Wild Boar Hunting Information
Welcome Y'all
Okeechobee is known as "Hog Country" due to wild boar running rampant, destroying farms, killing livestock, and causing billions of dollars in property damage. They can grow to be mean 600 pound monsters with incredibly strong jaws and six inch razor sharp tusks that can gore a human to death. These invasive species have no natural predators.
Help fight against these beasts with our Florida wild boar hunt!
Whether you are hunting with dogs, using a spear, or kicking up mud with our swamp buggy, our goal is to make your wild boar hunting experience unforgettable and affordable. We offer a low all inclusive rate without any hidden fees so you know exactly how much your hunt will cost.
Help fight against these beasts with our Florida wild boar hunt!
Whether you are hunting with dogs, using a spear, or kicking up mud with our swamp buggy, our goal is to make your wild boar hunting experience unforgettable and affordable. We offer a low all inclusive rate without any hidden fees so you know exactly how much your hunt will cost.
Success Rate
The chances of you not getting the opportunity to hunt a wild boar are very small when you combine the experience of our guides with Okeechobee's high population of wild boar! Over one million feral hogs live in the state of Florida. Your hunt is conducted on over 500 acres of private land. The terrain you will hunt on vary from sugar cane fields, palmetto thickets, to woodlands with ponds and marsh. Areas are carefully chosen by our guides prior to your arrival. The area that best indicates a good concentration of wild boar is selected for your hunt. When you choose a fully guided hunt you will be paired with one of our experienced guides who will work all day if necessary to bay you up a boar and make sure you go home with pork.
Hunting Hours
Fully Guided Hunting Times Monday-Saturday:
- 7:00 AM
- 8:00 AM
- 10:00 AM
- 12:00 PM
- 2:00 PM
Sunday:
- 7:00 AM
- 8:00 AM
- 1:00 PM
- 2:00 PM
Tree Stand Hunting Times Monday-Sunday:
- 6:00 AM (starting time until dusk)
- 4:00 PM (starting time until dusk)
Your success rate during an afternoon of hunting is just as good as a morning of hunting.
Please note
Hunting times are not based on how long you have to hunt. For example, just because you arrive at 8:00 AM does not mean your hunt will end at 10:00 AM. We have time slots to prevent too many hunters arriving all at once and to assure everyone gets individual attention.
Hunting Length
Ron's Guide Service does not believe in rushing our clients.
You will have as many hours needed to successfully complete your hunt.
Your hunt is over once each hunter has killed a boar. Typically on guided hunts a hunter will kill the first boar bayed up by the dogs or spot and stalked. How long your hunt will take depends on many different factors such as weapons being used, hunting style, and how many hunters are in your party. Hunting with dogs tends to be quicker because our trained Florida cur dogs have an incredible sense of smell and can bay up a boar rather quickly. Spot and stalk style hunting is more time consuming and requires skill and patience. On average a hunter can successfully
complete their hunt within 1-3 hours.
You will have as many hours needed to successfully complete your hunt.
Your hunt is over once each hunter has killed a boar. Typically on guided hunts a hunter will kill the first boar bayed up by the dogs or spot and stalked. How long your hunt will take depends on many different factors such as weapons being used, hunting style, and how many hunters are in your party. Hunting with dogs tends to be quicker because our trained Florida cur dogs have an incredible sense of smell and can bay up a boar rather quickly. Spot and stalk style hunting is more time consuming and requires skill and patience. On average a hunter can successfully
complete their hunt within 1-3 hours.
Private Hunts
Your hunt is typically private and consists of your party and guide.
Holidays and weekends tend to be busier so if your a small party we may ask if your ok hunting with others, however you always have the choice of a private hunt.
Swamp Buggies
Our swamp buggy is loved by kids of all ages and is especially helpful for our clients who have trouble walking. We use our swamp buggy on our fully guided hunts. We have two buggies, each buggy accommodates eight passengers.
Hunting with Dogs
GUARANTEE POLICY: YES | FULLY GUIDED: YES | SWAMP BUGGY: YES
Wild boar hunting with dogs that chase, battle, and bay up a boar is the most exciting hunting adventure a hunter will ever experience in his lifetime. The mere fact of being in close contact with a fierce animal that is charging and attacking the dogs, guides, and even the hunter is something that can't be described. Wild boar hunting with dogs is our most common method, it also is the most successful way of making a kill. Any weapon can be used when hunting with dogs. We primarily cruise around the terrain on swamp buggies. During these drives the dogs will usually bay up a boar before it reaches the hunter. The sound of yelping dogs and the squeals of the boar indicate the need for the hunter to move towards the sound of battle. Once the dogs have the boar at bay the hunter can carefully take aim. Our trained Florida cur dogs are a combination of hound and bulldog. We also have our famous redbone hound, Nana.
Native Knife and Spear Hunting
GUARANTEE POLICY: YES | FULLY GUIDED: YES | SWAMP BUGGY: YES
Feel your heart race and adrenaline rush as you get up close and personal with a wild boar on our guided native spear and knife hunt. Hunting with a knife or a spear as our ancestors once did is a very challenging and exciting method. Ron's Guide Service is one of the few outfitters to offer it.
