Great Summer Hog Hunts And The Guns And Scopes To Use
Our hot and dry conditions have continued over the last month, but that hasn’t stopped the few summer-time guests we have had from killing some good hogs. Our friend Joe G., who has hunted with us for years, was down two weeks ago and shot a nice 100lb pig. We also had 3 guys down from NY and NJ for their first trip to Cypress Creek, and they got lucky and hunted the morning after a small rain which had the hogs up and moving. The group knocked down 4 pigs: Pat saw over 40 hogs and shot two boars while Tony and Harry both shot one boar each. Another hunter, James, also had some luck while in the lowcountry with us and shot a good porker too.
Last weekend we had our friends from NC that come once a month for a one-day hog hunt. They hit the jackpot too when the river came alive with pigs, and the four hunters hammered 6 hogs in just one afternoon with the largest weighing almost 300lb! Gene and Barry both killed two while Randy and Joe each shot one apiece. We also had a couple of other hunters that same weekend that missed their opportunities at filling the cooler with pork, but that’s hunting.
Like I said, we usually just get a few hunters on the weekends during the summer due to the heat and bugs. However that gives us the opportunity to get prepared for our upcoming deer season which starts on August 15th. And this summer is no different. We just picked up a great new 1000 acre tract that is full of good bucks with hogs too, so we have been working on clearing the roads and setting up stands. And while we aren’t ready yet, we will also be putting in some summer food plots next month at the spots we will be hunting for velvet bucks. So while its tough, hot conditions to do anything in, we are really working hard right now so everyone can have some great hunts this fall on both deer and hogs.
And speaking of having great hunts… We get a lot of hunters that haven’t ever been on a true free-range hog hunt, so I thought I would make a few recommendations on the types of guns and optics that a well-prepared should arrive with for maximum chance of success. First, while any caliber will kill a hog, be aware that the smaller the caliber, the closer you must be to make an effective shot on such a tough animal. And that will affect the stands that we will put you in since it won’t benefit the hunter to see a pig further than their weapon will reach. So while we will happily accommodate any hunter’s weapon and its limitations, if asked we usually suggest one of the bigger rifles like a 30-06 or 300 mag to ensure good penetration and to allow us to use the hottest stand possible for you.
Another important consideration for a hog hunt is the optics that you will have on your gun. And for that, unless you just want to use iron sights, we highly recommend the best glass that you can afford. We only hunt wild hogs, and they generally move right at dark. So the later you can see through your scope the more likely you will be able to take that shot when the pigs come out. A higher magnification will also allow you to zoom in close for a really precise shot either behind the should or even better, just below the ear. So again, feel free to hunt with anything that you have, but be aware that it will impact your chances of success. We recommend a good 3-9×40 or larger, and feel free to give us a call if you have any questions about what you are bringing on your hunt.
