looking for a place to hunt hogs

[870 expressmag]

I am looking for a place to take my older brother and dad for a hog hunt.  We do a lot of deer hunting around my home but I want to go on a hunting trip with them and figured hog hunting would be a little more light hearted than say a serious elk hunt.  I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good outfitter or guide service in kentucky or tennessee...prefer a good guide...lodge and food not required, we can fend for ourselves...we live on the michigan ohio border.  and hopefully something that won;t break the bank, unfortunatly i am the least well off one!  Of course 26, newlywed, and new house thats to be expected.  thanks for any info!

[Mad Dog]

Tenn. is your best bet.  However, if you don't hunt east Tenn. during the hunting season[not a high success rate], you are looking at a hunting preserve.  Tenn. has several.  Google up these sites, and see what you think.

Caryonah Hunting Lodge
Clarkrange Hunting Lodge
Wilderness Hunting preserve
Loshbough hunting lodge

Over the yrs. there have been good reports about all of them.  One to stay away from is:

Cumberland Mountain Hunting Lodge.

How much you spend, is up to you, but most are gonna run $550-$850 for hunt, lodging.  Some have meals, some don't.  Butchering and Taxidermy are extra.  Most guarrantee a hog.  Good luck.

Mad Dog

[870 expressmag]

why is cumberland mountain one to stay away from?  thanks i will check the others out.....

what do you mean by hunting preserve?  pen raised and released right before the hunt?  i don;t know if i can come to terms with that

[Graybeard]

No that's seldom if ever what it means in easter TN at least. Pen raised tho perhaps but they are turned loose periodically and the one you take might have been there weeks or months but not likely for years. In some they actually breed inside the area but not in all.

Back in '91 I went to Tellico Junction run at the time by Joe Meeks. I'm not even sure if they are still open or not. Joe sold it off then bought it back and opened it back up. He set up new lodging and it likely is still in operation.

There I was told they had 2000 acres I dunno how accurate that is but it was plenty of land for sure. The fence was not exactly hog proof in my opinion as it was down in places. They butt against National Forest land and Joe caught his hogs in traps placed on his side of the fence with a hole between the traps and NF land. If the hogs he caught met his size standards he released them into his fenced area and if not then back into the NF land.

How others do it I can't say as I've not hunted on them. Some likely buy hogs from folks who live trap them from the wild but others are gonna be pen raised on any put and take operation.

[870 expressmag]

well what i would like is a fair chase hunt....and i don;t want to feel like i am shooting the same hogs i could at the farm down the road.  and i guess when i read about hogs, feral hogs, etc i am not sure of the difference.....i want a boar though..with tusks......are these russians or razorbacks?  i guess i need a crash course in hog hunting 101

[Graybeard]

Russian hogs are those living in Russia or caught there and moved elsewhere. In spite of all the claims nothing you shoot in the US is a Russian hog. It "might" be of European origin originally but likely that was more than 100 years ago so they are about as American as anyone now living here. Ignore such BS.

When left on their own in the wild all hogs in a short few generations revert to looking much like their European ancestors meaning black and shoulders larger than hind quarters. All hogs have tusks it's just a matter of how long they are and that's something you are unlikely to be sure of before pulling the trigger.

Razor backs are again just a name assigned to hogs from one region of the country and has no meaning.

You are hunting hogs and really hogs are hogs the same all over the place all originally came from somewhere in Europe and were imported here long ago. Some have been bred to produce certain characteristics more desired for grocery store marketing.

You'll find hogs that are white, black, brown, red or spotted running around in the wild on free range hunts. The only REAL fair chase aka free range hunts you'll find in TN are on public land in the NF or in some other state. They do run free in most all the southern states but other than on public land you'll pay dearly to hunt them and there is no promise of a shot. If you truly want free range aka fair chase expect to go home without a hog.

I've hunted both ways and by far the majority of my free range fair chase hunts end without me even seeing one much less shooting one. Do some more research and determine what you REALLY WANT. Do you wanna see one, shoot one or just to be able to say you went hog hunting?

[870 expressmag]

well i guess i want,.....

