Nine Bar Ranch Blog

Rules and Recommendations for Texas Hog Hunting

Rules and Recommendations for Texas Hog Hunting

Feral hogs are an invasive pest species throughout the continental US, with over six million animals estimated to be running rampant. But how did this overwhelming problem with such a destructive, dangerous species begin? How did we arrive at today’s rules and recommendations for Texas hog hunting?

Hogs were first brought to the American southwest in the 1500s by Spaniard Hernando DeSoto. This initial mistake was made worse when Texas ranchers imported Russian boars, or more accurately European wild hogs, in the 1930s. These curious and clever creatures naturally escaped from the game ranches designed to hold them. Eventually, they bred with feral hogs, creating the hybrid hogs we see today.

The herds of wild boar that roam the state present serious problems for residents, farmers, and ranchers. Their natural behavior is upturning the topsoil in search of food, which leads them straight into the fields of our hard-working Texas farmers. Here, they destroy crops as well as the layers of topsoil required to nurture the replacement plants.

Unlike native game you likely hunt seasonally throughout the year, wild hogs are such a huge problem in Texas that the state has lifted virtually every limit and regulation governing hunting them. In fact, despite wild boar populations being spread over 35 states, over one-third of the wild hogs in the country are located here!

To preserve the natural landscapes and cultivated crops here in Texas, as well as protect the human and pet population from the mortally dangerous boar of the wild hog species, the state government encourages and indeed asks that hunters do their part to cull the population as much as possible. Total elimination would be ideal, but it is essentially impossible due to the hogs’ rapid reproduction and high litter numbers.

If you are hunting wild hogs on public land in Texas, you need a hunting license. However, there are no seasonal restrictions, bag limits, or guidelines regarding age or sex of the hunted animals. Texas wild hogs make for delicious eating, as well, which is a huge help to individuals and families in these challenging economic times.

Hunting Hogs on Nine Bar Ranch

The requirement for hunters to have a license to hunt hogs applies to public lands only. If you were to hunt them on private land, such as ours here at Nine Bar Ranch, there are zero state rules or restrictions to limit your hunting. We hunt at the times they are most active, waiting at feeding stations or near the trails they habitually take.

Once you have bagged your game, you can dress it yourself, but we recommend using our game dressing service. We can dress, divide, and package your game meat. We will keep it nice and chilly in our game storage until you’re ready to head home.

To schedule your hog hunt today, please contact us here at Nine Bar Ranch. We look forward to hunting with you soon!

Top New Year’s Resolutions for Successful Hunting in Texas

Top New Year’s Resolutions for Successful Hunting in Texas

As we enter the second month of 2024, it’s time to stop and check in on our New Year’s
Resolutions. No, we’re not talking about your weight loss goal, personal habits
improvement, or your promise to finally get the garage organized; we’re talking about
your goal to up your game and experience successful hunting in Texas!

Any seasoned hunter knows that the hunting season for most particular games never ends.
Rather, we just move from active hunt to active preparation. With that perspective in
mind, let’s discuss some excellent New Year’s resolutions for hunters.

1. Clean Your Weapons
Resolve to clean your hunting weapons after every hunt, whether you’ve been
successful or not. Clean inside and out, oil anywhere metal touches metal, and
use heavy metal remover every time you’ve fired your gun. If you took your gun
out in rain, snow, or mud, disassemble it and thoroughly clean it.

Following this routine will improve your accuracy, boost your self-discipline, and
ultimately make your costly gear last many years longer than it would if you
neglected it.

2. Organize Your Gear
You may not feel like spending a weekend organizing your hunting gear, but the
feeling of knowing you’re ready to take any opportunity to jump in your truck and
hit the hunting trails can’t be overstated. You don’t have to get ready if you stay
ready.

3. Practice Your Marksmanship
Can’t get out of town for a hunt but have a hankering for some sport? Take your
gun out and work on your marksmanship. Like any other skill, your aim is
only as good as the effort you are willing to invest into it.

4. Take a Friend Hunting
Remember when you first learned to hunt? Whether you learned from your
father, uncle, or a family friend, you are no doubt grateful for their lessons. You
wouldn’t be the hunter you are today without that series of introductions to the
sport.

This year, resolve to be someone else’s mentor. Pass along the knowledge and
heritage of hunters who brought this skill to you.

5. Cook up Some New Game Recipes
Unless the hunt is rough on you all year, you’re going to have some delicious
game to cook up before long. Instead of relying on the same old recipes and
techniques you’ve used for years, branch out a bit! The internet is a great
resource for tips and tricks to level up your game cooking skills.

Once you find a recipe (or three) you love, invite friends to share the meal(s). Nothing will give someone a positive perspective on hunting like enjoying flavorful meats the grocery store just can’t offer.

6. Plan a Hunting Trip
Of course, hunters deserve vacations, too! This year, we’d love to see you here at
Nine Bar Ranch. Take a look at the incredible packages we offer, choose the game
you are most interested in tackling, and then book the getaway of your dreams. We
can’t wait to hunt alongside you, and join you around the campfire after sunset.
Happy Hunting!