New here, and hoping to harvest a pig or two this year. I've never hunted hogs, and truth be told, I have not hunted in about 15 years, but I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing.

I was hoping you guys could give me some advice to help me avoid common mistakes, and ideas on general areas to hunt near Birmingham.

I know a lot of people say .223 isn't a good caliber for hogs, but that's my only option right now. It will be a Ruger mini-14 with iron sights, so i'm counting on hunting up close and personal.

I'd like to find a hunting partner, so if anyone is in b'ham and looking to do the same, post up.

I am game, but also a rookie. Been about 20 years since I got back into it last year. Have a 308 though so should be ideal for hogs. I lI've in the MCCalla area.

Get a boat and head to the army corp of engineers land in Boligee, Alabama. Make sure you read the regulations and follow the map of hunting areas. You should be able to get a minimum of 2-3 per trip. The corp land in Gainsville, Al is also loaded with hogs. Get down wind of a section and slip up a hog trail. The trails will be much wider than a deer trail. Keep your ears, eyes and especially nose open and shoot them in the head.

But you'll have to leave those centerfire rifles at home. It's shotgun with slugs or muzzleloader only once gun season opens. The rest of the time it's a .22 lr or a shotgun with number 4 shot. The shotgun with 4 shot seems super sketchy

No 22 magnum or 17 HMR??

My father-in-law has a hunting lease in Geiger Al. I may see if their club will allow me to hunt hogs a few times a year. However, i'd rather do it somewhere close by.

No .22 mag .17 is in kind of a grey area

Wind, food, bedding area, listen a lot, and make good shots. Pigs are tough and will take you through hell if you have to blood trail one far.

You can use a 17 hmr on corp land. That is what I use with a 20 gr FMJ bullet. I don't think they make a FMJ round any longer or I have not been able to find them.

Not sure if it's legal to hunt with a fmj on corps land. I know you can't on wma land

Nothing in regs about FMJ for shooting squirrels.
BLACK WARRIOR & TOMBIGBEE RIVER
LAKES HUNTING/TRAPPING
REGULATIONS & PERMIT

2014-2015
Privacy Act Statement
All persons in possession of a BW&T Hunting Permit agree to read and abide by the terms outlined in these regulations prior to accessing COE lands. Permit must be signed & dated to be valid. Hunting and trapping are permitted only on the areas indicated on the maps for BW&T Project lands and waters and are subject to the following exceptions and restrictions. All state, federal and local laws governing these activities also apply.

1. All hunters, regardless of age, are required to complete a valid COE Hunting Permit and abide by instructions on permit while hunting COE lands.
• Permit must be signed, dated and displayed on the dash of the vehicle so that the name, address and date are visible from outside the vehicle.
• Bottom portion of permit containing hunter information must be carried on hunters’ person while hunting.
2. For safety, hunters less than 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult (21 years of age or older).
3. No hunting or trapping is allowed within 1000' of any lock, dam, building, dredge, construction site or public use area.
4. Only floating blinds will be allowed for waterfowl hunting and must be removed daily.

NOTE: Waterfowl hunters should be aware that COE owns only an easement to much of the property around and beneath the lakes. Hunters must have permission from the landowner before accessing or wading on private property.

