By Joel Mccartan
If you’re a beginner looking to get into the exciting world of hog hunting, you’ve come to the right place. As an avid hunter and night vision gear enthusiast, I’ve spent countless hours in pursuit of these wily creatures and learned a thing or two along the way. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share my top tips and tactics to help you successfully hunt hogs and bring home the bacon, whether you’re hunting solo or booking your first guided hunt.
Understanding Your Quarry
First, it’s important to understand a bit about the animal you’re hunting. Feral hogs are non-native, invasive species that have been exploding in population across the southern U.S. in recent years. In Texas alone, the population is estimated at over 2.6 million. With sows capable of breeding at 6 months old and producing litters of 4-12 piglets up to three times a year, it’s no wonder they’ve become such a problem.
Hogs are incredibly adaptable critters that can thrive in a variety of habitats from swamps to mountains as long as they have food, water, and cover. They are omnivorous opportunists, feeding on everything from roots and acorns to cropfields and carrion.
Despite being a nuisance that causes millions in agricultural damage, hogs are also highly intelligent and challenging quarry that tests the skills of any hunter. Their keen senses of smell and hearing make them elusive, while their tusks and tough disposition can make them downright dangerous when cornered or wounded. But with proper preparation and tactics, even beginners can stack up the pork.
Gearing Up
Before we dive into specific hunting strategies, let’s talk about gearing up for the pursuit. When choosing a firearm, most standard deer rifles and calibers are more than adequate for hogs. I’m partial to the .308 Win for its knock-down power and versatility, but anything from the .243 Win up to the .300 magnums will get the job done. Just be sure to select a quality bullet designed for deep penetration on tough game, such as the Barnes TTSX, Nosler Partition, or Swift A-Frame.
Semi-autos like the AR-10 platform are increasingly popular for hog control as they allow for quick follow-up shots on multiple pigs. The Remington R-25 and Browning BAR Hog Stalker are two excellent purpose-built options. For bolt guns, the Ruger American is a great budget-friendly choice.
Optics are another important consideration. Low-light performance is key given hogs’ nocturnal tendencies. Illuminated reticles, large objectives, and quality glass can make all the difference when targeting hogs in the first and last minutes of the day. Thermal and night vision scopes open up a whole new world of after-hours opportunities where legal.
Other essential gear to include would be quality boots, knee and elbow pads for crawling into position, shooting sticks, a rangefinder, and a sharp knife. If you plan on trophy hunting, bring a jaw spreader for those hero pics!
Scouting and Tracking
A successful hog hunt starts long before ever pulling the trigger. Scouting is key to locate huntable populations of pigs. Hogs leave a lot of sign in their wake – the trick is learning to identify it.
Rooting, or areas where hogs have torn up the earth with their snouts in search of food, is one of the most obvious indicators. Wallows, or muddy depressions near water sources where hogs roll to cool down, are another great spot to look. Rubs on trees, tracks, and scat are also dead giveaways.
Pay attention to habitat too. Hogs need three things to thrive: food, water, and cover. Agricultural fields, oak forests, and wetlands all fit the bill nicely. In drier country, water sources are hog magnets.
Once you’ve found fresh sign, it’s time to pattern their movements and plan an ambush. Trail cameras are invaluable scouting tools for nailing down when and where hogs are active. Set them up along major trails, funnels, water sources, and feeding areas to inventory the local population. Check them regularly and adapt your plan as needed.
When ready to hunt, always keep the wind in your favor as you move in. Bumping a hog due to swirling winds educates the whole sounder and leads to nocturnal, hard-to-hunt pigs. Take it slow and glass ahead thoroughly, using binoculars or a spotting scope to pick apart the cover before proceeding. That black blob in the shade of a thicket is likely a hog!
Hunting Strategies
There are several effective methods for actually hunting hogs depending on the terrain, time of year, and your personal preferences. I’ll outline the three most popular: spot and stalk, still-hunting, and ambush hunting.
Spot and stalk hunting involves glassing from a high vantage point, picking out a hog or group, then planning a careful stalk into range. It’s an active, exciting way to hunt in more open country. The key is to stay downwind and use the terrain to conceal your approach. Foliage, creek beds, and ridgelines are your friends.
Still-hunting, or slowly sneaking through good hog habitat, is an effective tactic in thicker cover or when hogs aren’t very visible. The goal is to spot them before they spot (or smell) you. Take a couple slow steps, glass ahead, and repeat. Focus on thickets, creek bottoms, and other shady hideouts.
Ambush hunting over bait or a natural food source is a very popular and effective method, especially in areas with high hunting pressure where hogs have become nocturnal. Corn, sour mash, and various commercial hog attractants can all work wonders. The key is setting up downwind of where you expect the hogs to appear and being in position early. They often show up right at dark.
Seal the Deal
Once your scouting and woodsmanship have put you in position, it’s time to make the shot count. For beginners, broadside heart/lung shots are the highest percentage option. Forget the headshots you see on YouTube unless you enjoy tracking wounded pigs through thick brush!
The vitals on a hog are located lower and a bit further forward than a deer, so adjust your aim accordingly. If you see a hog go down, keep scanning for more as they rarely travel alone. Stay vigilant for follow up shots until you’re sure all is clear. Give any downed hogs a few minutes before approaching. A “dead” hog can jump up and charge with little warning. Approach carefully from behind and poke them with a stick first or put an insurance shot in the head. Then get to work field dressing and skinning!
Go Guided
For your first few hunts, going with an experienced guide or outfitter can flatten the learning curve dramatically. Not only will they put you on hogs and teach you tactics, but they can also demonstrate proper shot placement and field care so that hard-earned meat doesn’t go to waste. Many also offer semi-guided and affordable meat hunts to help fill the freezer. Some will even come at night to lend an extra hand dragging out hogs.
Just do your research and book with an outfitter that aligns with your goals, budget, and preferred hunting style. Ask for references and don’t be afraid to ask questions. The experience gained will serve you well down the road.
Final Thoughts
I hope these tips have given you a solid foundation to start your hog hunting journey. Persistence, patience, and a willingness to learn are far more important than fancy gear. No matter if you’re protecting farmland or looking to put some tasty game meat on the table, chasing hogs is a fun and rewarding pursuit.
At the end of the day, you won’t learn it all from one article. The best knowledge comes from boots-on-the-ground experience. So get out there, burn some boot leather, and enjoy matching wits with one of America’s smartest and toughest game animals!
Looking to hunt hogs in low light conditions? Be sure to check out the extensive line of night vision and thermal scopes at NightVisionGears.com. As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Happy hunting!