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Free Hog Hunt: June, July, and August with unlimited hogs. includes lodging $275 per person per day
We show you the area to hunt and you are on your own.
Basic Blind Hunt: 2 1/2-day semi- guided, 3 nights lodging $975 per person
Optional Services for Additional Fees:
Thermal Hunts: +$250 per person per 2.5 days for thermal hunt using your own equipment.
- Non-hunter: $150 per day
- Spot n stalk: $450 for a group of 4.
Not Included: ammunition, hunting gear/apparel, transportation to and from blind, rifle, staff gratuity
Lodging: Ranch houses available and included with the hunt. you can put in your request for specific ranch house at time of booking but not guaranteed. housing will be determined the week of your hunt dates.
We believe in providing our hunters with the thrill of the hunt. We are a free ranging ranch and do not have animals inside a fenced area. no guarantees are offered.
THE HABITAT
We are located in Knox County, Texas, the most dense area of wild hog population in the United States. The terrain ranges from dense mesquite pastures to rough cedar break canyons laced with fresh spring-fed creeks to acres and acres of cropland. Most of our property is perched on the rim of the scenic South Wichita River canyons where the abundant wild game has easy access to water, cover and food. Check out Google Earth aerial shot, coordinates: 33deg 38 min N and 99deg 35 min. W to see the terrain.
THE HUNT
On the Ranch’s hog hunting areas, we set up strategically placed elevated 4 x 6 blinds, tripods, pop up blinds, and corn spinners. Once you arrive at 2:00 pm you will confirm with your email the signed waiver with one of the staff, get settled into your accommodations, and go through “Hog Orientation 101” with one of the Guides and be shown the hunting area. At this point, you are basically “on your own” to get back to that area and start your hunt. The next 2 days one of the guide staff will meet with you to make a plan for the next hunt. Although during warm sunny days the hogs take a “siesta”, and most of the time after some late-night hunting you will want to do the same. We recommend staying on the “hogs schedule” but you may want to prearrange a spot and stalk in another hunting area for an additional fee.
THE HOG
One of the biggest misconceptions first time Hog Hunters have about hogs is that by their appearance and unclean habitat that they are “dumb”. This is far from the truth. A hog’s intelligence level is higher than a dog. Their keen sense of smell is greater than a deer along with their keen hearing. The only advantage hunters have is that a hog’s eyesight is poor. A hog is a very nomadic type of animal–here today–10 miles away tomorrow not committed to a set daily habit. With all these traits it makes for one of the most difficult animals to pattern to hunt. Hogs move very fast and can go from 0 to 30-35 mph in matter of seconds. For hunters up to the challenge, who can handle “boar fever”, the satisfaction of accomplishment is greatly rewarding. Along with other game animals the females are the best eating, the boars are the best trophies and biggest challenge.
THE RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
- Clothing suitable for the weather, camo and scent lok are recommended. Orange is not recommended or necessary.
- Comfortable hunting boots. Snake boots are always recommended.
- Rifle with scope and as far as size…. A .223 is NOT recommended to be successful in killing hogs. We suggest at least a .243 with a 150 grain bullet
- Scope mounted Rechargeable Green light offers more clarity (available for rent $50 for entire length of stay from Ranger Creek)
- Flashlight
- Binoculars
- Vehicle capable of handling rough ranch roads. 4WD/ATV’s/UTV’s are an asset.
- Game cleaning, skinning, and butchering tools (knives)
- Coolers. Ice is available at the Main Lodge for $2.50 per bag
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT HOG HUNTING AT RANGER CREEK RANCH
This question-and-answer section is meant to prepare our hunters to hunt “Ranger Creek Style”.
Q: How do you normally hunt hogs at Ranger Creek?
A: Evenings and well into the night from a blind unless you are hunting with thermals with a guide.
Q: Can they be hunted during the day?
A: Yes if there is natural daylight feeding activity. hogs will feed during the day BUT Remember that hogs are basically nocturnal and 80% of our hogs are killed at night.
Q: What grain of bullet do I need to use?
A: 150 grain bullets
Q: What license do I need?
A: License is not required to hunt wild hogs
Q: What clothes do I need?
A: Clothes suitable for the weather. Camo and scentloc clothing and Snake boots are recommended.
Q: Do I need a spotlight?
A: No but you will need a flashlight mainly to go to and from your blind. We do rent the green lens scope mounted spotlights for $50 for entire length of stay.
Q: What rifle should I use?
A: One you are familiar with. Large caliber, scoped rifles are commonly used. It is really an issue of shot placement, your guide will talk about this when you arrive. If you are from an area where night hunting is not allowed, it is highly recommended to practice shooting at night before you arrive. .223 is not recommended because they usually wound the hog vs kill them
Q: What vehicle should I bring?
A: It is recommended that your bring a vehicle that you feel comfortable driving rough ranch roads. If we have wet conditions during your hunt you will need a 4wd Also, you will need to be able to transport your hogs back to our processing facility.
Q: When I shoot a hog what do I do with it?
A: “Don’t shoot it if you don’t plan on utilizing it” Your guide will talk to you about this and show you our processing facility. Hogs are normally hauled back to the cleaning area where they are field-dressed, skinned and quartered. It is the hunter responsibility to do this. You will need a cooler to keep your hog meat in once it is quartered. Also bring a good quality knife for skinning and butchering. We do have some freezer and cooler space available, but it works well to keep ice layered on the meat, which we have available on site.
Q: Is the meat from a Wild Hog good to eat?
A: Yes, the meat from hogs is excellent. In some areas it is considered a delicacy. The most common hog, taken for meat, are young ones around 100-150 pounds, Meat from sows to any size is usually good but may get a bit tougher from older sows. Meat from older boars may not be good to eat, they are usually taken as a trophy only. Care must be given to the meat to preserve it and keep it cool like any type of meat but especially pork. Wild hog has been on menus for many years, wild game cookbooks and the internet are full of different recipes to prepare it.
Q: What is the best strategy to hunt hogs?
A: “ Get in the blind and sit until a hog comes”. Game movement charts play a big role here. Hunt as quiet and scent-free as possible, keep your equipment in good working order. A good pair of binoculars and scope mounted lights are recommended for seeing in low-light conditions.
Q: Do you allow hunters to spot n stalk?
A: Yes, an unguided spot n stalk can be arranged for an additional $450 for up to 4 hunters
Q: Can I bring bait?
A: Not recommended at all. Hogs are very sensitive to new things, and it usually takes them a long time to come into something new. We have had hunters bring their own bait and the results are not good. It sometimes acts more like a hog repellent.
Q: Can hogs be hunted by archery?
A: Yes, we have ground blinds and tripods that can be set up on active spots and tripods stands near corn spinners.
Q: Am I limited to hogs?
A: If you will let us know you are interested in another type of hunt we can make special arrangements for you. Make sure you have the correct license (Example: License for deer if hunting during deer season) Please let us know at time of booking.
Q: Can I spotlight hogs from my ATV or truck?
A: No, This is not the way we hunt here and has proven to be unproductive.
Q: What type of blind will I be hunting out of?
A: Normally we hunt hogs from a 4’ x 6’ elevated box blind large enough for two hunters. The blinds have windows, and 2 chairs. The blinds are positioned in proven hog activity areas near a corn spinner. When we find hogs frequenting an area where we don’t have a box blind we set up a pop-up blind or build a simple blind out of brush. Most of the archery hunting for hogs are also from tripods or pop-up blinds.