How Do U Hunt Daytime Nocturnal Wild Pigs? Strategies, Methods,Tips & Trick’s....

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

:hog chewing::shootin-rifle:.......So Opah just did his first wild pig hunt this past month and got skunked because the pigs were being nocturnal and I thought it would be great if we could all share info to help noobies and inexperienced pig hunters try to be more successful scoring a wild nocturnal pig during legal shooting hrs with a gun or bow.
As hunters we all put a lot of time, effort, physical energy, practice and money and miles to do a weekend hunt for wild pigs and to come home empty handed sucks, I know because I have done many unsuccessful wild pig hunts on private and pubic lands, I am a very good pig hunter just not a successful one, I can find a pig but not get the job done due to overthinking so hard I have f,d up every great opportunity to put bacon in the freezer and some real trophy hogs too. But over the years and many hunts myself and with other great pig hunter friends and jho members I have gathered a lot of expieriance and great advice but me being stubborn in my mind and trying to figure out how to hunt wild pigs my way caused me alot of missed opportunities that will always kick myself in the azz for. :hog chewing::archer green:

1) I will start out with hunting nocturnal pigs on full moon weekends. One reason I believe pigs get nocturnal u always hear that when there is a full moon pigs will feed hard though the whole night which in turn causes them not to come out and feed during the day hrs. Out of all the hunts I did when it was full moon time they were the worst weekend hunts and I am convinced the full moon effects wild pig behavior and I never hunted full moon weekends again if I could help it.
2) Another reason why pigs will be more nocturnal or out of sight is definitely extreme hot weather they will feed all night and avoid the high heat during the day.
3) over hunted privet properties and public land, to much foot traffic and hunting activity will keep the hogs nocturnal or very low key and they will move around more stealthy and hold up in deep cover or thick tree groves and ravines. Let me tell u something about outfitter group hunts as soon as hunters get up early and out the door before sunrise to get to there spots with there trucks and ATVs as soon as the pigs hear that they have learned and know the hunters on their way to look for them and they disappear into thick cover and stay more nocturnal.

One important thing I have learned about hunting leagal daylight hrs for hardcore nocturnal pigs is the first and last few minutes of legal shooting hrs will be your best opportunity because that’s when they will make their move after being low key through the day. It’s a gusseing game but u want to be in place the last hr posted up over A heavy travel route coming out of their bedding area if possible and be ready, as soon as last leagal light starts fading they will make their move and head out to feed for the night on those trails and hopefully cross your path, it all happens so quick sometimes u will get caught of gaurd and miss the opportunity believe me.
The same for the morning hunt u have to find a heavy traveled trail they use back into their bedding area after feeding all night and be in place before sunrise and try and catch them going back to their bedding area on that travel route before sunrise.
These are a couple of my expieriances and strategies to hunting hard core nocturnal wild pigs I have more to share but time to do my daily chores I will post up more info in between my busy schedule this week........tra

 

[OPAH]

Great thank you TRA, That is what we did, one other thing we did was to sneak up a couple ridges and glassed down into some of the canyons that they have been known to bed down in, that was a no pig exercise also.
Looks like rain and a cold snap coming and we are hoping for a march hunt with Better results.

Once again TRA thank you for the in put.

 

[canamrider07]

If I wanted to get my first pig, and did not have access to private land I would pay to go to a private pig hunting ranch. It will be a great experience, you will learn, and you will get your first, second, third, etc. pig. Then I would go the public land route and that pressure of "the first pig, being a noobie, getting skunked, etc." is off. I noticed this place driving to where I hunt and looked it up. Ideal type of place and it looks reasonably priced and a ton of fun..
http://manxoutfitters.com/

 

[OPAH]

Texas and the cost of the hunt ? that would be one expensive Pork roast. There is Public land out there, it is just kept very close to the vest with the hunters that know and hunt them. I am out for meat in the freezer but am not able to blow a small fortune on paid hunts,
Guess I will keep my nose in the maps, my boots on the trails and sooner or later you'll fine a spot, or make a friend that knows a spot.
when I was looking towards San Diego I got some very good info from a Biologist but have not been able to get out there and now that I have redirected to the heart land it looking like I will not be checking it out for some time. Mario want to check it out ?

 

[Fredezee]

I have hunted 100% public land for pigs. I still have not bagged one but this season I finally had TWO shot opportunities that I missed. From what experience I have is YES, be out there before sunrise! This past summer and fall has been the best season in terms of actually spotting pigs. And this was in an area that is HEAVILY hunted. I mean lots of hunting pressure! But have found the general where the pigs like to cross between the properties. I went 3 weekends in a row and each weekend I saw pigs. Let me just quickly tell each weekend.

Week 1: Start hiking in 4:30am. Made my way in 4 miles, sunrise, I began to hear shots, semi rapid shots, then a pause, then more shots and this time could tell the shots were opposite ridge. Doe's were pouring over the ridge line making their way to the safety of the private property a couple hundred yards out. The hunting pressure was pushing them out. My only thought was they are shooting at something that was running. I began my to hike down into a small valley to cross over to the opposite ridge line when suddenly a huge lone boar pushing 250lbs plus came busting through the brush full speed on the exact ridge I was trying to make my way too. Unfortunately it ran under oaks and I only got 1 shot off at it. missed!