-a light hearted hunt for my dad, brother, and some friends...nothing serious (elk, mule deer, etc)
-maybe some good tasting hams and bacon
-to actually shoot hogs
-wouldn;t mind a neat looking one with tusks to mount
-and i guess i don;t mind preserve as long as the pigs aren;t tame and act like their last meal was from a bucket in the slop trough

[Graybeard]

While I don't doubt for one minute that there are preserves out there that they will act that tame at none that I've been to have so far. Those at Tellico Junction were in fact quite wild as they were trapped from the wild and released into a very large area to continue to fend for them selves daily until found and shot. There were feeders on the place but not many as I never saw one but a bow hunter hunting at the same time as me was taken there so I know there were at least some feeders there.

At Carter's Pasture in FL it was 1100 acres inside a fence and in was a real jungle in there. The hogs had been there before the fence went up and continued to live their normal lives inside it as if no fence existed really. They bred in there and for sure he had more than needed which is why my hog was free after I took my fallow. I paid $25 to let my wife shoot a smaller meat hog not a trophy size hog.

For the most part other preserves I've hunted for exotics didn't have hogs on them so those really are the two places I'm most familar with related to hogs on preserves but have read many accounts of others. Beware of small acreage operations as they can be nothing but put and take and will have pen raised hogs not used to living in the wild. If the acreage is less than 500-600 I'd expect the hogs to be pretty tame. If it's much over then likely some breeding is taking place and you'll see hogs of all sizes and if so I'd not expect them to be tame.

Based on the criteria you listed in your last post most preserves over 500 acres in size should satisfy you I think. I think tho you will not be happy with most free range or fair chase hunts as your chances of success are slim there.

[Mad Dog]

The only 2 places, that I am aware of that have quality free range hog hunting is Florida and Texas.  I had a great free range hunt for hogs/javelina in Texas, 2 yrs. ago.  But thats a LONG way from where you live.  If you check out the 4 I listed above, 1 of them will fill the bill for you.  Oh, cumberland mountain?  Unless things have really changed, they have pulled too many things on hunters, over the yrs., thats all I'm gonna say.  Good luck on your choice!

Mad Dog

[TRAPnHUNT]

I hunted boar in Stonewall Oklahoma at a place called "Shiloh Ranch". Before my son & I got there, I had called down there several times in order to do my homework on this place. Multipule times I had asked the owners if this is free range or fence in (canned) hunt. They firmly stated that this is free range. I also asked how they keep the hogs in the area for which they stated that they use feeders, which isnt all that unusual to do. After driving from northern IL to this place in south/cental OK, I was shocked when we pulled up to the property that has a gate to it. Needless to say, I wasnt happy to see this. After checking in and putting our gear away, I took a look around and started to see exotic game walking up to us. Yeeeeeeep you guessed it. We found ourselves inside of a fenced in property and it was nothing but a CANNED HUNT! We even had hogs walking up to us looking for hand outs. We found our way back up to the camp where we found the owners Matt & Cheryl Napper once again. I told them how upset I was about them misleading us along with them misinforming us as well. I had asked for our money back for which they told me if they would not refund the total amount. After more disgussion, I told them that once we get our pigs, we'll be leaving right away. My son shot his the next morning but I waited it out to see if I could nail a good size boar. After my son dressed his out, the owners told him that there is a great butcher in the next town over that will cut it up and flash freeze it for him. My son took his over there and told them that we'd pick it up in the next day or so. The following morning I did take a nice boar but it was nothing special. After dressing it out, we had packed up the gear, went and picked up my son's pig from the butcher, grabbed bags of ice for mine, and headed home. Once we got home, I had butchered my own pig and packed it on the freezer. My son that night unwrapped two large packages of his meat for dinner which were marked "whole loins". To our surprise what said whole loins turned out to be nothing but scrap meat. This butcher that Matt Napper suggested to us had also screwed us just like the owners of Shiloh Ranch". I highly suggest that nobody hunts this ground since the owners have lied to us on a number of levels!!!!!!!

[Brian T]

I have hunted several places and Wilderness Hunting Lodge is by far the best hunting.  The lodge is new and very nice, big wild hogs and professional meat packing.  Food is C+ at best but I can live with that!!

[TRAPnHUNT]

Brian where is this Wilderness Hunting Lodge located at and do they have a website?

[Mad Dog]

TrapnHunt,  Wilderness is in Monterey Tenn.  But all of the places in Tenn. are high fence.  If you read what I posted above, the only free range hunts, other than California, that offer you a decent chance for success, are Florida, and Texas, with Texas getting the nod from me.

