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About Hogs: The body of the wild hog, or boar, is compact, the head is large, and the legs relatively short. The fur consists of stiff bristles and usually finer fur. The color usually varies from grey to black or brown, but there are great regional differences in color, even whitish animals are known from central Asia. During winter the fur is much denser.

A full sized hog is a large strong animal armed with sharp tusks which defends itself strongly; so hunting has often been a test of bravery. [Wiki]

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Hog (Sus scrofa) Biology 101

Reproduction - The wild pig population has the potential to triple every year. When conditions are optimal wild pig sows can produce two litters of five to six piglets per year. The breeding rate is highly dependent on environmental conditions. When environmental conditions are unfavorable (e.g., drought or crop failure), birth rates are lower and mortality of young wild pigs can be quite high. If these conditions are particularly severe or predation is exceptionally high, the population will decrease.

Food - Wild pigs are omnivorous and consume a wide variety of available foods, including both plant and animal matter. Their food includes acorns, grasses, forbs, berries, bulbs, tubers, invertebrates, reptiles, birds, eggs, and animal carcasses. In general, wild pigs feed on: grasses and forbs in the spring; mast and fruits in the summer and fall; and roots, tubers and invertebrates throughout the year.

Habitat Requirements - As long as water and some cover are present, wild pigs are found in many habitats - woodland, chaparral, riparian, marshes and open grassland. They are comfortable on flat to very steep terrain. They do not tend to inhabit deserts, high mountains with substantial winter snowfall, alpine areas, or intensive agricultural areas where cover is scarce. In California, they are most abundant in the oak woodlands interspersed with grassland.

Behavior - As with all game species, wild pig behavior tends to change as hunting pressure increases. Where hunting is a rare occurrence, wild pigs are active in the daytime, though they become less active in hot weather. With moderate hunting, they bed down around sunrise and become active again in the late afternoon. When they are heavily hunted, they generally feed only at night. Depending on the density and abundance of cover, wild pigs tend to leave an area where hunting pressure becomes severe. Female wild pigs are generally considered social, not solitary, as they are usually found in family groups. As they approach one year of age, boars are often seen alone, though they sometimes join family groups during breeding.

General Info - All pigs belong to the family Suidae. In addition to the domestic species, several species of wild pigs are found on the Eurasian and African continents. The Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa), a popular game animal during medieval times, still roams over many parts of Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The first true pigs were brought to the United States by Hernando de Sota to the Atlantic Coast of Florida in 1539. The First "Pure Russian" wild boars were brought into the USA by Austin Corbin. They were released into a 20,000 acre enclosure in Sullivan County New Hampshire in 1890.

In spite of their reputation, pigs are neither filthy nor stupid. Because their sweat glands are relatively ineffective in lowering body temperature, pigs seek relief from the heat by wallowing in mud or shallow waterholes. When provided with a clean environment sheltered from the sun, however, pigs are fastidious. Furthermore, in tests of intelligence, pigs have proved to be among the smartest of all domestic animals--even more intelligent than dogs. Pigs are closely related to peccaries and distantly related to hippopotamuses. Their snouts end in a flat, rounded disk, which is used by all species but one to root for food. Their stocky, barrellike bodies weigh between 300 and 700 pounds (140 and 300 kilograms) and sometimes reach weights as great as 1,900 pounds (860 kilograms). Both males and females have tusks, which they use for defense. Tusks which are found on the lower jaw, or mandible, can be extremely dangerous when put to use by a mature boar. The upper tusks, or whitters, help keep the lower tusk extremely sharp by rubbing against each other while the pig chews.

Male pigs are called boars; the females are called sows. A shoat is a young, weaned pig of either sex. A male pig that has been castrated before reaching sexual maturity is referred to as a barrow, whereas a male pig that was castrated after reaching maturity is called a stag. A gilt is a sow that has never given birth. Wild pigs existed as far back as 36 million years ago. The hunting of wild pigs by early humans was often depicted in Western European cave and rock paintings dating back thousands of years.

Pigs have a firm, thick skin covered with a usually sparse coat of stiff hairs called bristles. Pigskin is renowned for producing a high-quality leather that "breathes" better than other types of leather. This is because only pigskin has bristle follicles that extend completely through the hide.

Aging Hogs - Using the body weight or size of the cutters is not a real reliable way to age hogs. Looking at the wear of the teeth is the best way to age hogs.

