2013-2014 Lake Lavon

[MD2TX]

My buddy has property that backs right up to unit 14. Me and son have walked around quit a bit in that area. Saw a couple tracks but that's about it. Had a camera setup at the fence line last year got lots of pics of raccoons and rabbits that's about it. Once it cools down I'm gonna go wonder around again.

[Hogs&Bows]

Sorry I did not reply faster. But I was getting ready for dove season. I am sure you understand. Also has anyone had any success with dove at Lavon?

I am new to hunting and had no one to show me anything. But here is what I did.

I've been working my way around lavon trying to find a place to hunt with my son. Would you mind sharing how you are hunting on Lavon?

Started with Google maps. Look for game trails, pinch points and water sources..etc. Also looked for food sources. Near by fields with maize something other than cattle (FYI.... Just about all the fields have been cut. The group I stalked all summer does not have predictable schedule after the maize was cut.). Then boots on the ground after work and hunt on the weekend.

I have a really good youtube video with a big group of hogs running past me. I would post a link. But I cant until I make 5 posts or something. If you search youtube for "archery hogs at lake lavon" you will find it.


There are 2 ideas I have. Either find a way to get to one of the creeks coming in from the north, or walk along the dry lake shore looking for signs. The lake shore route seems much easier.

I have never had any luck with the shore line. Not saying that will not work. I have seen tracks along the shore just not the hogs.

I have seen but not taken any hogs walking creek beds. But there are some beaver dams that still have water behind them. There are wallows all around the dams.



Were can you get away with parking? Most places I see that I can park, may not be legal. I also came across several places where the fence had been cut and people were driving through. Some times it's not about what's legal, but what you can get away with.

You get a parking permit put it in windshield. As long as you don't block a gate you are good. You can park in the grass and bar ditches as long as it is COE. Again use google maps look for places you can get to COE land without trespassing.

I would never drive across a fence, cut or otherwise. I love hunting and Lavon is the only place that is close to my house. I have 3 kids and lots of sports and dance classes to go to. I can go to Lavon whenever I have time and still be home for breakfast. I would not risk getting caught and have the possibility of them taking away my permit.

Talked to the Ranger yesterday and he said you can use lights to hunt after dark, but no spot lighting. I'm picturing a generator and an array of 500W halogen work lights. I've never heard of setting up fixed lights while hunting. Does anyone here do this?

Most of the time I use the moon or sunrise. This summer there was a super moon. It was really bright you could see without a flashlight or anything.

I really doubt a generator would work. The hogs at Lavon are vary skittish. Plus there is no need. Go to Walmart and get a bunch of solar garden lights for .99 cents. Tie them together with paracord and hang them in the trees (I tried this one time. But it was just to big of a pain to pack in and out.). You can also get solar security lights from harbor freight and put green, red or blue filters. Then you can pack in and out easy.

Hope this helps. I wish someone had told me a few of this tips. It was a really hot summer figuring out most of this stuff.

[mschlott]

Wow, that's a lot of hogs. I spent 12 hours over the weekend scouting everything north of 380 and around the West Side of the lake. With everything as dry as it has been the only place I was able to find any tracks were around the remaining puddles. I saw more snakes than I am comfortable with in the creek beds so I am going to stick to some easier access spots that I found. I swear you took pictures of the same snakes I saw today.

In your video the hogs are sprinting across the an open area, and you say you have never seen hogs in the creek beds or lake shore. Are you hunting trails near a wallow? I would have thought hunting at a wallow near water sources would be the only way to go. I know a place that I think has hogs, but I don't want to work my way into the brush. I may have to monitor the open areas at sunrise to find them.

Thanks for all the tips. If you see me out there say hi. I'm the one in the orange hat and vest.

[Hogs&Bows]

I have seen them in the creek beds once. I took a shot and missed. The picture of the arrow that was stuck in a tree was a miss. It was crazy... It hit right over the hog. The nock was right over the hog shoulder and he did not even move. There was another hog watching me shoot. As soon as I was ready to take a second shot he heard me and ran. I looked over at the second one and then he started running. But those two are the only ones I have seen in a creek bed. I know they are there i have seen fresh scat, wallows and prints. I have even heard them. I just have never seen more then those 2.

The open area... They are leaving COE to go into the maize fields. Before the maize was cut. The hogs where leaving COE about sunset. There was (It is dry now) a old stock pond that was over 600ft from the property line. The hogs would play in the water before leaving for the fields. Then come back around 3am, go back the the fields and come back around sunrise. You could hear people on private land shooting at them on there way out and back all the time. More than once I saw the sheriff parked right where I think the hogs cross the road. I always wondered if he was shooting at them. It was just to convenient that he was there parked on the side of the road. Right there at the right time all the time.

