Not again.......! Feral Hog Control in East Texas

[chas08]

Once they are comfortable going into the trap (a couple of nights) then I will set the trip wire or put up a hanging stand nearby and manually trip it with a cord.

Sitting in a stand with a manual trip would be exciting. We had three pen traps on the perimiter of a 350 acre wheat field that a friends brother was farming a few years ago. We just used tripwires. My gosh the hogs we caught!!! It wore us down just messing with them. There were about seven of us taking turns tending traps and shooting hogs out in the wheat. I personally shot over 50 that growing season. More than 300 were trapped or killed total.

 

[Flintknapper]

230therapy,

If you'll read back towards the beginning of this thread....I think you'll find your answer...about how/when I bait.

As for using dogs to hunt feral hogs, I only use them as a last resort.

In my opinion....running hogs with dogs does more to spread them out and educate them...then it does to reduce their numbers.

I know that will get the "hog-doggers" all up in arms, but the truth is the truth.

Unless you have hogs under "high fence" you will not capture/kill enough of them with dogs to make a dent in them. It's sport....and thats fine.

And yes, I've been on many hog hunts using dogs, still use them here when I have to (so no flaming from the hog-doggers).

How people hunt/pursue hogs will vary greatly from one region to another.

The Piney Woods of Deep East Texas is very different from the Plains of Northern Texas or the Brush Country in South Texas.

There are methods and techniques used that are somewhat area specific. In South Texas there is no more effective method than an aerial shoot from a helicopter.

In East Texas....large pen traps and snares (carefully placed and checked) will result in the most hogs captured.

Shooting from elevated stands over bait (statewide) can be somewhat effective, as can spot and stalk at night with night-vision equipment.

Taking hogs with dogs can net you a few...but its pretty far down on the list (especially if you don't have really good dogs). But....I have to admit...it is fun!

Anyway, I support and encourage the use of ALL legal methods (which is just about anything in Texas) to help trim down the numbers.

Current "estimated" population in Texas is well over 2 million Feral Hogs.

 

[heeler]

I agree Flint..Kill them however it is legal.
My issue with running hogs with dogs is that too many times it will also run the deer right out of the area.
I personally witnessed this on a low fence ranch in south Texas.

 

[FLAvalanche]

I agree Flint..Kill them however it is legal.
My issue with running hogs with dogs is that too many times it will also run the deer right out of the area.
I personally witnessed this on a low fence ranch in south Texas.

Not much of a problem down here in Florida because the hogs run the deer out out-competing them for food long before the dogs.

 

[Flintknapper]

heeler wrote:

Flintnapper I find it interesting what you said about the coons.
I have killed dozens and dozens of hogs over the years in east Texas,south Texas,and central Texas and never gave a thought one about the coons.
Even an old dog can learn some new tricks.

Well....I am happy to share any information/experience I have....if it will help even one person kill another hog.

I realize some may scoff at the idea...or consider it nothing more than hypothesis, but I would not make the statement unless I felt certain it was the truth.

I've been hunting the same 400 acres for over 25 years now...and I literally know every inch of it. Every time I start a new bait site...the coons find it first.

I can't tell you the number of times I have witnessed a hog (or hogs) trotting down a small coon trail (nose to ground) and then pop out on the bait site.

In my experience....mature boars do this more often than groups of hogs. I believe the reason for it is as follows:

Mature boars are solitary animals (thus do not benefit from the feed patterns of groups in the area).

Mature boars travel extensively (meaning they have to find new food and water sources each time they go somewhere unfamiliar).

Mature boars are interested primarily in breeding....and then moving on....so they expedite everything in search of receptive (or about to be) sows.

Mature boars are smart (or they wouldn't be mature), they learn quickly the best ways to find food. (even using coon trails).

Watch carefully, I think you'll find that invaribly....coons show up first, then hogs next. Its no coincidence.. (assuming you have coons in the area).

 

[FLAvalanche]

I think people's general ignorance on hogs is why we've let them become such a problem. People think they're just pigs. Out of all the animals I've hunted hogs are by far the most impressive.

People think they're just another stupid animal and they're not. My dog is an extremely smart dog. He takes to training of unnatural things very quickly. The wild pig we had as a pet for a while was light years smarter than that dog. He was learning things at 3 months of age that my dog couldn't figure out until he was 2 years old.

Hunting shows today don't do them justice. Hunting shows make them look extremely dumb. Chasing them with airboats in the swamps, dozens coming to a feeder and picking the one you want, etc.

What they don't show you and the things that Flintknapper and I have mentioned make them an extremely intelligent, aware and hardy animal.

What many people don't realize is that it's not just the hogs rapid breeding and large litter size that has made their population explode, it's their level of intelligence, their adaptability and their survivability that is the main reason.

There have been many, many species of animals whos populations were higher than hogs yet were decimated because they couldn't adapt to environmental changes or were killed by smarter predators.