Hog Scouting and Hunting Tips

Rifle Hunting Hogs: In general, wild pigs are more difficult to kill than deer or antelope but are easier to kill than elk. Legally, any centerfire firearm using a soft point bullet can be used. Wild pigs differ greatly in size, which complicates the choice of appropriate calibers. Many hunters take young wild pigs that only weigh about 50 to 70 pounds. Many of the smaller calibers that use lighter bullets are satisfactory for taking these smaller animals. At the other end of the scale are the large boars, which weigh over 200 pounds. These are far tougher and have thick shoulder plaques or shields. The larger calibers and heavily constructed bullets are more appropriate for wild pigs of this size.

Appropriate centerfire rifle cartridges to be used for lighter weight wild pigs (50 to 90 pounds) should have at least 800 foot-pounds of energy remaining at 100 yards. This assumes reasonably accurate bullet placement, using bullets that are at least .24 (6 mm) caliber and weighing a minimum of 100 grains. For heavier wild pigs (over 90 pounds), bullets should have at least 1200 foot-pounds of energy remaining at 100 yards. (This information is readily available from ammunition manufacturers' catalogs or reloading manuals.) The table below gives recommendations for various cartridges and bullet weights for hunting wild pigs with rifles, handguns, shotguns and muzzleloaders. While some .22 caliber centerfire cartridges will certainly kill wild pigs if correctly placed, their bullets are not constructed heavily enough for big game hunting and are therefore not recommended for any size of wild pig.

Hunters using handguns, shotguns, or muzzleloaders, generally shoot at shorter ranges. For these methods of take, the same remaining energies that rifles use at 100 yards were used but determined at 50 yards to result in the recommendations for handguns, muzzleloaders and shotguns. For hunters using muzzleloading rifles, only one weight conical bullet is shown. Other conical bullet weights are available for most calibers. Reloading manuals will usually give the energies at 50 yards for these other weights.

Do not take frontal shots at wild pigs. On a broadside shot put the bullet just above the "elbow" of the front leg when the pig is dead broadside. A hog can survive on one lung, so it's important to get both lungs. I don't suggest a quartering shot unless you can hit far enough forward to catch both lungs, or another vital organ.

Also, keep in mind that a hog only bleeds "like a stuck pig" when you have a low wound, you really need to cause some pretty severe hemorrhage to get a good blood trail from a hog. Their thick hide, subcutaneous body fat and remarkably fast clotting times really do prevent much external blood loss by these animals.

Archery Hunting Hogs: Compound bows, recurve bows, or longbows are acceptable for hunting hogs. As a general rule, an archer should use the heaviest pulling weight that can be used to shoot accurately throughout the day's hunt. It is a mistake to use a bow with a draw weight that is too strong for you because your accuracy will suffer. Depending on the hunting conditions, the length of the bow can be a factor. For example, when moving through heavy brush a shorter bow may be best.

If you choose to use expanding heads, check with your state game laws as they may need to meet certain requirements. Broadheads are available in many different diameters of cutting edge as well as many multi-blade designs. The modular replaceable blade broadheads are probably the most common type in use today. Expanding blade broadheads, have recently been available. They may not be as durable, but will kill very quickly if well placed. For bows up to 60 pounds, use broadheads up to 1 /4 inch in diameter with no more than four blades. Bows over 60 pounds may use broadheads of larger diameter with more blades and still get adequate penetration. In general, the larger the broadhead diameter, the harder it will be to tune your arrows for accuracy. It is important to select broadheads that are durable, aligned to fly accurately, and can be sharpened to a razor-sharp edge.

Arrows must have the correct length and spine to match the bow and the archer. The weight and material of the arrow is a personal choice. Arrow shafts are made from wood, aluminum, fiberglass, or carbon fiber. In general, it pays to buy the best arrows that you can afford.

Some general considerations concerning arrows are: 1) for a given bow pulling weight, lighter arrows have a faster speed and flatter trajectory (however, these faster arrows tend to be noisier which may increase the chances of alerting the animal); 2) small diameter arrow shafts allow for good penetration because there is less drag; 3) at a given distance, heavier arrows moving at a slower speed have roughly the same impact energy as the lighter and faster arrows. The most important consideration is to select arrows that shoot well with your bow. Your choice of bow, arrow, or broadhead type, or whether you use sights or shoot instinctively is a matter of preference. Be sure to practice enough with your equipment so that your aim is accurate. Before a hunt, be sure to practice with your broadhead arrows because many will fly differently than your target arrows.

Hunters who use archery equipment should stalk their prey to within 30 yards or less. Obviously, the less noise you make, the better your chance of success. Silent clothing, a quiet quiver, camouflage, and staying downwind are important considerations.

