Hog hunting setup for NIGHT

[Mike Malvaini]

Love reading and learning the hog hunting threads. Thanks guys!

Tarz, haven't you killed hogs in other states besides TX?

[BigJim]

I have lights on every feeder.. I know from experience that pigs.. and deer will get used to white light on the feeders in a day or two, but I cover mine with green tape just because.. The feeder lights work without anything else, but are still a bit dark at times.
Just in case they don't come on... never know when one is on it's last leg.. I use a bow mounted light. I have owned dozens of the cheap Chinese lights with remote pig tail switches and they are ok unless you accidently tug on the wire once! I have owned lights from All predator as well and they are expensive and heavy.

Lately I have been using lights from fenix lighting. They sell a fairly small light.. or several models. Not only do they have a light, but choice of green, red, or blue lens covers, a mount for a picitinny rail, and a silent remote switch.... all for about $110 shipped.
I mount a picitinny rail to the bracket on my bigjim bow quiver and clip the light on it.. a little bit of electrical tape to hold the switch to the grip and I'm good to go.
The light can be adjusted from barely on to full go melt crap and within second can be removed from the bow, remove lens cover and used as a blood trail light or get out of the woods light.

For a long time, I thought the light would spook certain hogs and also certain deer as I would shine to see what was on the edge.. but I think more than anything, any critter coming in alone is a tuff task. Even if I would allow a lone pig to get comfortable eating, the slightest noise, movement or even light would send them in to convulsions and flying out of sight.. yes, pigs can fly!  Yet, a group of pigs would often seem easy.

If you are the only critter in the feeder and a noise is made.. or shadows are slung around, you know it aint you! However if there is at least one other critter with you, you don't necessarily know that it wasn't them.

All of my feeder lights are green.. i've read that dark or black objects show up better under green light. I have used both green and red filters on my bow lights with no discernable difference to the pigs.

BigJim

[BigJim]

fenix light mounted on aluminum bracket.. works like a picitinny.

[BigJim]

Pigs on camera show up better when under light as well!

[BigJim]

Even really big black pigs!

[Terry Green]

That's great Jim and I'm a HUGE fan of Fenix lights as I have tracked 3 animals IN DAYLIGHT with my Fenix flash light... folks thought I was crazy when I pull it out on someone else's blood trail twice..... then they all bought one after the hunt! I love em.  The Wensels got me one em.

[BigJim]

Let this big sow go.. sometimes they are just too much work to fool with!

[BigJim]

Couple of little pigs

[BigJim]

Last year

[BigJim]

During deer season

[Terry Green]

That's good stuff Jim! Thanks for sharing!

[BigJim]

I also use lighted nocks.. When I can make it happen, I want the arrow to stay in the pig as long as possible because of the lighted nock.. I shoot to lodge the arrow in the offside shoulder.

In a perfect world, I would shoot to hit near the last rib on the close side and have the arrow angling to the offside shoulder. Pigs can leave very difficult blood trails especially within the first 50 yards +-. The lighted arrow will give you a good idea of what direction to start looking. I have watched my arrow start out in one direction and then doing a u turn within 20 yards three times this year alone.
It will also help you differentiate your pig from the group that scatters like a glass hitting the concrete!

The lease I hunt is thick.. I mean thick! I've hunted in lots of areas that people call thick..lol.. Imagine trying to see through a wig.. now add another wig on top of it! then, fill it full of razor blades and needles!  There is some open areas.. mostly about two feet or so high and the size of a pig   Did I say it was thick?
BigJim

[Phillip Fields]

This one was taken in South Texas. You can see my light set-up. Actually, this pig was shot on a white sand road at midnight, under a full moon, without turning the light on.

[BigJim]

Shot a 200+ lb boar last week.. shot it in the day light so I saw the whole thing happen. Near perfect "whitetail" hit. broadside, 12 yards, hit an inch above center.. angling down from 15 feet up. Entered an inch behind the crease and lodged securely in the offside shoulder. .. I mean I saw it all. Pig runs 30 yards, does a 90 and I watch it and lighted nock run 50 more yards through volunteer oak saplings .. very thick!

Somehow, that pig was able to run through all of that crap without braking off my arrow.. I found two drops of blood at about 60 yards and then nothing.. not even the glow of a nock. I have no doubt the pig is dead and no doubt something made several good meals of it, but nearly impossible to find without a dog..
BigJim

[Terry Green]

This one was taken in South Texas. You can see my light set-up. Actually, this pig was shot on a white sand road at midnight, under a full moon, without turning the light on.

 I LOVE it....

Done the exact same thing in SC at 'The Bacon Strip' lease a couple of times. That black sure stands out on that white sand.... thanks for jarring those memories sir!

[tippit]

I use a Fenix PD35 Tac light with a Green Filter that I attach with a leather strip to a quiver insert that I've added to the handle. I like it attached this way so it doesn't stick out very far in front of the bow. The Fenix PD35 Tac light has 6 brightness settings that are easy to turn on with a button...tippit

[ozy clint]

I started making a light setup for my bow after being inspired by Jerry Russell's tale of his pursuit of 'Kong' the giant hog.

I wanted a light with red, green and white lights all selectable by turning a dial, beam focus, intensity control and quick detach mounting system.

There was just what I wanted here in Australia- Zvisions JP303. It looks to be the same as the Wicked lights A67IC you have in the USA.

I use it mainly on some of my rifles but I made a bracket that allows me to use the stabiliser insert in my riser. Once I install the bracket the light mounts quickly via a scope ring picatinny rail adapter.

I can turn the light on and off and change the intensity with the ring finger on my bowhand. For bowhunting I'll have it set on flood beam. I haven't hunted with it yet but I have practised with it using lighted nocks and it sure adds another dimension to shooting the bow.   

[Terry Green]

Love reading and learning the hog hunting threads. Thanks guys!

Tarz, haven't you killed hogs in other states besides TX?

Sorry, I missed this somehow.  Yes, SC, FL, GA.

[charles m]

Anyone use a head lamp for night hunting?

[Russell Southerland]

Great question Charles!