first time hog hunt

[fireman 108]

Well big sis called and asked if i would leave wis. and come down to Ark. and shoot some hogs on her 500 ac. They are tearing everything up! Well what do I need ? Got the guns and there is some tree stands up, I asked sis's husband to start baiting 10 day's before we show up. We plan on keeping the meat to fill our freezers. I'll be bringing my Foxpro FX3 can anyone recommend a sound or two that brings them running? My plan so far is to sit over bait (corn ) and wait. The arrivial date is March 19 and hunt for 4 day's in the North west corner of the state. All pointer's would be greatly appreciated Thanks Guy's

[mcwoodduck]

If there is a regular time the feeder goes off or if they are used to the truck comming and dumping the corn.
They will get used to that noise and pavlov will take over.
On different hunts we have taken the bones to the bone yard and on the way back you can see the pigs comming out of the woods to the bone yard to eat one of their buddies or deer.
You may have your brother in law honk a goose call or blow a horn or some other noise to aid in your hunting.
That way you can have the horn or game call in the stand with you and blow it and may fool the hogs into comming into the noise.
It will only work once or twice as the pigs will learn. 

[Land_Owner]

It will only work once or twice as the pigs will learn.

Truer words never penned.  They will learn, and fast, that the feeder is a death trap.  

However, and depending on the proximity of the stands to the feeder, you may, I repeat may be able to shoot them with a rimfire 22 LR and not startle them too badly into running off into the woods never to return.

Before you condemn me, please let me explain.

Large(r) caliber rifle fire at close range (DRT range from the pigs perspective), will send them running for cover and much farther than that.  They may go nocturnal and not been seen in daylight again for a long time.  Nothing certain on that though.  Not wanting to bank on them...

In my scenario:
1. stands placed within 25 yards of feeder,
2. accurate rimfire rifle,
3. steady rest,
4. 22LR minimum caliber
5. full frontal head shots ONLY

Shoot it in the middle of the imaginary "X" between the eyes and ears.  IT WILL GO DOWN.  Then when the rest of its buddies get over the "startle effect" they will settle down and continue eating corn right beside their now dead buddy.  Shoot another one.  Same way.  Continue until they get wise and depart; you are out of bullets; or you kill all that are there at the time.

Perhaps even have your BIL shoot a rimfire a few times while he is spreading the feed.  That'll condition them a bit.  

Works for me.

The rimfire, for some, is just too small.  In that case, a large caliber rifle is also a good way to go.

Good luck.  Kill them ALL.  There is no "End of Line" when it come to killing pigs.

[mcwoodduck]

Just make sure the rimefire is legal.  I know some states have a minimum center fire caliber for big game.  If these are not big game or are concidered non resident  animals then blaze away.
Would hate for you to go there on Vaccation and leave on Probation.

[fireman 108]

all good info this is begining to sound more like a real hunt not a fish in the barrel shoot. keep all the tactics coming I'll PM some of you in the morn. we just got hit with another 3 in of snow this evening I'll be out for coyotes in the AM  Does anyone use calls to bring them in?? I have a Foxpro.Fireman

[Graybeard]

I'd advise you to leave the calls at home. The quieter you are the more likely you are to kill hogs. It might be easy and it might not be. Free range hog hunting is no slam dunk and more often than not ya go home empty handed. If they are used to coming in tho you might get some before they wise up.

[mcwoodduck]

Pigs are not like Javilina or Deer where after you shoot you can be real still and blow a fawn in distress call to get the does and young bucks to head back in.  If you shoot one move on to the second.  Just make sure the first shot is in the boiler room.  It will not go far.
When I shot the one in the picture I had to wait a minute for a clear shot as not to take two or three.  had I wanted a couple It would have been easy there was a herd of them 50 yards out and in open woods.  I think I even would have had time to shoot a couple while loading singly.
Oh they also tend to run in the direction they are facing  so if the herd is headed to you when you shoot, be ready.

[fireman 108]

Thanks for all the help I will keep you posted of our results  Fireman 108

[Tommyt]

If they are coming from a certain area most times set yourself up to shoot  them on their way to the feeder
then leave the ones you shot there and slip over to the feeder and shoot again
Also the 22 is not a bad Idea of if your a good shot and Land layout will work shoot them from as far as possible
with a quiet gun they just may stand for a few shots
Its a lot of fun hunting good hog populations
Enjoy
Tommyt

[Daman]

I have killed 10 in one pile on one occasion. I was using my Mini 14 with a 20 round clip. I was in a tree climber about 35 feet off the ground and the hogs came up a dried up slough in the river swamp. I shot the first one beside the head and the rest were either shot high in the shoulder to break the spine or in the top of the back on running away shots. The ones who weren't DRT I shot that individual one until he fell. Not a single one took more than two shots. I was using 55 grain PSP.

My recommendation is an automatic you are comfortable with and put the shots in the spine or head area as quick as you can accurately pull the trigger.

Daman

[Oldshooter]

Not sure if you can hunt at night in AR. if you can use a  red light on the feeder or where you throw corn they wont see the light and it will light em up enough to kill one or two at a time with a rifle that is scoped.

If you are going to go there to stop pigs from tearing up your Sisters fields then you aint really interested in a fair chase hunt from my perspective.

check out some led lights like the one below, and your hunting killing will be productive. hunting/ killing over a baited plot in daytime is not more sportsmanlike than hunting on the same baited plot at night.
 

[squirrellluck]

1 thing I have found is if a group is crossing in front of you dont shoot the lead hog. Shoot 1 of the ones in the middle of the line. It usually splits the group with the ones in front bolting forward and the ones behind whirling back the way they came. Then be ready cause one group or the other will come across trying to rejoin the group. May not work everywhere but here in the piney hill country it works more times than not

[STUMPJMPR]

Hogs can be stupid sometimes.  I once was squirrel hunting with a 22lr.  I stumbled across about 15 hogs.  I shot one in the head and dropped him.  They ran around and stopped shot another one.  They ran around and stopped.  I believe I could have shot the whole herd. 

[Daman]

I kill a lot of hogs squirrel hunting in the swamp. I always carry my Winchester 9422M 22 mag when squirrel hunting over there so if I see one I can shoot it. Killed a group of 5 one day with it. Was sitting there watching the trees for squirrels and here the pigs come up the road to my right. I shot the first one and the rest just squatted. I shot the next one in line and the others turned and ran straight to me. I shot those three right between the eyes as they ran to me.