Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get close enough to a feral hog to stab it?

We use groups of tracking hounds to find the pigs and at least two terriers to "catch" it by attacking its head. With the hog busy trying to free itself from the dogs, we slip up and dispatch it with a knife.

Why don't you just shoot the hog?

It's usually very dark, and the animals are writhing around, fighting. It would be very, very easy to shoot a dog (or even a fellow hunter) accidentally, and we absolutely don't want that. For that matter, the risk of an accidental shooting really isn't necessary: Knives work perfectly well.

Who can go on a Hogstickers hunt?

All paying clients are welcome as long as they complete our required forms and certify that they are willing and able to participate in the hunt, which can be strenuous. Minors -- hunters under the age of 18 -- are welcome so long as their parent or legal guardian does the same on their behalf.

How many people can go on a Hogstickers hunt?

Realistically, we can hunt with as many as five or six clients, but because it can be difficult to keep up with large numbers in the vast, nighttime darkness of rural South Texas, smaller numbers are preferable.

Do dogs ever get hurt?

Yes. Feral hogs are big, mean, and armed -- with sharp teeth, strong jaws, and sometimes long, pointed tusks. We do everything we can to care for our dogs and keep them safe -- including outfitting some in kevlar vests -- if only because well-trained hunting dogs represent a significant investment of time and money. Nevertheless, dogs do get injured along the way. (Actually, it can be hard to keep an injured dog from continuing to hunt -- that's how fixated they can be on going after hogs.)

Do people ever get hurt?

People do get hurt hunting, and hog hunts are no exception. Fortunately, no one has ever been injured on a Hogstickers hunt (short of a scratch or a turned ankle), and we try to do everything we can to keep it that way.

Where and when do you usually hunt?

We have several locations in South Texas where the hog problem is serious enough that landowners have asked us to come in. Most are within 90 minutes of San Antonio, where the nearest major airport is. Once we settle on the dates for a hunt, we can pick a location and make suggestions regarding hotels, if needed. Hogs can be hunted year-'round, but they are more likely to be out looking for scarce food in the winter and spring, so it is somewhat easier to find and track them then. Similarly, they are more likely to be active in the evening and at night as the temperature drops. With no sweat glands to regulate their body temperature (except in their snouts), hogs stay out of the daytime sun as much as they can.

Do I need a hunting license or a permit?

Nope. The feral hog problem in Texas is so severe that the state has removed all requirements -- no licenses, fees, permits, seasons, or limits.

What do you have against these poor, innocent hogs?

Wild hogs are a non-native, invasive species in North America, descended from animals that escaped from or were released by their human keepers. These hogs destroy habitats, compete with and crowd out native species, and do a staggering $400 million of damage to crops and ranch land every year -- IN TEXAS ALONE. The state estimates that half a million feral hogs are in Texas -- half of all the wild hogs in the United States. They aren't going anywhere, either: A single pair of hogs routinely produces 15 or 20 offspring each year, and those offspring are able to breed in turn within months. And adult hogs have no natural predators to fear -- except humans.

Can you eat them?

Opinions vary on this, but here's what we say: Meat from a sow, or female hog, can taste very good, and lots of folks seem to know it. We've even had people offer to buy sows right off the back of our truck when we've been getting gas on the way home from a hunt. (Virtually all pork sold in stores for human consumption is from slaughtered females.) Wild boar, or male hog meat, is not only very tough, but we think it also smells and tastes awful (though apparently it's possible to grind and mix it for results that aren't so bad). We've heard people say that the quality of the taste varies by the size of the hog, but that isn't our experience.

Ford, Chevy, or Dodge?

Ford.

What about snakes?

Vote 'em out! After all, politicians are in office because we elected them, so the blame ultimately lies with us, the voters. That's what "representative government" is all about.

What?

Oh, you mean real snakes. We hardly ever see any.

How much does it cost to hunt hogs with Hogstickers?

It varies by date, location, and other factors (including whether the landowner in question charges us a fee to hunt), so please feel free to contact us, and we'll let you know.

Do you give a discount to returning hunters who didn't get a hog their first time out with Hogstickers?

Yep!

How long have you been hunting hogs?

Hmm. Well, we guess since about 2001.

What's the biggest hog you've ever killed?

We keep meaning to get a hand-held hook-scale like the kind fishermen use, but as it is, we don't really weigh hogs, usually. We've bagged some whoppers, though, and a couple of them couldn't possibly have weighed less than 400 pounds.

How many hogs have you killed since you started hunting them?

Wow. No idea. Lots and lots, though.

So if you Hogstickers guys get to heaven and discover that God is a hog, you're in trouble, aren't you?

Oh, yeah. Big-time.