I'm going to the panhandle of Texas in a couple of weeks for my first hog hunt. I know nothing about hunting hogs and need some advice on what to bring. I was planning on using my 264 win mag with 130 gr. accubonds but I could just as easy bring an 06. Both rifles are scoped, the 264 with a 3x9 burris, the 06 with a 4x IOR.
Do I need camo and if so will old military stuff work ok? How about spotlights and anything else you can think of? I just don't want to go unprepared and spend all my time at a sporting goods store. Thanks for the advice.

Either will work, but I'd very slightly lean towards the '06 with heavier bullets (165s or 180s). I'd bring the one I shoot best of the two.

I have no clue where you'll be hunting but most of the time pigs are fairly close, either under a feeder or in heavy cover. Of course, as soon as I say that, you'll see a bunch at 500 yards out in the middle of a peanut patch.

Camo is not necessary, pigs have relatively poor eyesight and if they don't pick out your movement, shape, or smell, what you're wearing is not important.

Spotlights are legal on pigs but I'd ask who I'm hunting with if you're going to use/need them. Bring a good flashlight for blood trailing after dark or looking for a dead pig, even very well shot ones can go 50 yards or so. That's a long ways in a mesquite or cedar thicket. Try for head, neck shots if you're comfortable with your shooting, less meat loss, easier to clean, and DRT. Remember pig's vitals are more "upfront" than deer. Either shoot the shoulder low to medium high or shoot RIGHT BEHIND it.

Be sure to buy a 5 day Texas license, $48 IIRC.

I dunno where you'll be but bring leather gloves, lots of thorns most places out that way. It also can be damn cold so be prepared.

A lot of hog hunting is done from blinds so the shorter of the two might be the best choice. And at least 2/3rds of the hogs I have killed have been shot after dark so a scope light is very handy as is a spotlight. The hogs have pretty long hair on their backs and chests so don't make the mistake of shooting too low or high. I like to make neck shots or high shouler shots at night because it drops them. A hit 3-6 inches above the "elbow" is a good one and the hog won't go far.

Here's a link that will get you to some diagrams of hog vitals, as well as some "autopsy" photos of their vitals "in the flesh". I like to "draw" a line from ear hole to eyeball and shoot them mid-point on that line. Brain shots drop them DRT.

http://texaspredatorposse.ipbh...ex.php?showtopic=174

Thanks for the advice and the diagram. That certainly helps for shot placement.This ranch is located near Afton Tx. south east of Amarillo. It looks like lots of cedar breaks and mesquite. I'm sure it could be cold. I'll load some 06 rounds tonite and then take both rifles. Maybe some 165 gr. partisions. Don't have any 180s on hand. I'm really looking forward to this hunt. Thanks

Good Hunting!

Either rifle will work, and the older military camo will work fine.

Place your shots good, and collect your game!

Have fun! If the place has a website please share! I'm a few hours south of Amarillo

a friend is setting this hunt up but he told me it is 7 bar ranch They do have a web site but not too much on their hog hunting. I was looking for more than "theres the pasture; give em hell" Never hunted these things and wouldn't have dreamed of going on my first elk or antelope hunt not knowing what I am doing so we will be semi guided this first round. Should I expect to do most of the hunting at dawn or dusk and lay up during the day or being winter will the hogs move most of the day?

Time of day really depends on the amount of hunting pressure IMHO. If not a lot then they will move like other game animals early ,morning and late eve. I have shot several pigs in the middle of the day as well. If a lot of hunting pressure then they will go nocturnal and I prefre hunting on a full moon and just drive the ranch roads with my lights out looking for the animals feeding at feeders or along the senderos. If the wind is with you (they have exceptional noses) then you can walk up to within 450 or 50 yards and use the moon light to see well enough to shoot them or use a little of light as you need to light up your scope. Good luck and let us know how you do.

After being posponed 2 times it looks like I get to go to Texas on the 12th and spend 3 days hunting hogs. I've got 130 accubonds loaded for the 264 win mag and 165 nosler partitions loaded for the 06. Got a feeling this could be a muddy and cold trip after all the snow through the panhandle but I am really looking forward to it. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Take a lot of pics.

We'll be waiting...

Got home late last night from our hog hunt in Texas. I had a good time hunting but didn't see any hogs. Didn't even see any sign on the place we were hunting. The place was 1000 acres of overgrazed pasture and really no reason for hogs to be there that I could see. We saw lots of sign along co. rds. where they had crossed so I know there were plenty of hogs in the country. They had a little snow before we got there and every thing started out muddy but dried up a bunch by Sun. morning.
My son called in some yotes and got 1 of them on Sat. morning. Our "guide" never got out and around before about 11:00 am. and always had a drink with him. Hope you all are getting the idea of how this worked. We did do some spotlighting but sure didn't see anything shootable.
Anyway: Lesson learned. I will go back to that country to hunt, but I will do a bunch of research before hand. I know this is good hog country and I don't think getting permission to hunt will be hard.
By some standards this was a really bad hunt. I don't look at it that way. Got to see and hunt some very different country. I'll give em hell some time in the future.

Sorry about your "hunt"! I hope you let the owners of the 7 Bar know about your guide and hunt.

Bob

Thanks for the report.....and that's a good way to assess your hunt. I learned a few very important lessons on my recent javelina hunt.....so I considered the hunt a "scouting trip with kills".

You'll get 'em next time......and it sounds like you could even make it a DIY hunt.

It was 1 of the owners that took us so I'm sure they are aware of the quality of their operation. I just don't think they care.

I understand that there is another 7-ranch in south Texas and I don't want to give THEM a bad name. I was hunting close to Afton Tx. Just south of Matador. Another up side of this hunt was stopping in Matador and getting a Moore Maker knife. They make a great knife.

Go to Circlewcranch.com and see how a great operation is run. They will have good info on what to bring etc.