I watched a show where a mother had a litter of 8 piglets. They let the piglets have their first feeding and while they were feeding the painted a number on the pigs, 1 through 8. From that initial feeding forward those pigs went back to the exact same teat every feeding, even after the mother was washed to remove scent.

Take away the nuisance and they are an impressive animal to sit back and watch. I have a lot of respect for hogs. The only animal I would put above a pig is a wild turkey (well, except for gobblers during the spring but if you only got laid once a year you'd act a little funny too...).

If I remember, I have to check the cameras tonight. I'll show some pictures of the interaction between the coons and hogs that I have seen.

 

[Flintknapper]

FLAvalanche wrote:

If I remember, I have to check the cameras tonight. I'll show some pictures of the interaction between the coons and hogs that I have seen

I have tons of pics (and video) of coons and hogs at the same bait site, sometimes they share the food without incident...other times the hogs will run the coons off.

But my primary interest in coons at a bait site...is that they leave a scent trail that can be followed by hogs... and also act as sentry's to warn of anything approaching.

This is a pic of a bait site that had nothing but coons visiting it...until this lone boar showed up (typical).



I have sat over a bait site many times...when a hog came in right off of an established coon trail.

In the next pic....you can see how a person (on stand) can use the coons to your advantage by watching for them to go on "alert". They will hear (or see) anything approaching long before you will.

 

[FLAvalanche]

Most of the time the hogs come in before the coons at my spot. My spot is close to houses so they have plenty of garbage cans to knock over before resorting to corn.

 

[Flintknapper]

Well…………pookie! That didn’t work out too well. Got busted this evening…..(my bad).

I was going to wait a couple more nights before trying to trap the latest group of hogs. I usually wait until they are comfortable going into the pen but…the weather forecast is for a West wind the next 4-5 days and that won’t work for my setup. Today would be my only chance.

I set up a tree stand near the trap earlier today…so I could manually trip the trap doors when the greatest number of hogs enter. Everything was in place….so I went to the stand early (about 7:00 p.m.) determined to stay until midnight if need be.

I wasn’t on stand 5 minutes when I heard pigs coming from the neighbor’s property. They were grunting and squealing the whole way. By the sound of it….they were coming at a trot and it was only a minute before I saw a black sow pop out from under the fence line.

All the others were right behind her….with a small boar (about 140 lbs.) bringing up the rear.

They quickly found the corn trail and started feeding toward the trap. Most of the group was near the opening… when the lead sow suddenly stopped, looked to the far end of the trap and then slowly started walking around the perimeter of it.

I’m thinking….”what in the world is she looking at”? Then I spotted the object of her attention. When I dug a post hole inside the trap today (to put corn in), I left the post hole diggers leaning up against a panel at the far end (outside). OMG.....you big dummy!

Naturally, when she got close to it…she got a snoot full of scent, woofed….and immediately started walking away. That upset the boar…so he started “growling” and pacing back and forth. Next….the whole group… except for 3 shoats walked away into the brush.

Well….I figure they still might settle down and come back in…so I waited to see what would happen. Meantime, the three shoats that stayed... fed inside the trap. I thought the sound of them eating might entice the others to return.

Instead, the lead sow chose to make a big circle of the area (trying to cut my scent trail). I could hear her walking behind me and sniffing the air. At that point…I knew the jig was up. Sure enough…she busted me, let out a woof…and ran.

That startled the shoats that were in the trap… so they headed for the opening. I pulled the cord as quickly as I could, but one of them just made it out the doors before they closed. Unbelievable!

I wound up with two piss-ant shoats and a group of hogs that probably won’t come back for quite some time….if at all. Entirely my fault. I was in a big hurry to get out of there today and left the PHD’s behind. That’s all it took.

This is sad, just sad……….!





And here is why you need to use 5’ tall panels on your pen trap. Even the little ones will jump and climb.

 

[FLAvalanche]

That sucks Flint.

Funny...but it sucks.

I checked my camera at the feeder today for pictures of coon interaction. Found that I had it set on video...I'll have to wait until after this weekend. The feeder is empty and it's staying that way until next week. Hopefully the hogs will leave this section long enough for at least one deer to come in this weekend for me to poke a hole in.

 

[heeler]

Damn Flint!!

 

[Flintknapper]

heeler wrote:

Damn Flint!!

Yeah, I blew it....no doubt about it.

I am ashamed of my performance....but thats how it happened.

If they come back....I'll just have to set the trip wire and let them catch themselves. The lead sow will be "looking" for anything out of place...now that she busted me.

So....its not over yet (unless they move off). But thats what happens when you make rookie mistakes.

 

[FLAvalanche]

I laugh but I know how it would have happened to me. She would have went up and smelled the PHDs, started scratching herself on it, knocked it over and spooked the entire sounder.

You should try not covering your scent at all when you go out there and see how it effects them. I truly believe because I make zero attempt at masking my scent they are simply "used" to it and don't see it as out of place because it's always been there.