Studies have shown that razor-sharp broadheads probably cause very little discomfort or pain to an animal that is hit and, unless the animal spots the hunter, it often continues feeding until it collapses. As with rifle hunting, the appropriate archery target on any animal is the vital organ area which contains the heart, lungs, liver, and major blood vessels. Do not take frontal shots at wild pigs. On a broadside shot put the arrow just above the "elbow" of the front leg when the pig is dead broadside. Side shots are not recommended for large wild pigs. Rear quartering shots into the chest cavity are recommended for large-sized animals because this allows the arrow to slip behind the shoulder plaque. Shooting an arrow through the relatively thick skin and shoulder plaque of large wild pigs severely dulls the broadhead and may inhibit further penetration.

A hog can survive on one lung, so it's important to get both lungs. I don't suggest a quartering shot unless you can hit far enough forward to catch both lungs, or another vital organ. Also, keep in mind that a hog only bleeds "like a stuck pig" when you have a low wound, so when shooting from an elevated stand, a pass through is pretty much necessary to get a blood trail. You really need to cause some pretty severe hemorrhage to get a good blood trail from a hog. Their thick hide, subcutaneous body fat and remarkably fast clotting times really do prevent much external blood loss by these animals.

It is highly recommended that any hunter planning to use archery for hunting take the course provided by the International Bow hunter Education Program. The certificate of completion is valid in other states where the course is required.

Methods for Locating Wild Pigs: Locating wild pigs is the first step to successfully hunting wild pigs, and knowledge of their behavior and sign is useful. As a general rule, the hunt begins with a search for fresh sign. Wild pig sign can take the form of trails, tracks, droppings, rootings, wallows, tree rubs and beds. Trails are often regularly used and may be well defined. If a trail leads to a low tunnel in dense brush, chances are that it was made by wild pigs. Trails going straight up a steep hill indicate the presence of wild pigs. Other animals tend to make trails that angle up hills.

Wild pigs normally spend the majority of the day in beds. This practice is particularly evident where there is heavy hunting pressure. Beds can be rooted-out areas about two to eight inches deep, sometimes lined with grasses, and are commonly in the heart of a dense shrub patch. Wild pigs are somewhat nomadic and may have several beds. Once flushed from these beds, individuals may not return to them for some weeks.

Wild pig tracks are nearly circular in shape, almost as wide as they are long, (see pic). In soft soil, dewclaw impressions can often be seen. Wild pig tracks are easy to distinguish from deer tracks, which are pointed in front. However, pig tracks are sometimes difficult to distinguish from goat, sheep and young calf tracks. A recent 300 lb. boar hog taken at Fort Hunter Liggett California had hooves that measured 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"

The size and shape of droppings (scat) varies depending on the age of the animal and the diet, (see pic). Wild pig scat is normally elongated, similar to a dog's scat, or sometimes roundish clumps. The composition of the scat can provide information on where they are feeding.

Wallows are wet, muddy areas that wild pigs use for cooling and for protecting against insects during the dry summer season (see pic on right). They are usually muddy depressions made around springs or ponds, or other areas where water has accumulated. If the water is muddy or fresh mud is splattered around, it probably indicates that wild pigs are active in the area.

Rooted areas are the result of wild pigs foraging for roots, bulbs, acorns or invertebrates, (see pic on left). Wild pigs root up the soil with their noses to obtain the underground food items. These rooted areas may be extensive, depending on the number of wild pigs and the food desired.

Wild pigs scratch themselves by rubbing on trees (see pic on left). Tree rubs often are found near trails that wild pigs use regularly. Tree rubs can be informative. They can tell you the wild pig's approximate size by the height of the rub line, and the wild pig's color by hair left on the bark of the tree.

Concentrate hunting efforts where the signs are freshest. As a general rule, hunted wild pigs tend to be less active than unhunted wild pigs in the daytime. Sign will usually be freshest from October through May in the early morning and evening or at night. The wild pigs tend to be almost exclusively nocturnal during summer. They seem to be most active on moonlit nights.

Hunting Techniques for Wild Pigs: Usually wild pigs will attempt to run away if they smell, hear, or see a hunter. Wild pigs have an excellent sense of smell, good hearing, and poor eyesight. Therefore, hunters should be most concerned about being downwind and quiet. They can be less concerned about being seen. If you are downwind and very quiet, you can often get very close to feeding or sleeping wild pigs. If the wind is faint, a puff powder bottle is very useful for detecting the direction of air currents. When injured or cornered, wild pigs can be dangerous. A good indicator of aggressive behavior is a clacking sound, made when the wild pig snaps his jaws open and shut. If a wild pig is running toward you, it is not necessarily attacking. Because they have poor eyesight, wild pigs running toward a person usually do not recognize the human form. Making a quick movement or sound will usually cause the wild pig to turn in a different direction.

