odin
Expert Contributor
Laxing out in the land of Rugby, Hunting and Fishing.
Posts: 726
ATN Products Owned: Smart HD Optics
|
Post by odin on Oct 14, 2016 19:06:48 GMT -8
Don't know how legal it is up in USA, but down here in NZ when we get an issue with the number of hogs in an area, then there is a very effective method for dropping numbers quick. We get a sack of potatoes and some dynamite detonators. Put a detonator in each potato and spread them along the scrub line where the hogs are hanging out. They find them and eat the potatoes. A large proportion will bite down on a detonator thereby setting it of and killing the pig. You then need to simply drive along the scrub line and pick up your meat. Cant see why it would not be as effective up there where you have a large problem as it is down here. Cheers odin
|
|
|
Post by waltlongmire on Jan 16, 2017 8:50:20 GMT -8
Don't know how legal it is up in USA, but down here in NZ when we get an issue with the number of hogs in an area, then there is a very effective method for dropping numbers quick. We get a sack of potatoes and some dynamite detonators. Put a detonator in each potato and spread them along the scrub line where the hogs are hanging out. They find them and eat the potatoes. A large proportion will bite down on a detonator thereby setting it of and killing the pig. You then need to simply drive along the scrub line and pick up your meat. Cant see why it would not be as effective up there where you have a large problem as it is down here. Cheers odin I am deeply interested / trying to plan a hog hunt here stateside, albeit in a different state than my own as the feral pig / wild boar infestation has barely touched out state, but just south / south-east of us in New Mexico and Texas it is pretty bad. So much so they are declared nuissance / destructive species and can be taken in pretty much unlimited numbers with a rifle, bow or handgun. New Mexico is a bit easier - they REALLY want them gone - so much so you don't even need to get a permit / hunting license to hunt hogs in their state, just permission from the land owners. They do not allow explosives use here (some of the "good 'ol boys" down southern way may have a little more fun than the law might allow with such items ), but you can bait them and then go to town on any and all that show up with aforementioned firearms, including piglets. When, note my confidence, I arrange the hunt, I will be sure video is taken (ideally with a future acquisition ATN X-Sight optic) mounted on my M1A!
|
|
odin
Expert Contributor
Laxing out in the land of Rugby, Hunting and Fishing.
Posts: 726
ATN Products Owned: Smart HD Optics
|
Post by odin on Jan 16, 2017 10:11:03 GMT -8
Try a Tuna oil trail leading to a baited kill zone. We use tuna oil (usually for fishing) to lace a scrubline with a good wind (right direction) to draw them out. Saves using dogs and the meat is so much better getting a clean kill than running them down. Would not try the spuds and dets unless it is legal - not worth the hassle with the law.
|
|
tomvb
Super Contributor
DPMS LR308, Ruger Mini 14, XS 3-14x
Posts: 493
ATN Products Owned: Smart HD Optics
|
Post by tomvb on Jan 16, 2017 11:28:55 GMT -8
YouTube has some great hog hunting videos, and by far my favorites are the hunts from choppers using full auto ARs. Probably crazy expensive to book, but fun to watch :-)
Tom
|
|
|
Post by waltlongmire on Jan 16, 2017 12:50:30 GMT -8
My problem right now is finding a location that doesn't want ridiculous money to use their property. Basically ANYTHING in Texas is out. They're considered a nuisance breed but they are pillaging hunters that want to try their hand. The cheapest I've found so far is like $400 for a 3 day / 2 night stay + 100/day per person for the "guide" (these ranches set up bait, so basically all they are doing is a guy is leading you to the blinds) + you can't butcher your own hog so it is $1/lb over 50lbs + $50 for a license to hunt in Texas. So basically - you're out probably $1000 for a hunt if you bag a 300lb'er... for a species the state WANTS eradicated!!! I get capitalism but dang.
New Mexico, just south of me here, they are wide open to hunt. No license. No limit... BUT there is seemingly NO INFORMATION on the web I can find so far (I am just getting started mind you) about WHERE to hunt them besides "Eastern New Mexico" as a broad stroke zone. I think they are very much like here in Colorado that you can't set up "for pay" ranches / hunts for declared nuisance species which is why I'm having problems finding information.
Here in Colorado there are reports of feral hogs, but like New Mexico, thus far I have only been able to find very scattered reports in the very south eastern most corner of the state.
I really want to do a hunt with a bunch of my friends who I do trivia and other activities with. I think it'd be a blast for most of them, and a good way to fill our freezers.
|
|
odin
Expert Contributor
Laxing out in the land of Rugby, Hunting and Fishing.
