Missouri hog hunters

I live over in the flatland SE Mo...havent heard of any getting this far east and south...but I hear there are some in the Castor River areas....Iron and Reynolds county...but I have heard the Conservation folks would rather trap them , than have folks hunt them.. But no one is saying dont hunt them at all. Have hunted them in Texas.....mean critters...glad we dont have then here ........yet
 
The closest wild hog population to Illinois (or the SE Missouri Bootheel for that matter) would probably be around Wappapello Lake. The surrounding Corp of Engineers grounds has a good population of hogs in the St. Francois River Basin system.
 
The MO conservation dept does discourage people from specifically hunting for them. In the 2015 fall deer and turkey regulations "book" they state that "Hunters shooting feral hogs complicates efforts to remove these pests. If you are afield for other game and encounter a feral hog please, call the number below to report it as soon as possible." Sounds like they would rather people not shoot them and instead prefer some trapping method of some kind. I'd like to go hunting for them but I'm glad they are not widespread yet but it's probably only a matter of time. FYI, the number to report a feral hog in MO is 573-522-4115 ext 3296
 
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Yeah well... I can tell you that while afield 99.9% of hunters are going to shoot if they run across a wild hog. The MDC can find their hogs and I'll find mine.
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Im not close to ill. Area but closes to me in Piney river area licking, duke, fort wood area has a load hogs.. never trapped or shot any but have ate my fair share from local farms trapping and calling to come get them to clean.. pretty tastey
 
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I live near the Wappaapello Lake. There is very few hogs around the area. Hard to find them ,and yes MDC would rather you call them so they can trap them .But they also say shot on sight
 
Hmmm Mo-Coonhunter says he's loaded with them at Wapappello, and pepaf1000m says there are very few there..........well, I guess its all about where you are and when .....
 
I'm down here by Ft Wood and we are loaded with them. Saw 6 yesterday driving to a coyote stand. Mdc would rather hunters not go after them. Here on Ft Wood the rule is getting ready to change where yo uh cannot go after hogs unless you are deer hunting and they happen on ya.
 
Yep Thats what they used to say in Texas. Now the Feral Hog population in Texas is approaching 5 million animals.
All I read says Feral Hogs are destroying millions of acres, golf courses, agriculture, etc etc. Everyone wants to do SOMETHING with them, but the irony is, if a thousand Natl Guard Snipers came down and offered to kill hogs for a month, some goof would turn them down because he wouldnt get paid to let the Guard kill the hogs.
You cant help folks who are too stupid to be helped . No offense, but my gosh....if you dont kill them now, its too late . ( Probably already is )
 
From my conversations with MDC they have stated that they don't want people to hunt them because hunting implies conservation and MDC wants them eradicated. Every agent I have talked to states to shoot on sight. If they promote hunting then I believe they are afraid that people will see them as a resource to conserve. Also with the money that hunting creates I think there might be more instances like the one in the Ozarks where people were offering guided hunts only to find out they were releasing hogs prior to taking clients out.
 
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The serious hog hunters are running dogs. Those dogs scatter hogs all over the place. Hogs don't have a home range like deer. When a group of hunters starts running them around a certain general area the hogs respond to that heavy pressure by moving out of that country. The result is they scatter out into new territory, thus expanding their range. MDC wants to contain them as much as possible for trapping, helicopter shooting, Judas hog operations, ect. The solitary hunter stumbling upon a hog here and there isn't what the MDC is concerned with. It's the serious guys with hunting dog packs, ATV's and horses or mules that really saturate hunt an area causing the hogs to relocate that is the real concern in the eyes of MDC. These are the guys pushing hogs in to new country. That's what this "no hunting hogs" response is about.
 
Well if it has anything to do with the conservation then they want a good population so we can start paying for tag lol o the ol mighty dollar for them. But I would be ok to pay for a tag if they are a good population to hunt. Plumbob I need to cone over with you I have hunted them a few times around the fort with some buddies never any luck. Seen 6 in winter time
 
What GC said is correct. We have one fella that runs dogs, and gets a few every weekend, but they scatter, that is what they pretty much want to stop. Hogs used to be limited here close to the river and south side of the post, but I have seen them in the last section of the Fort before you hit Waynesville this year, they are expanding.

Shawn, its hit or miss when you see them. Baiting is the best bet to have a good shot at a hog. But if your up for it, we can give it a shot.
 
Got an MDC email update on their last conservation meeting. There is a resolution proposed for adding to the game code to make hunting of feral animals (wild hogs) illegal on public lands managed by the MDC. That's pretty much all public ground in Missouri. There is a public comment period in March through early April. I expect it will pass because I doubt it draws much attention and for the reasons I outlined above.

Probably the dedicated hog dog guys will now claim they are running coyotes and go right on with their business. Except now they will have to be more careful about getting their kill out of the woods as they look out for the Conservation Agents. The on foot hunter that happens to see a hog at random will most likely continue to shoot the hog. I know what I will do given an opportunity...
 
Listening to all states conservation guys talk about killing or eradicating hogs to stop MILLIONS of dollars worth of damage.......sound like Obama lying about......well, ..everything......They all ACT like they want hog populations dropped at all costs.....but know full well they are understaffed, and outsmarted ..by feral hogs.
Obama on the other hand, is outsmarted by anyone in the same room.
Hate to bring politics into a hog fight...but it seems fitting
 


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