Looking for thoughts/lessons/experiences on the following:

Have a couple hundred acres north of the Metroplex that is evidently prime hog territory. Montague/Cooke County region. I understand the hogs cannot be eradicated at this time. However, I've been told that if they are actively hunted/trapped, they will move on to other, more friendly locations for a while until they have to be harassed again. Place has lush coastal meadows with live water and quite a bit of elevation changes. Place is covered with hogs and deer. I have a lessor for the pastures that has from zero to 80 heifers/pairs on it at any given time. Currently it only has about ten pairs on it. Tenant has no hunting rights and understands that hunting/trapping takes place.....we have a great relationship......he gets 200 very productive acres for free and keeps the place looking fantastic with nitrogen and chemicals.

I don't really have a desire at this time to actively pursue the hogs myself but would like to try to limit their impact. So, I was thinking about trying to find some good Ag's that might wish to hunt or trap hogs for free on the place. It would be for hogs only....not deer or the huge bass in the ponds and hunters would have to sign a liability release. I would have to be very comfortable with the folks that were hunting.

Anyone have any experience or advice they could offer based on their experiences? Would this be attractive to some good Ag's in the area? Bad/good idea? Any thoughts on problems what to beware of etc?

Pretty confident that I would be interested as well as a couple of buddies of mine who all hunt and live in the Metroplex. But bottom line, yes, I think you would get interest without a doubt.

I know Ags that would drive from the Central Texas area to hunt a place like you describe. Now...about the bass....maybe just a few, catch and release only, I swear?

I know I'd be interested, liability release seems like a good idea. I think landowners are free from liability unless they charge a fee, then it's gets messy quick. Never hurts to cover the bases twice though.

Biggest pitfall would be getting some idiots that don't respect the property or the opportunity and either leave it a mess or poach other game, but I'd say that's pretty remote. I've done similar hunts on properties and most landowners were happy we took a few of those pests off their land and I was happy to fill my freezer. Definitely a win-win if everyone is on the same page.

I'm in Fort Worth and would take a deal like that. Carpool with a couple of guys, kill some hogs, come home. I'm fine with no deer/fish as I have a place during hunting season that fulfills those needs. Shoot me a PM if you move forward with this. I can also hunt without disturbing your neighbors, if you know what I mean.

I have done this very thing on one of my leases in east Texas- went to one of the hunting blogs I frequent and offered up free hog hunts on my part of the lease only. Did this last summer and offered up again during the spring. Because the lease is behind a locked gate I would meet the individual(s) each time, let them in, and show them where they could hunt. Last summer I had someone there pretty much every weekend for two months with nobody having any success. I offered up again last February and had someone scheduled every weekend for March and April. March I think I had one show up and April had a couple. This time there was one that drew blood and one that actually got a kill. All were hunting out of permanent stands over feeders. Inviting hunters is not going to be a very productive way to lower the hog population. You will probably get lots of takers but the success rate will be disappointing. I only live seven miles from my lease so meeting them each time was no big problem for me. not sure how your are going to monitor this.

I live pretty close to there and I've been looking for a place to hog hunt. I don't have a car full of buddies to bring though.

Russ79 said:

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I have done this very thing on one of my leases in east Texas- went to one of the hunting blogs I frequent and offered up free hog hunts on my part of the lease only. Did this last summer and offered up again during the spring. Because the lease is behind a locked gate I would meet the individual(s) each time, let them in, and show them where they could hunt. Last summer I had someone there pretty much every weekend for two months with nobody having any success. I offered up again last February and had someone scheduled every weekend for March and April. March I think I had one show up and April had a couple. This time there was one that drew blood and one that actually got a kill. All were hunting out of permanent stands over feeders. Inviting hunters is not going to be a very productive way to lower the hog population. You will probably get lots of takers but the success rate will be disappointing. I only live seven miles from my lease so meeting them each time was no big problem for me. not sure how your are going to monitor this.

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I appreciate your sharing that experience. I'd probably have more actual luck with locals wanting to trap. My brother tried trapping about a year ago and would often get 10 to 20 hogs in the pen on his live camera feed. But, he lived an hour away and was working lots of hours so he never could activate the trap at a time that was convenient for him and the hogs.

I guess, I'm just a bit frustrated and thought it might have some potential and also give some good Ag's without a hog place a chance to try their luck. I'd just like to see them harassed a bit if they aren't killed.

You can't PM, so you would have to let me know how to contact you. PM's sent to the other interested parties.

If you decide this is a go, shoot me a PM and I can get a couple buddies to respect your land and help with the issue!