Week 2: Same spot, same time. Sunrise, I am scanning the fence line and sure enough here come 4 sows about 150lbs each with at least 25 piglets in tow but these piglets were big already. Smallest was maybe 40lbs easy. Every pig in that group was a shooter! Problem was I was about a half mile away. So I ran with all my gear to try and cut them off. When I finally reach them they had made their into a huge brush patch that easily was a quarter mile long. But to my advantage the patch was on a slope and I was facing into it. I could hear them snorting, grunting. After about an hour of glassing one finally popped out but on top of the ridge, good size small boar about 80lbs. I ranged him in at 320yards but at a very steep angle. I have iron sights on my M1A scout and I have hit targets at 300yrds with it. I put the sights high on his shoulder aiming for the top line of is back above the boiler room. Sent the round and saw a puff of dust right at his front foot. Missed and the pig takes off into the thick brush again. Glassed another 3 hrs but pigs bedded down and the heat hit 107 that day, low on fluids, I had to make it back to the safety of my truck 4 miles away. Made it with only the last sip of my fluids left when I got to my truck.

Week 3: Same spot, but at 10am, temp was already 103. I thought the pigs were gonna be a no show. Just as I began to head out, OH-MY-GOD! A huge herd 50 plus pigs from little piglets to the biggest boar I had ever seen easily pushing well over 300 pounds. I was 2 ridge lines away and the pigs were making a bee line for the fence line over to private property. I hustled over to the first ridge but the pigs made their way into private property. All I could do was shoot with my camera. I got a small video and a few pics of the herd. I'll try and post them.

Went a few more times after that but the pigs never showed up again. Pressure pushed them out

So my advice, locate the pig activity areas and get there before sunrise. Let me try and post the pics and short video.

 

[Fredezee]

 

[Fredezee]

Dang it, pic is sideways. zoom in to the ridge line. You will see the pigs amongst the brush. This was the tail end of herd making its way over to private property. If you recognize the area. keep it to yourself. Its already heavily hunted. Gotta ty the video now. lol thats my cousin in the foreground.

 

[Bankrunner]

I would advise a new hunter to read about pigs and to get an experienced friend or mentor to take them into the field.
But the best advice I could give to a new hunter would be to get out in the field and scout, if your doing that with a license and a firearm all the better, but look at it as opportunity to scout new areas and to learn about the land and your quarry.
If you do that, every single trip to the woods will be successful because your goal is to learn were pigs are, were pigs are not and to learn about how they live in their environment. Learn about what pigs and other animals like to eat and what time of the year those eats are available and try to identify them in the field. While your doing that, you'll find and learn about other game animals as well and you should be enjoying the experience. Enjoying the experience is what keeps my fire burning and I've been hunting big game for over 40 years.
If you enjoy those trips into the field you'll keep doing it and one of the biggest keys to a successful harvest on public land is spending as much time in the field as you can. Spending that time in the field is also one of the biggest keys to success for experienced hunters as well.
It might take years but sooner or later you'll get your first harvest, you'll have a new wealth of knowledge and your own honey holes to boot.

 

[Tech]

 

[Fredezee]

Thank You!

 

[Fredezee]

I zoomed in. original one I posted is too blurry. but you can see the pigs here.

 

[Tech]

View attachment 90581

I zoomed in. original one I posted is too blurry. but you can see the pigs here.

Thanks for sharing Fredezee. I love the back-to-back weekend reports.

 

[Stevehazard]

Still can't really see anything in the pic they're pretty small where ever they are. *OK I can see in the other pic now that is zoomed.
How far in would you guys go before you start questioning what your willing to drag out of there? Is there a distance/size/heat threshold where you would go nope?

 

[Fredezee]

no more than 200lbs if I am alone and 4 miles in lol

 

[Wild1]

1. First find water.

2. Find cover.

3. Find food sources (easy, they eat anything.

4. Find sign.

5. Use game cameras and use them to pattern the hogs (time and direction).

6. Spend a crap ton of time in the field scouting and hunting.

This one was killed at the exact time I had her partner patterned - I was after a gnarly boar that's still out there on public land!

Note: wrong pig, but same story.

 

[Stevehazard]

There are a couple public places I'd like to scout but I'm not sure how realistic the distances and terrain are to get to where I think they are.

 

[Fredezee]

You just gotta get out there to know. If you dont see anything the first time, don't let that discourage you. Get out there and get to know the area. If you see sign, even old sign. They are there. Eventually they will return.

 

[Wild1]

SteveH. -

I feel your pain. The thing is, pigs do not like humans and where there's pressure they will relocate - and often times it's to places that humans won't go. If the place(s) you're thinking about are a bit unrealistic to get to, and back out, with a pig, then GO - it's the right place.

This picture is the route down, and back up (with a hog), to an unforgiving hell hole. No one in their right mind would do this - except an obsessed hog hunter. The pigs loved it down there because there were no humans bothering them - that's why they were there. If you can, go for it!

 

[Tech]

Wild1,
I know google is the first place to start. Another is boot on the trailer.
Is there a better way to find/locate water ?

 

[OPAH]

It is amazing where pigs can and will go ! Tractors Freaking Tractors