Beginner: Hog Behavior/Sign

[LB181]

Hey everybody. After a year of research, I finally found a place to hunt, (private land) close to Camp Roberts. Went for my first scouting trip last weekend, and couldn't resist coming back this weekend, despite 102 degree temps. I have some questions. I was able to locate some hog bones, and what I believe to be hog tracks across the hillsides. The tracks lead underneath low branches, and are cut into steep grades, so I assume that's what I am looking at. Here is the big question: The property has no water on it. At least from the google map point of view, there are no bodies of water very close. My question is, how far will pig go to find water and return to a bedding area. Are they known to travel far, or do they move to different areas when it gets too dry. The other question is regarding the SCAT I found. Close to a possible bedding location, (thick cover) on top of a ridge, I found about four piles of crap. From the looks of it, it looks as though the animal is using the same area, and coming back on different days. Some of the crap had hair, most of it had plant/grass material. Looked similar to small dog poop, round and segmented. Am I likely analyzing coyote crap? Area is loose rock, unable to locate prints. Thanks for your help. I am hoping I am on the right track and this place will pan out. I am definitely "earning" my first Hog. It will be even more rewarding.

 

[spectr17]

Make sure and "ground truth" the area, that means walk it to make sure there is no water (springs or seeps) that Google Maps doesn't show. Look for willow trees, they seem to sprout up first where water seeps out of the ground

Here some info and pics on hog hunting that will help too. You don't see hair much in pig poop, your description sounds like coyote scat. Pigs will eat dead animals though.

Hog Hunting - Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors (JHO)

Good luck

 

[LB181]

Thanks Jeff, That is some good info. I have read through that link a bunch of times, and that pic is a little different, so maybe I am tracking some coyotes. When I saw the hair, I figured it was coyote, but then when I looked into the other piles, I had hope as there was plant matter. Hopefully its just coyotes, and not a mountain lion marking its territory. That is good info about the trees. I might have to look into some coyote calling.

 

[Farmerdoug]

I'm no expert on poop (even though my wife says I talk a lot of $h!t), but I do know what hog crap looks like. If you're seeing poop that's strealined; about as big around as your middle finger; and has hair in it; more than likely it's coyote poop. Hog crap resembles the size and consistancy of a full size mans load. Also, hog poo has small grasses and fibers in it, sort of like horse poop but heavier. Like Jesse mentioned, hogs will scavenge and eat dead animals (even cannibalize other dead hogs) whenever possible. So it's not completely impossible to find hog dung with hair in it. I wish I could tell you how far they travel for water, but that I'm not sure. That's better answered by some of the hog hunter experts. If I had to guess, I'd bet they don't travel too far from it at all. I say that because hogs usually like to wallow around in the mud during the day to protect themselves from the sun. The mud layers act as a natural sunscreen and bug protectant along with keeping them cool. Just my :two cents: Best of luck to ya!

 

[myfriendis410]

You are definitely looking at coyote scat; they will eat grass and love manzanita berries, so plant matter is not unheard of. The area you are describing might perform better in the winter and spring. I would guess the hogs, unless heavily pressured, are going to be in the creek bottoms. Keep watching it though, you never know.

 

[LB181]

Thanks for the quick replies everyone. I guess I should title this post Hog Crap Expert needed. From what everyone is describing, I found some coyote crap. Most likely the property will be better during the wet months. Definitely they have been there, hopefully they will be back. Or maybe I just did not see them. I will keep trying, it was a great time.

 

[bigboarstopper]

Is there any barley or vineards other agriculture anywhere close to you? If your lucky enough to be somewhat close to a barly patch or be between a barly patch and a water source regardless if its on the property you have permition on. There is the possibility that the hogs will travel through to get from pont A to B. If there is barly or water on a neighboring property hunt closer to the sides of the property that border it. I was working on a job on camp roberts this week and there was a lot of hog sign at a spring. There really wasnt any viable food sourse close to it so I suspect the hogs were traveling a good distance from water to their food source.

 

[LB181]

Yes, some of the neighboring properties are vineyards. I am hoping that they are either on the property or come through it to get to the water. I imagine the vineyards would be where they would find their water. The vineyards have fences up to keep them out, you know animals always find a way. It will take some more walking/glassing time to really find out.

 

[Savage21]

...I would guess the hogs, unless heavily pressured, are going to be in the creek bottoms.

I used to think this too until my friend and I jumped a bedded down family of about 15 on a ridgeline. I think we scared each other equally. Twice I've jumped that same family on the same ridge, and once more we jumped 3 150lb boars in a rolling valley between 2 ridges. I think they were bedding up on top of those ridges.

Pigs are smart. Think about this: Would you want to be up high so if you had to run for your life it was downhill to make a fast getaway? Or would you want to be down low trying to run uphill at a slow pace?

Same terrain and range as the Camp Roberts area, just south and a bit hotter during summer.

P.S. I only hog hunt during wet weather cause it's easier to see where they're rooting and their tracks.

 

[myfriendis410]

Hogs don't regulate their temperature very well, so they need to be where they can cool off when it's hot. If the ridge you are talking about ran east/west, I would suppose they were up on the North face of the ridge, out of the sun, trying to catch a breeze to stay cool.

I guarantee they won't be far from water in the summertime.

Hogs like to hide in the thick and nasty when they feel threatened. Sure they'll run, but if there's a patch of poison oak or head over high manzanita, that's where they're going.......