A coworker has pointed me towards an area where a group of domestic pigs got loose a few years ago and apparently they liked it wild.

I may give it a go, but it's heavily forested mountain country and I've never hunted piggies before.

Any hints into the day in the life of a biggun? Or how to make bacon?

For the most part first and last light unless you can figure out where they are bedding down and are willing to go in or drive them out with a quad or something. They arent that easy to take. There are other more experienced hunters on this subject than I....Just thought I would put my two cents.

Yup, they'll generally lay up during the day when it's hot, but are a lot more active in the winter months.

Look for pig sign -- game trails, rubs, and wallows. They are creatures of habit and will develop patterns (feeding, use the same trails, etc.).

Like any game animal, stay down wind of them as they have a GREAT nose -- as is probably readily apparent!

You ought to talk to me Rick ... I have some ideas Have hunted a few times and have taken 5 or 6. Most recent was last Saturday.

Read your e-mail too.

Have a couple of FN mauser actions that a plan.

Mike, do you have hogs where you are? Looking for somewhere somewhat locally to hunt over here since I recently moved back to this region........ W. Virginia isn't too far a commute!

Also Rick, the heart is low and forward in the hog's chest -- a lot lower than you might think. Do a search on this forum as there have been some good hog diagrams posted in the past.

When are you going, Rick??

Whitworth,

I've done my piggie hunting in Texas.

Rick,

Take some corn (I have some if you need it) and add some beer and sugar or molassas (sp). Let it steep for a couple of days. Put it out just before dawn or an hour before dark in sight of a place you can use as a blind (preferably at a high angle and off the ground like a tree stand).

There are some commercial products that also attract pigs but I'm not sure we can buy them in WV.

In the morning, hunting is pretty much over by 9:30 unless you know where the beasties lay up.

Is best if you can go some days in a row to habituate the piggies to a food source. If you can do that, whole corn is good enough that you don't need to make a mash out of it.

Good advice on the bait. They also frequent deer blinds as well. They like swampy wetter areas with lots of shade.

I prefer to hunt them on foot. I'll put something out every night (usually left overs or with tuna fish or something foul smelling) and walk up on them with the wind in my face the next morning. Gets a bit more exciting on foot for me, but being in a tree stand etc. will get you real up close and personal.

In the past I have done what Mike did. I use strawberry jello. I will include a head of cabbage as well. After sitting in the garage it gets smelly. I hauled it to the ranch in a trash can. I would take some post hole diggers and dig holes about 18 inches deep and pour the concoction in it. Hogs just root and root until they find no more. This method works but really tears up the ground.

Thanks for the info guys, any info is welcome.

Mike,
Shoulda called you first, fwiw Walmart at Southridge had some commercial boar bait in a plastic bag. Don't know if they still have it.

Whitworth,
Don't know when I'll try goin'. We gotta lose some leaves off the vegetation first and Fall is late falling this year due to the drought. Right now you'd have trouble hunting elephant in our woods.

Rick

We normally use whole corn kernels -- it's piggie crack, they love the stuff!