Why Winter is a Great Time for Hog Hunting

Wild hogs can be a significant problem for landowners and even hunters. This invasive animal species rips through crops and eats up any food used to lure other wild game. Luckily, these animals can be tracked and hunted without too much trouble because it’s easy to spot where they are due to this damage.

The hog populations have exploded in the warmer southern states. Because of the destruction they cause, there are not a ton of restrictions surrounding hog hunting. Most states allow hog hunting year-round, but there are different regulations regarding private vs. public land and night hunting (when hogs are on the move and feeding). Before hog hunting in GA, check local laws.

Hog Hunting GA: Winter Hunting Tips

Hogs are just fun to hunt in general, and they have a lot of meat on them, making them good for filling a freezer. Still, when is the best time to hunt a hog? Many hunters think that summer and spring are the best times to hunt hogs, but this is not true.

You are better off hunting hogs during the cold winter months. Since there is no specific hog hunting season in most places, you could hunt hogs all year, but it is much easier to pursue these intelligent animals during the winter. First, we’ll talk about why winter is the ideal time to hunt hogs.

The Benefits of Winter Hog Hunting

Hogs need to eat, and they are highly motivated by food. During warmer months, hogs have to search widely for food sources. Their “home range” can vary from a few hundred acres to several thousand acres depending on food availability. So, they are constantly moving around and looking for moist and swampy areas to scavenge veggies and other types of sustenance.

However, in winter, things change. Food sources are limited, and the hog won’t quickly move from food source to food source. In other words, they will stick to restricted areas where food can be found. In addition, in summer and spring, hogs sleep in during daylight and forage at night. In the winter, they move during the day when it is cold, making them easier to track and hunt.

Gum Lodge Plantation

If you are interested in hog hunting in GA, contact Gum Lodge Plantation. Our lodge sits on over 3000 acres of land for hunting, and we provide affordable guided hunting packages. You can hunt hogs in the winter by booking a solo or group hunt with an expert guide. Contact us at 229-318-9015 – we look forward to hearing from you.

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COVID-19 And Hog Hunting

Hunting hogs is an outdoor activity enjoyed by many people. Anyone can partake and be successful, especially when they have great hunting tips and techniques to follow. However, the recent restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have caused some confusion for all activities. At Gum Log Plantation, we can relate to the discomfort and health challenges that the COVID-19 virus has brought upon us all, but hunting is one activity that can stay within all the guidelines.

Hog Hunting Tips from the Experts

While you’re staying safe, we thought of giving you some hunting tips and quick facts about wild hogs in Georgia. And reassure you that this activity respects social distance and it’s still gratifying in these COVID-19 times.

Destruction Due to Hogs

You probably know that hogs breed quickly- and that can result in a low yield of agricultural produce for local farmers. That’s because hogs have a habit of uprooting soil to a depth of 12 inches in search of food, similar to the depth of crop tilling by local farmers. So leaving feral hogs to multiply in our environment will end up affecting our food sources and ecosystem.

More so, hogs have what is known as dietary overlap with deer due to their larger population. This overlap means that as wild hogs grow in numbers, deer will have declining food sources. The result is a reduced deer population due to starvation or migration.

Because of these challenges, states that ‘manage’ wild hogs are swift to encourage hunters to bag as many hogs as possible.

Hunting in COVID-19 Times

If you’re thinking, ‘Is feral hog hunting still safe to pursue right now?’ our answer to you is, ‘Yes, it is!’ The first thing to consider is hunting is an outdoor activity, so there is fresh air all around you and plenty of space to spread out even when hunting in groups.

With these facts in mind, if you’re interested in contributing to the well-being of your community by controlling the hog population, exercising your mind and body, and getting a freezer full of meat, hog hunting is one activity you should consider.

Gum Log Plantation

There’s no better time to start than now, and we’re right here to plan that hog hunting excursion. Don’t let COVID-19 stop your hog hunting fun; you can still go out and get a hunt in. The experts at Gum Log Plantation can plan a safe and successful hunting trip for you and your friends. Contact us today at 229-318-9015 for more information.

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The Dead Giveaways Of Hogs In Your Area

Wild hogs are found in 35 states – mainly in the southern region of the country. They are highly destructive and can be dangerous. Hunting hogs is legal in all these states, and controlling the population is a top priority. Whether you merely want to know what’s digging up your property or you are out tracking hogs when hunting, knowing the signs that indicate hogs are in the vicinity is vital information to know.

