Hog hunting help

[maineac]

I am going to be taking a trip in a couple of weeks to try for some hogs on some public land down south.  Are hogs dawn and dusk movers, like deer?  Or are they more likely to move a little later, mid-morning through mid afternoon.  This won't be over feeders on a hard hunted ranch, so what is the behavior of hogs that would receive little pressure be?

[hogdancer]

where down south ?  hogs are ruled by their stomach if not pressured so can and do move at any time. If it's hot and bugs are out they need to cool off and wallow, mid-day usually.

[DAGATOR]

My two cents says the afternoons are most productive. And the last 45 minutes of light are the best. The only draw back is that you have to be able to use the GPS to get out in the dark. Also, another negative, is tracking at night. I suggest you learn how to quarter a hog (not field dress) and tote the meat out in a pillow sack.
Clay

[Biggie Hoffman]

Oops. I don't use a GPS to get out after dark. Does that mean I'm lost?

[bayoulongbowman]

MIke ...tip THERMCELL....OK ...GOOD LUCK..MARCO

[RC]

I`ve killed pigs all times of the day and probably have killed more after 9 in the morning that any time.
  I got a gps but never use it. Probably should but I carry a compass and another in case I think the first one is telling a lie....
  We have had record rainfall down here and I`m thinking a "spare" thermacell would be wise.

  I also walk long and hard till I cut fresh sign then slow down and hunt. I cover a lot of ground. I have friends that hunt slower and kill a lot of pigs but I prefer to cover a lot of ground and get several chances in a day rather than hunt slow and only get maybe one.RC

[hogdancer]

yes Biggie, you need the GPS to find your way back to the buggy.

[Ray Hammond]

Maineac,

Simply put, hogs are ruled by their stomachs. When you go will fully determine what you should be keying on. You say you aren't going to a hard hunted ranch...I have to tell you, anyplace with public hunting available is usually hard hit by hunters, unless its extremely remote or vast.

Example- Aug 15 to Sept 5th or so, the muscadines are falling on my place. The hogs will not even come to corn when that is happening.

From February through end of March, its the bright green grass that grows in water..with very thin blades.

Right now, wild onions are ruling the roost...in a week, because of the vast amount of rain we've had, mushrooms in the pine straw will become the rage.

It takes a long time to learn these things, and they only apply to particular regions and times.

The key is thinking like the critter you hunt...not like a guy on a hunting trip, but like a pig scratching out a living in the place you are going to.

Time of day is irrelevant, really. The hogs will either be up feeding, or bedded down. Find them either way. You are going to public land, so its run and gun. Why hunt the last hour of the day because its the best time, and not use the rest to your advantage.

Hunting bedded hogs is also fun, wild and wooly, and a lot like shooting quail...they'll explode from under your feet and waste no time getting out of Dodge....but its F U N !!!!!


Good luck to you.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by Biggie Hoffman:
Oops. I don't use a GPS to get out after dark. Does that mean I'm lost?

The only thing lost with you biggy is your pants...

[maineac]

Thanks all.  Hopefully it will come together and I will at least see some hogs in my hunt.

[RC]

Biggie...Shuster said you put a doughnut on the hood of your truck and smell your way back.RC