Going in a few days and I don't really know what to expect. We are hunting through the night with spotlights (from vehicles I think).

Anyone done this kind of hunting for Texas piggies? Give me some clues as to what to expect.

Apparently this friend-of-a-friend traps several hogs a week off the place in addition to shooting just as many. So I don't think we will have any problem seeing something to shoot.

We do this all the time. I'll tell you a little about how we do it.

First, 95% of the time we use shotguns with 00 buckshot. We generally know exactly where they are coming and going in a field so we can get close enough to them to shoot them with shotguns. Hogs will generally try to get out of a field the same place they go in. If you don't have any idea where they will go out of the field then this method might not work so well and a rifle might be more appropriate. We put 3 or 4 guys with shotguns in the exit paths and then have a couple of guys on the back of trucks as well. Most of the time we ease around the edge of a field with out turning on any lights until we get to the known areas of activity. Then we turn on the spotlight and begin looking for hogs. At this point the guys on the ground are already in place and waiting.

Many times they will be in big groups and we will chase them down and shoot them out of the back of the truck at close range. You can kill a bunch of hogs like this. The ones that get away will head out of the fields where you should have guys waiting to take them as well. The key to the guys standing in the paths is not to turn on your flashlight until they are right on top of you. It's a lot of fun to hear them running toward you in the dark but it takes quite a bit of restraint not to turn on your light until the whole group is within buckshot range. I've found that most guys don't have the nerve to do this unless they've done it before.

It's not unheard of to kill 20-30+ hogs at one time like this if you hit them right and your plan works to perfection. Rifles are seldom used due to safety reasons plus you can kill many more hogs with buckshot because you generally only have a short window in which to shoot them. It's also important to have plenty of extra buckshot or an extra shotgun that's quickly accessible either when you are on the ground or in the back of the truck. The action happens quickly and you generally won't have much time to reload or get another shotgun unless it's right there with you.

I'd recommend scouting out a few places during the daylight and formulating your plan then. Try to think about distance and wind factors too when deciding how to place guys in the hogs' paths. If all the activity is close to their exits then you'll have a hard time getting guys in place or getting out in the field close to them before they escape.

If you just want to shoot a couple of hogs then it becomes easier and you can probably just sit on the back of the truck with rifles and a spotlight. You won't be able to kill as many this way though, but that might not be your goal anyway. Our goal is always to kill as many as we can so we usually set up that way from the start.

One additional note...we are usually hunting some type of field that's been planted with oats, peanuts, or harvested corn, milo, sunflowers, etc. If you are just hunting open pastures then you probably won't have them as concentrated and rifles will be more useful.

It's always key to know the wind direction and keep your lights off as long as possible know matter how you're hunting.

This will be around Anson, TX (north of Abilene). I'd rather stalk one and take it with my bow, but this isn't my call.

I think we are only going to shoot one or two eatin' size each. I know we wouldn't pass up anything big though. This is just a friend inviting us up to kill a hog and then drink way too much beer.

Big Ed,
Spotlighting is a bit of an art. I'd use a red lens until you find your target (most animals cant see red light very well). Once you get them located take off the lens cover and light them up...literally and figuratively. The high power white light will momemtarily blind them but only for a second or two before they will start moving on you.
Also, just as a precaution I would notify the local game warden that you are spotlighting for hogs, which is perfectly legal in TX. However, it is deer season and it's better to let him know what you are doing so you don't have any problems with someone thinking you are spotlighting deer, which is not legal.
I have heard some game wardens say that it's better not to do it but they have no legal basis for this, they just dont want to be called out.

Good God, that sounds like fun! I haven't hunted in a year and this talk is just killing me!

quote:

Originally posted by Ryan Campbell:
I have heard some game wardens say that it's better not to do it but they have no legal basis for this, they just dont want to be called out.

Now Leroy wouldn't say anything like that!

Oh my...I take it you've experienced Leroy. I have actually lost business and had people not want to re-up their lease because of Leroy.
What was your experience?

I make sure he has keys to all our land. I've even played golf with him on occasion.

I've found out that if you aren't doing anything wrong, the Game Warden is a great friend.

We lived on our place for 9 years before moving into town. Roadhunters and other idiots are thick out there. It was comforting to know he was out there giving them hell.

That said.... if I did something illegal, I'm sure he would ticket me in a heartbeat!