Hog Hunting Tips: Signs of Hogs

Here are some signs that reveal there are wild hogs in an area:

Uprooted Soil

One of the most crucial signs that hogs are in the area is large patches of uprooted soil. Hogs have an acute sense of smell. They can detect a food source up to 25 feet underground. When wild hogs identify a food source, they use their strong stouts to uproot and overturn the vegetation to get access to the food. Sometimes when they are done, the whole area will look like it just got plowed.

Hog Wallows

Another recognizable sign of wild hogs’ presence is wallows. Wallows are typically shallow, muddy depressions. They are oval to oblong in shape. Hogs do not have sweat glands; hence, hogs will seek ways to reduce their body temperature when it’s hot. First, near water sources, the hogs will dig into water-softened soil. Then, they will wriggle their bodies back and forth, covering their entire body with mud. The mud coating not only cools their bodies but also serves as a parasite deterrent for them.

Rubs

Once the wild hogs have cooled off in the wallows, their following action is to “shake off” all the mud stuck to them. To do this, they rub their bodies against hard surfaces such as trees, utility poles, rocks, etc. As a result, you’ll see patches of dried mud typically between 5 and 40 inches above the ground. The patches can encircle the structure. In addition, if a particular tree is used frequently, all the bark may be rubbed off.

Droppings

Many references have pictures of hog scat to help you distinguish it from other animals’ (It looks similar to dog feces). Wild hogs will leave dropping trails along the paths they journey through the most. You’ll also find scat around their feeding areas.

Gum Log Plantation

Our hunting guides are full of hog hunting tips and are experts in tracking them down. If you want to participate in a successful hunt, contact Gum Log Plantation at 229-318-9015 and book a trip today.

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What Is Trophy Hunting?

Hunting is a somewhat misunderstood sport. In fact, for some, it’s a way of life. It supplies food in areas that are food deserts. Hunting also provides food for restaurants that feature wild meat on their menus. But, there are different kinds of hunters. It is a sport that is more complex than some people realize.

Whether for sustenance or as a hobby, those who hunt are a vital part of conservation, believe it or not. Responsible hunters understand the importance of conservation because they know better than anyone else that overhunting will result in the demise of a species. They also know that the overpopulation of an animal can destroy an ecosystem, so keeping it balanced helps all species in an area.

Hunting Tips: Responsible Hunting

Trophy Hunters

Those who look forward to hunting just because they want to kill an animal are the worst sort of hunters. Sport hunters that pay millions of dollars to shoot endangered African animals or shoot wolves from helicopters are not responsible hunters. Instead, they are the worst kind of trophy hunters. It brings to mind old British hunters delving into Africa searching for animals to mount on their walls.

Trophy hunters, as the name implies, hunt for some primal thrill of man versus nature. They seek to pit their skills against the most aged, wise, elusive creatures of the wild. There is often a hunting checklist they are trying to fill without the thought of destroying a living being or the local ecosystem. Instead, the focus is on themselves and their desires.

Responsible Sport Hunters

Hunting can still be a fulfilling pastime when the focus is on the animals and their long-term survival. While hunting may seem unfair to the animals, in some cases, it’s a benefit. Wild boars, for example, grow quite large as they age. They tend to become unruly, aggressive and are quite invasive. Left alone, they can destroy food sources for other animals in the area. Dealing with them is a recurring issue in several states. Hunting them keeps the populations down and the destruction to a minimum.

Even when the goal is population control, an animal’s life should never be ended just for sport. The meat and hide should not be wasted. Using as much of the animal as possible is respectful of nature.

Follow the Laws

One of our country’s best-known hunters, Theodore Roosevelt, was an ardent conservationist because he understood well that hunters who hunt everything soon have nothing left to pursue. People may hunt for different reasons, but they need to respect the hunting laws and the delicate balance of nature. When done respectfully, hunting and the money from licenses help support conservation. If there is one hunting tip to remember, it’s to respect bag limits and the local area’s balance.

Gum Log Plantation

Want to participate in responsible hunting? Gum Log Plantation is your place. Our expert guides are well versed in conservation and hunting tips. A trip with us will be fun, and it’ll fill your freezer. So contact us at 229-318-9015 and plan a trip today.

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