Mad Dog

[Old English]

Goodness gracious, have any of you been to TN? We have loads of hogs in the East of the State. I am part of a lease where we can't eradicate the hogs, no fences involved, see pics.  I shot 2 in Big South Fork in Feb as well. Really no need for guided or canned hunts in TN. I will be home in 4 weeks and hog hunting our lease, if you have a tent, you are welcome. Bring your own food, and supply me with beer!!
 

[maximus]

Hey Old English, 

                  My name is robert williams, I live in crossville never hog hunted before looking for the opportunity would love to come hunt a day our two with ya.Ill bring the beer.

[H Talon]

 if you want to hunt free ranging hog try central california. I live in socal and have hunted
in the Paso Robles area. smallest I got was 100 lbs largest was 230ish. and they tasted
GREAT !!!! I can post the guides I used if you wish .. but it was all open country
90,000 + acres wish it was mine :-) :-)

  Talon

[STUMPJMPR]

OE,
You have some fine looking woods up there... I live in south ms, and the timber companies have destroyed our woods... They have clear cut everything including hardwoods... They cut hardwood branches and try to dry them in order to plant more pines... All we have left is pine trees, briars, and sage these days

[jrfrmn]

Will you extend this offer to others? I have lots of beer.

Goodness gracious, have any of you been to TN? We have loads of hogs in the East of the State. I am part of a lease where we can't eradicate the hogs, no fences involved, see pics.  I shot 2 in Big South Fork in Feb as well. Really no need for guided or canned hunts in TN. I will be home in 4 weeks and hog hunting our lease, if you have a tent, you are welcome. Bring your own food, and supply me with beer!!
 

[FourBee]

Authorities at Fort Chaffee, next to Fort Smith, Arkansas published an article in the paper, pleading with the deer hunters to kill all the wild hogs they see.   The hogs are destroying the vegatation and water resourses at an overwhelming rate.  

[Old English]

Hog hunting offer is firm and real. I get home from 10 weeks in SE Asia on Sunday. PM me if you would like to hunt mid week, I am up for it big time!!

[jrfrmn]

Tenn. is your best bet.  However, if you don't hunt east Tenn. during the hunting season[not a high success rate], you are looking at a hunting preserve.  Tenn. has several.  Google up these sites, and see what you think. 
                                 
Caryonah Hunting Lodge 
Clarkrange Hunting Lodge
Wilderness Hunting preserve
Loshbough hunting lodge

Over the yrs. there have been good reports about all of them.  One to stay away from is:

Cumberland Mountain Hunting Lodge.

How much you spend, is up to you, but most are gonna run $550-$850 for hunt, lodging.  Some have meals, some don't.  Butchering and Taxidermy are extra.  Most guarrantee a hog.  Good luck.

Mad Dog
 Do you mean hunting during the deer season?
 Are there more hogs taken in the deer season.
 If, so where would be a better place to go for hogs during the deer season? Thanks.
             

[ga41]

Joe Meeks is a good guy, hunted there back in the 80's

Caryonah is a fine place and maybe a better choice in my opinion, but it has been 15 years since my last hunt there as well

Old English, what is your favorite beer ? 

[Old English]

GA41, my favourite beer is not available in the US, so I drink the beast, Milwaukee's best light. I am going to the lease this weekend, leave in the morning. It is ML season up there, unit B in TN. A mere 3 days to shoot a single buck. My focus will be to try to get a hog, we already have venison in the freezer.
After deer season ends, I will be looking to take a rifle up there any opportunity I get. My companion this trip is my chocolate lab, he's not much of a talker. C'mon down!

[Land_Owner]

Man, Oh Man, Oh man!  I am appalled at the "canned", "fenced" and mis-"guided hunts" described herein. 

The hogs on my 20 acres in FL are as FREE RANGE as the 100+thousand acres of State flood plain land adjacent to me can produce.  You can't just saunter over to the State land to shoot them.  The State land is posted as NO HUNTING.  It is a felony of the third degree to carry a gun and traverse the State's posted land.  I for one appreciate my gun owning and hunting rights too well to volunteer for that.

You have to wait for them to come onto private land at which time by LAW they "belong" to the land owner upon which they occur.  At private land occurrence, then there is an unlimited season, no bag limit, no size restriction.  Kill them ALL.  24-7-365.

