that ought to prove useful from experience as an EMT and being an Eagle scout.

So to get down to it, hunting is something I have been wanting to get in to, and this summer is the time I'm doing it. I'm planning to hunt with a K98k. I do not wish to do hunting from a stand, but rather stalk and find boar when doing so is possible. I would much rather hunt with permission on someones property, than pay to shoot a few at a feeder. That is so for several reasons; It simply does not feel sporting to me, I do not have a great amount of money to spend on those enclosed hunting places, and I'd like any effort of mine to benefit someone (most likely by reducing the number of these pests on their property).

So if anyone has any secret advice, or knows of people whom I should contact for what I'm interested in, please speak now! I have already contacted one person within a few hours of Dallas, but it can't hurt to have more!

The hardest thing for you will be getting access. Most likely you will need to spend money and go on paid hunts as you work the private land access angle. In general, the easiest way to secure access is through a lease. There are so many leases that have pigs nowadays that at least that part will be easy. Not so easy is that most leases are somewhat crowded, and the general hunt method is stands/feeders, which you've stated you don't prefer. I'm with you there! However, just know you have a hard road ahead and will have to work to find what you want.

Once in the field, there are things you will learn about pig behavior, but even though there is a ton of information here and in print, you'll still learn best from the time you spend 'out there'. You definitely should read up though so you'll know the things you're looking for once you finally get on Porky's trail.

Hope that helps! Texas is a tough place to able to jump right in unless you have some money to part with..

Hogs cant see all that well but can rather smell like nothing else. When you stalk keep the wind in your face. If there are pigs in a relatively far distance you should smell them. Once you do smell them youll never forget that odor. Never get cornered by one, or between a sow and choate. They will rip you a new one. Make a good [censored] on them, these suckers can run with broken limbs and/or their guts dragging the ground. All in all have a blast at helping out the farmers. I cant help you on a lead up there around dallas though.

What in the world is a k98k?

There is plenty of public land for you to walk all over.

Only thing is there is also, 100's of people in your same position, and now the weather is getting nice, going public, you have to compete with fisherman, hikers, campers, and yahoos, running four wheelers, etc.

i.e. good luck finding somewhere there is no one else.

Those hunters that find public land that isn't crowded, aren't going to spill the beans, because they don't want to ruin their "private" PUBLIC PLACE!

Hope that makes sense...

Good luck on your quest!

J.J.

Mauser military rifle of the 1898 design. Best bolt-action rifle ever made (although I may be biased because I have one that has been "sporterized" and rechambered in .243). OP, that rifle might be a little long for getting into and out of creek beds, brush, etc. where hogs like to hole up during the day. Also if I were stalking hogs, I'd think about taking a semi-auto rather than bolt action just in case you get one charging.

Thanks for the posts all.
Ya, k98 may be a bit long, but it is my favorite rifle. Plus I can't afford another, haha. If the worst happens there is always the bayonet. It would be difficult to brace against a 200+ lb hog going 20+ mph though. A guy I know in Louisiana hunts with a spear so I know it's not impossible.

Any Eagle Scout is A okay with me.

There's thousands of acres of public land around where I live and the woods aren't that crowded because I drive by several gates pretty regular, and haven't seen any vehicles. If your going to do your "stalk hunt", it would be easier to do at night, cause that's when they move the most, especially during the summer months. All you need to do is find where there are recent signs of them, go back at night, sit and wait till you hear them, then head in their direction.

I was just looking at a map of the public hunting lands in Texas, and wow there are quite a few near you Smith. They are listed as "Special Dove Hunt" areas though, as opposed to some others listed just as public hunting areas. I suspect they are the same as the normal ones, but allow dove hunting?

I think most of those are on the south side of highway 56, and that's not where I'm talking about. There are the caddo national grasslands that are surrounding lake Crockett and coffemill, there is public over buy lake fannin, but if your wanting hogs, I'd probably stay over by the other two lakes. You should be able to find a book somewhere with a map of each gate. Good luck!

Those are private lands leased by the State of Texas for public dove hunting only. Not going to be available at this time of year.

I've chased hogs around coffee mill lake and that general area. They are there, but be sure to bring some patience with you! Make sure you get the APH (annual public hunting permit) and follow the regs. Be advised that the pressure on those places is high at times due to them being close to DFW. The grasslands near Decatur are actually free (still need a license) and a little more spread out in chunks of land. Be prepared to work! I actually wrote a small bit in my blog about hunting from a mountain bike-sounds crazy but you'll need to be a bit unorthodox if you're limited to public. BTW, the grasslands near Decatur are shotgun/slug or muzzle loader only. Caddo up near Bonham allows rifle.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife website has some nice maps of the hunting areas. Should I rely on these for public lands?
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/public/lands/table_contents/4dfw.phtml

What do you mean by pressure? Are there more people in those areas?
I don't mind having to hoof it around on foot, but I'll try out using a bike if I can manage keeping a rifle on myself safely while doing it. But If these guys can put a PzB. 39 anti-tank rifle on theirs, I should be able to carry a rifle on mine!

I'm reading your blog pyle, just came across the biking part. Enjoyable!

LOL, thanks! It can be done..

I haven't hunted hogs around Caddo and Coffee Mill in years but there are hogs there. Not sure how it is now but there were lots of hogs then, probally more now. Also had good luck with hogs at Richland Creek and Gus Engling. Just have to get the public hunting permit and follow the rules in it.

Good luck and to the forum

hey any places to hunt withing like a 70 mile radius of ft hood tx sir?

Check out this map.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/public/lands/table_contents/

Thanks for the help everyone, I'll be headed out on the weekend of the 23rd to the lake crockett area for hog.

Ummm. Good luck. I'd take some cherry Kool-aide powder or make some syrup. Pour the powder on the ground, or squirt the syrup on some trees (mid-morning). By nightfall, if there are any piggies around, they'll come to you.

Yeah, I like to use BIG RED soda. Very sweet and sticky. Though making coolaid might be a cheaper way to go.

Use a knife!