🐗 Feral Hog · Hunting gear
Texas Feral Hog Hunting Gear Guide (Rules, Night Hunting and Gear)
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Feral hogs are an invasive species that cause serious damage to Texas farms and ranches, and landowners often welcome help removing them. Hog hunting is open to more people than most hunting in Texas, but the rules on public land and live hogs still matter.
The rules in plain English
- On private property, TPWD sets no closed season, no state bag or possession limit and no required means and methods for exotic and non-protected species, which includes feral hogs.
- No hunting license is required to hunt feral hogs on private property with landowner authorization. Hunter Education requirements still apply.
- Transporting and releasing live feral hogs is illegal unless you follow Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) rules.
- Public hunting lands have their own rules: you need a license and often a permit, and seasons or methods may be restricted.
- If you hunt at night, TPWD asks you to call the local game warden as a courtesy.
Source: TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27, "Nongame, Exotic, Endangered, Threatened & Protected Species".
The gear checklist
1. A hog-capable rifle and quality bullets
Big boars have a thick, gristly shield over the shoulders. Choose a caliber and a bullet built for controlled expansion and penetration on medium game, and put the shot where it counts. Shot placement matters more than raw power.
2. Hog light or red/green feeder light
Many hogs move at night. A light mounted on a feeder or stand lets you see without spooking the sounder as much as white light does.
3. Thermal or night-vision optics (optional, expensive)
Thermal scopes and monoculars are the biggest upgrade for night hog control but are a serious investment. Many hunters start with a good light and a low-magnification scope.
4. Low-power variable scope or red dot
Hogs often come in close and fast. A low-magnification optic with a wide field of view makes quick follow-up shots easier.
5. Gloves and a sharp knife
Wear gloves when you field dress hogs. Feral swine can carry diseases, including swine brucellosis, that can infect people. Cook pork thoroughly.
6. Cooler and ice
Hog meat from younger animals is excellent table fare if it is cooled quickly. Bring a cooler big enough to quarter and ice a hog.
7. Trail camera
A camera on a feeder or wallow shows when hogs show up, so you can sit at the right hour instead of all night.
TPWD rules for feral hogs and exotics · Texas Animal Health Commission
Regulation details checked against the TPWD 2026-27 Outdoor Annual on October 23, 2026. Regulations can change mid-year. Confirm at tpwd.texas.gov before you go.
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