Advice sought from hog hunters please.

[slicksleeve]

Let me begin saying this is not a caliber question. I already know my favorite deer rifle will suffice.
First, a little background. I have access to a 1200 acre lease, mostly hardwood, and some pine timber. January 2011, I killed two wild pigs while deer hunting a food plot. One on Tuesday, one on Thursday, both about 60 pounds, in a group of 10 to 12 at a time. This was daytime, 3 and 4 pm when I saw them. My friend, (the actual leaseholder), killed one lone boar, with 1 1/2" long tusks, one of which was broken off, and I haven't seen any hogs since. I didn't get to go back until May of last year, due to turkey hunting on the property. I put out corn and a camera where I had shot the pigs, only deer and turkey came to it. So I soaked the corn in water for a week or two, let it sour, then only raccoons ate it. I spent the summer walking those woods out, hoping to get a shot on a hog, but it never happened. I feel like they moved to another lease, until yesterday I found the swamp. The swamp is pretty much a beaver dam pond, with a creek running by. I've been told to find the water, and I will find the pigs. I think I found some sign though, and that is what I wanted you guys to look at. I don't understand what has happened, if I kill a deer in that food plot, I will see another within a week. I thought hogs were supposed to be easier to hunt than deer. We obtained a night hunting permit from the Dept. of Fish and Game, but without finding where to go, I haven't utilized it yet. Anyway, does this look like hog sign to you? It is just random holes dug up in the woods. It has water standing in it, but we've had rain recently. Also the tree trunk is covered with mud, the only one in the food plot that was. I found several others in the woods that looked like this.

 

[Blue68f100]

Looks like signs to me. They like the swap areas particularly in the summer heat to keep cool. You way want to use corn that has been tainted with off road diesel. This will keep other wild life away but hogs like the smell of the diesel. I just built a trap last week that will be going into operation soon and this is what I plan to use for bait.

I'm new to hog hunting. They did not show up till last year at my dad's place during the drought. He has 2 spring fed ponds that never go dry, as least as long as he has owned it, 40+yrs.

 

[slicksleeve]

Oh, I should have added, I did soak the corn in diesel. The hogs just didn't show up to eat it. What the coons didn't eat, just lay there and rotted, and eventually got covered up or rained away. I may have to build a trap and just try to trap them, we've talked about that, but I mostly want to hunt them because that seems like more fun to me.

 

[Flintknapper]

SS wrote:

I've been told to find the water, and I will find the pigs.

It is always a good place to start your scouting, but it doesn't mean hogs WILL be there....unless you have the only water for miles around.

I think I found some sign though, and that is what I wanted you guys to look at. I don't understand what has happened, if I kill a deer in that food plot, I will see another within a week.

Yes, but hogs are transient, they will be an area for awhile... then move on.

Their home range is much larger than that of deer and they are constantly on the the move in search of the best areas to feed.

It is not uncommon to have hogs for a period of a week or so..and then not see any for weeks (or months). Frequent scouting (for FRESH sign) is what you will need to do, or bait out a site and install a game camera.

I thought hogs were supposed to be easier to hunt than deer.

Depends on how much hunting pressure they have received. Unpressured hogs tend to be creatures of habit and you can capitalize on that...IF you can find them.

We obtained a night hunting permit from the Dept. of Fish and Game, but without finding where to go, I haven't utilized it yet. Anyway, does this look like hog sign to you? It is just random holes dug up in the woods. It has water standing in it, but we've had rain recently.

Yes, the pictures you posted are sign left behind by hogs. However, it appears to be random "rooting" not wallows and the rub on the tree was infrequent, or you would see a bare ring of ground all around the base of it.

Also, judging from the height of the rub, it looks as if the hog(s) were fairly small.

Also the tree trunk is covered with mud, the only one in the food plot that was. I found several others in the woods that looked like this.

Look to see if you can find a path/trail being used by the hogs (I.E. a worn trail or an obvious line of trees covered with mud). Look for fence crossings (you will find mud and hair on the bottom strands of barb wire fences). STAY OUT of areas that appear to be bedding sites.

This time of year (in the South) it becomes more difficult to find and pattern hogs (most places). The spring "green up" is just around the corner, water is plentiful and so are food sources. A good number of Sows will be "heavy" and about to have litters of piglets, so movement may less than at other times of the year (though hogs have no particular breeding season).

Continue to scout before going hunting, it will keep you from wasting your time. If hogs are not present on the property (actively using it), your time afield is all for naught.

Good luck Sir,

Flint.

 

[slicksleeve]

Also, could any of you that hunt at night recommend me a good light setup for when I might get to go night hunting? Something cordless, as I will be a good ways from the tuck, and possibly in tree stand. Could I get a certain colored lens for my Magcharger or stinger flashlight that won't spook them? Do any of you use a barrel mounted setup?

 

[nathan]

Call the local electric company if they have creosote treated post they have disposed of. Them hogs love to rub their skin on it to keep the bugs away.

 

[Flintknapper]

SS, what kind of distance are we talking about (night hunting)?

If under 100 yds. there are number of options for you.

I assume you will be using optics (scope), if you can tell us little more about the equipment you plan to use...it will be helpful in making suggestions.

 

[slicksleeve]

Thank you Flint, I did find a trail with multiple small trees covered in dried mud, leading out of the swamp, toward an open area. Most were just covered on one side, as if they rub on them as they are passing through. There really aren't any fences on this lease, but this is a very rural area where the hogs could go to another person's property without ever really getting out of the woods. It seems that they are near the property line, and could move out on me pretty easily.

 

[slicksleeve]

I mostly would use my bolt action 30-06, with it's 1-4x Leupold mounted on top. I also have a Remington 7600 pump with an Aimpoint red dot sight. Even if I were in the open the range would be less than 100 yards, but in the woods it would be cut down to 50 or less in places.

