Hog regulations need to change on WMA's!

I'll leave this here, hopefully someone will read this and have enough impact to change regulations on WMA's for hog hunting. Well the rules are that if hog hunting on a WMA, you must hunt with a seasonal firearm, which outside of deer season is either a shotgun with BB shot or a .22LR. Well I decided to go for the past few week and it wasn't until yesterday until I was able to sneak up on some hogs and get off a clean precise shot on a 80 pounder. Now when I shot this hog directly in the ear, he didn't even flinch, instead just took off running with blood coming from his head, I figured he would drop within 50-100 yards or so. Well he didn't, I tracked this hog for 2 hours, realizing that he wasn't going to die, due to the fact that the .22 wasn't enough to do the job. My point in all this is that Wildlife and Fisheries needs to relook at this regulation and change it unless they want wounded hog to roam around, because that would not have happened if it would have been my 30-06 bullet. My last point is that this rule took the only meat that would have been in my freezer for the entire season, which isn't sitting with me well. SO if any of you know someone is charge, please spread the word and get this rule changed!!!

OUTSIDE DEER SEASON , YOU CAN USE T @ F SHOTS ON ADDITION TO BB'S. A FULL CHOKE 12 GAUGE SHOTGUN LOADED WITH 31/2' T OR F SHELLS WILL DO THE JOB ON MOST HOGS AT 20 YARDS. I HAVE BEEN USING 3 AND 31/2' FOR A LONG TIME WITH A GREAT DEAL OF SUCCESS.
IF YOU PREFER HUNTING WITH A RIFLE TRY A 22 RIMFIRE MAGNUM.
IT IS LEGAL, AND A LOT MORE POWERFULL THAN A LR22.
GOOD LUCK.

I was told that its .22LR only by the headquarters in Baton Rouge, and the season is over now because squirrel season ends the 28th. An they wont even let you bring a pistol on your hip for protection in case they do charge you after you shoot them, which in the case yesterday they started to charged then backed off and started running again.

A 22 RIMFIRE MAGNUM IS LEGAL! CENTERFIRE RIFLES ARE ILLEGAL. I DO NOT HAVE A 22 PISTOL, BUT I ASSUME IS A CNTER FIRE WEAPON. THE KEY WORD IS 'RIMFIRE'. READ PAGE 42 OF THE REGULATIONS. A COUPLE YEARS BEFORE KATRINA I PURCHASED A REMMINGTON 22 RIMFIRE MAGNUM AND USED FOR A COUPLE SEASONS WITH A GREAT DEAL OF SUCCESS.
I WENT BACK TO A 12 GAUGE 31/2 MOSSBERG 835 PUMP ONLYBECAUSE IT GO TO THICK FOR THE RIFLE.

I read all that and that's when I called to make sure and Wildlife and fisheries was more confused than anything. I just think they should allow other weaponry to hunt hogs. If they are such a nuisance animal then they need to give hunters the edge to take them and not limit the firearms so much like they do, because I feel terrible knowing that I hit my mark on the spot and that I wounded an animal that didn't die.

in march there is what they call an experimental hog season in pearl river wma and the boggue chitto and u can use a regular rifle. I know I will be there

Pearl river is a bit far for me, But they should have changed this for all the WMA's around here. Im thinking about getting a .17hmr for when spring squirrel season opens back up in early May, because im sure the .17 hmr will put them down for sure.

A list of WMA'S that you can use shotguns with buckshot or slugs until March 31 is on page 47 of the LWF regulations. It does not say anything about using rifles. Boguechitto wildlife refuge will be open for the first two weeks of March. You will need a federal permit from the US Fish and Wildlife. Not sure you can use rifles there either.

The WMA's that have that rule either are too far from me or require a boat or four wheeler to get to the good spots. The second problem is that I sold my shotgun not that long ago, I think I will just buy a .17 hmr rifle since its smaller than a .22 with more punch and go hunt again at the WMA I usually hunt at when spring squirrel season opens back up or try and find someone with private property and use my 30-06.

I said it before here and I will say it again. Hogs should have their own 365 day season that allows you to use any rifle or shotgun.

If they want to restrict certain types of guns on certain dates then they should specify that in the hog hunting section and not make hog hunters read squirrel and turkey and rabbit and deer season rules to figure out what they can legally use.

