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Hog Hunting

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Hog (Sus scrofa) Biology 101

Reproduction - The wild pig population has the potential to triple every year. When conditions are optimal wild pig sows can produce two litters of five to six piglets per year. The breeding rate is highly dependent on environmental conditions. When environmental conditions are unfavorable (e.g., drought or crop failure), birth rates are lower and mortality of young wild pigs can be quite high. If these conditions are particularly severe or predation is exceptionally high, the population will decrease.

Food - Wild pigs are omnivorous and consume a wide variety of available foods, including both plant and animal matter. Their food includes acorns, grasses, forbs, berries, bulbs, tubers, invertebrates, reptiles, birds, eggs, and animal carcasses. In general, wild pigs feed on: grasses and forbs in the spring; mast and fruits in the summer and fall; and roots, tubers and invertebrates throughout the year.

Habitat Requirements - As long as water and some cover are present, wild pigs are found in many habitats - woodland, chaparral, riparian, marshes and open grassland. They are comfortable on flat to very steep terrain. They do not tend to inhabit deserts, high mountains with substantial winter snowfall, alpine areas, or intensive agricultural areas where cover is scarce. In California, they are most abundant in the oak woodlands interspersed with grassland.

Behavior - As with all game species, wild pig behavior tends to change as hunting pressure increases. Where hunting is a rare occurrence, wild pigs are active in the daytime, though they become less active in hot weather. With moderate hunting, they bed down around sunrise and become active again in the late afternoon. When they are heavily hunted, they generally feed only at night. Depending on the density and abundance of cover, wild pigs tend to leave an area where hunting pressure becomes severe. Female wild pigs are generally considered social, not solitary, as they are usually found in family groups. As they approach one year of age, boars are often seen alone, though they sometimes join family groups during breeding.

General Info - All pigs belong to the family Suidae. In addition to the domestic species, several species of wild pigs are found on the Eurasian and African continents. The Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa), a popular game animal during medieval times, still roams over many parts of Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The first true pigs were brought to the United States by Hernando de Sota to the Atlantic Coast of Florida in 1539. The First "Pure Russian" wild boars were brought into the USA by Austin Corbin. They were released into a 20,000 acre enclosure in Sullivan County New Hampshire in 1890.

In spite of their reputation, pigs are neither filthy nor stupid. Because their sweat glands are relatively ineffective in lowering body temperature, pigs seek relief from the heat by wallowing in mud or shallow waterholes. When provided with a clean environment sheltered from the sun, however, pigs are fastidious. Furthermore, in tests of intelligence, pigs have proved to be among the smartest of all domestic animals--even more intelligent than dogs. Pigs are closely related to peccaries and distantly related to hippopotamuses. Their snouts end in a flat, rounded disk, which is used by all species but one to root for food. Their stocky, barrellike bodies weigh between 300 and 700 pounds (140 and 300 kilograms) and sometimes reach weights as great as 1,900 pounds (860 kilograms). Both males and females have tusks, which they use for defense. Tusks which are found on the lower jaw, or mandible, can be extremely dangerous when put to use by a mature boar. The upper tusks, or whitters, help keep the lower tusk extremely sharp by rubbing against each other while the pig chews.

Male pigs are called boars; the females are called sows. A shoat is a young, weaned pig of either sex. A male pig that has been castrated before reaching sexual maturity is referred to as a barrow, whereas a male pig that was castrated after reaching maturity is called a stag. A gilt is a sow that has never given birth. Wild pigs existed as far back as 36 million years ago. The hunting of wild pigs by early humans was often depicted in Western European cave and rock paintings dating back thousands of years.

Pigs have a firm, thick skin covered with a usually sparse coat of stiff hairs called bristles. Pigskin is renowned for producing a high-quality leather that "breathes" better than other types of leather. This is because only pigskin has bristle follicles that extend completely through the hide.

Aging Hogs - Using the body weight or size of the cutters is not a real reliable way to age hogs. Looking at the wear of the teeth is the best way to age hogs. You can find some pics to age your hog here.

General Physical Differences Between Wild and Domestic Hogs

Legally, any pig that is not branded or confined is considered a wild pig. However, most hunters have a physical description in mind for the term "wild pig." The appearance of many wild pigs falls somewhere in between the examples.

