Rooting and other signs

[bjake21]

I haven't been pretty busy haven't been able to get on JHO that much lately -

But I have been able to get out about every other weekend to this ranch I have been bow hunting. The past 2 trips I have found rootings, between the rains, that were very fresh and seemed like I just missed the pigs. Both times I swear I just missed them and both times I have set up all day up above these two valleys that they are obviously frequently using without any luck. I have also put in a lot of hiking and see dozens of deer every time and seem to find more pig sign then deer but have yet to see a pig.

Do you think the best strategy would be to set up above the freshest sign and wait or do you think they have come and gone and will be somewhere else next?

Here are a coup[le pics.

 

[bjake21]

cold weekend

 

[Rancho Loco]

Keep patterning (word?) them...Find their game trails and fresh poop.
Break the scat up to see what they're eating.

Make sure you're reading the rooting right..What looks like fresh rooting can be days old. Look at the tips of the rooted up grass - if they have little specks of dirt on them - fresh.

Set up a game camera. Try to find where they're bedding and then jump them when they're moving.

Remember - all this rain spreads them out. There's plenty of food and water everywhere, so it's a little more work, but that's what's fun.

 

[SDHNTR]

get up high and glass.

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SDHNTR @ Mar 14 2006, 07:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

get up high and glass.[/b]

That's the key right there. If the property has a vantage point that sits pretty high hike up there before sunrise. Set-up a spotting scope or your binocs/tripod and glass, glass, glass...You'll be surprised what you will see. You can make your stalk from there. Good luck!

 

[bjake21]

Thanks guys - the two areas I found were in 2 different valleys where I sat up on a hill and glassed and waited. This last weekend I waited until the evening and I think I heard them coming down but it got too dark to see before they came out of the think stuff. I think I will buy a game camera, I was thinking of that to see if I can figure out what time and where they are coming.

 

[Speckmisser]

Bjake,

How early are you hitting it? Have you tried getting into your glassing spot well before light?

 

[easymoney]

Great points all.
Only thing I would add is to be sure to be there way before first light and glass, then if you're moving around later and spot some sign to go ahead and work it out, last but not least do a circular grid search if it is dry to find any possible sign or tracks. I always have better luck getting up on them after it has rained or been misty or foggy. When they walk they tend to nock down the blades of grass and it really shows the direction they walked very well, after there is some moisture on it. Allowing you to see right where they went...
If it is hot and dry, I always hang out longer on a wallow or water source...