You can carry a 22 maGNUM Rifle or pistol AND A SHOTGUN WITH LARGE BIRD-SHOT AND YOU CAN CARRY A CENTERFIRE PISTOL OF LARGE CALIBER IN fEBRUARY WHILE HOG HUNTING. These laws have been on the books for at least ten years.

i agree they need to loosen the regulations on hog hunting, but you have to look at it from the other side of the fence, they have issues controlling outlaws during deer season, they can not catch everybody coming out of the woods and you know there will be people out there ''big gun hog season'' or not shooting deer, but if they allow everyone on the wma with high caliber rifles then you know ignorant people will shoot the deer just cause they are there, maybe allow people to go in with open top cage traps, then you know how much trouble there will be over people killing hogs in someone else's trap, it isn't a simple fix like we would all like it to be, you have to realize that the wlf is a government funded job, and i am sure the wlf is one of the first places that gets cut down from the ''budget''

and on that note i will say hopefully they figure out a way to let us take out some of these pesky hogs that are ruining our wma, and also i have killed several hogs with a 22lr a couple over 100lbs and a couple of trips where i have killed 2hogs out of the same group, the kill zone is small on these hogs and the margin of error with a small caliber gun is even smaller, some times it takes more than one shot

now bluediamond you are the one who is ''misinformed'' only the guys who are running around with the dogs hunting on the wma, which is something that doesn't make since to me, i saw in the book where it said about a centerfire pistol and i called wlf and they told me that was for the hog doggers, maybe that is a way to do it, even if you are not with them maybe you can say you are

Please don't reference the BOOK. In the first few pages there is a disclaimer telling everyone that the info in the BOOK is not to be relied on. A call to wlf is not to be relied upon also because I see so many inaccuracies quoted by wlf personnel from phone calls. You learn from experiencing things in life and I have been hunting these refuges for many years and dealing with enforcment people all over this great state. You learn by doing and I have been doing for a long time.

I agree with the pistol carry. I thought the same thing that I could carry my pistol on my hip for protection, until I called the headquarters and they to me that it is only legal to carry a pistol during the modern firearm season for deer, which is states somewhere else in the rules and regs which they pointed out to me.

I agree tuffhuntin and Mike, they should have an open season for hogs, but also regulate it with certain firearms, but make sure the firearms being used are the right tools for the job instead of worrying whether your going to hit a quarter sized spot behind his ear. I also understand tuffhuntin that they have people who dont respect the wildlife and just poach any chance they get, but we cannot be punished for the few that want to break the law, to me that is up to wildlife and fisheries to catch them and not for us to be limited so much in our hunting.

Active and retired law enforcement officers in compliance with POST requirements, Federal Law Enforcement Officers and holders of Louisiana concealed handgun permits or permit holders from a reciprocal state, who are in compliance with all other state and federal firearms regulations, may possess firearms on WMAs, provided these firearms are not used for any hunting purpose.

I wish that was me bullbowfin, but I don't mind not being able to carry a pistol for protection because I always make sure I have a tree next to me to climb in case I was being charged, but my main concern is for the animal, because I lost sleep that night knowing that I wounded that hog because the gun wasn't quite enough to put it down because I was maybe off aim by less than a centimeter and hit his skull rather than right behind. I just think its time to revise the regulations and make a whole section dedicated to just hog hunting on WMA's and not just a short statement about it, hogs need to have their own season and with that have its own firearms for that.

From what I've researched, you are better off shooting hogs with a 22 magnum over a 17hmr. If you truly are able to achieve proper shot placement then a 22lr will put them down, hell an air gun will put them down. But since we are talking about hunting in a WMA in a real life situation and not in a 100 acre pen as seen on TV, a precisely placed shot will most likely not be achieved. Anyway back to my point, forget about the 17hmr and get the 22 Mag and get an autoloader instead of a bolt action because the follow up shots really come in handy when wanting to actually recover the hog.