5. All firearms in boats under way must be unloaded and cased.
6. The following weapon and ammunition rules apply:
A) No high-powered rifles or handguns allowed on COE property.
B) Firearms for small game are standard 22 caliber rim fire rifles (no 22 magnums) and shotguns with shot size number 4 or smaller.
C) All waterfowl hunters must use non-toxic shot of size "T" or smaller.
D) Legal weapons for deer hunting are primitive weapons and shotguns with slugs only.
E) No buckshot, dogs or man drives are allowed for deer hunting.
F) No buckshot is allowed for feral hog hunting.
7. Deer may be harvested in accordance with the following seasons:
- Archery (Either-sex): October 15 - January 31 **Areas south of U.S. Hwy 80: October 25 - February 10
- Youth Gun (Either-sex): November 14 - 17
- Muzzleloader (Either-sex): November 17 - 21
- Hunter’s Choice: November 22 - January 31 **Areas south of U.S. Hwy 80: Nov 22 - Nov 30 & Dec 11 - Feb 10
• Legal buck: bare antlers visible above natural hairline – one a day
• Hunters Choice Gun Season – two deer per day, only one of which may be an antlered buck.
8. All other wildlife game species may be harvested within the season framework and bag limit restrictions set by state and federal regulations.
9. Only portable tree stands are allowed and must be removed daily. Climbing spikes are not permitted.
10. Hunter's orange is required during all open gun seasons for deer and must be worn in accordance with state regulations.
11. Motorized vehicle operation is not permitted off designated roadways. ATV operation is strictly prohibited on COE property.
12. Camping is allowed in designated camping areas only.
13. Dogs are allowed for hunting small game in areas designated "All Game Hunting," (see map). Retrievers are allowed for waterfowl hunting.
14. Turkey hunting with shotgun or muzzleloader will be allowed on hunting areas designated as all game or primitive weapon only.
15. Small game hunting with legal firearms for small game will be allowed on hunting areas designated as all game or primitive weapon only.
16. No guns or black powder are allowed on "Archery Only" areas.
17. Feral hogs may be harvested during the following season:
• October 1 to the last day in February
- Day: With weapons legal for that season, no dogs (Ex: During squirrel season the only weapons legal for squirrel hunting can be used for hogs)
- Night: No weapons, dogs only.
• June 1 - August 31
- Day: "All Game" areas - Shotgun with slugs only, Muzzleloader, Bow & Arrow, Crossbow, No dogs.
"Primitive Weapon" areas - Muzzleloader, Bow & Arrow, Crossbow, No dogs.
"Archery Only" areas - Bow & Arrow, Crossbow, No dogs.
- Night: No weapons, dogs only.

18. All state sanctioned Youth Hunts and associated state regulations will be allowed on BW&T project lands.
19. Baiting and/or feeding of wildlife on BW&T project land is prohibited.
20. Indiscriminate taking of non-game wildlife on BW&T project is prohibited.

Forfeiture of hunting privileges: Any violation of federal, state or local hunting, trespass or game regulations may result in forfeiture of the COE permit and privileges for a period to be determined by a review board. The violator will also be subject to fines and/or imprisonment.

For more hunting opportunities, click to see the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway or the David K. Nelson Wildlife Management Area at Demopolis.
If you witness a hunting policy violation or a violation of Title 36, please contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Staff at (334) 289-3540.

I built an extremely accurate Ruger 10/22 a while back, and would be confident with shot placement with that rifle. However, it's pretty heavy with the bull barrel. I'm the kind of hunter that enjoys the hunt, so holding off for a perfect shot is not a problem for me, it's preferred--no issue passing if the shot isn't good.

I have seen hogs dispatched pretty readily with a .22lr head shot. So this is a consideration for me--it's just not my ideal hunt. I would be going with head and neck shots with the .223 as well.

So you're pretty much limited to .22 or a 12ga slug during deer season in those areas if you want to hunt with a modern gun.

Sounds good, if/when i get the time, i'll keep you in mind. I'd like a 308 myself. Been looking at the Howa m1500 in 308, seems like a great rifle for the price. However, after further inspection of the rules in a lot of areas around there. It seems a nice 12ga with rifled slugs might be a better choice.

Is it worth trying to hit some of the pockets of COE land if you don't have a boat? Obviously not asking for specific locations. I imagine road access is minimal and crossing private properly is not going to happen.

Personally I have never hunted via walking in, but I have some friends who walk in to the airstrip area and hunt them with bows. They kill a few but it is a little harder with a bow. In my experience any place on the corp land that has berms tends to hold hogs. Any land that has river frontage should have hogs, but it just depends if it is a place that they stay there or a place where they just move through. I can confirm that most of the places in the below map have hogs. The land that is kind of in the bends of the river tend to hold hogs. Due to the number of hogs in these areas, you will find out real quick if they are there based on the sign.

http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Portals/46...kens_Greene.pdf

I see, well i'll be heading out that way for thanksgiving at the hunting camp, i'll have to look for places to put my kayak in--don't have a boat. I might even stay at the camp and try for hogs over the weekend. Dunno, what the ol' timers will think about my mini-14 though lol..

i love hog hunting in geiger, more pigs there than i have ever seen. maybe someone will take me back over there one day. (not you, that comment is directed at someone else) you will probably be better off stalking than sitting in a stand. if the wind is in your favor, you can walk up pretty close to them. i stalked up on one a couple of weeks ago and killed it with a pocket pistol, while wearing a white t shirt, shorts, and crocs. if they are downwind of you, you will never see them.

I will take that as a hint!

It all depends on those smallmouth fishing trips!

looks like i've got the go ahead to hunt a private lease in geiger, al. It's about 2 hours from my house in b'ham, but I hope I can get out there sometime soon. They say that have them pretty thick.

Good luck!