new bow hunter with questions

[rockymthuntr]

i have been bow hunting for about three months now, have got one pig and i thought was a good spot. i got a few pigs coming in but not consistently. i got some feeders in there. but dont think its working right. getting frustrated.. any help will be appreciated

 

[rodneyshishido]

Aloha,
I have about a dozen "hot spots" in the area that I hunt. I always keep exploring and checking out new sections. My area is currently closed for pigs but open for birds, so, I hunt birds but still keep and eye open for promising areas or areas with a lot of activity. In fact I did find another spot with a lot of trails and beds.

From what I have read, pigs are supposed to be creatures of habit that will continue to use the same trails and feed in the same areas. I have found that this is not quite the case. I believe the circuit that they travel through may take several days or longer to complete. I also think they are smarter than we give them credit. I have bumped pigs in a spot and have had to wait 6 months for them to revisit the spot. I find their period of activity seems to follow the moon phases.

It has taken me about 5 years to familiarize myself with my hunting area (and I am still learning and I will hunt the area 30-40 times a year), so hang in there. Plus, bowhunting in "jungle" conditions is even tougher. Be proud that you even got one. I have been going out with some guys in the rainforests on the northern slopes of Haleakala with dogs. Even with dogs we have yet to score.

 

[rockymthuntr]

thanks for the advice, ill look around to see if i can get some other spots on where there might be more activity.

 

[hawaiian style]

I have hunted pigs all my life and know a few thing about them.
#1. like stated above pigs are creatures of habit. But, the slightest thing can change there rout. in most cases pigs return to there beds every day and make there routs at night. they have a few routs that they always take. which rout they take depends on the conditions, day light, temp, rain, ect..
#2. the smallest thing can make them change routs. thing as small as old sent from your boots or somthing out of place.
#3. the biggest pigs always come out last. I have waited months for a big pig to make the mastake of comming out during shooting hours.
#4. they have crappie eye sight but a great sixth sence. there nose can pick you up from a mile away. be careful with that!
#5. if you can find there bed and set up with good wind you will get them every time. dont push them of they will move beds and you may never see them again. the bed could be miles away. you can guess how far the bed is by what time they are feeding at you spot. if it is late at night the bed is far away. remember that pigs start moving just before sun down and are going back to bed at sun up.
#6. a pig bed for 5 pigs could be as small as a 10x10 bush. dont over look anything.
#7. when tracking a pig coming to your spot at sun set follow the trail in reverse and the opposite for a pig coming at sun rise. when you hit a high traffic are with tracks all over you have found the bed. pigs will mill around there bed at all times of the day creating a city of tracks. at that point using good wind back out and look for the diffrent directional trails. you can find the routs they take and pattern the herd.

This is only a general theory of mine so you may have to patten your herd in other ways. good luck and keep us posted. If you are hunting the Big Island this theory is what works for me.