Like I said, it's only when I take someone else with me that they get spooky. It might throw them off for a while until they get used to it but I think it would benefit your trapping if my theory is right and they are used to your smell on the trap itself, the area and especially tools and things that get left around.

Start going out there in sandals and see how it effects them.

Have you tried the raspberry jello mix trick?

 

[Flyboy]

Yes, but think of how tender the snack-size pigs will be.

 

[Flintknapper]

Hogs have returned every night since the failed trapping episode, but they will not enter the trap.

Apparently, the lead sow is warning them off. So....one more night (just for good measure)...and if there is no activity inside the trap.... then we go into "shooting mode".

Either the lead sow or the boar will taken out first. If the group returns...then we'll take out the next highest ranking hog. If they return after that....I might have a decent chance of trapping them.

Once you get the "leadership" removed from the group the smaller/younger hogs should go back into the trap.

Sad thing is......once these hogs are gone (trapped, shot or leave on their own), another group will take their place. It never ends.

IH8HOGS!

 

[Flintknapper]

Thought I’d post a picture of one side of a Boar’s tusks. It is often said…that they are “razor” sharp…which is untrue, but…they do have an edge (and usually a sharp point).



Here…I have positioned the “Whetter” (upper tusk) and the “Cutter” (lower tusk) as they would appear in the hog’s skull/jaw.

You can see how the whetter continually scrapes on the cutter…causing a fairly keen edge to form.

The cutters are constantly growing….so even if damaged…over time… they would be renewed.



These are the actual tusks pictured above…while still on the hog (skull drying).

 

[IndyGunFreak]

I just wanna say, I'm a city dweller and don't have to deal w/ hogs. I have friends in the country who say they are a nuisance, but I don't think they have anything remotely close to FlintKnapper has...

This is has been a very educational and enjoyable thread FK.. and I hope you somehow get it worked out where these things aren't bothering you so often.

IGF

 

[CTPhil]

It is often said…that they are “razor” sharp…which is untrue, but…they do have an edge (and usually a sharp point).

I've had domestic boars that had tusks so sharp they could slice a sheet of paper. One time a young boar looking for a fight got in with the old timer, he slashed that young one open like a surgeon with a scalpel.

 

[FLAvalanche]

They're not razor sharp but they cut pretty well. I've got tons of the 1" black PVC they use for irrigation and sprinkler systems cut by pigs. Looks like someone cut through them with dull diagonal cutters.

 

[Flintknapper]

Hmmmm…….a decent sized boar has shown up.

 

[chas08]

Hmmmm…….a decent sized boar has shown up.

Definitely got you one for the Buzzards there. He's got a short face. Unlike some of the ones we kill around here with a head like an "Automatic Transmission" or as we affectionately refer to them as "C-6'ers"

 

[countertop]

If you use a suppressed rifle and night vision, can you sit there and pick them off without alerting the others?

 

[FLAvalanche]

If you use a suppressed rifle and night vision, can you sit there and pick them off without alerting the others?

Probably not. Even shooting them with the bow, which is even quieter than a suppressed rifle, if there is anything left in that hog it will sound the alarm and scatter the rest.

 

[FLAvalanche]

Hmmmm…….a decent sized boar has shown up.

I've got a new female showing up. Large one, all by herself. She has one white leg. Never seen her before.

I'm also watching one of the pigs with a group of little ones. She looks sick. She's extremely skinny. You can see her ribs and her pelvic bones.

 

[Flintknapper]

8-2-2010

Well….a little bit of redemption this evening.

Spotted this young boar near the pond on my way to my stand this evening. I have no idea why he didn’t spot me before I spotted him. I was walking smack down the middle of a gravel road, literally in the bald open.

I stopped for a moment to weigh my options then slipped off into the pines and worked my way closer. I had the wind in my favor and the pines for cover…so I was able to get within 80 yds. of him. I sat down next to a small pine and used it for a rest…then sent a 405 gr. soft point on its way.

I left the hog there…figuring to retrieve it later. This hog has beautiful shiny black hair.




Got to my stand about 6:30 p.m.
I don’t know what the exact temperature was…but the surface of the sun probably wasn’t much hotter. Sheeeesh!

No action until about 9:00 p.m. when I heard a group of hogs coming. Soon I could hear the sound of teeth crunching corn in the distance. An occasional grunt or squeal told me the hogs were relaxed and fighting over the corn.

The hogs were still 50 yds. away and completely hidden by the brush and near darkness. I knew it would be awhile before they fed out into the open where I could light them up.

So….I am sitting there…trying to gauge their position by the sound…when I think I see a dark blob moving down the logging road to my right. Before I can get my binoculars up to look…I hear a low…guttural…growling sound. Yup….its a hog alright…and a boar too.

I let him close the distance to about 25 yds., then lit him up. He froze when the light hit him….which gave me plenty of time to shoot. He’s not the “Big Nasty” that I have pics of from the night before…but I’ll bet he was doing his share of breeding.

Anyway, there are two less boars in the state of Texas tonight.