WILD HOG HUNTING IN TEXAS AT 4J RANCH
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Wild Hog & Exotics Ranch Centerville Texas
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Wild Hog Hunting in Texas WILD HOG HUNTING IN THE HOG DAYS OF SUMMER Wild hog hunting in Texas during the summer months requires a different hunting strategy than wild hog hunting during the winter months. Wild hogs are very susceptible to overheating and dying during the dry, hot summer months in East Texas. Once the daylight temperature exceeds 80 degrees, wild hogs bed down on cool soil under shade. When the temperature exceeds 90 degrees wild hogs bed down under very dense cover on moist soil, and if possible, very near water. Most likely these cool, shaded areas are located within a dense wooded area or a wooded area that contain very dense brush and/or briar. Hunting wild hogs during the milder temperatures is the obvious strategy for wild hog hunting during the summer months. There are three windows of times when temperatures may drop below eighty degrees. One window would be in the middle of the night. Another window could be a few hours before sunset. The final window is before sunrise. Each window of time provides a hunter with an opportunity to kill wild hogs. Night wild hog hunting from a blind can be productive and enjoyable, especially when there is a clear sky with a three-quarter to full moon. Unfortunately hunting wild hogs at night from a blind does not afford hunters an oportunity to stalk wild hogs. Hunting before sunset does afford a hunter an opportunity to stalk wild hogs in the woods and hunting from a blind. Unfortunately, there are hot summer days when the temperature does not drop below eighty degress until after dark. The final window of time is before sunrise. This is the time when the daily temperature is at its lowest. Wild hogs are still out and about rooting for food and/or returning to their shaded bedding area. This window of time also offers hunters an oportunity to hunt wild hogs from a blind and stalking wild hogs. MORNING WILD HOG HUNTS start at least 1 hour before sunrise. Hunters may start out in a blind. Colored lights are use to spot and shoot wild hogs feeding near the blind. Hunters can then begin stalking wild hogs after daylight. AFTERNOON WILD HOG HUNTS start approximately 4 hours before sunset. Hunters stalk in the woods for wild hogs until sunset or enter a blind one hour before sunset. NIGHT WILD HOG HUNTS starts an hour before sunset. Hunters would be in a blind near a feeder and use a colored spotlight to shoot wild hogs feeding on or near the blind. 4J Ranch has 4 fully enclosed 4x8 foot blinds used for wild hog hunting. The blinds have sliding windows and are positioned near feeders that disperse corn before sunset and after sunup. In addition to the corn dispersed by a feeder, corn and/or feed is also placed on the ground to further entice wild hogs to move within shooting range of the hunter. The blinds are large enough for two men and their equipment.
Wild Hog Hunting at the 4J Ranch is a unique experience for Wild Hog Hunting in Texas because it offers a stalking hunt. Wild hog hunting on foot within their natural habitat is the most challenging way to hunt wild hogs. As hunters, we at the 4J Ranch want hunters to have the oportunity to experience this type of shooting and hunting challenge. For hog hunters that want to hunt from a blind, the ranch has fully enclosed two man blinds. The enclosed blinds will protect hunters during inclimate weather. Corn/feed is put out near the blind to lure wild hogs within shooting range. Time of day and weather conditions dictate wild hog behavior. Eventhough wild hogs are nocturnal they do not see as well as other nocturnal game animals. Consequently, willd hogs begin their movements to and from their bedding area and food source early in the morning or late afternoon. Before or after a dramatic change in weather conditions is good for wild hog hunting. Nights with a full moon and clear sky are also good for wild hog hunting. During periods of extreme heat or cold are not as productive wild hog hunting conditions. During these times wild hogs will seek shelter within the dense woods and brush to avoid exposure to life threatening extreme temperatures. Wild Hog Hunting can be with a bow, handgun (.357/.44/.45 cal), or rifle (.223 to 30-06). For stalking wild hogs it is advisable to use an open site gun and a larger caliber, since most of the shots are at hogs on the run and bullet placement is not predictable. The 4J Ranch hunting area is located in the Trinity River Bottom near Centerville, Texas. The hunting cabin is approximately one mile from the hunting area. Good highways and roads allow easy access to the cabin and hunting area with any type of car. YOUNG WILD HOG HUNTERS ARE WELCOME: Hunting is a sport. To be a successful hunter requires specific knowledge and skills. At what age does a young hunter begin learning gun safety and hunting skills for each species? That depends on the comfort level of the parents. We at the 4J Ranch welcome parents to bring their young hunters to the ranch and teach them how to hunt wild hogs and/or deer. The ranch offers a controlled hunting environment where a parent has an opportunity to spend the necessary time to teach their young hunter animal behavior, gun safety and shooting skills. Be forewarned, hunting in this wooded East Texas river bottom, like so many hunting environments, is dangerous and must be taken seriously. The four types of poisonous snakes are on the ranch: rattlesnake; copperhead; coral; and cottonmouth. But that is the nature of hunting; Being within a dangerous, wild environment where hunting skills and knowledge can make the difference between safely returning home or not. WILD HOG HUNTING: At $50.00 per hunt per hunter and $1.00 per pound, Wild Hog Hunting at the 4J Ranch is an inexpensive way to enjoy a full day of hunting. The typical cost for one wild hog hunt and one wild hog is is $150.00. Wild Hog Hunting on foot within the dense woods of the Trinity River Bottom is a serious test of wild hog hunting and shooting skills. The ranch also has ground blinds for Wild Hog Hunting. Hunters can hunt with a bow, rifle or handgun while wild hog hunting from a blind or stalking. Checkout our WILD HOG HUNTING pages for more details. WILD HOG HUNTING ON FOOT: Stalking wild hogs in the dense river bottom woods