Don't have a spear? You can borrow ours for free!
Spot and Stalk
GUARANTEE POLICY: YES | FULLY GUIDED: YES | SWAMP BUGGY: YES
Bored of traditional spot and stalk tree stand and blind hunting?
Our spot and stalk style hunting with a swamp buggy is full of action and excitement!
We cruise around on our swamp buggy looking for wild boar. Sometimes hunters shoot from the buggy, other times they hop off and head into the brush. Wild boar have a great sense of smell and hearing, but poor eye sight so patience and a quick hand is needed when it comes to sneaking up on one. This style of hunting is without dogs.
Our spot and stalk style hunting with a swamp buggy is full of action and excitement!
We cruise around on our swamp buggy looking for wild boar. Sometimes hunters shoot from the buggy, other times they hop off and head into the brush. Wild boar have a great sense of smell and hearing, but poor eye sight so patience and a quick hand is needed when it comes to sneaking up on one. This style of hunting is without dogs.
Bow Hunting
GUARANTEE POLICY: YES | FULLY GUIDED: YES | SWAMP BUGGY: YES
Bow hunters from across the country hunt with Ron's Guide Service because we are one of the few guide services who are not intimidated by this thrilling hunting style. Some outfitters even charge a retrieval fee when you use a bow! The use of bow and arrow is the safest and most effective form of hunting. Among all other weapons, a bow and arrow requires a great amount of self-discipline and concentration. Some hunters aim from the ground while others choose to use the height of the swamp buggy as an advantage.
Tree Stand Hunts
GUARANTEE POLICY: NO | FULLY GUIDED: NO| SWAMP BUGGY: NO
Our traditional tree stand hunts are great for hunters who want to sit back and take their time hunting. Tree stand hunts require patience and a quick eye. Ideal hunting times for morning tree stand hunts are dusk until 9:00 AM and afternoons starting at 4:00 PM until dusk. These hunts are not fully guided so there is no guarantee you will get a boar.
Weapons
Any weapon can be used when hunting wild boar, you can even combine the following weapons:
- Bow
- Crossbow
- Handgun
- Hatchet
- Knife
- Muzzleloader
- Rifle
- Shotgun
- Spear
- Sword
Due to the lush undergrowth a shotgun with buckshot or deer slugs is by far the preferred weapon. There are no restrictions on how many shells you can have in a rifle or handgun clip. Scoped rifles can be used but open sight is a better option if your hunting with dogs.
Most shots are in the 50 to 75 foot range. Bows recommended for wild boar hunting are long bows, compound bows, recurve bows, and crossbows with a minimum draw weight of 35 pounds.
Most shots are in the 50 to 75 foot range. Bows recommended for wild boar hunting are long bows, compound bows, recurve bows, and crossbows with a minimum draw weight of 35 pounds.
Loaner Weapons
Our all inclusive wild boar hunting rate includes use of the following loaner weapons:
- 243 Rifle
- 22 Magnum Rifle
- 12 guage shotgun
- Knife
- Spear
Ammunition
We recommend buckshot 2 3/4 inch #4 or 00.
12 gauge deer slug shells 2 3/4 inch smoothbore or rifled barrel can also be used.
A five shell 2 3/4 inch box will be enough for each hunter.
100 grain is plenty for our 243 rifle.
Ammunition can be purchased without a license anywhere in the state of Florida.
Ammunition is not available for purchase at the hunting site.
Ammunition can be purchased without a license anywhere in the state of Florida.
Ammunition is not available for purchase at the hunting site.
Sighting In
You will be able to sight in your weapon when you arrive at the hunting area.
Shipping Weapons
A hunter may ship a firearm in care of Ron's Guide Service.
The package should be addressed the following way:
Your Name
c/o Ron's Guide Service
Our Address
c/o Ron's Guide Service
Our Address
Please contact us before shipping your weapon.
Air Travel with Weapons
For details on air travel with firearms please contact the official
Transportation Security Administration.
Transportation Security Administration
http://www.tsa.gov
(866) 289-9673
http://www.tsa.gov
(866) 289-9673
Florida Wild Boar History
The Florida wild boar is the classic American razor-back piney woods rooter.
Wild boar are not native to Florida. There are theories about the origins of Florida's feral hogs.
One is that they are descendants of the swine that Ponce de Leon, Hernando DeSoto, and other early Spanish explorers brought over from Spain on their ships in the 1500's. After these black Spanish hogs quickly populated the state of Florida the early settlers released domestic boars to upgrade the Florida feral strain which accounts for the color markings we see that sometimes resemble domestic hog breeds. Gestation is 115 days. Wild boar have an average of two litters per year with about ten young pigs per litter. They grow fast and reach 100 pounds in 12 months. They are omnivorous, eating all kinds of foods indiscriminately.
Wild boar are not native to Florida. There are theories about the origins of Florida's feral hogs.
