Hog talk

[Bullchaser1]

So I’ve only traveled down south twice to hunt hogs, and we were lucky enough to get a couple. Hunting our deer and turkey here in PA, and elk out west etc. over time you learn to read what the animals are going to do next by how they’re acting, their head positions and with turkeys what they’re saying(or not saying). Always trying to be a better woodsman, my question to the seasoned hog hunters down south is this:  can you predict what the hogs are going to do next by the sounds they’re making? Basically what are they saying/ normal sounds when feeding or what is their alarm sound when the gig is up etc. The one hog I shot sounded like it was huffing at me, and there were other hogs with it. It almost seemed like it thought I was a boar hog and it was trying to keep me away from the other hogs?We have a blast hunting them, and it’s always fun to explore new terrain and habitat. Any woodsmanship tips on hunting these hogs is appreciated. Good luck hunting!
J

[rastaman]

When a hog huffs the jig is up. They don't usually hang around to give you a shot when you hear that at least from my experience.  Loud squealing is usually a sow in heat with boar hogs fighting to see who wins the prize.  If the wind is right and the cover is good enough you can usually get in close, but they won't be standing still.  Sometimes when it's cold a bunch of them will be sleeping in some cover.  The squeals you hear then will be from one of them pissed at their bedmates for disturbing them.  Soft grunts are usually contented sounds like when a group is feeding along.  I've never been able to predict what they were going to do based on their sounds except when you hear them huff.  There are some guys on here with a lot more hogs under their belt than me that might give some better explanations, but this has been my personal experience.  Also, this applies to spot and stalk primarily and not over bait.

[Bullchaser1]

Good to know. We do spot and stalk, and what little experience I have with them it seems they’re on the move a lot. I heard different sounds from them. Like I said the one time they seemed to huff or blow but wouldn’t go more than 15-20 yards, multiple times. Another time I was starting to draw on a boar and it huffed or blew and the whole group took off as far as I could hear them running through a swamp. When they blow out is there an average distance they go to get back on them, I’m guessing it depends on habitat? Thanks for the info

[kerry]

When they blow out, you're right, distance depends on cover and how bad they were alarmed.  You can get back on them in many cases.  Given the right wind and enough acreage.

[Mint]

I've been going on an annual Florida hog hunt for over twenty years and I'm still learning. What I have noticed though is that if they even catch the slightest whiff they are gone. If they catch you moving and they stiffen up you have about a second before they blow out.
If they catch you moving but are still moving feeding you are ok but don't move until their eyes are blocked.
They can pick up your silhouette easily but if you crouch down like another hog or cow you can get away with a lot more.

 I try to make my stalks as quiet and fast as I can and take the first good shot presented. Waiting for the perfect shot or really slow stalking up you usually get busted but if they are feeding in cover and making a lot of noise you can make noise stalking up to them since they usually assume it's just another hog in the cover rooting.

Don't be afraid to do a stalk that you think might be impossible. I stalked up to a turkey feeder in the middle of a field at least a 100 yards with no cover crawling up to three hogs feeding and there was only one foot high grass clump at the feeder. But once there I made the shot immediately otherwise I would have been busted if they stopped rooting and looked.

Old boars and old sows are really smart and won't tolerate much.

If there is a hot sow with boars around you can get away with a lot more!

[Bullchaser1]

Does anyone try calling them in?

[Mint]

I've never tried calling them in but have made feeding noises when I've been close stalking and they weren't sure what I was. It's worked about 50% of the time calming them down and the other times they busted.