🐗 Feral Hog Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges

Feral hogs are one of the most damaging invasive animals in the United States. They root up wetlands and moist-soil units, eat ground-nesting birds’ eggs and young, compete with native wildlife for food and spread disease. That’s why many National Wildlife Refuges — especially in the Southeast, Texas and California — allow hog hunting. In the 2026–2027 USFWS data, 135 refuges and stations list hunting for feral or exotic species, which most often means hogs.

How refuges handle hog hunting

Refuges use several approaches, often in combination:

• Incidental take during other hunts. Hunters with a valid permit for deer or other game may also take hogs during that hunt, using the same weapons.
• Dedicated hog hunts. Some refuges hold special hog seasons or quota hunts.
• Weapon and method restrictions. Many refuges prohibit hunting hogs with dogs, at night or with bait, even where state law allows those methods.
• No live transport. Moving live feral hogs is illegal in many states and prohibited on refuges.

Because rules vary widely, read the refuge’s hunt brochure carefully. Our refuge pages list whether a refuge offers feral/exotic hunting and link to its official hunting page.

Understanding hogs

• Hogs are intelligent and wary. Heavily pressured groups often become nocturnal.
• They need water and mud to cool off — wallows, creek bottoms and swamp edges are prime places to look.
• Sign is obvious: rooted soil, wallows, rubs on trees and tracks with rounded toes.
• Sounders — groups of sows and young — can be large. Mature boars often travel alone.

Scouting and tactics

• Find the water. Use satellite imagery to locate creek bottoms, swamps and ponds, then look for rooting nearby.
• Hunt the wind. Hogs have an excellent sense of smell. Set up downwind of trails and wallows.
• Stay late. On refuges where hunting is allowed until sunset or later, the last hour is often best.
• Be ready for multiple targets. When a sounder appears, pick one animal and shoot carefully.

Shot placement and safety

• Hogs have thick shields of gristle over the shoulders, especially boars. Aim low and tight behind the front leg or for a well-placed neck or head shot with an adequate caliber.
• Never corner a wounded hog. Boars have sharp tusks and can charge. Wait before approaching and approach from behind.
• Follow refuge rules for weapons and calibers; some refuges limit firearms during hog hunts or allow only archery.
• Be sure of your backstop — many refuge units are near roads, trails and other hunters.

Disease precautions

Feral hogs can carry diseases that affect people and dogs, including swine brucellosis, leptospirosis and pseudorabies (dangerous to dogs).

• Wear rubber or nitrile gloves and eye protection when field dressing.
• Avoid contact with blood and reproductive organs.
• Wash hands, knives and equipment thoroughly afterward.
• Don’t feed raw hog meat or organs to dogs.

The meat

Wild pork can be excellent, especially from younger animals. Cool the carcass quickly, keep it clean, and cook pork thoroughly — the USDA recommends cooking wild hog to an internal temperature of 160°F. Check your state’s rules for transporting carcasses.

Why your hunt matters

Every hog removed reduces damage to the habitat refuges were created to protect. Some refuges ask hunters to report hog sightings and harvest to help track populations — if yours does, take a minute to report.

Find refuges offering feral and exotic species hunting, then check each refuge’s units and permits before you go.

Where to go: refuges with the most open land

Based on the 2026–2027 USFWS hunt-unit data, these refuges offer this game and have the largest huntable acreage. Each page has unit maps, permits and directions.

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