I am in!! Have thermal gear and hunt pigs only suppressed rifles and will be happy to sign a release. I've done this with a couple other properties I've helped with their hog problems.

email sent

Thanks. Will touch base with you around noon.

HarleySpoon said:

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hunters would have to sign a liability release. I would have to be very comfortable with the folks that were hunting.

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This is the key to your post here

I'd be happy to volunteer me and some of my buddies i trust, but getting comfortable with people you don't know is a tall order

My experience:
Our state biologist many moons ago, after he assisted with a controlled burn, asked if his brother in law and a friend of his could hunt hogs over a 3 day period during the summer when they came down to visit from Wisconsin. I thought I was going to be able to attend but work called me away at the last minute. I gave them a key to the gate and free range on the 600+ acres. They said they would repay me with a hunt for white tails in WI.

When I returned in a week or so, I found 2 of the feeders and 1 box blind with several holes shot through them. They even tacked a target on one of them and left it. The biologist was rightly embarrassed and offered to pay for the damage. Never got the key back. Or the hunt.

The whole thing, in retrospect, was on me for trusting folks I didn't know. I am now always present when anyone hunts the property or they won't hunt. I am sure you won't have trouble with fellow Ags.

Have to bait traps for a while and turn off feeders. Trap the crap out of them. Shooting one at a time is fun but not going to dent the population.

I'll do it, and I promise that I won't touch the Bass. I'll even pinky swear.

Send me a PM with your phone number and I'll give you a call....if serious.

Have guns, will travel.

I'm in Collin county and would be interested. I think a waiver would be a really good idea. Also, I would also want to meet you out there the first time just to get the lay of the land and put a face with the name. I don't really have any buddies that hunt but my 10 & 12 year old boys would enjoy it. My email is my username at hotmail if you end up going that route.

NEVER offer anything for free.

Charge $10, a donation to a charity, something but never ever give something like this for free.

You will get swamped by the worst of the worst. And someone WILL take advantage of it or **** it up for every one else.

It's my understanding that general liability releases are not worth much more than a deterrent to legal action from someone that doesn't know any better. However, if you post an agritourism notice or have each individual sign an agritourism release you are afforded a little more protection.

If your intention is to get a specific person or group to come hunt / trap, etc. I would ask them to get a general liability policy and name you as additional insured. It should cost them less than $1K per year which is still cheaper than them paying for an annual lease on a place like you describe.

skelso said:

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However, if you post an agritourism notice or have each individual sign an agritourism release you are afforded a little more protection.

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https://agrilife.org/texasaglaw/2016/02/01/texas-agritourism-act/

Here's a link that explains what an agritourism notice and release is.

I see that you've gotten a good amount of replies from guys (and gals?) so far, but I'd throw my hat in the ring as interested as well. I live in northwest Denton County. I deer hunt in west Grayson County, so driving up that way is the norm for me. I have a buddy I varmint hunt with who could join me. He has the fun toys like thermal and suppressors.
Please feel free to reach out to me, we'd love to help put a dent in the hog population. Craigstafford15@ Gmail.com

Thanks for the help, my cut and paste skills failed me today...

You're good, I wasn't trying to call you out! I was just quoting you for reference.

Guys:

Thanks for all the thoughts, suggestions and contacts. I'm going to have to shut it down for the day/evening as AT&T doesn't work in the barn where my Wednesday night poker game is played. Tomorrow, I'll contact those I haven't responded to yet when I'm back in the office. Probably need to cut it off at this point and just respond to those that have posted above this post. Thanks again.

Speaking from experience ......have an attorney write up a hold harmless release of liability. If firearms are involved on your property you need to have anyone with a gun sign one of these before stepping foot on your property, whether they are paying anything or not. Find an attorney who has done these before so it is worded correctly and protects you.

if you invite giddings, you will have not issues with hogs in the future....they run when they know he is hunting

tamc93 said:

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if you invite giddings, you will have not issues with hogs in the future....they run when they know he is hunting

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Out of curiosity, is it north of Muenster/St Joe or Rosston? (I'm from Muenster originally, so I'm familiar with the area.)

Neck, I might be interested.

Bassmaster said:

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I'll do it, and I promise that I won't touch the Bass. I'll even pinky swear.

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Not sure I'd trust this guy. Username does not checkout!

I'm interested as well.

I also agree that some type or written agreement or waiver is a great idea. Some folks just don't respect the rules, but how hard is it to keep gates closed, not shoot up the trees/infrastructure, and try to leave it nicer than you found it?

I didn't read all of the responses above, but I'd be willing to trade a bit of work for the hunting opportunity, I'm sure others would as well. It seems like most people almost always need a fence repaired or some brush cleared or something.

username at aggienetwork dot com