Anyway... The video was right on the property line. I waited for them to come in. You could hear them for 30 min or so. Then it was quiet for 20 min. I thought they had left so I walked up to the property line and had 4 or so really big one run in front of me. So I kept walking thinking that was all and that big group started running right at me then turned. Since I was right at the property line and could not shoot. I thought I would record them.

Lake shore... I have seen tracks. I just have not seen hogs with me eyes. I know they are there. But I dont think they stay in the open vary long.

I would love to saw hi to anyone hunting at Lavon but I never see anyone. I saw someones trail cam once. I have seen some old hog tubes (I wish people would not do that. They don't mind you hand scattering. But don't feed them. Just use a handfull or 2 to slow them down.). But I have never seen a person hunting.

[Hogs&Bows]

Almost forgot snakes... Buy some snake boots. I got some Rocky snake boots after 4 big cottonmouths came out from behind a geocache as I was reaching for it. I am a lot more carful now.

[jcbryson82]

Wow, a lot of great info! Thanks a million! I'm planning on hunting out there quite a bit this winter giving the deer at my place time to mature a little more so if you ever want to hunt out there together lemme know and get hooked up! I appreciate all the tips and advice!

[gregharp]

Great info, guys!

I went out the a few times before it go too hot this summer but didn't see anything in my sights. Though I've seen plenty of sign.

I did figure out I needed to stay out until well after dark (and until the recreational activity tailed off). They are definitely nocturnal out there. I'm amazed at the video mentioned in this thread showing any appearing in even slight daylight. The last time I went out I scared some up in the darkness on to the way back to the car, far too close to the road. I'm not sure which one of us jumped higher.

Now that it has cooled off I will probably get back out again soon. I was tempted to go this past Saturday night.

Would it be better to go out there before sunrise rather than after sunset? I have been thinking of giving pre-dawn a try. Do they bed back down before first light or after?

I've never seen another hunter out there either. I've been around unit 5 lately.

[Hogs&Bows]

That video I took was about 30 min after sunrise. It was not that unusual for that spot this summer.

I don't know what to tell you about evening vs morning. With the weather changing and the crops cut. It is anyone's guess.

Maybe this will help. Back in early May I stuck one about 9pm on an almost full moon. Late May I got charged by 2 sows about 6am also stuck one that I could not find. The night of and leading up to supermoon June 21,22,23 it was so bright around 1am you did not even need a flashlight. I had group come close but I think they smelled me. They made a bunch of noise and ran off. It was really hot and I was sweating like a pig (Pun intended). Mid July I had a close miss around 8pm. Mid-August I got 1 around 4am. Just last Friday I was dove hunting and saw a group of 15 or so piglets. Small ones about a foot long. That was about 6pm. I am sure there where some sows in the bushes somewhere. All I had was dove loads so I just backed off.

My best luck has been after a rain and/or a cool front came through. Not that we have cold fronts in the summer. But you get the idea.

This past Sunday I was dove hunting with my son and saw my first bow hunter at the lake. If you are reading this post. You are going out to late. I don’t think you are going to see anything at 11am.

[Hogs&Bows]

finally got my 5 posts... So here is a picture of the piglets. I know they hard to see and it's a bad picture. But they move fast and are hard to get close to.

[gregharp]

I didn't see a thing in Unit 5 this morning. I've seen sign there before but nothing recently. I think it's gotten too dry or there's just too much human pressure, as it's a small unit surrounded by private property.

Where did you see those hogs?

[Hogs&Bows]

Sorry I don't post my spots. Mainly because other people get mad if they hunt that unit.

Anyone else hunt Dove at Lavon this year? I did not get vary many birds but I had a great time.

I took my son out for his first Duck hunt at Lavon on youth weekend. Saturday evening he got 2 teal. Sunday morning for some reason he just could not get a shot lined up. Went back Sunday evening and he shot the limit in a hour and a half.

FYI... There was a lot of teal but not vary many big ducks.

[Goldeneagle]

Me and my grandaughter are gonna start after them squirrrels this weekend.

[Hogs&Bows]

That is so cool.

[Hogs&Bows]

Went out for ducks Sunday morning and evening. The ducks figured out that people where shooting at them really fast. They where flying fast and as soon as the sun had set they where everywhere.

Walking out to my spot I found this. Which one of you guys got this one. I would love to see a picture of it. You should have kept the teeth. Would be a great trophy.

[Hogs&Bows]

Lavon is a gorgeous lake if you know where to look.