Yes a center fire rifle would be nice but out of the 17 and 22 magnum it's no contest, the 22 is so much more bullet than 17. I had a friend shoot some with 17 and nothing, I kill a lot of them with 22 magnum(about a dozen this year) and have no problem as long as I place my shot correctly and limit size to about 125 lbs. I often have to put 1 or 2 extra rounds in them for insurance but I get them.

i'v bad as it could be, i've been shooting hogs with .22 rimfire for 14 years now, with over 70 kills, it's always been about that first shot in the right place. if you clean a hog, before you cut the head off look at the side of the neck where it meets up with the skull, you will see the spine is a little low and a little behind the ears, i shoot a 10/22 mag, about 2' behind the ears and about 1' below that line of site, i don't loose very many.
as far as WMA's go , there are regulations put in place to protect all the game, not just one or 2. the hog population is not that bad in my opinion. not nearly as bad as it could be, and i hunt all over this lovely state. this time of the year is the worst for still hunting hogs, you need dogs at this time of the year. until next fall happy hunting.

I appreciate all the input, I will definitely look into the 22 magnum as my next weapon, and the wma I hunt, I've hunted the same area (about 2-3 square miles of land) over a month or so and I've never sat in a stand and waited I always stalked them and have came across the same herd of hogs everytime due to the fact I recognize a few of the babies in the herd because of their unique color hair. Usually the herd is about 20 deep, but they have spring squirrel season coming up in May and will definitely be out there with a little more fire power to get my first hog, there's no quit in me!

Hogs are not allowed to be killed during turkey and spring squirrel season on certain wma's. Do yourself a favor and put a call to the captain of enforcement in the district you plan to hunt before going to verify if it is ok. The phone # is listed in reg. book.

I will call and make sure before I go, but on page 47 on the regulation guide it says feral hogs may be taken during any hunting season on a wma by a licensed hunter. Squirrel season opens for one week in may on the wma I hunt.

blue diamond is correct, on wma's hog can be shot only from oct 1 - last day of February, with some wma's extending to march 15. that's in the book.

I don't think they have a turkey season on Sherburne where I hunt, I think I read that Indian bayou is the closed wma with a turkey season, but like I said in the revised rules and regulations it states that they can be taken during and season by a licensed hunter with the season in progress weapon. I'm assuming if they don't have a turkey season that I could still hunt the spring squirrel season, if not I guess ill just have to wait until next season.

Sherburne does have turkey each year, by lottery only.

If they do i don't think that will interfere with anything because that will be in march, the squirrel season is in May which is 2 months from now

Im giving it another last shot Friday morning, which is the last day of the season for now, so hopefully I can take your advice and hit em 2' behind the ear and 1' low.

WMA hunting regulations for hogs, and other game need to be same as outside.

3 day season on one side the boundary and 30 day season on outside the boundary.

There were hogs in Sherburne during the 73-4 highwater down happytown and whiskey bay

Hunters kept the population in check as they could take them anytime.

Hunters are now denied a chance to go hunt while the hunters on the boundary get to hunt like crazy.

The hunters who would like to hunt during the off season are villanized like the hunters were before they made the deal to buy Sherburne.

Give the hunters a chance to harvest before you use aircraft and poison on the wildlife.

Sherburne needs bridges to cross canals for ATV\\\\\\\'s to get to the eastern section. It\\\\\\\'s like 15,000 acres for the private hunting leases off the east levee. Oh and not to mention lottie. Access guys. The only bridge over big alabama< (save happytown), is private land, need another over B Close, B Stiff, and one over B des Glasses.

Sherburne is a magnificent area and could be a real great place to hunt but is severely over regulated. Let the hunter choose the firearm, if you hunt hogs during squirrel season you are not squirrel hunting. That rule violates every sense of humane harvest, sportsmanship, and fair chase to force a person to shoot a hog with a 22 rimfire.

Oh and Sportsman don\\\\\\\'t outlaw just because a doe is under a feeder during buck season. That\\\\\\\'s just B-S. Outlaws outlaw, the crime of greed, opportunity, and profit.

It\\\\\\\'s a shame that the people we give the public trust to won\\\\\\\'t let us have the same opportunity the people on the outside lands have.

Guess it\\\\\\\'s just another case of Agenda 21 come to roost in the spillway. Do THEY really know best ?

Just Saying.

