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Hunting Pigs Near Houston, Texas

Feral hogs are nuisance wildlife in Texas, and there are few hunting regulations for them. There is currently an excess of 1.5 million feral hogs in Texas, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Because of the estimated $52 million of damage hogs cause the Texas agriculture industry every year, ranchers are eager to let hog hunters hunt on their private land. Guided hunts are also available. Hogs prefer to live in the dense pine forests north of Houston in East Texas, but their population is expanding statewide.

Growing Concern
- A feral sow can reproduce at six months old, and birth up to three litters a year. Litter sizes range from four to 12. A mature hog can weigh up to 400 lbs. They damage crops, yards and pastures by rooting and digging.
Regulations
- The regulations to hunt hogs near Houston are the same statewide. You need a hunting license and landowner permission. It is always open season and there is no bag limit. There are no restrictions on how to hunt feral hogs. Night hunting with a spotlight is allowed if a local game warden is notified.
Wildlife Management Areas
- Access to more than one million acres of public land is available through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Annual Public Hunting Permit. You can hunt feral hogs in many Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) near Houston, including the Angelina-Neches/Dam B WMA in Jasper and the Sam Houston National Forest WMA in Livingston.
Hunting Ranches
- Hunters at the RazorBack Hog Hunting Ranch north of Houston can stay in the ranch's rustic cabin outfitted with amenities. A weight scale and walk-in cooler are on the premises. For an additional fee, game cleaning is available. Hunting dogs are not allowed on the ranch.
  
  The Cougar Run Ranch is less than an hour from downtown Houston. It offers guided and non-guided hunts with a guaranteed deposit. Personnel and facilities are available for game cleaning.
  
  Run-n-Gun Adventures is south of Houston and offers a variety of hunting packages, including traditional stand hunts, night and bow hunts. Game processing is available. If you don't have a hunting rifle, the ranch can provide one.

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