Wild Hog Hunting Tips

I LOVE hunting wild hogs is an understatement…I am ridiculously head over heels with hunting wild hogs, especially with my bow, is a little bit closer to my true feelings. So many people are intrigued with the hog epidemic in Texas and the south (just as I am interested in hunting bear, moose, elk, etc) that I thought I should write a little more on the topic. I have shared some of my personal stories but I haven’t REALLY discussed all the important tips of hog hunting that I have learned along the way.
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1.) You will never beat a hog’s nose! When hunting wild hogs you must always have the wind in your favor to be successful. They will always smell you and the bigger boars are much smarter than most deer! Their nose is their key to survival because they can smell food buried deep below the ground which is why in a hog infested area it will be rooted up all over. They can’t see very well which is a bonus when hunting but their smell is spectacular. Don’t skimp on the scent cover!!
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2.) One of my favorite ways to hunt wild hogs is spot and stalk, especially stalking at night. With their less than stellar vision you have a slightly upper hand at night. Stalking and especially night stalking is dangerous so make sure you are prepared with a sidearm or another person for backup! When stalking make sure you are using the wind in your favor and march as you stalk; do not drag your feet and here’s why – find out if the land has cattle; this is important because marching will make you sound like cattle walking instead of shuffling your feet; the hogs in that area are accustomed to hearing the cattle moving and won’t spook as easy.
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3.) Wild hogs are always moving; especially when eating which may force you to draw your bow or hold steady for a while until a shot is presented. This means practicing from different angles and practicing holding your bow for longer periods of time before shooting.
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4.) If you are scouting for a place to hunt hogs, you must have a water source for them. No water, no pigs, it’s as simple as that. It’s more than a thirst issue for them, because they can get water from other sources like cactus, although it’s a last option; but pigs can’t sweat so they either need to be able to root up the ground to get to cooler dirt or find water to stay cool – this is where you get ‘pig wallowing’ from. If you set up to hunt near water, you can’t go wrong. Always look for signs of uprooted dirt, brush, and plants in the area near water as well.
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5.) Most states where hog hunting is plentiful allows baiting, Texas is one of them. Using corn, sour corn, or other sweet attractants if you can is a great way to get hogs in range. If you are feeding corn, but they aren’t coming to
the feeder, you might benefit from corning the roads or paths you will be stalking. They will find it quicker than you realize and it sets up for great night stalking!

6.) Wild hogs like to be nocturnal, especially in the warmer months & full moon phases, so you may have to go nocturnal too. Investing in some red or green lights will enhance your experience. With lights just remember it’s the shadows created that spook them, not the lights. I prefer red lights because they aren’t as bright when bow hunting and won’t create shadows when stalking, but green lights are great too!
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The best part of hunting hogs is there is no size restriction, no limits, no closed season, no age restrictions and although a much bigger hog may be considered a trophy, any harvested hog is a good hog (and smaller hogs are very tasty!!!)

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I sincerely think introducing women into hunting via hog hunting is a great experience. There isn’t nearly as much pressure to take the most mature buck, or worry about antler restrictions or rack size; hogs are more than plentiful, they can be taken with almost any weapon, and the experience of their constant movement is great prep for hunting other animals. It’s also a great starting point because many women see deer as beautiful creatures (and they are) but are unable to pull the trigger on one just yet. Knowing the destructive, evil nature of hogs and the devastation that they cause to farmers crops, neighbors gardens, and the natural landscape in general will ease the mind of a new hunter that they are the good fighting the evil piggys! The more relaxed but adrenaline filled atmosphere will appeal to women hunters and spark that passion in my
opinion.
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Oh yeah, did I mention I LOVE hunting hogs??