Im no expert, and I havent even shot a hog yet, but here is what Im hearin...
Pigs generally like cooler weather. When it is REALLY cold, they won't move around much, such as december and january when it gets at its coldest. During the heat, pigs will travel to find water, too drink and cool off in. They probably cover the most ground durring the warmer weather at night in search of food. The best time is probably spring time, from march till may. At this point, water and vegetation are plentiful, it is no longer cold, the ground is soft for easy rooting, and also something to do with their offspring? If it is a fairly visited place by humans, the pigs will probably spend their days bedded down in brush. The oak environment however is prime for pigs, and it is not unusual to see them in taller grass resting under oaks. They feed off of the acorns and what not under there.
This is pretty much what I understand their instincts to be. Someone correct me if Im wrong, but I believe April or May to be the best months for hogs.
Here are my two cents. I have had the best luck in Sept-Nov before the rain starts or right as the rain starts. The reason for that is I had the water source and they have to come to that.
I think the "best months" depends a lot on what kind of habitat you're hunting.
I do agree that, generally, the primo months seem to be during the spring, but; that can vary.
For example, if you have access to an area with a couple of springs, then summer time can be awesome. You can pattern the pigs to the water, and you can count on them being close by. They'll move to water when they roll out in the morning, and again before bedding down. A lot of times you can catch them mid-day too, coming to get a drink and a good coat of mud to keep cool.
When it gets cooler, both in the fall and most of the winter, pigs will often get more mobile during daylight hours, especially in the oak meadows.
The problem with the wet, cool time of year, is that the hogs can tend to be scattered. There's food everywhere, and when water is plentiful too... well, your guess is as good as anyone's where they'll be next. But at least the wet ground makes it easy to find sign.
If you're hunting the barley fields, then of course the best time is when the barley is coming up. May and June are good times for that, although it seems like this past year the barley was really late coming in.
If you want my honest, personal opinion...
The best time to hunt hogs is any time you can get out of the house and into the woods.
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