Hog Weight/Girth Info

If you have the known weight of a hog you've taken please email the measurement in inches of the girth of the hog behind the front legs around the heart to . If you also know the field dressed weight of a hog that you've meaured the girth of we can add that figure too. Thanks.

Hog Scouting and Hunting Tips

Firearm Hog Hunting

In general, wild pigs are more difficult to kill than deer or antelope but are easier to kill than elk. Legally, any centerfire firearm using a soft point bullet can be used. Wild pigs differ greatly in size, which complicates the choice of appropriate calibers. Many hunters take young wild pigs that only weigh about 50 to 70 pounds. Many of the smaller calibers that use lighter bullets are satisfactory for taking these smaller animals. At the other end of the scale are the large boars, which weigh over 200 pounds. These are far tougher and have thick shoulder plaques or shields. The larger calibers and heavily constructed bullets are more appropriate for wild pigs of this size.

Appropriate centerfire rifle cartridges to be used for lighter weight wild pigs (50 to 90 pounds) should have at least 800 foot-pounds of energy remaining at 100 yards. This assumes reasonably accurate bullet placement, using bullets that are at least .24 (6 mm) caliber and weighing a minimum of 100 grains. For heavier wild pigs (over 90 pounds), bullets should have at least 1200 foot-pounds of energy remaining at 100 yards. (This information is readily available from ammunition manufacturers' catalogs or reloading manuals.) The table below gives recommendations for various cartridges and bullet weights for hunting wild pigs with rifles, handguns, shotguns and muzzleloaders. While some .22 caliber centerfire cartridges will certainly kill wild pigs if correctly placed, their bullets are not constructed heavily enough for big game hunting and are therefore not recommended for any size of wild pig.

Hunters using handguns, shotguns, or muzzleloaders, generally shoot at shorter ranges. For these methods of take, the same remaining energies that rifles use at 100 yards were used but determined at 50 yards to result in the recommendations for handguns, muzzleloaders and shotguns. For hunters using muzzleloading rifles, only one weight conical bullet is shown. Other conical bullet weights are available for most calibers. Reloading manuals will usually give the energies at 50 yards for these other weights.

Do not take frontal shots at wild pigs. On a broadside shot put the bullet just above the "elbow" of the front leg when the pig is dead broadside. A hog can survive on one lung, so it's important to get both lungs. I don't suggest a quartering shot unless you can hit far enough forward to catch both lungs, or another vital organ.

Also, keep in mind that a hog only bleeds "like a stuck pig" when you have a low wound, you really need to cause some pretty severe hemmorhage to get a good bloodtrail from a hog. Their thick hide, subcutaneous body fat and remarkably fast clotting times really do prevent much external blood loss by these animals.

Archery Hog Hunting

Compound bows, recurve bows, or longbows are acceptable for hunting hogs. As a general rule, an archer should use the heaviest pulling weight that can be used to shoot accurately throughout the day's hunt. It is a mistake to use a bow with a draw weight that is too strong for you because your accuracy will suffer. Depending on the hunting conditions, the length of the bow can be a factor. For example, when moving through heavy brush a shorter bow may be best.

If you choose to use expanding heads, check with your state game laws as they may need to meet certain requirements. Broadheads are available in many different diameters of cutting edge as well as many multi-blade designs. The modular replaceable blade broadheads are probably the most common type in use today. Expanding blade broadheads, have recently been available. They may not be as durable, but will kill very quickly if well placed. For bows up to 60 pounds, use broadheads up to 1 /4 inch in diameter with no more than four blades. Bows over 60 pounds may use broadheads of larger diameter with more blades and still get adequate penetration. In general, the larger the broadhead diameter, the harder it will be to tune your arrows for accuracy. It is important to select broadheads that are durable, aligned to fly accurately, and can be sharpened to a razor-sharp edge.

Arrows must have the correct length and spine to match the bow and the archer. The weight and material of the arrow is a personal choice. Arrow shafts are made from wood, aluminum, fiberglass, or carbon fiber. In general, it pays to buy the best arrows that you can afford.

Some general considerations concerning arrows are: 1) for a given bow pulling weight, lighter arrows have a faster speed and flatter trajectory (however, these faster arrows tend to be noisier which may increase the chances of alerting the animal); 2) small diameter arrow shafts allow for good penetration because there is less drag; 3) at a given distance, heavier arrows moving at a slower speed have roughly the same impact energy as the lighter and faster arrows. The most important consideration is to select arrows that shoot well with your bow. Your choice of bow, arrow, or broadhead type, or whether you use sights or shoot instinctively is a matter of preference. Be sure to practice enough with your equipment so that your aim is accurate. Before a hunt, be sure to practice with your broadhead arrows because many will fly differently than your target arrows.

