10 Hog Hunting Tips

Hogs are an exciting animal to hunt, so here are 10 hog hunting tips to get you started. Wild hogs are domesticated pigs that have become wild. Settlers would often let their pigs loose and round them up when they wanted to slaughter one for meat. There were other instances where domesticated pigs became wild over time. These animals are very similar to the boar. Wild hogs are spread throughout most of the southern United States. They are considered nuisance animals and in spite of nearly unlimited hunting, their population is growing.

1. Scouting areas for hunting is the most important hog hunting tips. Try to scout the area as often as you can, but at least the day before, looking for tracks, droppings and trails the hogs may be using. Also look for areas where they have rooted.
2. If possible, scout over a long period of time and keep records of sightings and signs of hogs. Look for patterns of areas the hogs like to travel and times of day they like to be moving around. Hogs are intelligent enough to stay away from humans if possible, so your scouting will help you outwit them.
3. Look for hogs around heavy brush near bodies of water, such as a stream or lake. This where hogs like to sleep; they like wet areas in general. Hogs are not that fond of mud, contrary to their reputation.
4. Use corn or fruit as a bait for feeder areas to attract hogs to your stand. From your scouting you know the general areas where hogs like to go, so set up your stand accordingly. Then you may put down some bait for them.
5. Use a scent to cover your own scent since hogs have a strong sense of smell. From your scouting, you have an idea where the hogs are. Avoid staying upwind of the hogs. Use the wind to your advantage when possible and don't let it become a disadvantage.
6. Hogs have a great sense of smell and hearing. However, their eyesight is not so good. You need to be more concerned about wild hogs hearing or smelling you than seeing you.
7. Hogs can grow up to 400 pounds or more, but the best hogs for meat are those between 150 and 200 pounds, which is around average size. If you want good meat, go for the smaller hog. If you want a large trophy to mount with large tusks, the 400-pound boar is what you are looking for.
8. Hogs are often harmful to farmland, so many landowners will let you hunt on their property to get rid of the pests. Be sure to have the landowner's permission before hunting and make sure you do not shoot a domesticated animal by mistake. Hogs destroy crops and cause erosion with their digging, which makes them unwanted on farms.
9. Hog hunting is most often done in open areas, so it's a little more dangerous. Always be careful to make sure you are shooting at a wild hog and not a domestic animal or fellow hunter. Also be careful about getting too close to hogs as they are fearless and will attack when cornered.
10. Consider hunting with dogs as they can help you find the hogs. Hunting with dogs is considered more exciting because you get closer to the hog.