Winter Hog Hunting Tips

Do not fear

for once deer season is near,

Suddenly the hog will appear

and there will be plenty of dark beer,

For the cavalier

it’s time to kick into second gear!

Welcome to the wonderful world of January and February hog hunting. Once deer season ends, hunters can begin to prepare for a mean, wild pork cookout. With a few hee-haws and plane tickets, many ranches across the U.S. offer winter pig hunting.

Ironically, pigs have extremely poor eyesight, fantastic hearing and an unbeatable sense of smell. These challenging critters are so sensitive to foreign smells that if they catch a whiff of a hunter, they are known to not stop for more than a mile, until they feel safety is imminent.

Wild pigs leave a number of traceable clues and signs, which include:

·      Pigs are known for leaving fresh droppings.

·      Pigs constantly root around, which leaves distinct telltale signs.

·      Pig tracks are often confused with deer tracts; however, the pig’s track is shorter and wider than a deer’s.

·      As some pigs travel in herds, hunters may see numerous small tracks, which may indicate a litter of piglets.

·      Wild pigs can travel up to 20 miles per day, so they are constantly moving.

·      Pigs eat nearly anything, from nuts and insects to tubers.

·      A herd of small piglets is often quite loud and most hunters will be able to hear the high-pitched squealing and grunting before affirming visual contact.

What are some great hog hunting tips?

·      A standard rifle is acceptable for hunting pigs.

·      Pigs are extremely active in the mornings, and especially so the last hour before nighttime. During peak daylight hours they tend to bed down in heavy undergrowth. In a storm or in cold winter weather, pigs are known to forage all day.

·      Most hunters find that the spot-and-stalk hunting technique works best when hunting pigs. If a hunter sees a pig in the open, he/she can stand downwind and work his/her way towards the pig (known as stalking), often being able to get within 30 yards before firing a shot.

·      While pigs don’t typically react to loud noises, they will immediately bolt if they hear a human voice.

·      The average wild pig dresses between 130 to 160 pounds, which averages around 65 pounds of pork once it is cut and wrapped.

·      As pigs generate a great deal of body heat, it is recommended that a hunter field dress one as soon as possible.

Jumping Targets specializes in offering high-quality, affordable AR500 steel targets, specifically designed to help hunters improve their aim and accuracy. With these metal spinning targets, hunters are able to spend more time practicing and less time setting up targets after each shot.