Hunters who use archery equipment should stalk their prey to within 30 yards or less. Obviously, the less noise you make, the better your chance of success. Silent clothing, a quiet quiver, camouflage, and staying downwind are important considerations.

Studies have shown that razor-sharp broadheads probably cause very little discomfort or pain to an animal that is hit and, unless the animal spots the hunter, it often continues feeding until it collapses. As with rifle hunting, the appropriate archery target on any animal is the vital organ area which contains the heart, lungs, liver, and major blood vessels. Do not take frontal shots at wild pigs. On a broadside shot put the arrow just above the "elbow" of the front leg when the pig is dead broadside. Side shots are not recommended for large wild pigs. Rear quartering shots into the chest cavity are recommended for large-sized animals because this allows the arrow to slip behind the shoulder plaque. Shooting an arrow through the relatively thick skin and shoulder plaque of large wild pigs severely dulls the broadhead and may inhibit further penetration.

A hog can survive on one lung, so it's important to get both lungs. I don't suggest a quartering shot unless you can hit far enough forward to catch both lungs, or another vital organ. Also, keep in mind that a hog only bleeds "like a stuck pig" when you have a low wound, so when shooting from an elevated stand, a pass through is pretty much necessary to get a blood trail. You really need to cause some pretty severe hemmorhage to get a good bloodtrail from a hog. Their thick hide, subcutaneous body fat and remarkably fast clotting times really do prevent much external blood loss by these animals.

It is highly recommended that any hunter planning to use archery for hunting take the course provided by the International Bowhunter Education Program. The certificate of completion is valid in other states where the course is required.

Methods for Locating Wild Pigs

Locating wild pigs is the first step to successfully hunting wild pigs, and knowledge of their behavior and sign is useful. As a general rule, the hunt begins with a search for fresh sign. Wild pig sign can take the form of trails, tracks, droppings, rootings, wallows, tree rubs and beds. Trails are often regularly used and may be well defined. If a trail leads to a low tunnel in dense brush, chances are that it was made by wild pigs. Trails going straight up a steep hill indicate the presence of wild pigs. Other animals tend to make trails that angle up hills.

Wild pigs normally spend the majority of the day in beds. This practice is particularly evident where there is heavy hunting pressure. Beds can be rooted-out areas about two to eight inches deep, sometimes lined with grasses, and are commonly in the heart of a dense shrub patch. Wild pigs are somewhat nomadic and may have several beds. Once flushed from these beds, individuals may not return to them for some weeks.

Wild pig tracks are nearly circular in shape, almost as wide as they are long, (see pic). In soft soil, dewclaw impressions can often be seen. Wild pig tracks are easy to distinguish from deer tracks, which are pointed in front. However, pig tracks are sometimes difficult to distinguish from goat, sheep and young calf tracks. A recent 300 lb. boar hog taken at Fort Hutner Liggett California had hooves that measured 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"

The size and shape of droppings (scat) varies depending on the age of the animal and the diet, (see pic). Wild pig scat is normally elongated, similar to a dog's scat, or sometimes roundish clumps. The composition of the scat can provide information on where they are feeding.

Wallows are wet, muddy areas that wild pigs use for cooling and for protecting against insects during the dry summer season (see pic on right). They are usually muddy depressions made around springs or ponds, or other areas where water has accumulated. If the water is muddy or fresh mud is splattered around, it probably indicates that wild pigs are active in the area.

Rooted areas are the result of wild pigs foraging for roots, bulbs, acorns or invertebrates, (see pic on left). Wild pigs root up the soil with their noses to obtain the underground food items. These rooted areas may be extensive, depending on the number of wild pigs and the food desired.

Wild pigs scratch themselves by rubbing on trees (see pic on left). Tree rubs often are found near trails that wild pigs use regularly. Tree rubs can be informative. They can tell you the wild pig's approximate size by the height of the rub line, and the wild pig's color by hair left on the bark of the tree.