Stand Hunting (Posting): This type of hunting is useful when you know that wild pigs are using an area and have located their food or water source. Select a spot with a clear view and, if possible, some cover and a good rest for shooting. Make,sure you wait downwind from where the wild pigs are expected to appear. Another form of stand hunting is to wait along possible travel routes, or escape routes outside an area being hunted intensively by other hunters. You should plan to to be on site at least a half-hour before sunrise. This is mainly an early morning technique and, if unproductive, the hunter can then try one or more of the other methods.

Spotting and Stalking Wild Hogs: In fairly open country, spotting wild pigs from a distance and then stalking them can be an effective method. Start out by trying to situate yourself you where you have a commanding view and the wind is coming toward you. If pigs are seen at a distance, walk slowly and quietly toward them, keeping the wind at your face and using available cover. Since wild pigs have poor eyesight, you may be able to get fairly close without being detected. This technique is by far the most popular with bowhunters. Stalking to within 15 yards for that 9 perfect shot is not an impossible task.

Still Hunting Wild Boars: In thicker habitat, still hunting is commonly used. After locating an area with fresh wild pig sign, plan a route that moves into the wind and has quiet footing. Move slowly and stop often to search and listen for wild pigs. For both spotting and stalking, and for still hunting, quiet clothes are essential. Glassing often with binoculars can increase your chance of success.

Group Hunting: If you are hunting with a group, a hunting drive is an option to be considered. Conduct the drive by walking a short distance apart with the hope of flushing wild pigs out of cover. With this technique, it is especially important to be aware of the direction your muzzle is pointing as you walk along. Another approach, depending on the terrain, is to strategically place hunters at one end of a brushy area, along trails, or on either side of a canyon. For safety reasons and to insure the best shot, position the stationary hunters at locations where they have a good open view. The rest of the group should work noisily through the area from the other end, hopefully driving the wild pigs before them and flushing them out into the open. When using archery equipment, the same technique may work if the group moves quietly. With this technique, the wild pigs will probably be moving and a relatively quick shot will be called for. Because there are a number of hunters, and they are spread out, there needs to be extra concern that shots are taken only when sure of both the target and background.

Hunting Wild Hogs with Dogs: For hunters who are fairly fit, hunting with dogs can' be quite successful. Good pig dogs will get on a fresh scent and usually chase a wild pig until it is brought to bay or cornered. The dog's barking will lead the hunter to the wild pig. This technique often results in a fairly active chase, over long distances in rough country.

Only dogs skilled in wild pig hunting should be used. A large wild pig brought to bay may become very aggressive. Unskilled dogs could be seriously injured.

Tracking Wild Hogs: If fresh sign is encountered, skilled hunters may try to immediately track the wild pig. Tracking conditions are most favorable after a recent rain, as the soft ground allows good tracks to be made and washes out old tracks that could be confusing.

Remember that wild pigs have poor eyesight, good hearing, and an excellent sense of smell. Wild pigs can be active at any time of the day, but they are mostly active during the early morning and late evening, when traveling to and from their beds. Another option is to head for the nearest brush cover. If wild pigs are not there, circle the area of heavy activity. Although pigs may travel several miles to forage, they often bed down near their feeding area.

Locating Shot Hogs: Once you have shot an animal, it is your responsibility to recover that animal. Depending on shot placement, this may require many hours of hard work over rough terrain. It may even require an effort the following day. If this is not appealing to you, hunting wild pigs is probably not your sport.

While we all try to make clean kills, this does not always happen. After taking a shot at any animal, there are a few things that should be done to determine if you hit the animal. If the wild pig is no longer visible, first mark in your mind where the animal was standing when you shot. Next, go to that spot, whether or not you think you hit the animal. Mark the spot so that you are able to return to it if necessary. Look around the immediate vicinity for any signs of wounding. Frothy blood indicates a lung wound; bright blood a hit in muscle; and digested food, with or without blood, a stomach wound.