Inducing them to come is the trick.  With a feeder of whole kernal corn, which is perfectly legal, we see free range wild pigs, deer, and turkey.  Four acres of food plots attract them for the pre-tilled soil from which they grub for earthworms.  Mast producing Live Oak trees draw them, along with deer and turkeys, for the white acorns - in season.  They wildlife make typical forages into my land for its "bounty" of food that only they know it produces.

If you want to take your chances on HUNTING for hogs (i.e. sitting on stand and waiting for them to participate), come on down.  GB poster 45-70.gov can tell you the way and attest to the state of affairs on my land.  He has been there, but unfortunately went home without the hogs participation on the day he hunted.  He is welcome back - anytime and particularly over the Holidays - to finish what he started.

[JimFromTN]

I used to hunt Big South Fork about 15  to 20 years ago and never saw a hog.  Place used to be a war zone openning weekend of gun season.  First time I hunted there, I had a guy follow me into camp thinking that I had taken a shot at him earlier that morning.  The guy told a story of how he had been shot a few years before so he was little short tempered with people shooting up the ground next to his foot.  I always heard the pigs at night and found tons of tracks and huge areas that had been rooted up.  Are there more hogs in there today?  What is the pressure like there during that late pig season?  Any tips on good areas as well as how to hunt them?

[SHOOTALL]

hunted at wilderness last feb. nice hunt ! Meat was packaged for the trip home and when on the road that's a plus . I hunted one of three enclosures , 1100 acres we were told , saw over 50 hogs , not sue how they got there but plenty wild !

[Default]

870 exp ,

  The place i have gone to a couple times in Oklahoma has around 6000 acres ..I got to talking to the owner and when him and his partner first went into the hunting biz ,people would come and stay up to a week and not see anything .. He made the choice to fence a few hundred acres and trap them off his land and release them inside the fence. So in this case these are wild pigs just being relocated.

 And i agree whole heartedly ... Them lil suckers can be elusive .. Especially in the thick briars and low hanging cedars they call home fence or no fence.. I found i like to hunt them open sights since I have no issues with crawling into their house and taking them at close ranges.. I wouldnt call it as easy as hunting buffalo  nor as hard as deer hunting ,But they wont make it easy on you.
 Last time i went hog hunting .. I decided to take a rest after walking my nephew all over gods country tryin to get him lined up on his first hog ..So i went to corn feeder where i had a stand  and let the feeder go to work ... Didnt take but a minute and *po0F* there were a mess of hogs coming in (none in the weigth i was looking for) but then they stopped ! (hmmmmmm) sat there watching them ... the group moved back to cover ,but not before they pushed this one poor bastard forward out of the cover a couple times .. Cuuurious  I was thinking . So this one little guy getting shoved out into the open heads down the trail towards the feeder about 15 yards or so ... Throws his nose in the air ! Smells me .. And heads off to the woods fast as could be  That little sucker was be used in some kinda buddy system , Me and a friend did that to another kid growing up playing in the junk yard , Junk yard Dog showed up and we knocked him down and hauled ass...Same thing here.. Smart little devils
  And a whole lotta fun to hunt and eat .. And should you get out there and take one or more ? Dont you dare throw out them ribs ! MMMMMmmmmmMmmm I am missing some hog ribs right about now .. Been hunting here local in Arkansas and havent seen any this year (not for lack of tryin.. But like Bill said ) ..Just took a couple does , Their ribs arent as good

    Happy new years all ... And happy hunting ,

     Default

[Zeeks]

If you look at Michigan's DNR they have a lot of hogs in that state. I live in NW Ohio and there is some in SW Ohio down by the river.  Cheap hunts..  DDRanch.com if you want a cheap hunt.  (Canned as they say,  250 acres in the hills). I shot a 750# there last fall. 
They have others also.  Wild Boar, Russians, Razor Backs.

[45-70.gov]

yes  i  have been  to  land_owners  place

i  have  never seen  so much pig  sign  in my  life

there  is  hardy  a spot  where  you  can't  see  the turned  up  ground where  they  have  been

tracks every where

nice comfortable permanent stands

i  just picked the wrong  day

[S.B.]

I would highly recommend Wild Hill Perserve in Fairlee, Vermont run by Bill Richter and sons. If you could time your hunt for colder months, it would be optimum? We hunted here last December and had a ball. See my post on here titled six_gunz and my  Vermont hog hunt.
Steve