Posts: 726
ATN Products Owned: Smart HD Optics
|
Post by odin on Jan 16, 2017 14:19:17 GMT -8
Worth maybe a road trip and been cheeky by rocking up and knocking on doors. Here a lot of farmers are very wary of people with guns around their stock. I approach it from the angle of asking them if they would accompany you around their farm first during the day then at night. This gets you familiar with the lay of the land, if you drop a few animals the farmer is usually pretty happy, especially if you give them a cut of the meat. From the farmers point of view he can see that you are a responsible shooter that takes careful shots and is highly aware of his animals. If you happen to have suppressed rifles this is even better as there is far less disturbance to his stock. Most of the peoples land I hunt on are far looser with a rifle than me - even one or two who I would not want walking behind me with a loaded firearm if you know what I mean. Most places you rock up to will tell you to go away, however the ones that let you in often become very good friends.
|
|
|
Post by waltlongmire on Jan 24, 2017 9:45:53 GMT -8
Well it looks like based on the information I've found recently New Mexico has basically all but completely eradicated the feral hog problem. Less than 5 years after they were first reported in the furthest eastern counties of the state, they have found there are only 2 counties in NM that still have any feral hogs in them, and they are basically isolated to a few people's particular ranches that would not allow people to hunt on them.
THAT shows the difference between NM and Texas. NM they don't let people charge to hunt / do "ranch hunts" and they openly invited people to come wipe them out. They did it in less than 5 years. In the same time period in Texas where they let people charge (and pretty much everyone does) to hunt on their land, charge for guides, mandate butchering rules on a ranch-by-ranch basis, their hog infestation has gone UP, not down, and is reported to be somewhere in the region of some 2-4 MILLION head running feral across the state. I guess they are more concerned with POTENTIAL revenue from hunters and less concerned with destruction to farm / ranch land.
|
|
odin
Expert Contributor
Laxing out in the land of Rugby, Hunting and Fishing.
Posts: 726
ATN Products Owned: Smart HD Optics
|
Post by odin on Jan 24, 2017 13:25:40 GMT -8
I would keep trying to develop a relationship with two or 3 landowners. Even if you get one that thinks like you, you will soon find his neighbor opening up etc after talking on the good job you are doing on his land. It is just cracking that first farmer that can be the hard one. A slab of beer every now and then also never goes amiss. Good news with NM - shows that recreational hunters can control feral populations. Maybe this is something that you can use as an example to get in on some land in Texas.
|
|
shrek
Top Contributor
Posts: 112
ATN Products Owned: Smart HD Optics
|
Post by shrek on Mar 5, 2017 20:32:14 GMT -8
Here in Texas we have had a hog problem for many years, but locally over the last year or so they have truly exploded. The state has just approved poison to drop the numbers, but they will not be available until next year most likely. They are still working out the details and who will be able to use them. They have put out that those that use it will have to use a special bait stations that will only allow the pigs access by there rooting. As a hunter I am worried about the possibility of bagging an animal that has ingested poison. As a land owner I am all for it at least for the short term to knock down the population to manageable level through normal hunting and trapping. In Texas several counties have placed a bounty on them and statewide there is an open season year round with no bag limit, but it has not kept up with the numbers. What are your thoughts on the possible poisoning that the state is looking to do? Personally I am torn, but I have seen on game camera the numbers increase by 4-5 times over the past year.
|
|
458socom
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 51
ATN Products Owned: Smart HD Optics
|
Post by 458socom on Mar 10, 2017 6:40:49 GMT -8
YouTube has some great hog hunting videos, and by far my favorites are the hunts from choppers using full auto ARs. Probably crazy expensive to book, but fun to watch :-) Tom I am going on one this year, it is $1600 an hour for the chopper. not too bad.
|
|
458socom
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 51
ATN Products Owned: Smart HD Optics
|
Post by 458socom on Mar 10, 2017 6:47:18 GMT -8
Here in Texas we have had a hog problem for many years, but locally over the last year or so they have truly exploded. The state has just approved poison to drop the numbers, but they will not be available until next year most likely. They are still working out the details and who will be able to use them. They have put out that those that use it will have to use a special bait stations that will only allow the pigs access by there rooting. As a hunter I am worried about the possibility of bagging an animal that has ingested poison. As a land owner I am all for it at least for the short term to knock down the population to manageable level through normal hunting and trapping. In Texas several counties have placed a bounty on them and statewide there is an open season year round with no bag limit, but it has not kept up with the numbers. What are your thoughts on the possible poisoning that the state is looking to do? Personally I am torn, but I have seen on game camera the numbers increase by 4-5 times over the past year. Here in Mississippi, at Mississippi State they are working on a poison that will only effect hogs (making them sterile I believe). we have worked with them and even given them some of our trapped hogs for testing. I think they are probably a few years out on the research but that would surely help the situation if they crack the code so to say.
|
|
odin
Expert Contributor
Laxing out in the land of Rugby, Hunting and Fishing.
Posts: 726
ATN Products Owned: Smart HD Optics
|
Post by odin on Mar 11, 2017 11:53:35 GMT -8
How are the wild fires affecting the hog numbers in Texas - seen reports of some pretty bad stock losses, so am figuring that there must also be some hogs copping it as well.
|
|
458socom
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 51
ATN Products Owned: Smart HD Optics
|
Post by 458socom on Mar 13, 2017 6:15:26 GMT -8
Not sure really, news here is all about the livestock also. your correct though it must have an affect on them.
|
|
shrek
Top Contributor
Posts: 112
ATN Products Owned: Smart HD Optics
|
Post by shrek on Mar 16, 2017 14:50:28 GMT -8
The wildfires are not having an effect in my neck of the words. It sounds like MS is on the right track. In TX I believe that they approved a blood thinner that can effect other animals.
|
|