Using wild boar-hog calls and scents?

[bigbore442001]

It has been a while since I posted on this site so I hope others will forgive my hiatus. If you don't mind, I would like to ask a couple of questions in regards to free ranging wild boar.

Has anyone here ever used a scent, call or combination of the two to lure in a wild boar within shooting range? I was watching a show the other day called Wild Russia and the narrator had a segment about Russian Boar having a rut. I see from my internet searches that there are manufacturers of calls as well as different scent products. I was wondering if these things work well or are they an utter waste of money. Could someone enlighten me with their experiences with any type of call or scent? Thank you.

[DennisB]

I lean towards the "waste of money" perspective.  For the past 4 or 5 years I've had more hogs than deer on my lease in north TX.  I've hunted them at corn feeders and on winter wheat fields, trapped 'em, etc.  I have tried the Sow-in-Heat stuff and a couple of grunt/squeal calls too, and concluded that if there's pigs within earshot or downwind, those MAY bring them in, but if they happen to be somewhere else, it's gonna be a slow hunt.  I keep one feeder going year-round and the local pigs know it, but I still have some hunts where nothing moves around there for days.  Then, a storm or cool front or just a whim changes things up and it gets busy again.  Not sure about a "rut."  I reckon that sows go into heat any time of the year, and the boars react accordingly.

[SwampThing762]

I think that the scents and calls are just gimmicks.   Pigs breed all year.    There are two things you should focus on when it comes to pigs: food and water.    Setting up a feeder is a great way to concentrate your target -- "Build it and they will come."   Pigs have no sweat glands and require a great deal of water to maintain body temperature, which is why they create wallows.

Aside from a feeder and staking out water holes, the best way of hunting hogs is dogs and a spear or knife.

Just my 2 cents.

ST762

[Land_Owner]

First and foremost, there have to be hogs in the vicinity for scents and calls to begin to be effective.  If you are not already "over run" with hogs, scents and calls are probably not going to work.

That opinion posted, I have one call and no scents.  The call was a gift from my daughter for Christmas.  I use it to piss off my son, who can't stand the sound, when I want him to get off his college-aged arse and do some cleanup and housework instead of freeloading all day every day.  It is kind of satisfying for me to use that call this way.  Yep, kind of satisfying.   

[dougk]

The only call that I have seen work is the distressed piglet when there is a sow with piglets near by.

As far as scents go I have found Black Gold keeps them longer in the area and keeps them coming back.

[GeneRector]

  Howdy! I never had a hog call that ever worked. There is a tape called hog feeding frenzy that I thought sure would have them come running in, but it did nothing of the kind. Just put some corn out and they will find it. You just need to determine when and how often they hit the bait. Best time to hunt is usually just before dark where I live.  Good luck and have fun!  Always, Gene

 

[deerman12]

I always heard the old guys say that you need to make a sound like an ear of corn, don't know what that would sound like.

[Hunter6657]

First and foremost, there have to be hogs in the vicinity for scents and calls to begin to be effective.  If you are not already "over run" with hogs, scents and calls are probably not going to work.

That opinion posted, I have one call and no scents.  The call was a gift from my daughter for Christmas.  I use it to piss off my son, who can't stand the sound, when I want him to get off his college-aged arse and do some cleanup and housework instead of freeloading all day every day.  It is kind of satisfying for me to use that call this way.  Yep, kind of satisfying.   

LMAO, I need one of them calls myself. Will it make them go find a job?