Tips for getting close to HOGS Please

[Bjorn]

Be flexible-a group including sounders will bust you so move in fast-you got nothing to lose. A pair or lone hog, move when faces are down eating-freeze when not. Smell is everything to a hog. Like was said before wind beats all-sometimes they  can tolerate hearing you and seeing you; but they will never tolerate the smell of you.

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by Biggie Hoffman:
I'll go the other way on this....I've always done best by moving in quickly and taking the shot IF IT PRESENTS ITSELF. If it doesn't or you spook em, back out and circle around in front ofthem and try again. IME, the longer you are there the better chance they have of smelling you.
So, spot them, get the wind, move in and shoot! It doesn't hurt to make a little noise as if they're in a group, they won't pay mch attention to shuffling. You can't break a limb or anything but a little crunching won't hurt a thing.

Yep....

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by Bill Skinner:
Spot them first.  When you move in, watch out for the little bitty pigs, them running around all over the place is usually busts me, one will get down wind and that will be that.  Try to get in front of them, wait for them to move up to you.  Pigs never stop moving.  The wind at ground level may be going in a different direction than the wind on your face.  Bill

Yep.....

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by RC:
I believe every minute that goes by after you spot pigs under 50 yards your chances go down.If they bust you because of some noise you made you can get on`m again. If they bust you from the wind your done and in the swamp the wind never stays steady.Move fast and try to get in front of where they are headed.RC

Amen.....

[JEJ]

I would have paid for a ticket to see that track meet with Gatekeeper and that TX hog!

What Gatekeeper might have been thinking: "I'll start to walk fast now; dang, that pig is starting to walk faster than me! ... OK, I'll start jogging; now how can pigs jog that fast for such porky critters? ... OK now I'll just flat out run that swine showoff; well, you won the foot race this time Mr. Pig, but next time I might decide to see if you can out run one of my arrows!"

Thanks for the great hog hunting story Gatekeeper.

And thanks to chopx2 for asking the question, and to those who answered. After seeing what is working for many here, I think I will quit putting the sneak on those hogs, and kick it up a gear or two when I get amongst them.    

[Darren.zesch]

Corn. Hogs love corn! If you're in an area where baiting is legal, set up a feeder and have the hogs get used to it being there. Approach downwind and put an arrow through both lungs. Hogs think with their stomach. When their feeding it's a little easier to stalk in. If you're still having a hard time, give matt and Cheryl at Shiloh ranch a call.

[Don Batten]

I agree with biggie, joey and RC. but the best luck Ive had getting close to them is by putting a razor sharp abowyer through the pocket. Then it's easy. you just walk up to them . LOL Lots of good advice above. If I live to be 100 yrs old I won't have the expertise of these guys. Don

[Battle_shaft]

Originally posted by rastaman:
Also, my trick I've found is that when you get close to them or are in a blind and they come in close, close one eye while you're looking at them. I think they identify 2 eyes as a predator while one eye is just a funny looking leaf or something.

You are kidding, right?    

not at all. It's worked for me a bunch when they're Lookin at you bun don't. Know what you are yet and are still trying to figure out whether or not they're lookin at a predator.

[Apex Predator]

I tried that one eye thing today, and it didn't work at all.  He did wink at me before woofing out of there though!  

[Doc Nock]

Originally posted by Battle_shaft:
Also, my trick I've found is that when you get close to them or are in a blind and they come in close, close one eye while you're looking at them.  

That makes sense! Hunting E. deer, I always turn my cap visor sideways so they think I'm lookin the other way and they try to sneak by. Just remember to open dat 2nd eye before ya shoot or you'll never have depth perception to pick a spot!

     

[coaster500]

quote:
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Originally posted by Battle_shaft:
Also, my trick I've found is that when you get close to them or are in a blind and they come in close, close one eye while you're looking at them.
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I just wear Shades like the Movie Stars....

[Terry Green]

OK....other than copying others posts.....

If you get on a SINGLE big boar.....GOOD luck sneaking into range....best NOT hurry in on him....one little sound outta you and he will be gone.  Best bet is to get the wind right...and PRAY it stays right long enough for you to CREEP into range.

If ya get on a dozen or more, don't worry about the little noise you are making ....when you get into range, you will see that they themselves are idling chainsaws and what noise you are making is just another hogs as far as they know.

[Raminshooter]

My experience is exclusive to California so I will add that as my context to what others have written.  A lot depends on the area and how and how hard the hogs are hunted.  If you are hunting in an area that is gun hunted a lot you really have to be extra carefull on how you approach a sounder of hogs.  Although miopic, wild hogs are really good at picking up deviations in contour of the landscape and they can tell if a "bush" or "tree" has changed position...sometimes at a pretty good distance.  Hogs are even spookier if the area you are hunting gets hunted with because dogs make them hyper wary of every noise and are as likely to charge a "sound" as they are to run away from one.  In areas where the hogs are not "hard" hunted (ie: they may get shot at but are then left to settle down for a long time) you are fairly safe in either getting in front of them if you can and allowing them to feed into you, approaching them if you see them bed up during the day, or, simply watch the wind and approach with the wind in your favor while keeping a low profile.  Assuming this latter situation is your situation tall grass is always a problem with a good sized sounder because you cannot see the small piglets that are moving around in the grass and those are the ones that can bust you in that situation.  Whatever you do have fun.