Best time to find hogs?

[CA_pheasant]

My brother has access to some awesome hog property. Daily sign, frequented trails, 15 minutes from his home.
But the darn pigs seem to be nocturnal. My brother has visited the spot 3 or 4 times a week, early AM, evening, midday.
He and a buddy actually shot 4 smaller (100lbs) hogs in one afternoon - got very lucky for sure.

But on 20 visits to the property he's seen fresh sign on 20 visits, but seen hogs only twice.

He's not complaining but would like to visit when there is higher probability to see those rascals in daylight/legal hunting hours.

Any recommendations for where to find those hogs during the day?

 

[MJB]

You need to find their beds.
The orchard is were they are feeding, and the thick stuff is most likely where they sleep. Do you know where they are getting water?

As to best times to hunt stll first/last light but the pigs can move anytime.....plus if the presure is on them anything can happen.

One thing you can count on is they must eat, drink, and sleep.....focus on finding the where abouts of those things and you should be able to pull pigs out all the time........Ya right!

Good luck......

 

[Speckmisser]

Good info from MJB, there. Gotta sit on 'em and figure out what else they're doing besides hitting the feeding area. Sounds like, though, if they got in there and smacked four in a single afternoon they drove the animals deep. They learn real fast. If you can't get to the bedding and water areas, then I'd back out altogether for a week or so.

If you can get some game cams, that's a great tool for this kind of thing, by the way. Of course, that's an expensive way to go, and if other people are hunting there, it's a good way to lose your cams too.

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

"One thing you can count on is they must eat, drink, and sleep.....focus on finding the where abouts of those things and you should be able to pull pigs out all the time........Ya right!"


I tottally agree with MJB....If you can catch a pattern here, you can get pork on the ground. They gotta do all 3 "EVERY SINGLE DAY"...Good Luck on your adventure...Where about's are you guys hunting these hogs? Just curious....

Bryan (HH714)

 

[MikenSoCo]

IMHO, hogs are more nomadic than most people give them credit for. That could be just due to the local pressures here, I don't know. I have watched (not approached) hogs feeding in certain no-pressure areas, and then not see them for a week or more. It's amazing how many miles they can cover while feeding with their heads down. I personally don't feel you can pattern them like a whitetail with much certainty. I will say they scent better than a houndog, and if the winds not in your face you'll, have a hard time ever seein' a hog.

 

[CA_pheasant]

Thanks for all the good feedback.

Get this. The farmer actually approached my brother with "can you help me get rid of some pigs!!". Farmer complains the pigs destroy drip irrigation systems.

No one else has access to the property, so a game cam would be safe (checked other topics and saw great info on cams and even how to build one using regular digital camera).

These hogs visit the orchards, with water, every day. Even the day after 4 were shot.
My brother did jump 3 or 4 in some thick cover during the day and noted the pigs had been munching on cactus. And he saw a group of 8 or so about 400 yards away a canyon away. This property has some impassible thick cover (with pig tunnels of course).

So, per your advice he'll be careful about over working the same spot too often, and be careful with the wind, and look into game cam. Even if we only get pictures in the dark it would be great to see the pigs.

This property is adjacent to a giant ranch and that landowner doesn't allow any hunting. There are stories of seeing "hundreds" of hogs in a group on this big ranch. My finger starts twitching when I hear these stories.

I can't tell you the location, but the property is just a couple hundred acres, with easy access, has active orchards of citrus and avacado, and some abandoned orange trees with fruit on the ground (seems to be pig favorite, oranges).

I'll post some pics when my brother sends me some oe he gets a game cam.

My brother is getting a kick out of pig hunting, has had some success, and has seen all sorts of wildlife: deer, quail, dove, rabbits, skunks, and the hogs.
The rancher even found a deer that had been partially eaten by a mountain lion. Amazing the wildlife we have here in (hint) southern CA.
Brother even managed to bring home some poison oak rash too!!

 

[barel74]

Hogs love really thick brush. Find where they're crossing from the brush to the orchard. Hogs get pretty active right at last light. Try to cach them on the move

 

[Rancho Loco]

Yep...Last light. Jump 'em when they're moving from beds to water/food.

 

[leftyhunter]

Would the rancher allow you to plant barley? baiting is illegal in Calif but you can grow most anything you want.Milo might be a nice crop since it also attracts doves.

Good Luck;
Leftyhunter

 

[Speckmisser]

Lefty, my guess is the farmer doesn't want them to attract the hogs. I'm thinking he wants them gone, period... either killed or driven off by hunting pressure.

Good idea if you've got your own piece of land you want to improve the hunting on, though.

 

[easymoney]

IMHO, with a rifle at last light, especially around here when it is hot and dry. With a bow at first light as they are leaving the food source or water...
And around here most ranchers do not want the pigs but don't want walk on hunters more... They can lease out to guides and the guides have to control their clients actions.
Growing crops for harvest is not baiting but growing unharvested grain is done all the time yet is illegal if proven to be "bait" for any game animals...

 

[Calihoula]

If your brother has permission and the hogs are destroying equipment. Have the Rancher go to the DFG and get a Depredation permit in your brothers name and hunt them at anytime you want. I know its not that sporting but it puts meat in the freezer and will probally put your brother in a good light with the Rancher and might secure a lifetime of hunting the ranch. Just a thought.