What I’ve learned about hunting hogs and pretty much anything else over the years, is that nothing works 100% of the time.
Personally I rarely hunt bait, I’m not a patient person. I can force myself to hunt wallows/water during extreme heat with my easy chair and lots of cool water to drink.
What I generally recommend to beginners with very little hunting experience. Learn as you go and acquire the necessary skill to hunt the way you want to.
1. Hunt feeders or bait
2. Hunt wallows
3. Hunt with a guide
4. Hunt at night with Night vision or thermal. This method takes Skill as well, but even an inexperienced hunter will stumble onto a hog from time to time. I started in the days when we used a spot light. Knowing where to look at night is the key and will come with time.
That being said here are my methods on new properties and old. Repeat all the steps mentioned so long as they are productive. Some of my properties I’ve hunted for 20+years. All of the methods mentioned continue to be productive do to the nomadic nature of hogs.
1. scout both on foot and with aerial photos. Make mental notes of: Local crops, bedding areas, thickets, crossings/trails, rooting activity, wallows and rubs.
2. Kill all hogs I can find in open areas while scouting {spot and stalk}
3. Locate bedding areas and sanctuaries if they exist on property.
4. Call bedding areas and sanctuaries with hog sounds. Try to pull them out either with electronic calls or grunt tubes. I usually start with grunt tubes.
5. Push bedding areas with more than one hunter.{this can be dangerous, Know the person you are hunting with}.
6. Hunt water sources in dry or hot weather.Water sources near comfort zones are very productive all hours of the day.
7. Night hunt
8. Repeat
Personally I rarely hunt bait, I’m not a patient person. I can force myself to hunt wallows/water during extreme heat with my easy chair and lots of cool water to drink.
What I generally recommend to beginners with very little hunting experience. Learn as you go and acquire the necessary skill to hunt the way you want to.
1. Hunt feeders or bait
2. Hunt wallows
3. Hunt with a guide
4. Hunt at night with Night vision or thermal. This method takes Skill as well, but even an inexperienced hunter will stumble onto a hog from time to time. I started in the days when we used a spot light. Knowing where to look at night is the key and will come with time.
That being said here are my methods on new properties and old. Repeat all the steps mentioned so long as they are productive. Some of my properties I’ve hunted for 20+years. All of the methods mentioned continue to be productive do to the nomadic nature of hogs.
1. scout both on foot and with aerial photos. Make mental notes of: Local crops, bedding areas, thickets, crossings/trails, rooting activity, wallows and rubs.
2. Kill all hogs I can find in open areas while scouting {spot and stalk}
3. Locate bedding areas and sanctuaries if they exist on property.
4. Call bedding areas and sanctuaries with hog sounds. Try to pull them out either with electronic calls or grunt tubes. I usually start with grunt tubes.
5. Push bedding areas with more than one hunter.{this can be dangerous, Know the person you are hunting with}.
6. Hunt water sources in dry or hot weather.Water sources near comfort zones are very productive all hours of the day.
7. Night hunt
8. Repeat