Texans take aim a feral hog problem with quiet shot in dark

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The millions of feral hogs that have invaded Texas and are responsible for millions of dollars in damage to farms and ranches don't multiply and spread across the countryside by being stupid.

Faced with just about any kind of exposure to hunting pressure, most feral hogs will quickly become nocturnal. The damage they cause to crops, fences, pastures and roadways is clearly evident in daylight, but the sneaky swine will seldom be seen in the sunshine.

To combat the wily, prolific pests, many hunters and landowners are shifting into almost silent mode - utilizing suppressors on their firearms. The use of suppressors on firearms used for taking feral hogs is not new, but the noise-dampening devices became legal this past Sept. 1 for use when hunting game animals under new Texas Parks & Wildlife Department regulations.

The suppressors, often incorrectly called silencers by those people who watch too many movies or crime shows on television, reduce both the noise level of the fired round and the recoil of firearms being shot.

"What I tell people is that you won't be able to sit in a blind and pop off round after round at a group of hogs, and they won't be able to hear you shooting," said David Dury of Dury's Gun Shop in San Antonio. "There is always some sound. They do make the shots quiet enough that you probably won't spook nearby hogs in the brush or other game coming into a feeder. Plus, the suppressor makes about the best muzzle break in the world, and you don't have to wear earplugs when you are shooting."

Pricey options

Texas' booming population of destructive, invasive feral hogs has become increasingly hard to control by lethal means, as the fast-learning, faster-reproducing swine often become nocturnal when subject to hunting pressure. less Texas' booming population of destructive, invasive feral hogs has become increasingly hard to control by lethal means, as the fast-learning, faster-reproducing swine often become nocturnal when subject to ... more Photo: Les Tompkins Photo: Les Tompkins Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Texans take aim a feral hog problem with quiet shot in dark 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Suppressors and night vision optics have become hot commodities in recent years, although they can be pricey. In addition to the gunsmith work to thread the rifle or pistol barrel where the suppressor is attached, the devices can cost from $500 to $1,500 or more.

There is also a one-time $200 application fee for the permit issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms after a background check. The processing time by BATF is often six months or longer. Most purchasers are paying an additional $250 for an attorney to draw up a trust that allows them and designated associates to legally possess the device.

"We have been working pretty steady threading barrels on a lot of different kinds of rifles," Dury said. "They can be fit to about anything."

He explained that the suppressors utilize a system of baffles to reduce the noise of the expanding gases when a round is fired, but there is always some sound.

"It is not like you see in the movies," Dury said. "For example, a standard .308 sounds about like a .22 Magnum with the suppressor. If you use sub-sonic ammunition, there is even less muzzle blast."

Popular calibers are .223, .308 and even the lowly .22 caliber.

"Accuracy with standard loads is actually slightly better in some cases because of the reduced recoil and additional weight," Dury said. "With the subsonic ammunition (traveling at a reduced velocity), the accuracy is normally only fair."

Hunting outfitters and wildlife managers make up a big part of the group turning to suppressors for animal control. Through the use of the muzzle blast control devices, unwanted animals can be eliminated without disturbing desired game and non-game species.

"Matched with the newest thermal night optics, the suppressors can be a very effective game management tool," Dury said.

Bring on the night

Concerning the night-vision optics, Chuck Hand at Dury's Gun Shop said the price tag of quality gear can be high - topping out at about $14,000 - but the technology is much improved over earlier generations of night vision.

"There is just no comparison," said Hand, adding that a variety of models is available to fit just about any rifle.

Rather than the greenish blobs seen through first-generation optics, the third-generation models depict actual thermal images of warm-blooded animals.

"The only problem we are having is getting night-vision optics shipped to us," Hand said. "Sometimes it can take five or six months for an order to come in."