Unless it is a stomach wound, most hunters using firearms prefer to begin tracking the animal immediately. Because animals wounded in the stomach can travel long distances, often it is better to wait in the hope that the wounded animal will lie down close by, rather than be pursued for a long distance. Because arrow wounds are different from bullet wounds, the general rule is to wait for awhile before tracking an animal which has a body hit. If the hit is in the abdomen, delay even longer. This wait is especially important when bow hunting wild pigs because when wounded they have the ability to move very quickly and aggressively. On hot days, the length of this waiting period needs to be balanced with the need to process the carcass as soon as possible to avoid spoilage of meat. The amount of blood indicates how difficult the tracking task will be. Much of your success will depend on your experience, but some general hints are:

(1) do not only look at the ground, but look on blades of grass or leaves of low growing bushes;,

(2) do not just look for sign but also look ahead to see if you can spot the wounded animal, either moving or lying on the ground;

(3) if you lose the trail, circle and search for blood or other sips of recent passage such as fresh tracks or overturned rocks;

(4) when you come to any open areas, stop and use your binoculars to search for a downed animal in the distance; and

(5) When you locate the downed animal and it is obvious that it is not dead, a second shot is often advisable to end the animal's suffering and prevent it from running again and possibly getting away.

Dispatching Wounded Boars: As with any big game, approach any downed or obviously wounded animal with care. Sometimes the animal is only stunned, can recover, and then aggressively attack the approaching hunter. A good rule is to be prepared for a second shot until it is clear that the animal is dead. It is especially important to be wary about wild pigs because not only are they hard to kill, but their strength and sharp tusks enable them to inflict serious injury, even when wounded.

Hog Meat Care Tips & Field Dressing Hogs: Wild pigs should be gutted, skinned, and cooled as soon as possible after being killed because they can spoil rapidly, especially if the weather is hot. Trim out scars or any wound tissue. Small wild pigs can be skinned in the same way a deer is skinned. Large wild pigs can be skinned using the strip method. Hang the carcass with the head pointing up and make a cut through the skin around the neck. With a sharp carpet knife or razor knife, make cuts perpendicular to the neck cut down the whole body about 4 inches apart. Peel each resulting strip off the carcass by pulling firmly.

Care of Hog Meat: After field dressing the wild pig, hang the meat in a shady place to allow it to dry and cool. In general, wild pigs tend to spoil faster than deer.

You can get mattress covers with a drawstring at the top for a small price at any army surplus store to cover your hog to keep out the bees and flies. You can also use cheesecloth.

After the meat is cool, it can be butchered or taken to a meat locker to be hung and aged the same as with deer or livestock. Meat should be properly wrapped and frozen. As with other big game, the cleaner the meat is kept, and the quicker it is cooled, the better it will taste. Young pigs up to about 9 months of age tend to be the best tasting. They can be identified by their smaller size and temporary needle-like lower canine tusks. For large wild pigs over 200 pounds, consider grinding most of the meat into sausage.

Hog Disease Considerations: Wild pigs can carry parasites and diseases - in particular, trichinosis and brucellosis - that are potentially transmittable to humans, livestock, pets, and wildlife. The risk of becoming infected is very small, and can be further minimized by proper handling, care and cooking of the wild pig carcass.

When handling a wild pig carcass, it is recommended that you take the following precautions:

• wear rubber gloves when dressing wild pigs

• avoid puncturing the urinary bladder and gastrointestinal tract

• freeze the meat until hard

• completely cook the meat (170 degrees F.)

• bury, bum or dispose of in the garbage the unusable portions of the carcass so that it can not be dug, up and eaten by wildlife or pets.

Wild Boar Hunting General Info: Wild boar hunting has been around for thousands of years, from the Persians’ first attempt to slay these creatures, but it has really become known in the medieval times when royalty and rich people used to hunt boars as a way of entertaining themselves and their guests. Over the years wild boar hunting hasn’t lost any of its appeal and is now just as popular as it was in Elizabethan England, almost five hundred years ago. So what makes hunting boars such a timeless practice?

A possible explanation could lie on our desire to see such fierce creatures like boars being brought down. We’ve always enjoyed reassuring ourselves that we can defeat any living thing that stands before us, as a way of proving to ourselves that nature can be conquered piece by piece. That is why, the boar being constantly a challenge and a threat, we are drown to it over and over again.

Wild boar hunting is neither for the faint of heart nor for solo hunters, because the boar can prove to be a vicious fighter that never surrenders without a fight. Despite its aggressive nature, this omnivore is tranquil if not threatened, and almost never deliberately attacks humans. The sole situation in which you are advised to stay as far as possible from a boar is when it has cubs (piglets) and they are beside their mother. She will do anything to protect her young from any danger they may be facing.

Like almost any other form of hunting, wild boar hunting implies luring the unsuspecting creatures towards you and not having to search for them yourself.

One way to bait for them is to dig a hole one or two feet deep and one or two feet across, placing some bait in the bottom and cover it with a layer of dirt. Another way to bait boars is to use a 4-5 inch pipe that will be cut into two or three foot pieces with caps on each end. These are inexpensive and efficient luring solutions which will make the whole hunting experience much easier.