One is that they are descendants of the swine that Ponce de Leon, Hernando DeSoto, and other early Spanish explorers brought over from Spain on their ships in the 1500's. After these black Spanish hogs quickly populated the state of Florida the early settlers released domestic boars to upgrade the Florida feral strain which accounts for the color markings we see that sometimes resemble domestic hog breeds. Gestation is 115 days. Wild boar have an average of two litters per year with about ten young pigs per litter. They grow fast and reach 100 pounds in 12 months. They are omnivorous, eating all kinds of foods indiscriminately.
The Florida wild boar is considered a trespass animal and are not managed by the state of Florida.
Wild Boar Size
Sows and young boars usually roam in large herds, while trophy boars tend to roam in small bands or as loners. A qualified trophy boar has tusks that measure from two to four inches beyond the lower lip line. Female boars, known as sows, do not have tusks. Most of our boar kills run in the 125 to 175 pound range. 200 to 300 pound sow and trophy boars are killed on a regular basis throughout the year by many of our hunters. Ron's Guide Service does not allow hunting of small boars which are less than 15 inches high at the shoulder. These boars are protected by the state and must be released.
Wild Boar Taste
Wild boar meat is very lean and extremely low in fat with a rich, almost nutty flavor
that far surpasses that of conventional pork. Typically a young boar will have the best tasting meat.
that far surpasses that of conventional pork. Typically a young boar will have the best tasting meat.
License
A license is not required to hunt wild boar on private land in Florida.
Non-Hunters
Our $20.00 per non-hunter rate permits a friend or youngster to tag along and watch, film,
and participate in the excitement of the hunt.
Age Requirements
we allow youngsters who are at least six years old to hunt.
Children as young as three enjoy riding on our swamp buggy.
Experience Level
Ron's Guide Service welcomes all levels of experience.
Our guided hunts are perfect for first timers and advanced hunters.
Our guides are experienced and patient to ensure you have a memorable hunt.
Our guided hunts are perfect for first timers and advanced hunters.
Our guides are experienced and patient to ensure you have a memorable hunt.
What to Bring
Bringing a poncho or raincoat is advisable in order to be prepared for the temperamental Florida weather. Drinking plenty of liquids such as water during your Ron's Guide Service experience is also recommended. Sunscreen is essential anytime you go out into the Florida sun. A hat and sunglasses will also help keep the sun out of your face. Over-the-counter pain medications help to soothe aches and pains after a long day of hunting. If you plan to rent a car or drive while in Florida, bring small bills and coins for Florida's many toll roads. Bring your camera and extra batteries, as well the charger and extra memory cards or film. We recommend a large ice cooler (60 qt. or bigger) and large plastic bags (trash type) to pack your meat in. You will also need to supply your own ice. Coolers and bagged or dry ice is not available for purchase at the hunting site.
What to Wear
Camouflage is fun but not necessary. When visiting Florida in the warmer months, generally between March and October, pack comfortable, lightweight clothing to help keep you cool during the day. During the cooler season, bring an assortment of short-sleeved and long-sleeved clothing items, as well as a lightweight jacket or two because temperatures often fluctuate from day to day during the winter.
Meat Processing
Ron's Guide Service provides processing on all kills completely free.
Your kill will be skinned, cleaned, and quartered immediately after your hunt.
Your kill will be skinned, cleaned, and quartered immediately after your hunt.
Professional Butchering
A hunter can choose to have a professional butcher process his kill.
Visit our trip resources page for more details and a list of local butchers.
Visit our trip resources page for more details and a list of local butchers.
Taxidermy
Taxidermy preparation is provided free by Ron's Guide Service.
After preparation of your kill you can take it to your taxidermist or we can provide you with our affordable taxidermy service. Visit our taxidermy page for details and pricing.
After preparation of your kill you can take it to your taxidermist or we can provide you with our affordable taxidermy service. Visit our taxidermy page for details and pricing.
Shipping Meat
There are many options for getting your meat back home.
Visit our trip resources page for detailed solutions.
Visit our trip resources page for detailed solutions.
Hunting Zone
According to the Florida hunting regulations handbook Glades County is classified as the south zone and Highlands and Okeechobee County are classified as central zones. These areas are considered to be the finest hunting zones in Florida.
Guest Policies
- We encourage hunters to utilize all meat and leave nothing to waste. Meat not taken will be donated. Hides and remains of carcasses after butchering go in the deep freeze for the alligators.
- There is a $100.00 guaranteed kill charge within our all inclusive wild boar hunting rate that guarantees each hunter a kill of one wild boar of either sex during a wild boar hunt. This $100.00 guaranteed kill charge will be refunded in cash if our guides or dogs were unable to provide a hunter with an opportunity to kill a boar. Our money back guarantee policy does not apply to tree stand hunts.
- No alcohol of any kind is allowed to be consumed on our hunts or prior to your hunt. If you are unable to come sober, please don't come. You will not hunt and you will forfeit your reservation deposit.
