My son and I went hog hunting today!
 

There are hogs in the southern part of our county and the northern part of the county south of us, right around the county lines. Years ago some escaped from a private hunting preserve in that area and have been gaining population in the wild ever since. We went hunting on state land a few miles from the place they allegedly escaped from. We walked a creek bed with light water in it for a while. We saw a bunch of trails that were much wider then deer trails. We saw some scat that looked like a cross between dog and horse scat. There were areas that stunk worse then a barn, really bad.

It's hard for me to walk in hilly areas, had surgery in March. So we went to another location. We walked an old logging trail that was a lot flatter. We came upon about a 10 by 20 foot mud hole in the logging trail. Usually standing water holes around here are clear and you can see the bottom. This was as muddy as could be, like something was in it before we got there and the area also stunk really bad, like the other areas did. There was a wide game trail that crossed right through it. There weren't deep wallows in it like I've seen from others pic's, it was just completely mixed up like nothing I've ever seen. There were no ATV's or dirt bikes in the area. The weeds and things growning in the logging trail was fresh with no other foot prints other then deer/hog tracks. We heard some movement but it's so thick, especially this time of year, that we couldn't see to far.

This was the first time we've really went hog hunting. We don't know much about hunting them. It was fun, and I can't tell you how hard it is to try to keep up to a soon to be ten year old that was as excited as could be about hunting hogs. I had to keep telling him "I have the rifle, slow down and stay with me". He was digging in like a husky pulling a sled. We had a good time. Hopefully the NYDEC gets back to me with some information as to where there could be a lot more hogs. They've hunted and trapped them the last few years. They've been reluctant about giving to much information to the public so far.
NYH1!

I hunted those same exact hogs and came up with about the same results as you did! good luck!!! them mosquitos are brutal out there this time of year.

Sure are!

The DEC still hasn't gotten back to me (like they said they would) with helpful information, regarding where we might have better luck seeing them ect. They get on the new and complain about the hogs in that area and how bad they are to other game and all the damage they're doing to the land, farmers fences, crops, water ways. Every time we try to get information from them they don't seem to willing to help us hunters that want to help take care of the problem. The land and farm owners are pretty much the same way. I guess the problem isn't that bad.

Apparently it will be too costly to have these swine trapped by the USDA and/or DEC. From what I hear, the cost will be much greater once the pigs are well established and the way they reproduce that shouldn't take too long! Sure the 27 hogs trapped by the USDA in 2010 probably helped, but why not take a proactive approach and inform the hunters of their whereabouts!!

That's what my friends and I have been trying to figure out. They wouldn't give us any information the last 4 or 5 years. Each year they say they're spreading and becoming more established. However, they're still hush hush.

They can't hide forever!! Hopefully I can get out soon to do some scouting/trailcams. I'm pretty sure I saw a fully grown hog back in the spring. Man them things are fast!!!

found a place to purchase hog decoy silhouettes for hunting. Seem to work good. I put 2 out and used an electronis caller from gander Mountain. They only cost $89.00 + shipping. Any interest?

They're reporting 3 counties having a breeding population. From what I've heard they're pretty skiddish to human presence. If I hear of more hogs around I might take you up on that.

I hunt hogs in Texas quite a bit,I don't have any luck to speak of during the day .I use corn and Texas boars light and have killed 8 this winter and spring,had to quit because of heart surgery.I have seen only 3 hogs during the day this year inspite of being overran with them in North Texas where I live.I guess they have lots of rules up there about lights and night hunting.Its legal in Texas to use any method to kill them I just have to call the game warden and tell him about the big lights when night hunting. Traps are a very good method to get some pork. Good luck kill every one you can because they bred fast. Chuck

If I couldn't night hunt with lights and bait with corn I don't know what I would do.I caught 6 in a trap Monday morning.Had to give them away because of work and the heat.They were 30 pounds young dummys that the rest of the sounder will never get in a trap again,there smart.