A few years ago I joined a hunting club in south Dallas County that was located on the Alabama River and covered with old cypress swamps, planted pines, food plots, cutovers, a couple of big hay fields and a few hardwood bottoms. Besides quality deer, it was also loaded with pigs.

I obtained a Wildlife Damage Permit from the DCNR to allow baiting for hogs outside of deer and turkey seasons, but the club itself had rules against hunting hogs at night and dog hunting. I could have trapped as well, but our club had a year-to-year lease, and I was hesitant to spend a lot of money on trapping materials.

In order to make an impact on the pig population, I knew I would have to kill a large number of pigs, and I would have to kill the right pigs. I would try to target sows whenever possible, but I wouldn’t pass up any pig no matter the size. The number of pigs...