East TN Hog Hunting

[DitchPickle88]

I went out this weekend to a WMA close by that is known for it's wild hog population. Very first time doing something like this so I felt pretty in over my head from the start. I hiked way in a couple miles to get away from potential pressure. I still-hunted up flat creek bottoms, down abandoned forest service roads, and through big bowls. I saw sign (pig poop and rooting) nearly everywhere, just no pigs. Any tips from seasoned WMA hog hunters? Do I need to sit over an active area instead of stalking? Or do I need to just keep at it until I run into one? Any tips are appreciated.

 

[348Winchester]

Hogs just roam about randomly. The more time you spend roaming about in areas they roam about, the better your chances will be bumping into them.

 

[Crappieaddict]

The hogs that frequent my property, which are a major nuisance and destroy fields, are primarily nocturnal.

 

[Lt.Dan]

If you want company hunting, let's talk.

 

[ImThere]

I was always told if you seeing sign your not seeing pigs. You're too late.
Not sure if it's true or not.
When I go I usually just stalk in to the wind. 50/50 luck.

 

[UCStandSitter]

I stalk em where I hunt em but... I also have the knowledge of their normal patterns. So long as I can stay downwind I can usually work my way to em without much trouble. Aggravatin things.

 

[lol]

The hogs that frequent my property, which are a major nuisance and destroy fields, are primarily nocturnal.

Same. I've seen some movement during the last 20 minutes of shooting light down near the creek bottom/laurel thickets.

 

[UCStandSitter]

We used to have a lot of fun with these things at a specific spot we hunted till TWRA came in with their fancy chopper and whacked a big chunk of em. They ruined my big plans of Tannerite around a corn pile. Would've been epic. Probably have returned by now but they converted that spot into a paid lease after we put in the work. Oh well, was fun while it lasted.

 

[timberjack86]

Hogs just roam about randomly. The more time you spend roaming about in areas they roam about, the better your chances will be bumping into them.

This and the colder the day the better the movement!

 

[PickettSFHunter]

A hog is pretty difficult to hunt in the day time. If I'm day time hunting here, I'm walking bluff lines and looking under bluffs where they will lay up in the day. Snow is ideal, both for seeing them, and tracking them but obviously that's not too reliable. Unfortunately our WMA closes with deer season, I really wish it would stay open til the end of February at least.

 

[timberjack86]

A hog is pretty difficult to hunt in the day time. If I'm day time hunting here, I'm walking bluff lines and looking under bluffs where they will lay up in the day. Snow is ideal, both for seeing them, and tracking them but obviously that's not too reliable. Unfortunately our WMA closes with deer season, I really wish it would stay open til the end of February at least.

22 mag squirrel season

 

[PickettSFHunter]

22 mag squirrel season

Not allowed on the local WMA unfortunately. You can hog hunt the local federal land with a rifle until the end of February at least.

 

[timberjack86]

Not allowed on the local WMA unfortunately. You can hog hunt the local federal land with a rifle until the end of February at least.

It's not allowed here, spoke with the area manager and he said kill everyone I see. They have been trying to get it passed hogs can be killed during any season with whatever weapons is legal for that season, just like GA. But so far no luck. I fully believe those in charge do not want hogs eradicated. So I usually just hunt for hogs in cohutta.