Originally Posted by
Jared D
Well, I am no expert, but I can give you a few tid bits. First off, I do most of my hunting in Public land, fair chase. I have used bow, rifle, and handgun for them. I didnt shoot any the last 2 years, but hardly hunted. That said, here's what I can tell you.
First off, they love swampy areas. They have no issues spending large chunks of the day in nasty water, thus you will need a good pair of high water proof boots. If your going to hunt warm weather, get snake boots, as there are plenty of nasty snakes where the pigs frequent (we killed a 3 foot moc and 2 foot rattler this past weekend). Pigs can and do swim. To find them, look for areas where they have rooted it up. It is something you will spot immediately. They can turn over acres in no time flat. The fresher the rooting, the better. Also, look for their tracks (rounder and wider than a deers) and scat (big clumpy piles).
Pigs are nomadic. They don't stay in one area such as a deer does. Therefore, they will constantly be wandering, staying in a place as long as their is ample food and good shelter/cover. But once they catch onto the fact that a predator is around, they will move off, and rarely come back. They are rumored to be really smart (they definately have outsmarted me on many occassions), but they are also easy to hunt.
If you want to stalk them, its easy when they are eating as they make lots of noise, and are usually oblivious to anything but the food. When they are bedded, its really tough, as they find the thickest nastiest places to bed.
If you find an area where they are rooting it up, then figure out where they are bedding and find a travel corridore, and set up on it. I found several such places in the past 2 weeks. I am going to hunt this Sunday evening, and will take some pics (I had my camera phone, else I would post some pics of what it all looks like).
Also, they are active year round, but when the acorns start dropping, they will come out of everywhere to get after them. All that to say, look for swamps and cypress bogs when the weather is warmer... in the colder months, they still hang around the water, but tend to stay a little drier. They actually make nests where they pile grass and leaves and sleep on that mat to stay dry and warm.
One last thing, look for something that shows the anatomy of a pig. Their kill spot is not the same as a deer. If you shoot behind the shoulder, then you will likely not do the damage you would expect. You have to aim right above the front knee. They are extremely tough and so a bad shot on one makes for some tense game recovery and often lost bacon. I ALWAYS carry a side arm, though rarely actually have ever had to use it. Watch out though, cus its an addiction that will jump on you. MUCH more exciting than deer hunting in my opinion.
Last thing, I do most of my hunting for them in Georgia and Florida. I am sure its similar in the Carolina's, but I have never tried it there.
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). Alway's play the wind, if you try to come in from the up wind side you'd do just as well to stay in bed, it ain't gonna happen. They may not be able to see as good as a deer, but he know's when something's not right. If he "bust's" you, it's gonna be wide open, in a straight line. He's NOT gonna stop and look back to see what spoked him. You've literally got just a few second's to make it happen and take the shot. Hog hunting is an adictive hunt, deer huntin's for sissy's