Yeah that last Friday I went hunting, I got off a excellent shot on a 60-75lb hog and he squealed loud and took off running and I put 4 more rounds into his head when he was running and still didn't kill him, and Sherburne holds so much water its impossible to track blood. I don't even use an ATV I just park and walk in about a mile into the woods and they are everywhere, just frustrating that I can't do anything about it, but squirrel season for spring is coming up may 5-11th for Sherburne, me and a friend are going out there with .22LR and going to try and shoot the same hog to try and drop them, but if not we are going to empty our clips until he does drop, because this will be the 3rd time going out and shooting a hog and not having any meat to come with.

killed many many hogs with steel 2s and 17hmr... on wmas.... all head shots or behind ear.. most drop instantly... no need for bigger guns... period....

There are less than 10 recorded deer harvests each year on Pearl River WMA but probably hundreds of hogs harvested yet we have to follow the deer rules which means only a couple of weeks to carry slugs and buckshot. An illegal hunter will be illegal, but an ethical hunter will not shoot that deer just because he has buckshot on him. Some WMA's, like Pearl River, need to be managed for hogs since that's all we kill out there. Areas need to be managed for what the land will provide, it's pointless to set deer season dates in places where there are no deer. Change the rules for hogs and sportsmen will put more pork in the freezer and we may even attract a few more hunters to the sport. Personally I will take a hog over a deer

I hunt with a 22 rim fire mag and it does the job. Also you can start hunting hogs on a WMA on Sept 1. This is the start of nutria season. The game warden said just make sure a nutria could live in the area you are hunting.Sept 1-Feb 28 and then spring squirrel season too. should be able to get one by then. Good luck

You can track wounded animals in flooded areas by following the mud they stir up, at any rate a hog shot with birdshot, buckshot or rimfire often doesn't leave much blood. Its harder to do for sure but it can be done anywhere their feet are hitting the bottom. You need to be quick about it though cause the mud will settle. Be sure you use solid bullets NOT hollow points, you want as much penetration as you can get so you can crack the skull/spine. Once the hog is moving forget the head shot and punch as many into the body as you can, a few 22s to the lungs and liver will work just as well as a load of buckshot at 40 yards. If you get a .22 magnum use heavy jacketed solids if you can find them or at least heavy plated solids. FWIW the LDWF wishes none of us would ever think of hogs as 'game' they regard them as less than vermin and feel that attaching any sporting value/hunting culture to them is counter productive to their desire to eventually eradicate them (even though they know that is impossible). I don't know about the stories of De Sotto's swine but i do believe Du Pratz when he says Bienville put hogs on Islands in the Louisiana Marsh around the time of the founding of New Orleans so figure 300 years vs. 100 for pheasant I fail to see the wisdom in continuing to reject the critters; they are fecund, delicious and a blast to hunt in multiple ways we should just embrace the horror and have a straight up management plan for them. Having a 'feral hog' season was initially impossible due to free range livestock laws but I believe those have all been eliminated now it is really just a bit of a philosophical thing with the LDWF. I know they are destructive but they are about as easily eradicated as nutria and fireants.

I bet if you shoot 10 hogs with 22 mag and 10 with .17 you will lose a lot more with that .17.. it has no penetration on hogs like heavy 22 mag bullet...i went down that road and now have 3 22 mags... get you a kel tec cmr-30 and don't look back for hogs.. it hold 30 rounds of 22 mag...

Thats odd and this may sound surprising. I left my property was heading out and stopped at a small open field with high grass we have had good success at. Damn if their wasnt a 90lb hog standing there about 50-60 yds away. I didnt have my guns. I called my buddy on the phone he was there in five minutes we stalked up to about 40 yards he shot it with a .22 rifle dropped it and killed a pig on the other side of her we never saw. Two pigs one shot with a .22 that was in Okeechobee FL. A larger caliber would be better dont they allow Buck shot?

Why in a State that is extremely susceptible to hurricanes and mass flooding that occurs almost annually, the State of Louisiana deems it necessary to protect hogs? They destroy the land, the levee’s, crops, they eat fawns, turkey eggs and god knows what else. Why does LDWF defend these invasive species? They can charge for just a “Hog License“ and people would pay for it. Open the damned WMA’s up, so we can begin eradicating The vermin while helping our State and feeding our families.