Choosing the right spot to place your bait can be tricky as the boars have excellent senses and will detect your presence thus, making them suspicious of an easy meal. That is why a baiting spot should be chosen somewhere easy to get to, away from any bedding areas and, if possible, right next to trails, flounders and other often used areas. The location you choose is very important to your success (even more important than the method used), especially when there aren’t many boars around.

Wild boar hunting seems to stay with us throughout the ages and it would seem to continue to be a part of our hunting sphere for years and years to come. Although hunting for boars has radically changed its ways in comparison to the way it used to be done centuries ago, it still keeps its essence, whether we comprehend it or not. After all, the beauty of something lies in what the naked eye cannot see and in what the mind can.

About Wild Boars: The Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig. It is native in woodlands across much of Central Europe, the Mediterranean Region (including North Africa’s Atlas Mountains) and much of Asia as far south as Indonesia and has been widely introduced elsewhere. It is in the same Suidae biological family as the Warthog and Bushpig of Africa, the Pygmy Hog of northern India, Babirusa of Indonesia and others. It is more distantly related to the peccary or javelina found in the southwestern area of North America and throughout Central and South America.

The term boar is used to denote an adult male of certain species, including, confusingly, domestic pigs. In the case of wild pigs only, it is correct to say “female boar” or “infant wild boar”, since boar or wild boar refers to the species itself.

Wild boars are large animals reaching 6 feet in length and weighing up to 440 lb. They have black rigid fur and straight tails. Males have tusks that twist out of their mouths (female hogs have smaller tusks and don’t stick them out very much). Boars like to inhabit forests near streams or pools. Because boars don’t have sweat glands they have to wallow in mud to cool down. Wallowing also helps getting rid of fleas and other parasites. Boars are speedy runners and excellent swimmers. In autumn, they will eat woodland foods like acorns, pecans and hickory nuts. Throughout the rest of the year, hogs eat roots, fruits, grass, mushrooms, eggs, bugs, and even corpses of animals. If the food is plentiful, hogs will hang about in a 10-square mile area. They have really tough noses (snouts) that help them dig and also an outstanding sense of smell being able to sniff out underground food. Their eyesight is not as good but they can hear extremely well.

Wild boars live in groups called sounders. Sounders typically contain around 20 animals, but groups of over 50 have been seen. In a typical sounder there are two or three sows and their offspring; adult males are not part of the sounder outside of the autumnal breeding season and are usually found alone. Birth, called farrowing, usually occurs in the spring; a litter will typically contain five piglets, but up to 13 have been known. The mother boars often build a ground level nest out of small firewood and grass, or only by scratching together whatever vegetation is on the nearby ground. The babies live there for a week until they are strong enough to go after their mother around. The piglets are born with a light brown fur which has white stripes all the way from head to tail. Mother boars are known to be very dangerous when trying to protect their babies; fathers live on their own. After around 45 days, the piglets can find food by themselves, although they may still stay with their mother. These animals are typically nocturnal, foraging from dusk till dawn but with periods of rest during both night and day. This is because hunters are most active throughout the day. They eat just about anything they come across, including nuts, berries, carrion, tubers, refuse, insects, small reptiles, and even young deer.

The difference between the wild and domestic animals is largely a matter of perception; both are usually described as Sus scrofa, and domestic pigs quite readily become feral. The characterization of populations as wild, feral or domestic and pig or boar is usually decided by where the animals are encountered and what is known of their history. In New Zealand for example, wild pigs are known as “Captain Cookers” from their supposed descent from liberations and gifts to Māori by explorer Captain James Cook in the 1770s. One characteristic by which domestic breed and wild animals are differentiated is coats. Wild animals almost always have thick, short bristly coats ranging in color from brown through grey to black. A prominent ridge of hair matching the spine is also common, giving rise to the name razorback in the southern United States. The tail is usually short and straight. Wild animals tend also to have longer legs than domestic breeds and a longer and narrower head and snout. European adult males can be up to 200 kg (sometimes up to 300 kg in certain areas, particularly Eastern Europe) and have both upper and lower tusks; females do not have tusks and are around a third smaller on average.

Bow Hunting Wild Boar: If you don’t like hunting with hi-tech gadgets you might consider using the rustic bow for your wild boar hunts, it can be an entire new experience that you haven’t lived yet. Wild boar bow hunting is very popular among amateur and experienced hunters due to the fact that it is a very interesting and different experience. In comparison with hunting with a rifle or a similar weapon, hunting with a bow is way more difficult and requires a lot of practice, patience and skill.

