My suggestion is contact local game wardens in area's you like to hunt, they can help direct you to places maybe that have hog issue's and that will increase your odds, and maybe even get you some private land access
as for your first gun being an AR, not a bad gun at all, but not a great hog gun, there are cheaper better options out there
a .223 isn't a great caliber for a hog, too light a bullet and it can travel a LOT farther than you think(as will MOST rifle bullets of center fire calibers, a .223 bullet can travel well over 3+ miles, so be safe)
Make sure you use HUNTING bullets and NOT full metal jacketed bullets for your AR!

hunting is like all things in life, you can half A$$ it and just go as you do, or you can read and study up and become better at it
you get out of things what you put into them

Hog hunting is a good way to get into things
and summer time is a slow time of yr for hunting
deer season is about to start if not already, and well, MOST deer hunters don't really want hog hunters running about on them
it some what ruins there deer hunt?

SO< my advice is, tread lightly if your in a heavy hunted area, week days will always be less crowded than weekends


be safe and MAKE sure anyone you take also know's how to handle a gun safely and has all proper hunting lic and tags!