Concentrate hunting efforts where the signs are freshest. As a general rule, hunted wild pigs tend to be less active than unhunted wild pigs in the daytime. Sign will usually be freshest from October through May in the early morning and evening or at night. The wild pigs tend to be almost exclusively nocturnal during summer. They seem to be most active on moonlit nights.

Hunting Techniques for Wild Pigs

Usually wild pigs will attempt to run away if they smell, hear, or see a hunter. Wild pigs have an excellent sense of smell, good hearing, and poor eyesight. Therefore, hunters should be most concerned about being downwind and quiet. They can be less concerned about being seen. If you are downwind and very quiet, you can often get very close to feeding or sleeping wild pigs. If the wind is faint, a puff powder bottle is very useful for detecting the direction of air currents. When injured or cornered, wild pigs can be dangerous. A good indicator of aggressive behavior is a clacking sound, made when the wild pig snaps his jaws open and shut. If a wild pig is running toward you, it is not necessarily attacking. Because they have poor eyesight, wild pigs running toward a person usually do not recognize the human form. Making a quick movement or sound will usually cause the wild pig to turn in a different direction.

Stand Hunting (Posting)

This type of hunting is useful when you know that wild pigs are using an area and have located their food or water source. Select a spot with a clear view and, if possible, some cover and a good rest for shooting. Make,sure you wait downwind from where the wild pigs are expected to appear. Another form of stand hunting is to wait along possible travel routes, or escape routes outside an area being hunted intensively by other hunters. You should plan to to be on site at least a half-hour before sunrise. This is mainly an early morning technique and, if unproductive, the hunter can then try one or more of the other methods.

Spotting and Stalking

In fairly open country, spotting wild pigs from a distance and then stalking them can be an effective method. Start out by trying to situate yourself you where you have a commanding view and the wind is coming toward you. If pigs are seen at a distance, walk slowly and quietly toward them, keeping the wind at your face and using available cover. Since wild pigs have poor eyesight, you may be able to get fairly close without being detected. This technique is by far the most popular with bowhunters. Stalking to within 15 yards for that 9 perfect shot is not an impossible task.

Still Hunting

In thicker habitat, still hunting is commonly used. After locating an area with fresh wild pig sign, plan a route that moves into the wind and has quiet footing. Move slowly and stop often to search and listen for wild pigs. For both spotting and stalking, and for still hunting, quiet clothes are essential. Glassing often with binoculars can increase your chance of success.

Group Hunting

If you are hunting with a group, a hunting drive is an option to be considered. Conduct the drive by walking a short distance apart with the hope of flushing wild pigs out of cover. With this technique, it is especially important to be aware of the direction your muzzle is pointing as you walk along. Another approach, depending on the terrain, is to strategically place hunters at one end of a brushy area, along trails, or on either side of a canyon. For safety reasons and to insure the best shot, position the stationary hunters at locations where they have a good open view. The rest of the group should work noisily through the area from the other end, hopefully driving the wild pigs before them and flushing them out into the open. When using archery equipment, the same technique may work if the group moves quietly. With this technique, the wild pigs will probably be moving and a relatively quick shot will be called for. Because there are a number of hunters, and they are spread out, there needs to be extra concern that shots are taken only when sure of both the target and background.

Hunting with Dogs

For hunters who are fairly fit, hunting with dogs can' be quite successful. Good pig dogs will get on a fresh scent and usually chase a wild pig until it is brought to bay or cornered. The dog's barking will lead the hunter to the wild pig. This technique often results in a fairly active chase, over long distances in rough country.

Only dogs skilled in wild pig hunting should be used. A large wild pig brought to bay may become very aggressive. Unskilled dogs could be seriously injured.

Tracking

If fresh sign is encountered, skilled hunters may try to immediately track the wild pig. Tracking conditions are most favorable after a recent rain, as the soft ground allows good tracks to be made and washes out old tracks that could be confusing.

Remember that wild pigs have poor eyesight, good hearing, and an excellent sense of smell. Wild pigs can be active at any time of the day, but they are mostly active during the early morning and late evening, when traveling to and from their beds. Another option is to head for the nearest brush cover. If wild pigs are not there, circle the area of heavy activity. Although pigs may travel several miles to forage, they often bed down near their feeding area.

Locating Shot Animals

Once you have shot an animal, it is your responsibility to recover that animal. Depending on shot placement, this may require many hours of hard work over rough terrain. It may even require an effort the following day. If this is not appealing to you, hunting wild pigs is probably not your sport.

