Orchard hunting

[pigdream]

Ok guys here is the question of the year for me. If I am hunting a orange orchard probably 5 sq miles what is the best way to find the pigs??? I have tried everything I know. Everyone kills pigs in the orchard, but me! The pigs are pretty regular in there and I did see fresh sign this morning, but some of the trees sit so low to the ground you can't possible check every tree. I get there before its light and been there until dark. Any advice would help on this. Oh yeah and there is no noticable pattern that I can figure out as I can't spend more then one day a week out there if that.

 

[Lurediver]

Pigs make lots of noise. Usually this is how I've found them, always keep your eyes and ears open. If they're close by and you're quite you should be able to hear them rooting or fighting.

 

[RIFLEMAN]

I would not try to hunt the hogs from within the orchard, but rather, take advantage of the hog's Achilles Hell: they are creatures of habit.

I suggest that you walk the perimeter of the orchard to find the most commonly used points of entry. In many cases, hogs will follow the same course to the orchard and establish well-defined and readily visible trails.

Concentrating your efforts at or near these points of entry is likely to pay off.

 

[easymoney]

What rifleman said... Set up an ambush.

 

[Rancho Loco]

Yep, they're not to stealthy when it comes to their trails and habits.

Look at fenceposts, telephone poles, barbed wire...They love to rub and scratch and some hairs stuck to the wood or wire is a dead give-away to them using a certain path.

Look for wallows in the irrigation/drainage ditches. Those along with their rubs in the area will tip you off to which way they move and at what time..Nothing better that seeing a waist high rub with the mud still wet.

 

[hunt hard]

Take me with you and a couple of other freinds and do a drive if they are there someone will get one Lol. happy hunting

 

[pigdream]

Thankyou Gentlemen for all the advice. This is kind of what I was thinking, but when I drove the fence line the other day I saw no real evidence of a clear path in which the pigs were coming and going?

 

[Cda55]

I think I'll agree with Rudy(hunthard)!!

 

[EvBouret]

There has to be some way they're coming to and from the orchard. Try walking the perimeter. If that doesnt work try setting light fishing line across all the possible entrances and exits from the orchard. After a day of hunting, go check the fishing lines. Knocked over = pigs have been through there. Do it every time you hunt, and eventually you'll be able to pattern them. I did this with a friends property here in HAwaii to find the best spots to set snares. Got 2 hogs off his property in a week after figuring it out.

 

[bayedsolid]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Ok guys here is the question of the year for me. If I am hunting a orange orchard probably 5 sq miles what is the best way to find the pigs???[/b]

I guarantee I know the best, fastest, most consistant, and foolproof way of finding pigs in an orchard....especially one that's 5 sq. miles....and that's dogs. I can prove it.

....really.

 

[pigdream]

I may have to take you up on the dog offer if I continue to have this luck. There are only two small problems that could both be overcome. One would be it's not my property so I would have to check with the owner. Two would be I don't know what my view is on hunting with dogs as I have never done it. I have heard by some it's the best and other it's just not for them. So I will try again next week and see what i can do and if nothing I may have to call in the dogs.

 

[bayedsolid]

Sounds good. Even if it's not your dream hunt, it will fill your freezer. We can fill the land owners freezer too if he's interested. Either way, good luck with the hogs.

 

[MikenSoCo]

You're forgetting the most important element in hog hunting...The Wind. Approach the orchard from the down wind side and quarter through it like a pheasant dog. A hog is proven to have a nose like a hound dog and can smell you a long way off. I'm convinced not paying attention to the wind is a big reason most hunters never see hogs.

 

[Speckmisser]

Pigdream,

I think everyone has covered the expected bases here. If the hogs are in the orchard, there has to be a way they're coming and going. 5 square miles is a good bit of land to cover, but odds are that the key is in a small part of that whole parcel.

Oh, and Mike's recommendation is a real important one (although you're probably already doing this). Play the wind. Like someone said, hogs are really noisy... but only when they're unalarmed. Let them get your scent and they can really turn into ghosts.

One thing no one has mentioned, maybe because it seems obvious. If "everyone" has killed hogs there but you, why not ask someone who has scored how they're doing it?

Good luck. Sounds like you're onto a good thing as soon as you learn the best way to take advantage of it.

 

[dreaminhogs]

Jason, are the guys that are having success still using Quads to get the hogs moving after they have bedded down under the trees? Brian

 

[pigdream]

Yes the quads seem to be the trick. I always pay attention to the wind and it was dead calm the other morning when I was there. We have seen signs of pigs almost everywhere in that orchard. I really think they are resident pigs and even when they are shot they don't leave. Well if I can ever get time off work I will be out there and let you guys know the story.

 

[bighorn67]

Where is their water source? I would assume they are getting water from the fruit, but there has to be another source somewhere. I'm pretty sure that if you look close you will find some bedding areas. Find the trails to their bedding areas and you are in business.

Dave