Hog Hunting Near Me (How To Find The Best Hunts)

Whether you're drawn to the thrill of the hunt, the prospect of fresh meat, or the desire to maintain ecological balance, it's crucial to ensure that your hunt is legal and permitted in your chosen state. This guide will help you explore prime hunting States and provide practical tips to ensure your hog hunting is not just successful, but also respectful of the environment. 

Begin By Researching Local Hunting Areas 

Public land pig hunts are plentiful, so start by researching your local wildlife administration, such as game and fish departments, departments of agriculture, and state conservation services. These departments not only manage large portions of public land, such as wildlife management areas, but will also have the inside story on pig movement in these areas and the damage that they're doing. 

Regarding the benefits of a public hunt, public land hunts are typically more accessible, budget-friendly, and can provide a wider diversity of wilderness, species, and experience than a private hunt. 

Wild hogs are similarly wreaking havoc on farms and agricultural plots, and some landowners are more than happy to welcome respectful hunters onto their property to help reduce the numbers. Of course, landowner permission is essential, as is the necessity to abide by all requirements outlined by the owner. 

While some states offer year-round pig hunting and trapping with minimal regulations, others may be more restricted regarding seasons and strategies used, such as spotlighting or hunting dogs. Ensure you check all relevant state regulations and local rules regarding bag limits, licensing, and other requirements. 

Check For Hog Population In Your Area

If you're in a warmer state such as South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, or Texas, chances are you won't have to venture too far to find decent hog hunting areas. 

The easiest way to get started is to contact state wildlife departments to inquire about the best regions for hog hunting regarding population numbers. You can also check their online resources or contact them for more details.

Local guides and outfitters are also a wealth of knowledge. They will undoubtedly be able to point you in the right direction regarding the concentration of pig numbers in certain zones. 

Use Hunting Apps and Maps 

Whether you've settled on a public pig hunt or will try your luck with some local landowners, the HuntWise hunting app is an invaluable source of insight.

To get started, download the HuntWise app and explore potential hunting zones with the mapping features focusing on game movement, the edges of agricultural fields that meet forested areas, bedding areas, water sources, and natural funnels where hogs are most active. You can set custom markers on these zones and view property boundary information for private land access. 

Regarding a private hunt, you'll have two options.
 

• The first is to lease land from a landowner through word of mouth, hunting forums, local land leasing services, or website platforms.
• The second is to reach out to farmers and ranchers who are open to allowing hunters access to their land to remove these nuisance animals.

While the introductory phase can be challenging, the HuntWise app provides users with access to landowner contact information. From there, send through an open and honest pitch with your view on hunting, your approach to hunter safety (no landowner wants issues on their property), and an invitation to contact you to discuss the opportunity further. 

Consider Night Hunting Opportunities 

While dusk and dawn are often considered prime hog hunting times, climatic and environmental impacts, human presence, and intervention have pushed some pig populations towards a more nocturnal feeding schedule.

This is good news: with the help of specialized equipment such as thermal scopes, you can locate hogs after dark when there is much less hunting pressure, and in warmer states, the weather may be far more agreeable.

Due to the specialized nature of night hunting, it's essential to double-check all regulations relating to these practices, including the permissibility of night hunting, which equipment is allowed, and any restrictions on noise or locations. 

Scouting For Hogs 

To an experienced eye, pig signs are hard to miss. From the hairs caught in wire fences to the wallows and rooting, spending time in the field and familiarizing yourself with these markers can help pinpoint potential hot zones.

Trail cameras will help confirm the presence of pigs and provide insights into their movement patterns, allowing you to identify the right time of day and location to head out and chase hogs. 

Seasons and Methods 

In many states, hogs are classified as invasive species and can be hunted all year round; however, we recommend you check local or state websites to confirm. 

Due to the sheer number and spread of hogs across North America, there are multiple methods and firearm opportunities to hunt hogs.
 

• Rifles are popular, with options such as a 30-06 Springfield and .308 Winchester providing the right stopping power and range to take down these tough creatures.
• Bows are also popular, with a draw weight between 50 and 70 pounds, and are ideal for taking down hogs. This range provides enough power to penetrate hogs' thick hide and bone structure.

Firearm choice will depend on your chosen environment and hunting approach, i.e., if you are hunting with dogs, stand hunting, or spot and stalking, as well as the proximity to the hogs you are comfortable with. 

Plan Your Hog Hunting Adventure With HuntWise 

The year-round hunting opportunities of a hog hunt are hard to beat. Whether you choose to hunt on private or public land, you're always close to a hog hunt where you can meaningfully contribute to the ecosystem and agricultural industry by removing some of these nuisance animals. 

As you plan your hunt, download the HuntWise app to facilitate a more effortless hunting experience. The app delivers valuable mapping features, including private land and landowner contact details. 

You can also use HuntCast to learn about wild hog activity in the area you plan to hunt so you can plan your day (or night) in the field for success.

If you've never tried HuntWise before, hog hunting is a great time to try it! Download the app and explore it free for your first week.