Three Tips for Hog Hunting at Night
When is the best time to hunt feral hogs? It’s a question we hear over and over, and the answer is always the same – at night. As hog hunting has become an increasingly popular method to control the expanding feral hog population, the species has adapted to hunter behavior by becoming nocturnal. As a result, the best time to hunt feral hogs is when they’re awake and feeding at night.
Of course, hunting at night comes with its own set of challenges – limited visibility for shooting, the increasing likelihood of spooking the hogs, and the added challenge of locating them in the dark. Want to guarantee yourself a trophy kill in darkness? Follow our 3 tips below for a successful night hunt.
Hunt with Feeders
You’ve heard the saying: “Bait and Wait.” Setting out feeders is one of the most effective ways to take a feral hog. Hogs have an extremely well-developed, keen sense of smell, which they rely on heavily to seek out food. Because hogs can smell some odors from up to 5-7 miles away, loading up feeders with their natural food sources is a great way to lure them out in the open. Bait to use in hog feeders includes: acorns, corn, fruit/nuts, and oak mast. Automatic feeders can be set to go off after dark and frequent baiting in an area where there is optimal visibility, like a field, will serve to train the hogs. Once the hogs start associating that feeder with a meal, you’ll have them coming to you.
Use Discreet Light
Even in a well-illuminated area like a field, where the moon will provide some visibility, using a light is the best way to ensure that you’ll make your kill when hunting at night. It’s important to use discreet, low-intensity light tracking a hog, to ensure that you don’t spook the animal. White lights and lights that are too bright will scare the hogs, causing you to lose your prey – or worse, become subject to the hog’s aggressive behavior. Red lights are the best for hunting at night; attaching a light to the underside of a hog feeder to illuminate the area and provide a clear visual before you shoot is a surefire wire to guarantee a successful hunting trip.
Know Where to Hunt
Because of their classification as a destructive, non-native species, hog hunting regulations vary greatly state-to-state. Before you set out on a night hot hunting trip, be sure what you’re doing is legal in your respective state. A complete overview of hog hunting regulations by state can be seen on our hunting regulations page; however, several states that will allow you to hunt hogs at night and with artificial light include:
• Arkansas
• Florida
• Georgia
• Louisiana
• North Carolina
• Texas
Advantage: Hunter
The HOGMAN-OUTDOORS Game Alert® Hog Hunting Light is the new generation in hog hunting technology. The low-intensity, motion-activated, red LED light is magnetically attached under a hog feeder, and provides momentary (10-second) illumination only when movement is detected within a 200-yard perimeter. The discreet light allows for hunters to remain virtually undetected by prey, keeping them hidden until the moment strikes. Advantage: hunter.
