Sounds like you’re well enough equipped to go whack some hogs of pretty much any size!

Unfortunately, there’s not a ton of hog hunting real close to your area (I’m actually from the Wilmington area myself). It does sound like the critters are showing up in more and more places around there, but for consistent, quality hog hunts you should probably look further down in SC, closer to the Savannah River. There are hogs in the piedmont region too, but I’m afraid the numbers haven’t gotten high enough to make any one place stand out… at least as far as I know.

Good luck down there, and keep digging. The NC Wildlife Resources Commission website may have some good updates, and you can always call the WRC biologists in the area where you live. Their contact info should be on the website (http://www.ncwildlife.com/).

From the calibers you listed, I’d go with the tried and true .30-06 unless you decide to go with some houndsmen. I like a 180 grain bullet in my -06, but the 165 grain load is an excellent choice too. It’s the best all around hog caliber going right now, in my honest opinion (an opinion shared by a lot of other hog hunters).

If you’re gonna use dogs, the 30-30 should be a thrill. Load it up with some good, 170 grain Remington Core-lokt ammo and have at it.

Hog fever is easy to get and hard to get rid of, so good luck with that. I’ve been bit hard, but I can’t complain.

Anyway…

Hog hunting in NC is probably about to experience some sudden growth (just my prediction… we’ll see), so you may be coming aboard at a great time. Check out the NC Wildlife Resources Commission website if you get a chance for some more detailed info. There are a few feral hog hunts in addition to the better know european hogs that are in the mountains.

If you want to get after the europeans, though, the best place to look is in the area of Swain, Graham, and Cherokee counties. That’s probably the highest concentration in the state, and most of your hog hunting operations are based in that area. For the most part it’s a hound hunt up there, but if you’re persistent you can get out and do some spot and stalk if you can find a good area.

Most of my own hunting was on the Nantahala National Forest and in that general vicinity. I found some scattered hog sign, lots of deer, turkeys, and bear, but never saw so much as a piglet. That’s probably why hounds are so popular up there.

Oh yeah (edited to add)…

South Carolina has some pretty great hog hunting too. Anywhere from out around Columbia and down the Savannah River to the coast is loaded with hogs. It’s not too expensive for a non-resident, and it’s not too far of a drive for you if you’re up in the piedmont part of NC.

Good luck, and hope to see ya around the Hog Blog with your success stories in the near future.