While we all try to make clean kills, this does not always happen. After taking a shot at any animal, there are a few things that should be done to determine if you hit the animal. If the wild pig is no longer visible, first mark in your mind where the animal was standing when you shot. Next, go to that spot, whether or not you think you hit the animal. Mark the spot so that you are able to return to it if necessary. Look around the immediate vicinity for any signs of wounding. Frothy blood indicates a lung wound; bright blood a hit in muscle; and digested food, with or without blood, a stomach wound.

Unless it is a stomach wound, most hunters using firearms prefer to begin tracking the animal immediately. Because animals wounded in the stomach can travel long distances, often it is better to wait in the hope that the wounded animal will lie down close by, rather than be pursued for a long distance. Because arrow wounds are different from bullet wounds, the general rule is to wait for awhile before tracking an animal which has a body hit. If the hit is in the abdomen, delay even longer. This wait is especially important when bowhunting wild pigs because when wounded they have the ability to move very quickly and aggressively. On hot days, the length of this waiting period needs to be balanced with the need to process the carcass as soon as possible to avoid spoilage of meat. The amount of blood indicates how difficult the tracking task will be. Much of your success will depend on your experience, but some general hints are:

(1) do not only look at the ground, but look on blades of grass or leaves of low growing bushes;,

(2) do not just look for sign but also look ahead to see if you can spot the wounded animal, either moving or lying on the ground;

(3) if you lose the trail, circle and search for blood or other sips of recent passage such as fresh tracks or overturned rocks;

(4) when you come to any open areas, stop and use your binoculars to search for a downed animal in the distance; and

(5) When you locate the downed animal and it is obvious that it is not dead, a second shot is often advisable to end the animal's suffering and prevent it from running again and possibly getting away.

Dispatching Wounded Animals

As with any big game, approach any downed or obviously wounded animal with care. Sometimes the animal is only stunned, can recover, and then aggressively attack the approaching hunter. A good rule is to be prepared for a second shot until it is clear that the animal is dead. It is especially important to be wary about wild pigs because not only are they hard to kill, but their strength and sharp tusks enable them to inflict serious injury, even when wounded.

Topo Maps and Aerial Photos

USFS maps may be obtained by visiting or calling one of the offices listed above. The maps are generally about $4.00 or $7.00 for waterproof maps. U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps can usually be obtained from drafting/engineering stores or backpacking stores or ordered online here USGS Topo maps.  Maps of Fish and Game wildlife areas may be obtained by calling (916) 358-2877. If you would like info on aerial photos, computer topo map programs and how to download free topo maps off the Internet I have this on my webpage here: aerial photos or topo maps.

Other Helpful Links

The Weather Channel  

Hog Meat Care Tips

Field Dressing Hogs

Wild pigs should be gutted, skinned, and cooled as soon as possible after being killed because they can spoil rapidly, especially if the weather is hot. Trim out scars or any wound tissue. Small wild pigs can be skinned in the same way a deer is skinned. Large wild pigs can be skinned using the strip method. Hang the carcass with the head pointing up and make a cut through the skin around the neck. With a sharp carpet knife or razor knife, make cuts perpendicular to the neck cut down the whole body about 4 inches apart. Peel each resulting strip off the carcass by pulling firmly.

Care of Meat

After field dressing the wild pig, hang the meat in a shady place to allow it to dry and cool. In general, wild pigs tend to spoil faster than deer.

You can get mattress covers with a drawstring at the top for a small price at any army surplus store to cover your hog to keep out the bees and flies. You can also use cheesecloth.

After the meat is cool, it can be butchered or taken to a meat locker to be hung and aged the same as with deer or livestock. Meat should be properly wrapped and frozen. As with other big game, the cleaner the meat is kept, and the quicker it is cooled, the better it will taste. Young pigs up to about 9 months of age tend to be the best tasting. They can be identified by their smaller size and temporary needle-like lower canine tusks. For large wild pigs over 200 pounds, consider grinding most of the meat into sausage.

Disease Considerations

Wild pigs can carry parasites and diseases - in particular, trichinosis and brucellosis - that are potentially transmittable to humans, livestock, pets, and wildlife. The risk of becoming infected is very small, and can be further minimized by proper handling, care and cooking of the wild pig carcass.

When handling a wild pig carcass, it is recommended that you take the following precautions: