Calling all Texans

[Shadow Shock]

If you're a hunter or farmer in Texas, you know how much damage hogs cause every year. I read that they can cause as much as $1 billion in damage every year in the Lone Star State. And with sows able to have up to 2 litters per year, with an average of 10-13 hogs each, this could be come much worse. I propose that every hunter, farmer, and anyone with a gun in Texas step up to the plate to get this problem under control. If every true-blue hunter in Texas kills 10 hogs this year, we could put the population growth to a halt. If you don't have somewere to hunt them, get a phone book, and call a random # in East Texas. Ask them if they know anyone who wants hogs shot off their property. Chances are they will, and most people would be glad to let someone hunt for free. I consider it my duty to my state. Take it as you will, just SHOOT THESE B*******.

 

[Atticus_1354]

Do you have any suggestions on what guns? How does a .44 mag out of a marlin 1894 do?

 

[RubenZ]

A .44mag will do great at a good close range to the head. It will blow out one side of the skull Depending on size of hog.

I would not suggest a .45acp. Have seen way too many upset hogs. It's like poking a fat boy with a stick.

 

[Matt Dillon]

Do you know anyone in the Houston, TX area that wants to get rid of hogs? My sons and I will be GLAD to help out!

 

[ArcherandShooter]

Hogs are too much fun to hunt...

and the farmers and ranchers all know it.

So no, it is not easy to find a place to hunt 'em for free. They want to charge you for the privilege.

Their land, their right, [rant] but it REALLY steams me to hear landowners bi^%h and moan and wail about how much damage wild or feral hogs do, then demand $150 a day from hunters who want to help solve their problem.

Seems to me this ought to be an easy situation where everyone wins - the ranchers get their land back, and hunters have a gread time and freezers full of lean, tasty, organic pork. [/rant]

As far as caliber, the hog I shot last year fell to a .30-30 from my Marlin. You just have to use careful shot placement. My first round got stuck in the shoulder (I was aiming for the base of the neck on a front-facing shot). The second, though, blew out both lungs and a bit of heart on the way through - 10 yards on, dead pig.

 

[RubenZ]

I love .30-30 Lever Actions. They are probably the best brush guns one could use. I also have a .308 with a 20" bbl. Its also very compact and at the same time can reach out touch the hogs.

 

[Shadow Shock]

I have several property owners who are literaly begging me to kill the hogs off their property, and let me do it for free. One guy even lets me borrow his guns when I want, and gives me free ammo if I need it. As for guns, I have allways used my Remmington 700 VS in .223. I'm gonna start using my Rossi singleshot .243 cuz it's got more knockdown power. And I allways carry my .45 pistol with me, incase they get too close. However, so far, I have only used it to finnish off a hog I got a bad shot on.

 

[Rottweiler]

Doin' my part. Freezer is full of evidence.

 

[Atticus_1354]

I may be doing a hog hunt near San Antonio towards the end of summer. I will be sure to do my part. Also I was wondering if anyone knows if it is legal to hunt hog with fully auto guns and suppressors.

 

[SWC Bonfire]

The problem is letting people who you have no idea if they are responsible gun owners on your property with loaded weapons. The onus of proving yourself to be responsible and reliable lies with you - landowners have no duty to allow you to hunt. That, and the fact that trapping hogs can be more effective than hunting them.

 

[Richard.Howe]

So...if hogs are so awful (and they are), and farmers/ranchers hate them so much, then why does it actually cost money to go hunt them?

Rich

 

[H&Hhunter]

So...if hogs are so awful (and they are), and farmers/ranchers hate them so much, then why does it actually cost money to go hunt them?

Same reason many Texan cowboys wear womens underwear. Because they can, anymore questions?

 

[RubenZ]

Have you ever worn womens underwear. They feel sexy

 

[MudPuppy]

Also I was wondering if anyone knows if it is legal to hunt hog with fully auto guns and suppressors.

I think so. A hog isn't a game animal, so you're not really (legally) HUNTING it, you're just shooting it. And I don't know of any restrictions on that.

"Nongame Animals (Non-Protected): Any lawful firearm, pellet gun, or other air gun is legal."

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/hunt/means/

Oh, and Shadow Shock--turn me on to some of that hog huntin' man!

 

[spartan55]

Put me in touch with someone that will let me hunt for free, and I'll do my part. Most everyone I know of wants to charge a good price for the honors.

 

[mister_wilburn]

I would love to do my part to help. Live in El Paso, any good places out west to hunt hogs? We used to do the same thing when I lived on the east coast, they get rampid there too. Seriously, if it isn't so far I need a DA Form 31 then I'm game!!!

 

[Shadow Shock]

I mostly hog hunt on properties owned by my dad's freinds, in the Austin area and over by Cold Springs in East Texas. Currently, they only let their freinds and their children on them. However Friday, I am going to Cold Springs for an anual fish fry. While I am there, I will be meeting with a lot of property owners (and probobly at least 1 person from THR). I will speak with the farmers, and ranchers there, and see if I can work out a deal to let them open their property to THR members. I'm pretty sure I can convince them that if you havn't been kicked off of here allready, you are probobly an honest, responsible person. I bet I can get a few guys to let in some help. When I get back home, I will try to do the same thing here, for people in the Austin area. I trust the good folks here enough to know yall arn't gonna act like coplete dumb***es. I really want to stop this before it gets even worse, and I'll try to open up as many properties as possible to people willing to help stop the population explosion (and fill their freezers).

 

[Matt Dillon]

Thanks so much, Shadow Shock. My boys and I would love to get a crack at some hogs!

 

[ArcherandShooter]

Thanks for the offer...

Springmom and I would love to get in on that action.

 

[Richard.Howe]

How 'bout a TX group THR hog massacre?

Soulds like a great party.

 

[Shadow Shock]

lol, I wish

 

[Caimlas]

Their land, their right, [rant] but it REALLY steams me to hear landowners bi^%h and moan and wail about how much damage wild or feral hogs do, then demand $150 a day from hunters who want to help solve their problem.

What do they care, in reality, how much damage the hogs do? They've got no reason to. They can then just file a claim with the BLM or whatever federal agency is involved and claim hardship status or something similar due to whatever crops or land the hogs have destroyed. Or, if they don't make enough to break even, the government will just generally subsidize. It's no money out of their pockets.

On the other hand, $150 is money in their pockets they didn't have previously.

 

[Atticus_1354]

I am having trouble deciding what rifle I'm going to be buying next and since it will be used for hog slaughtering I thought I would ask here. I have a chance at a MArlin 1894 in .44mag for about $300 plus shipping or I can get a 336 from budsgunshop for about the same price. So my question is which rifle will be better at hog hunting and which can I get cheaper ammo for?

 

[Art Eatman]

"What do they care, in reality, how much damage the hogs do? They've got no reason to. They can then just file a claim with the BLM or whatever federal agency is involved and claim hardship status or something similar due to whatever crops or land the hogs have destroyed."

Where in the world did you come up with that idea? First off, there's no BLM in Texas. It's private land. Next is that there's no "hardship status" for claiming anything. Nothing I ever heard of, anyway, when my father and then I were running the old family ranch down below Cuero. About the only federal aid is for drouth or flood, and that's only in the form of low-interest loans.

Mostly, the money-thing is in country where ranching isn't all that profitable to begin with. So, as with deer hunting, money talks, and if selling the opportunity to hunt hogs brings in money, so much the better for the landowner.

Art

 

[Shadow Shock]

Atticus, that sounds like an excelent close-range weapon, but you wont be able to reach too far with it. I would recomend a rifle chambered for a rifle cartrige, like .223, .243, .270, or .308. the extra range comes in handy