Hog hunting the Mobile Delta

I spent this past Sunday hog hunting the Mobile Delta with some friends.  We took the Xpress all weld boat I recently purchased.  It's a 1650 model with a 60 hp 2 stroke Mercury.  We had three and a half guys in the boat and it worked out well.  My nephew Chase Byrd and good friend Joe Perkins and his son Blake made the trip.  We launched at Cliff's Landing on the Tensaw River which is just a short drive from Hwy 225 in west central Baldwin County.

It was a beautiful day on the water and the temperature climbed into the upper 60's which felt warm for a February day.

Here is a list of a few items I would recommend and some things to keep in mind when taking a trip on the Delta for hunting.

1. Always have a float plan.  Tell someone where your going hunting and when to expect you back.
2. Always have a way to communicate with other hunters in your party.  Two way radios work great and most of the time our cell phones work if hunting in the lower delta.

  3.I always carry flagging to mark my way when leaving the boat.  I keep a roll in my pocket and       mark early and often.  Most hunters will leave a life jacket in a tree near the boat.  This helps them locate the boat when returning to the edge of the river.  The flagging has been a proven way for me.

Flagging in my pocket ready to be deployed by a simple pull and tear.

 4. I usually take a dry fire starter and keep it in a seal-able plastic bag.

 5. It's the law but I would recommend taking a map while hunting the delta even if it was not required.

 6. Take a good flash light even if you plan to be home early.

 7. I would suggest keeping a pair of disposable rubber gloves in your hunting jacket for retrieving a hog or other game.

 8.  Take some rope or dog leash with you.  It can be a chore trying to pull a large hog in the mud.  Sometimes it helps to be able to tie the hog to a limb to get a better grip for dragging.  

Older Hog Waller.

 (Yes, that's a Technical Term)

 9. Look for markers on the river bank (bottle in a tree, flagging).  Some hunters will mark their favorite spot for an easy return.  Sometimes they will place a marker on the opposite bank to make it harder to locate.

 10.  Find an open spot and sit and listen for 15 minutes.  Hogs are very vocal animals.  If hogs are near and active you will most often hear them and can move in for the kill.

Chase Byrd listening to the surroundings.

 11.  Another rule we try to live by when hunting the delta.  If your sweating then get back in the boat.  If its hotter than 50 degrees then the snakes are active.  This is a big concern when hunting any type of wetlands.  If possible get a pair of snake proof waders.

 12. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET WHEN IN THE BOAT OR ENTERING OR EXITING THE BOAT.  River banks are sometimes steep and slick.  One wrong step or the boat operator putting the motor in gear too quick and your in the cold deep water with rubber boots taking you to the bottom.  This is a bad situation even with a life jacket and tragic without one.

The river swamp is a beautiful place and needs to be respected.

 Clearing in the swamp off of Little Lizard Creek

Do you have a story about the Delta you would like to share?

Any pictures?

alakingfish@gmail.com

Shelby Byrd