Stephens Co. Hogs?

I am mainly a duck hunter, and have always known hogs like to frequent the swamps we hunt. This year however, seems to be the most hog activity I have ever seen in Stephens County. Just a few days ago we could hear them screaming and running around a small hole we were in. I've never dealt with hogs and have always heard to avoid them, so those squeals put a sickening feeling in my stomach. Knowing that I was shin deep in mud with nothing but 3 shells of bird shot in my gun to stop a pack of pigs had me keeping my eyes on the edge of the woods instead of the sky. My question is, what is the best way to get rid of these ever increasing pests? It seems that every hole we walk to has the ground torn up in every direction. I wouldn't mind laying the smack down on some pigs to prevent walking up on an angry boar in the dark on future duck hunting ventures, but don't really know the best plan of action. 99% of the holes we hunt are on public land. Any advice other than to just hope to walk up on them armed properly?

I wouldn't worry about them. They won't bother you. They will leave in a hurry if they see or smell you. But on the other hand, they have exploded thanks to a few hoggers moving them around over the years. Use to if you seen a few hogs a season while deer hunting that was normal. I've seen way over 100 since mid November. I use to think it was neat to see them from time to time but the funs worn off. Get a rifle and stay after them till small game season ends.

must use a small game caliber rifle if small game is in season unless they have changed the law. 22mag does well if you shoot them in the ear

You can use any caliber now after December 1st since they changed the law. they allow centerfire to be used for fox and bobcat season which changed a few years ago. Hogs are legal during any season with any legal weapon. 22 mag does work very well though. That's what I use up until rifle season starts.

Can you use any weapon even on a WMA?

giannid said:

Can you use any weapon even on a WMA?

Click to expand...

I believe the wma has to have a furbearer season to use a deer rifle. I'd check the regs and talk to a Leo in that area. Any small game weapon can be used during that season

I just read the regulations and it doesn't say anything about furbearer season on each wma regulations season here. http://www.eregulations.com/georgia/hunting/specific-wma-pfa-state-park-hunting-regulations/ I did read under some of the regulations some of the wma's didn't have a furebearer season. They should definitely spell things out a little clearer about hunting hogs on the WMA's.

They do, the reg book say you can hunt fur bearers during any small game dates on a wma unless that wma specifically states no fur bearer hunting. Most allow it.

That's even more confusing, LOL! SO you can use a rifle if it doesn't specifically say no furbearer hunting?

Correct, as long as the wma is open for small game.

giannid said:

That's even more confusing, LOL! SO you can use a rifle if it doesn't specifically say no furbearer hunting?

Click to expand...

Now you got it......look under Pinelog and you will see “no furbearer hunting”

I carry my .22 mag most of the time

So essentially the furbearer season runs the same as the small game season? So you can hunt hogs during the day with a rifle as long as the wma isn't closed to furbearer hunts? They really need to simplify the wording.

Giannid if you are comin all the way from ohio to hunt wma hogs you better have some time n some good boots. They are everywhere and nowhere. Lots of hiking in your future

We're coming down to do a thermal hunt with a guide but we're going to do some WMA hunting for small game and possibly pigs. We're not too concerned if we do any good. More concerned about getting away from our busy lives for a few days. Did I mention we're buried in snow in Ohio? We also are equipped with knee high rubber boots

Last time I trapped and killed a bunch of hogs on private property next to where you are talking about, a member on here threatened me. He said he and others work too hard to "keep them there" for somebody like me to be killing them all. If you want answers about how they got there, go ask your boy and I'm sure he'd tell you. People are putting them there. Some are there by their own means of course, and others run dogs on them, tie them up, throw them in the bed of the truck, and relocate them near where you are hunting. Those hogs will never go away. It's a problem you are just going to have to deal with.
As for their behavior, they want nothing to do with you. They will run at the sight of you every single time just like a deer.
If it makes you feel any better, I killed one last turkey season on Chattahoochee WMA with Winchester Long beard #4's. You'll be just fine. Their squeals can curdle the blood sometimes, but they're just big ol' babies.
Last time I trapped a group there, all 8 of the pigs were part Hampshire. They looked like wild pigs in the face, but every one was black with a white band around the shoulders or with a partial white band around the shoulders. I doubt very much a bunch of domestic pigs like Hampshire's busted loose and I just happened to kill the next generation of their offspring. Some shmuck let them go.