Another aspect that you should be aware of is that wild boars are known to be very aggressive when they feel cornered so if you are on the look for some adrenaline then bow hunting wild boars might just do the trick. Due to the fact that wild boars are considered in many places a nuisance to the environment because they do a lot of damage to wherever they go, hunting them is legal year-round in many locations. Another aspect which influenced this situation is that their rate of reproduction is very high, 6 to 10. Not only these animals do a lot of damage to the nature but also they carry a lot of terrible diseases which in some cases are transmittable to people.

The most obvious reason why boar hunting is popular is because their meat is very delicious. The best time to hunt these animals is during the evening ( late afternoon – early evening ) because this is the period when these animals are most active thus increasing the hunter’s chances for a successful hunt. Lots of hunters like to install still hunting spots which can be baited trails in order to attract the wild boars. A more difficult and demanding way is to stalk the hogs. During this procedure, many hunters use calling devices.

Killing wild boars with an arrow is very difficult because these animals have around about two and a half inch of cartilage which in many cases prevents the arrow from penetrating enough to kill the animal, only injuring it; this can be very dangerous because if these animals are injured they have the tendency to become even more aggressive. If this situation happens, it is advisable to get as far away from the animal as possible, hiding is another aspect which should be taken into consideration.

First time bow hunters shouldn’t make the mistake of buying a very heavy bow because they won’t feel comfortable using it; you must buy a bow which you feel comfortable with because you will be using it for a long time as being a master at bow hunting takes a lot of time and exercise. Don’t buy a modern, hi-tech ( and expensive ) bow for your first bow purchase, buy one which is as silent as possible and stable – simple yet efficient.

All in all, if you ever get tired of hunting wild boars using your rifle or other similar weapon, bow hunting can be the perfect alternative but you should take some things into consideration : it is much more difficult and also dangerous, you have to really know how to use a bow and at a same time keep an eye out because these animals are very dangerous and they become aggressive the moment they feel threatened.

European Wild Boars: The European wild boar’s body is similar with the bison’s body but it is heavier and higher in the shoulders region. The boar’s body is covered with coarse, thin hair. In most cases, wild boars are black but in some cases, they can be brown or silver-gray. The boars are born with stripes from their nose to the tail which will fade when the boar reaches six up to nine weeks old. Wild boars are known to inhabit in lots of different areas which in some cases is quite annoying as these animals do a lot of harm to the nature.

As far as the reproduction is concerned, the males are capable of breeding year round. Female boars are able of farrowing any month. Most of the female boar farrow only once per year, but there are some cases ( when food is abundant for example ) when some of the sows may give birth to more than one litter per year. At about one year, permanent tusks start growing; their sexual maturity is reached in their first year of life. Their longevity is known to be around 10 years but there are some cases in which the European wild boar lived for even 27 years.

Wild boars may be active both during the day and night. In the warmer months ( summer time ) they are most active during the night because they want to avoid the daytime heat. Their movements are in most cases nomadic and are brought about by the availability of the food. Wild boars are known to have a very developed sense of hearing and smell. They don’t usually roam in groups.

European wild boars are omnivores but they will eat practically anything : beetles, snails, caterpillars, walking-sticks and many others as well. The wild boar has very few predators; bobcats prey on young boars while both young and mature boars may be preyed by coyotes and black bears. As far as the European continent is concerned, wild boars are usually found in large areas of forest.

The European boars usually make their shelters by cutting along the grass and crawling under it in order to lift it and so that it will become entangled with the tall herbage around to form canopies. You might have asked yourself how do boars communicate, it is quite simple: grunts, chirrups and squeaks are used by boars to understand each other.

The European boar ( and the other boar species as well ) have very bad eyesight; the only color they can recognize from the three primary ones is blue. Wild boars are known to be very good swimmers and can swim long distances. The density of the European wild boar is below 5 animals per sq km; but when supplementary feed is given, the density can be higher, for example, in a Poland forest, the density is about 10 animals per sq km.

The European wild boar isn’t very different in comparison with other wild boars, resemblances are very easy to find: they will eat just about everything, their appearance is basically the same and the bad part is that they do the same harm as the other hogs do.

Hog Hunting Rifles: The very first thing you should take into consideration before purchasing a rifle which you will be using for your hog hunting adventures is that the rifle needs to be as accurate as possible because if you don’t hit the animal in the vital organs he will most likely survive and probably evade. Unfortunately, this detail doesn’t narrow the list of possible weapons to purchase because there are many accurate rifles on the market that are waiting to be purchased.

