| Hog Hunting Articles |
John N. Felsher's Hog Hunting Adventures
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Articles and photos on this website are for the viewing pleasure of patrons of this site. All articles and photos on this site are protected by the copyright laws of the United States. Any unauthorized usage is strictly prohibited. If you wish to purchase an article or photo, contact John N. Felsher as listed in the contact section. |
| Articles and photos on this website are free for your viewing pleasure, but it takes money to keep this site up and running. If you would care to help keep this site up and running for the use of all outdoors patrons, you can make a cash contribution. If you care to donate, contact John N. Felsher as listed in the contact section. |
| Protected by Copyright |
| How you can help keep this site operating |
Armed only with a single-shot muzzleloading rifle, the two hunters
cautiously approached about 15 of the meanest, most ornery critters
outside of grizzly country.
“Keep low and quiet,” instructed Shaine Nixon of World Slam Outfitters
in Diana, Texas. “The hogs are about 80 yards in front and quartering
away from us. They don’t know we’re here. When one presents a good
shot, take it.”
Nixon and my son, Daniel, moved forward a few feet before Daniel
squeezed off a shot with a .50 caliber Knight Rolling Block rifle, creating a
pungent cloud of smoke. The heavy bullet smashed through the side of a
150-pound sow, dropping her instantly as the others scattered.
Hogs first came to North America with early European explorers. Many
settlers released them in surrounding forests. Other hogs escaped from
their pens and turned wild. In the fall, settlers trapped them for slaughter,
but they didn’t catch all of them. People also imported Russian boars for
sport. Inevitably, Russian boars interbred with offspring of wild domestic
hogs. Hunting clubs also released hogs to create additional hunting
opportunities.
Often called “razorbacks” because of their stiff hair and high, hard
backbones, feral hogs rank among the most feared beasts in North
America. Bristling with sharp tusks and often weighing several hundred
pounds, a wild boar can inflict serious injuries when it wants. With a tough
coarse hide covering a thick “shield” of hardened flesh draped over its
head and shoulders, an adult boar fears nothing.
“All wild animals have the potential of being dangerous, especially when
wounded or cornered,” wrote Rick Taylor in “The Feral Hog in Texas,” a
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department publication. “In a natural state, feral
hogs prefer to run and escape danger. Extreme caution should be
maintained when tracking wounded animals or encountering females with
young. Their razor sharp tusks combined with their lightning speed can
cause serious injury.”
Because hogs can inflict such horrific injuries, many sportsmen prefer
to hunt them from tree or tripod stands, often using automatic feeders
where legal. In open brushy country, many people do not believe they can
successfully stalk game. However, during our hunt in the mesquite plains
near Throckmorton, Texas, we saw nothing from blinds, although we
spotted deer and hogs while stalking.
“My favorite method of hunting hogs is to spot and stalk them,” Nixon
said. “The best time to hunt them is during January, February and March,
the colder the better. In late winter, hogs are out moving and searching for
food. They love fields. In the early morning or just before dark, I like to
sneak along the edge of a wheat field until I spot something.”
For stalking in thick cover, hog hunters need to keep wind direction in
mind, but hogs don’t spook as easily as whitetails, especially when traveling
in herds. Hunters can often approach fairly close to hogs if they move
slowly and deliberately without making any sudden movements or loud
noises. In sparse country, use any available cover for concealment. Stalk
into the wind and zigzag through available cover, trying to keep as many
trees between the herd and oneself as possible.
In warm weather, hogs seek the thickest, lowest cover they can find. In
dry country, look for them around waterholes, such as ponds, rivers or
creeks. Even a muddy puddle may provide cooling relief for a big tusker.
During the day, they hunker down in creek bottoms or other dense
vegetation near food sources such as nut or fruit trees and agricultural
crops. Omnivorous, they eat almost anything, including carrion.
“In warmer weather, hogs bed up in heavy brush or on a sandbar along
a river,” Nixon said. “An area with several ponds, a creek or a river makes
an excellent place to look for hogs. A few years ago, I spotted a hog in the
sand along a riverbed and we were able to get within six yards of it. The
bow hunter with me shot this hog while it was still bedded.”
Hogs leave plenty of sign that they inhabit an area. They often wallow
in muck to cool off and because mud helps protect their skin from bugs and
sunshine, almost like applying insect repellent or sunscreen. People can
usually find wallowings in soft depressions. People can also see “rootings”
where hogs plow up soil as they search for acorns, tubers and other
morsels. They also rub against trees like deer, often leaving hairs or other
particles sticking to trees. Although more rounded and wider, hog tracks
resemble whitetail tracks.
Feral hogs thrive just about anywhere that whitetails live. Most states
where wild swine live do not consider hogs “game” animals, allowing people
to hunt them all year long without limit because they can cause such
destruction to deer habitat and crops. In Texas, people may even hunt
them at night under certain conditions. Since people can often hunt them
all year long, they provide challenging sport after other seasons close or as
a “tune-up” before deer season opens.
