Why don't we have wild hogs in West Tennessee?

[WestTn Huntin man]

No, I wouldn't think so.
I have heard that the boys out there really enjoy BBQ ribs though.

I live here and hear a lot at The Breakfast table and the COOP.Don't hear about many Wild hogs being shot. I think Shoulders are the Preferred BBQ and the Occasional Whole Hog.

 

[Union Co. Boy]

I've hunted Benton County for 20+ years and never seen one. Occasionally hear about one. They have a Huge Skull at the Natchez Trace State Park visitors center.
I wonder if the Large #s of Yotes keep the population down in West Tn ??

We honestly haven't seen any sign of long term habitation. No rooting, wallows, tracks, etc. much less pics. I believe they were just wandering through.

 

[Rageman]

There use to be wild goats not sure if there still around in the MTNs in Jasper and Cowan areas my dad tells me back in the late 70s early 80s

 

[timberjack86]

There use to be wild goats not sure if there still around in the MTNs in Jasper and Cowan areas my dad tells me back in the late 70s early 80s

My dad used to kill them on Keith springs mountain.

 

[RobbyW]

I have seen the mosquitos in west TN. They carried off all the hogs

 

[Rageman]

Yeah my dad said he shot one and it was the most awful smelling animal he ever taking I don't reckon there around anymore ive chased deer and turkey all around those places and never seen em I believe my great uncle shot one back in the 50s early 60s too guess they just died off

 

[Wolverine72]

They are in and around LBL.

Yup seen a huge one this fall. Prob 300lbs.

 

[Flintlocksforme]

TWRA used to stock them. I guess farmers kept them in check before they got going.

 

[ParkrLoois]

I saw one just today in Grundy County near a river, I think it was a kid boar (or whatever) it was black, I was taking a walk through an old road and walked past cautiously but it did see me. It seemed more interested in foraging food when it saw me, it was SOO cute, I just wanted to take it to the vet, get shots and have it as a pet!

 

[TNRifleman]

I've personally seen them on the Wolf RIver WMA near LaGrange

 

[Andy S.]

Plenty along the MS River near Shelby Forest WMA, and just north of there on private ground. I witnessed USDA sharp shooters picking them off few weeks backs out of their helicopter. They were in the area for a full week, weather/wind conditions permitting.

 

[Atchman2]

We have a lease in Benton County around Big Sandy. Got a pic of a hoss of a boar hog one year and never saw him again. The next year one of the guys heard something making a ton of noise behind him as he was preparing to shoot his first ever buck. When he glanced that way, there were three hogs coming out of a thicket. He shot the buck and didn't look at the hogs again. Another member made an emergency pit stop on the way to the stand in the dark and had one grunting and walking around him in the dark. Now THAT was a helluva funny story at lunch! All this transpired in two years. Only the one pic ever and no more sightings or encounters. 700 + acres, 25+ stands, 18 cameras, 13 members. No sign anywhere either. Go figure.

Those big bruiser are lone rangers. They are on the move looking for chicks.

 

[Atchman2]

The right kind of Hunting does put dents in the hog population , even in areas with very rough terrain and poor access. I've had no trouble at least controlling the hog populations on my properties and have had a lot of fun doing it. In one particular part of this county, the hogs have really been knocked back a lot and we've had hogs at least 60 years. You just have to stay on them and use all methods. We may be wishing for hogs so as to have something to hunt after the TWRA rids the state of deer over CWD, that's something to think about.

This is true! I've been after the same sounder on the property I hunt for a long time. Last spring we whacked the last sow. Now I only see loan boars. I'm sure they will come back eventually especially with all of the feeders I run. Part of the issue is that I wasn't the only one hunting. The damned bears took over!

 

[DeerCamp]

This is a map published in 2010 of hogs with confirmed feral hogs.
Interesting to me that they jump around like this, with "islands" of population

 

[Huntaholic]

You should consider yourself lucky. I like to hog hunt just as much as anyone would, but I for dang sure wouldn't want them around my property. They're pretty destructive, and can be damned dangerous to stumble upon if you're out and about.

Ive heard that all my life but I must beg to differ with you on them being dangerous. Oh im sure of cornered they would be a hand full, but wouldnt you!? Ive trapped them, slipped in on them and shot them in the bed, Ive tracked them up wounded, Ive done pretty much anything you can think of with wild hogs and Ive yet to have one try to get me.

 

[GreeneGriz]

Really - just a curiosity.

Considering we are surrounded by them on all sides, made me wonder what it was that has kept hogs from getting into West TN.

you probably do, you just don't know it yet.

 

[MickThompson]

Openness and flat landscape are much more conducive to controlling them than mountains or hills and hollers

 

[Flintlocksforme]

That's what got people to moving them around. TWRA opened the season year round and state wide.

Does anyone remember TWRA stocked hogs to hunt in Anderson Tully? They had a quota hunt, it was considered an extra hunting opportunity. Most of the hogs met their demise by the surrounding land owners that farmers. Early 80s maybe late 70s even. I just remember that as a TWRA failure.

 

[Planking]

Now everyone in my area hunts at night during deer season. The get on hog permits or coyote depredation and get those target bucks while they are at it. Hunting eveybody else's land from the road on the way with thermals. Its been a disaster for our community. My neighbors and i were both shot at it at night from the road this year. We have to put up with these a**holes every night during deer season.

 

[DeerCamp]

you probably do, you just don't know it yet.

Perhaps! I run 10 cameras year round and I've never seen any sign of them.