Welcome Swimbait, "outside the ears" is used as a guide. The rule is 13" inside spread.

Euro mounts can be done at home or by the taxidermists. I paid $85 to get mine done a couple of years ago and he did alot better job than I could.

On hogs my personal experience has been 200 lbs tops and sow are better than boars. I would definitely gut any animal that I harvested as soon as possible.

Trails you just have to look at the lay of your land and scout. Food and water sources as well as bedding areas all play into it. Remember to keep the wind in your face or at a cross to the trail your hunting. Sun should be considered too, its better to have it in their eyes than yours.

A hunting license is all you need for bobcat unless you plan to sell the fur and then a trappers license is required.

Hope this helps.

Much appreciation for the reposnes thus far.

From what I've seen / read, this site is just as informative with hunting as TFF is for fishing.

The place I hunt is South of US 90 (near Yancey).
I've only been ince thsi year and hunted a Wed evenign to Fri evening. The Buck to doe ratio was about 2.5 to 1. I had let some bucks go as I thought the rule was outside the ears. Most of the bucks were 4-6pts and only 1 was a big bodied 4pt.

I did see several bigger bigger bucks but due to me being a newb, I could't get a good shot on them (another new story I'll spare you from). I did end up shooting the 8pt from about 150yds. Hit the Femur artery but, heck he died and I got a rack and a freezer of meat .

From wht I read, Medina does nto have antler restictions so does this mean I could have saved a day of hunting and gone home early (thus missing out on the 8pt)? Just need help clarifying some of the vague verbage TPWD prints.

I suspect cleaning a hog will be the same as a deer but there's a "musk" sack I need to be concerned with?

We are planning another trip out there on the weekend of the 16th. I do plan to have the gun sighted in by then (bore sited atm)and hopefully fill out the tags.

Talked to our g-pa today and he had other family memebers out there. A couple hogs and 3 deer were taken yesterday and tody with one deer being another 8pt buck (others we doe I believe).

For future reference, I will read online how to perform my own euro mount. But $85 for a mount vs hundreds sounds good (unless I get lucky and bang a real nice one).

I've alwyas enjoyed hunitng but mostly dove hunted around teh Austin area. I enjoy deer hunting but also learned it's just as nerve wreacking as bed fishing for a big bass.

I plan to keep the questions coming and look forward to your reponses.

kp

there is nothing different from guttin a deer than a hog. good luck

'cept for the smell and the volume of ticks and fleas!

when ur eyes are closed and ur in the dark, its all the same.... and ur nose is pinched

I've eaten every hog I've taken

if your planning on staying in the game, i'd move up to a remignton 700 or the like, you'll get more enjoyment out of it.

its like fishing with a zebco and moving up to a shimano.

when ur eyes are closed and ur in the dark, its all the same.... and ur nose is pinched