on the 4J Ranch is a slow deliberate process of locating wild hogs. Hogs may be feeding in open areas within the woods, in which case there is an oportunity to take steady aim. But the most likely senario is that the wild hogs will be bedded down within a dense, brushy area. Wild hogs will lay quietly in the brush hiding from approaching hunters. Typically, wild hogs will wait until a hunter is within ten yards before it makes its move. When the wild hog does jump out of its hiding spot, it will run at full bore to the next hiding spot. Hunters will have a few seconds to take aim and shoot before the wild hogs are once again out of site. This typical shooting senerio is exactly why stalking wild hogs in the dense brush is so exciting. Hunting from a blind, waiting for an animal to reveal itself is never the same after experiencing the excitement and challenge of stalking wild hogs. The only photographs of hunters posted on this website are hunters that have killed an animal on the ranch. Unfortunately some hunters are not successful, but that is the true nature of hunting and there are no guarenteed kills at the 4J Ranch. Check out our WILD HOG HUNTING pages for more details. If you are hunting for great taste, the young wild hog or Barrow are the best! WILD HOG HUNTING (Young): Hunting for young wild hogs is the least expensive way to enjoy hunting and shooting. At $1.00 per pound a hunter can take two-to-four young hogs for the price of one big wild boar. Young wild hogs are more likely to expose themselves to hunters than the older, experienced wild hog. After a young wild hog is weaned from their mother (aka: ‘weaner’ or ‘shote’) it will run in a group with other young wild hogs. Also, young wild hogs are more active than older wild hogs. These young wild hog behavior patterns increase the odds of bringing home the bacon. The enjoyment and pleasure of young wild hog hunting is realized at the dinner table. A wild hog that weighs less than 100 pounds will be tender, mild flavored meat that is as good as pork from the super market. It has been our experience that hunters are pleasantly surprised when they dine on the meat of a young wild hog. The typical method of cooking is to cut the meat into strips and chicken fry. Wild Hog Hunting (Barrow - aka Bar): No question about it, young wild hog meat has a great taste, but the meat from a castrated male hog (Barrow or "Bar”) is as good as it gets. Years ago we introduced wild hogs into the ranch and let them breed. Each spring we capture and castrate male hogs. These wild hogs (Bars) have months to heal and complete their physiological transition caused by castration before winter sets in. The end results of castration are hormonal changes that reduces aggression, improves overall body mass, increased amount of body fat, and a milder tasting meat. Hogs reproduce at an alarming rate and some males escape capture and are not yet castrated. So the real prize or trophy kill is the Bar. It is priced the same as any other wild hog at $1.00 per pound. Check out our WILD HOG HUNTING pages for more information and more details. WILD HOG HUNTING WITH DOGS: Several time each year, the 4J Ranch has wild hog hunts with dogs. The objective of wild hog hunting with dogs is to capture and castrate the male wild hogs. Female wild hogs are released at the end of the hunt. Hunters interested in wild hog hunting need to email us. When we have a wild hog hunt with dogs interested hunters are called and informed of the date. At that time, they will book a hog dog hunt with us. Check out our WILD HOG HUNTING pages for more details. RED STAG HUNTING: Hunting an exotic deer like the Red Deer is an experience. The Red Stag is a large exotic deer that is a distant relative to the American Elk. A mature five year old stag can weigh over 500 hundred pounds. The Read Stag is not native to North America so it is exempt from the Texas hunting season and bag limits. When a Red Stage walks out of the woods he looks and walks like a king. Red Deer meat is a heart-healthy, high protein, low fat and low cholesterol. Red Deer meat is sold around the world in meat markets as venison. WHITE TAIL DEER HUNTING: White Tail deer hunting is offered during the Leon County, Texas deer hunting season. The cost of a white tail is not based on a point system but a 13" spead. Leon county requires the antler spread to be at least thirteen inches. Check out our WHITE TAIL DEER HUNTING page for deer hunting pricing. WHITE TAIL DOE HUNTING: At the 4J Ranch the Whitetail Doe is only available during the BOW ONLY deer hunting season of Leon County. Because of the limited season of doe deer hunting and the number of White Tail doe on the ranch, deer hunting with a bow is priced very reasonably. Check out our WHITE TAIL DEER HUNTING pricing page for details and watch for our specials during the last part of bow deer hunting season. PREDITOR HUNTING: Predator hunting is available at the 4J Ranch. It is the ideal location for all of the East Texas predators. It is a remote, densely wooded, wetland of the Trinity River bottom with an abundant, year round, food supply for predators. WILD HOG HUNTING IN TEXAS: Follow the links below for Texas Parks and Wildlife information on feral hogs found in Texas. LICENSE FOR WILD HOG HUNTING: Follow the link below to understand Texas Parks and Wildlife regulation on hog hunting. Look under the heading of Nongame and Other Species, then under subheading of Exotic Animals and Fowl. The only license required for wild hog hunting is the Resident Hunting (Type 101) or the Non-resident 5-Day Special Hunting (Type 157): Legal for any period of 5 consecutive days (valid hunting dates will be printed on the license when issued). Valid to hunt: Exotic animals, all legal game birds (except turkeys), all nongame animals, squirrel, javelina and alligator (not valid for other game animals, NOT VALID FOR DEER). Stamp endorsement requirements apply out of state basic license. There is no season or bag limit for wild hog hunting in Texas. Wild hog hunters can hunt wild hogs any month of the year, anytime during the day or night, and with any type of weapon. 4J Ranch is located within Leon County TEXAS REGULATIONS by County Hunting LICENSES in TEXAS
Come to the 4J Ranch and let us place your sites on an enjoyable hunting experience. Copyright (c) 2009 4J Ranch. All rights reserved |
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