Getting that GOOD shot.
Something that might help those who hunt hogs over a baited site, whether it is a feeder or some other spot that is regularly visited:
Get ‘em on their knees!
Digging a SHALLOW hole (6”-10” deep and no wider than about 10”) can help facilitate getting a better shot at a hog than you might normally get when ALL of the corn/bait is evenly broadcast.
More times than not, the dominate pig (if in a group) will ‘claim’ the hole and not be pushed away. When left to pick up ‘broadcast’ bait…that same hog would be moving about quite a bit, we’ve all seen how dynamic a group of feeding hogs can be.
Hogs (owing to their physical structure) cannot reach very far below the level of their hooves without either bending at the leg joints or going to their knees.
We know (under normal circumstances) that hogs are loathe to ‘strain’ themselves, so it is a simple matter to get them in that position (on their knees).
There are several advantages to this:
The hog is stationary for a longer period, providing you more time for a shot.
The hog that claims the hole will be the most dominate one (not necessarily the Lead Sow), but certainly a mature animal.
The hog feeding in the hole generally stays preoccupied and is MUCH less inclined to be looking for danger.
In almost every case, a hog feeding in a hole will change its position every few minutes, so if you don’t yet have a good shot angle…wait, its coming.
A hog in the positon above….is offering a HUGE target area and you should have plenty of time to make a good shot.
IMO… your aiming point should be anywhere from just behind the head, anywhere along the center-line of the neck, all the way to the middle of the shoulder.
DO NOT shoot hogs behind the shoulder! There is no reason for it. The area I just described is BIG and will drop hogs right in their tracks.
Tips:
*Get permission to dig a hole/holes if the property is not yours or not controlled by you.
*Do not dig a hole so deep that livestock (if present) can step in it and injure themselves)
*Do not FILL the hole completely; the bait level needs to be at least 4” below the surface or the hog will simply bend its legs to get at it.
*Hogs will eventually ‘root’ the hole out…making it much bigger, so figure on back filling that at some point.
IF you are having trouble with spooky hogs or would just do better if one would stand still a bit longer, give this a try.
Has worked well for me…the last 25 years.
Flint