 

[Flintknapper]

Depending upon how many Lumens output your flashlights are...you might be able to attach a Red or Green filter lens and use them. Also, you would need a mount that accepts the flashlight....but also allows you to attach it to your barrel or scope.

Personally, I use the "RifleLite" and like it a lot.

http://www.thebowlite.com/Rifle-Light-Kits/

It will give you good shooting light out to 100 yds. no problem.

 

[slicksleeve]

Flint, the "RifleLite" looks like it would work great for what I had in mind. I will keep scouting when work/off days permit. Thanks for the advice Flint.

 

[Flintknapper]

Feel free to PM or email me with questions, the habitat you will be hunting is very similar to mine in Deep East Texas....so some area specific techniques will apply to you.

 

[MCgunner]

I thought hogs were supposed to be easier to hunt than deer

Hogs are pretty nocturnal and like to bed up in REAL heavy cover during the day. Those are wallows and rubs, just gotta be there way late in the afternoon at dusk or sun up very early for your best chance at seeing one with light. If you don't mind night hunting and it's legal, bait a spot and keep a game camera on it. When you can pattern when they're coming, be there waiting at that time.

 

[Well Now]

For a night light, look into Selph Arms VRL-1, or Elusive Wildlife XLR-250. Both come with scope mounts and offer green or red LED bulbs. There is someone selling lights here on THR.

Found it:http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=645375

note: adding a color lens to a white light works but greatly reduces the effective distance.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

agree hogs love to rub on creosote treated posts, putting used motor oil on them attracts them too. they'll find those posts quick.

 

[Flintknapper]

If you want to avoid the questionable "ecological" practice of putting out Motor Oil, you can use Kreso-Dip instead...mixed 60 to 1. Spray or brush it onto trees/posts in areas the pigs frequent.

It puts out a very distinct creosote smell and hogs are attracted to it. I treat certain trees with it periodically just to make the area more attractive to them.

 

[stxhunter]

Have you ever tried a pig pipe? It's a very affordable feeder that you can make from PVC found at a local hardware store. Take a 4" piece of pipe up to 4ft long, cap off one end and install an eye bolt. On the other end use a threaded fixture so you can open and close it to refill with corn. Drill 4-6 1/2" holes, or just big enough for the corn to get through. Anchor the whole thing down with something that looks like a dog tie out and your done. The pigs will roll it around for a LONG time and they usually hold about 20lbs of corn.

Hogs can actually be fairly difficult to hunt and, depending on your property, may be extremely skittish (even more so than deer). If your hunting at night, listen for the hogs to come in instead of constantly turning your light on and off.

 

[slicksleeve]

An update, I put out some corn, and a camera. These are just a few pics I got. I was expecting to see a herd?, (whatever a group of pigs are called) but instead I seem to have one lone boar coming in every night. Now, me personally, I see this as a lot of fun to be had, while the lease holder, (a die-hard deer hunter), just wants them eradicated, (but then what would we hunt during warm weather months, fish?). Anyway, here he is, he seems to come in any time between 8 P.M. and 3 A.M. As soon as off days permit, (with a little help from a light I got from THR member stxhunter), I plan to go make some sport of him! What would be an educated guess from the experienced hog hunters as to his on-the-hoof weight, or can you even tell from the pictures? Thanks.

 

[chas08]

Without knowing the heights of the surrounding brush it's only a guess. But going by the lack of a couple of physical traits I've found common in the larger boars I've taken, I guess between 150-200 live weight.

The handfull of larger boars I've taken ( 300 lb +) have all had a visible thickening of the hide on the shoulders, their armor. Also he lacks the bulging testicles that look like a pair of saddlebags under his tail, common on big boars.

As I said it's only a guess based on what I cant see. You will kill far more boars in that weight range than the really big ones...well, at least I have.

Hope you get him...chas

 

[Well Now]

I'm guessing about 180-185 lbs.

 

[slicksleeve]

Thank you guys, I can't wait to get him.

 

[chas08]

If you do, post pictures and the weight if possible. I have no experience with Alabama hogs Just these South Texas varieties...good luck!!!

 

[alsaqr]

Have you ever tried a pig pipe?

Pig pipes (toys) work well. The hogs toss it around until every grain of corn is gone. This is a 6" diameter pig toy:

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/5631/pigtoy002medium.jpg

 

[Zen Archery]

def. rutted up area.

hogs are notorious for being illusive so don't think you can figure them out.

 

[Hawghunter68]

I am a firm believer in corn with lime jello and post holes as deep as you can dig with them.Once I find a active area that I want to hunt,I take post hole diggers and dig a few holes,try to keep them as small as possible,the diameter of the diggers.Once I have my holes dug,I will take my corn jello mix and pour it in the holes but stop about 8 to 12 inches from the top,this makes them work for it and the more they dig,they actually cover up more corn than they eat thus keeping the area active a little longer.
I also use diesel but I soak it on a burlap sack and strap it to a tree for them to rub on,it helps them with skin parasites a little but they do love it and the creosote post as was mentioned,they will go crazy rubbing on these.
It has been my experience that when big boars come to eat,they run everything else off.Thats why I like my post holes cause smaller good meat pigs will come and feed throughout the day as they can avoid big nasty most of the time and give you a better chance to tag 1 in daylight hours.Like what was said though,they will move on and if you have no water then they are not gonna stay long at all.
My state has just started allowing to hunt pigs at night,finally.We took a page from the Texas boys by using green kill lights on our deer feeders,they provide enough light to make your shot and don't seem to spook the pigs till the report of the first shot.
These are just a few tricks and tips,some were told to me and others you will pick up as you hunt.To me a hog is as smart or smarter than a deer and once you think you got him figured outthey will teach you something.