Night Hunting for Hogs Expands Hunting Options

Written by Justin Park| 11/04/2025

As thermal and night vision technology transforms after-dark hunting, wildlife agencies are updating regulations to use night hunting as a control for invasive species on private land.

Texas sets the national standard, allowing year-round night hunting for feral hogs with no restrictions on thermal or night vision use. Other states have expanded equipment authorizations to maximize the effectiveness of hog and predator control.

The night option opens up new opportunities (and vastly more hours) for hunters to get into the woods. For landowners, regulatory shifts have opened new revenue streams and a new customer base in many regions. 

Hog Hunting – Day and Night 

Night hunting for hogs can be a good way to target these secretive animals (who just happen to taste great). Nighttime hunts also present a unique new challenge. 

Caveat: Finding a place to legally hunt can be a challenge, especially on public land. Many of the states that allow hunting after dark limit it only to private preserves.

Feral hog populations are strongest across the southeastern United States as well as California and Hawaii. Luckily for hog hunters, many of these regions are permissive to hunting day or night.

In Texas, feral hogs have long been legal to pursue after sunset with few restrictions on equipment. This is for private land only.

Oklahoma is similar, with most methods of night hunting allowed with a permit. In Louisiana, you can pursue hog hotbeds with thermal equipment and night vision on private land.

And in Georgia, guided hog hunts are popular and permitted year-round and through the night. Its wildlife resource division cites "no limit, no closed season” for feral hogs, and regulations allow high-power lights carried by a hunter or affixed to a helmet, hat, or belt for illumination and pursuit.

How to Get Started

Because the gear and techniques used in night hunting are foreign to most average hunter, first time nocturnal hunters may want to use an outfitter. Sites such as Ultimate Hog Hunting allow you to browse outfitters by state.

When you’re ready for a DIY hunt, thermal imaging devices are a huge help, as they can show heat signatures in the woods. IR-assisted night vision may be effective in spotting hogs as well.

Thermal scopes allow you to take an ethical shot at night, but they aren’t cheap, often costing well over $1,000. That can feel spendy if you’re used to sub-$200 daytime rifle scopes. If it becomes a regular pursuit, a dedicated night hunting rifle makes it easier but adds expense. 

To find private land that allows night hunts, use the search field on HLRBO or browse specific states for listings, using photos and descriptions to identify properties with hoggin’ opportunities both day and night.

AUTHOR BIO: Justin Park is a Colorado-based writer, editor, and avid hunter with a passion for the outdoors. He contributes to leading publications such as GearJunkie, Popular Mechanics, Powder, and Men's Journal, and serves as Editor of Wild Snow. Park is deeply involved in conservation and recreation advocacy, serving as Chapter Chair of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) in Summit County. He also represents RMEF on a state recreation committee focused on proactively addressing land use conflicts.