I've gone on a few hog hunting trips in the northeastern part of Bankhead, outside of Black Warrior WMA. I haven't killed anything yet, but have had some intense encounters. I even had one in my scope, but I didn't shoot because they likely would have charged me.

I found a forum from 2011 on this site that was very helpful before I went out there. I would like to get an up to date discussion on Bankhead hogs going, so we can help each other out. Bankhead is the most beautiful part of the state IMHO, and I hate seeing it get destroyed by these monsters.

I have some knowledge on these hogs, but I've already typed enough for a post nobody cares about. If I get some responses, I'll gladly go into further detail.

I do not have anything to offer, but I am extremely interested in this thread.
I have been looking to get to Bankhead to see if I can find some hogs.

Hopefully we can get this thread enough traction to get some in depth info on BH.

I'm always looking for an excuse to get out in the woods. Would like to try it too.

I'm glad to hear some interest on the topic! I would love to hear any feedback, even if you think I have no idea what I'm talking about. If you do think that, an explanation on why would be useful.

Most of what I know applies to hog hunting everywhere, hunt the creek bottoms and keep the wind in your face. You especially want check out spots where the creek widens and forms a marshy area. I also see a higher concentration of sign where the creek bottom is a few miles away and a few hundred feet below the nearest road. I usually hear them or smell them before I see them, so keep your earplugs out and mask off your nose until you know where they are.

I've heard from other hunters that wild hogs don't like to climb hills, but that is not the case in Bankhead. I've seen rooting on slopes that I have trouble walking up and down. The hogs at Bankhead also tend to be pretty active during the day, even in warm weather.

I have a much easier time finding them during warmer months, and I have a theory on their movement patterns for that time of year. This is just my guess, so any info from others would be useful, even if it contradicts what I say. When it's hot out, they seem to be confined to the marshes where there is reliable mud around. At night they move uphill to feed, and come back before it warms up. After they have exhausted an area, they move to the next marsh to spend their days.

Finding these hogs reminds me of the game "Warmer, Colder" I played as a kid. I'll find some sign here and there shortly after leaving the truck, and if I head in the right direction, the sign gets more concentrated. This was the method I used to find the marsh where they currently resided. I went to a few places where the sign dissipated, so I moved on until I found a marsh where it looked like the dirt was recently tilled. I tried to move in closer that day, but the wind shifted, and I then heard squeals and running. I came back a few days later and climbed a tree downwind of the marsh that overlooked an exit trail. I had a few hogs get really close, but never saw one. I went out a week later with the plan on climbing a tree closer in, but I ended up hearing a sounder on the way in, so I dropped my pack started stalking. Sneaking up on them was pretty easy. I would wait until they were making a bunch of noise, and use their sound as cover. I ended up seeing nine of them, and I even had a delicious 30 pounder and a giant 200+ pounder give me a shot. I didn't shoot either time though, because I was on the ground, and there was nine of them forming a half circle around me. Maybe I'm a coward for not shooting, but I didn't want to get charged by a sounder from multiple directions while miles deep in the woods alone. In hindsight, I should have climbed a tree downwind as close I could have gotten.

I went out there in December with deer as the primary objective, but was still looking out for hogs. I found fresh wallows 100 feet above the creek, which I didn't see in September-October. I also took a quick walk through a marsh, where I saw some fresh sign, but nothing like I saw in the warmer months. I don't think they are confined to the marshes during the day in the winter, making them much harder to find.

I’ hunted them in Bankhead a lot in my 20s and I mean a lot. Boot to the
ground is the best thing you can do. You need to know your food sources
and where they are. We killed lots of hogs. Just got to keep track of where
they are when you see them and pick up where you left off. Not sure about
getting charged red I never had that problem, if I shot they ran or spooked
before. Been really close to them but never charged.

You're definitely right about boots on the ground. It's not rare for me to cover 10 miles looking for them. They probably wouldn't have charged me, but I've heard stories and I'm new to hog hunting, so I didn't want to take any chances while being alone in the woods. Do you happen to know if those hogs are hybrids with some Eurasian Boar in them? They looked far more muscular than typical feral hogs I've see on tv and photos. That could just be from all the hills they climb, or adrenaline could have clouded my memory.

It would be useful have a partner out there for safety reasons if nothing else, but all the hunters I know prefer to drive their four wheeler to a shooting house. Nothing wrong with that, just not how I like to hunt. I've also thought of having someone set up downwind, while the other quietly crosses the marsh upwind. Hopefully that would bump them towards the shooter without them being in a full panic.

PM’d you

Not a pro by any means but I've killed a few up in Bankhead and would be glad to join you one day if you want to give it a shot. I'm in Hartselle so just a short drive for me.

I dont know if they still do the special gun season in the Sipsey Wilderness but if they do it will be coming up in the next two weeks. You need to go look at the drainage off Trail 200 between Bunyan Hill Road and Cranal Road, there's always hogs in there. Also you can go down the 209 trail and find a lot too (usually take the 202 trail from Randolph trailhead, cross the river and head east down 209 toward the main parking lot). There's always hog sign in those areas and if you loop like I mentioned you won't run into too many hikers. Most folks are aware of the special hunts by now and stay out of the area on those days anyway, if they don't they usually clear out after the first couple shots pop off, hahaha.

Their special hog season runs March 1-14. I have been hunting off the WMA so I can rifle hunt year round, but I might give the special hunt a try. I usually avoid WMA rifle hunting due to everyone and their daddy being in the woods. Does anyone know what the hunting pressure is like during the special hog season?

When I hunted it, it wasn’t too bad. Not as much pressure as deer season but that was 7 years and one knee ago.

I'm thinking of going out there for a few days during turkey season. If I use a crossbow, I can hunt turkeys and hogs at the same time.

In the WMA and Wilderness Area you always have to use the weapon that's in season so you would be correct but I'm pretty sure if it's just National Forest land you can carry a rifle in and strictly pig hunt year round. I'm not 100% on that so double check me. The man to ask on all questions Bankhead on this site is MBrock, he used to be the state biologist for the area.

Very rare they will charge you. I've killed many hundreds of them and never been charged unless I was messing with a baby and took my eyes off mom. They will run over you if you're in their escape route. If the shoats have lines made of spots, then they're eurasian mix, most in this state are just barnyard escapees.

Anyone killed a hog at Black Warrior this week? I drove down yesterday and spent about 3 hours around Fall Creek, didn't see any hogs. Seen a couple of Does but that's about it...

I don't know if there's any eurasian genes in the bankhead pigs, but i understand that every generation bred away from domestication, their genes alter to feral. Snout elongates, smaller hams, bigger shoulders...hairier. That's my understanding.

I'll check the regs again and stop by the ranger station before heading out, but I think crossbows with broadheads are legal for turkey, which gives me a suitable weapon for both. If I grab the rifle it will be off the WMA, which is what I will probably do after enduring the frustrations of turkey hunting.

I'm in. Hunted hogs in Germany/California and twice here.

I’ve ran down several piglets in Bankhead “where they run and try to hide, but not a very good job”. Seen a lot killed as well
They all have been red in color with the black lines.
Can’t remember if they were dotted lines though

The Bankhead hogs have a lot of Eurasian influence.