For booking trips, call Nixon at (903) 777-3317. For more information
on Knight Rifles, see www.knightrifles.com.
cautiously approached about 15 of the meanest, most ornery critters
outside of grizzly country.
“Keep low and quiet,” instructed Shaine Nixon of World Slam Outfitters
in Diana, Texas. “The hogs are about 80 yards in front and quartering
away from us. They don’t know we’re here. When one presents a good
shot, take it.”
Nixon and my son, Daniel, moved forward a few feet before Daniel
squeezed off a shot with a .50 caliber Knight Rolling Block rifle, creating a
pungent cloud of smoke. The heavy bullet smashed through the side of a
150-pound sow, dropping her instantly as the others scattered.
Hogs first came to North America with early European explorers. Many
settlers released them in surrounding forests. Other hogs escaped from
their pens and turned wild. In the fall, settlers trapped them for slaughter,
but they didn’t catch all of them. People also imported Russian boars for
sport. Inevitably, Russian boars interbred with offspring of wild domestic
hogs. Hunting clubs also released hogs to create additional hunting
opportunities.
Often called “razorbacks” because of their stiff hair and high, hard
backbones, feral hogs rank among the most feared beasts in North
America. Bristling with sharp tusks and often weighing several hundred
pounds, a wild boar can inflict serious injuries when it wants. With a tough
coarse hide covering a thick “shield” of hardened flesh draped over its
head and shoulders, an adult boar fears nothing.
“All wild animals have the potential of being dangerous, especially when
wounded or cornered,” wrote Rick Taylor in “The Feral Hog in Texas,” a
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department publication. “In a natural state, feral
hogs prefer to run and escape danger. Extreme caution should be
maintained when tracking wounded animals or encountering females with
young. Their razor sharp tusks combined with their lightning speed can
cause serious injury.”
Because hogs can inflict such horrific injuries, many sportsmen prefer
to hunt them from tree or tripod stands, often using automatic feeders
where legal. In open brushy country, many people do not believe they can
successfully stalk game. However, during our hunt in the mesquite plains
near Throckmorton, Texas, we saw nothing from blinds, although we
spotted deer and hogs while stalking.
“My favorite method of hunting hogs is to spot and stalk them,” Nixon
said. “The best time to hunt them is during January, February and March,
the colder the better. In late winter, hogs are out moving and searching for
food. They love fields. In the early morning or just before dark, I like to
sneak along the edge of a wheat field until I spot something.”
For stalking in thick cover, hog hunters need to keep wind direction in
mind, but hogs don’t spook as easily as whitetails, especially when traveling
in herds. Hunters can often approach fairly close to hogs if they move
slowly and deliberately without making any sudden movements or loud
noises. In sparse country, use any available cover for concealment. Stalk
into the wind and zigzag through available cover, trying to keep as many
trees between the herd and oneself as possible.
In warm weather, hogs seek the thickest, lowest cover they can find. In
dry country, look for them around waterholes, such as ponds, rivers or
creeks. Even a muddy puddle may provide cooling relief for a big tusker.
During the day, they hunker down in creek bottoms or other dense
vegetation near food sources such as nut or fruit trees and agricultural
crops. Omnivorous, they eat almost anything, including carrion.
“In warmer weather, hogs bed up in heavy brush or on a sandbar along
a river,” Nixon said. “An area with several ponds, a creek or a river makes
an excellent place to look for hogs. A few years ago, I spotted a hog in the
sand along a riverbed and we were able to get within six yards of it. The
bow hunter with me shot this hog while it was still bedded.”
Hogs leave plenty of sign that they inhabit an area. They often wallow
in muck to cool off and because mud helps protect their skin from bugs and
sunshine, almost like applying insect repellent or sunscreen. People can
usually find wallowings in soft depressions. People can also see “rootings”
where hogs plow up soil as they search for acorns, tubers and other
morsels. They also rub against trees like deer, often leaving hairs or other
particles sticking to trees. Although more rounded and wider, hog tracks
resemble whitetail tracks.
Feral hogs thrive just about anywhere that whitetails live. Most states
where wild swine live do not consider hogs “game” animals, allowing people
to hunt them all year long without limit because they can cause such
destruction to deer habitat and crops. In Texas, people may even hunt
them at night under certain conditions. Since people can often hunt them
all year long, they provide challenging sport after other seasons close or as
a “tune-up” before deer season opens.
For booking trips, call Nixon at (903) 777-3317. For more information
on Knight Rifles, see www.knightrifles.com.
Stalking one of the most feared
beasts ever to roam North America
beasts ever to roam North America
Above: Daniel Felsher and Shaine Nixon of World Slam Outfitters
stalk a herd of feral hogs near Throckmorton, Texas. Below:
Shaine Nixon of World Slam Outfitters congratulates Daniel Felsher
on the feral hog that Daniel stalked and shot in the mesquite plains
near Throckmorton, Texas.
stalk a herd of feral hogs near Throckmorton, Texas. Below:
Shaine Nixon of World Slam Outfitters congratulates Daniel Felsher
on the feral hog that Daniel stalked and shot in the mesquite plains
near Throckmorton, Texas.