The advantage of this rich palette of weapons is that you don’t have to pay a small fortune to purchase one; if you search in the right place you will get a very accurate weapon without spending your entire paycheck. Accuracy isn’t everything because the weapon needs to be also very powerful in order to take down these big animals. Wild boars are tough animals and they won’t give up without a fight. There are many cases in which hunters shot an animal using a 30-06 without “disturbing” the hog very much but there were cases in which hunters took down these large-sized animals with lighter calibers like the .243 or the .22-250 and in some cases even the .223.

Many experienced hunters recommend the powerful .30 caliber rifles like the .308, 30-06 and the famous .300 Winchester Magnum which they consider to be the most appropriate to use for wild boar hunting because they have proved their efficiency along the years, in all weather conditions, taking down from small to very big hogs. The 30-06 is known to be one of the most (if not the most) versatile hunting cartridges in the world and many hunters recommend them not only for hunting this particular type of animal but to hunt anything from a coyote to a moose.

As far as action types is concerned this is basically up to the hunter because it depends on the hunting style and the habitat. Many hunters say that a levergun isn’t as accurate as other action types but there are many experienced hunters that use a .243 BLR - Browning Lever Action getting very good results with it. A very popular single-shot rifle would be the Ruger #1 but in many cases, even if you hit a hog in a vital place, the situation will probably impose for a second shot to take the animal down for good.

For shooting wild boars at distances between 70 and 100 yards the most recommended cartridges are the: .308, .270, .30-06, .444 Marlin and the .45-70. When taking down hogs from distances between 150 to 250 yards, the most suitable cartridges a hunter should use are the: 7mm. Mag, .300 Win. Mag, .300 Rem. Ultra Mag, .300 Wby Mag. and the .338 Win Mag.

All things considered, there are many rifles on the market that are very good for hunting wild boars but choosing the most appropriate one for your hunting style can be a difficult but not impossible thing to do. To help you we are going to offer a small list of rifles that we think would be the most suitable for hunting hogs.

Russian Wild Boars: Basically, the Russian wild boar is the same with the wild boars you will find in the rest of the Europe, some parts of Asia and in Northern Africa. The main difference between the authentic Russian wild boars and the rest is the size. Lots of mature males reach staggering weights of 440 to 660 lbs ( approximately 200 up to 300 kilos ); in rare occasions, even over 770 lbs ( approximately 350 kilos ). Although their “home land” is Russia, the density of the wild boar populations is not the highest there in comparison with the rest of the Europe or in Asia’s muslin countries.

A piece of advice for those hunters who are planning on taking out these large animals: when they are confronted, the animals can become very aggressive so be more than attentive in order to avoid unpleasant surprises. In the early season, hunts are conducted from stands placed close to the wild boar’s preferred grounds, with other words, different crop fields. The best way to hunt these animals in winter time is by ground driven hunts. Also using dogs or stalking can be very efficient if done properly.

The Russian wild boars also known as the Razorback are quite different from the normal pigs. They have very thick hair all over their entire body. Another thing that makes them different is that they grow tusks which in most cases can measure up to several inches which they use for self-defense and foraging. The Razorback are omnivores but they will eat almost anything they can get their claws on. The Russian wild boar has a very developed sense of hearing and smell which makes it a very agile wild animal.

Russian wild boars are considered to be dangerous animals in many countries because they do a lot of damage due to the fact that they destroy lands by making nesting zones or when they forage for food. Also, populations of quails and wild turkeys have diminished because wild boars have the bad habit of eating their eggs. Also, these animals are a threat because they are known to carry around lots of dangerous diseases such as: tuberculosis, pseudo rabies and swine brucellosis.

In their behavior, they have the tendency to be shy around people but if they sense fear they will instantly get aggressive and become very dangerous not only for humans but also for other animals in the area. Boars are hunted for trophy and sport. Many countries encourage wild boar hunting because these animals have a very big destructive power and will virtually destroy everything in their sight.

All in all, the Russian wild boar ( along with the other types of boars ) are very dangerous animals, a real threat for humans but also other smaller animals. So keep in mind that hunting them is exciting but can become also very dangerous because as I have mentioned before, if they feel cornered, they won’t hesitate and will attack you as soon as they have the possibility to do so.

Wild Boar Hunting Tips: It is just to assume that a certain population of wild boars in a specified area of hunting will strongly decide the success of a hog hunter. In the areas with a high population or overpopulation the easier it will be to fruitfully hunt wild boars. In almost any circumstances hunters can get better odds on taking a hog by following some simple rules. In many cases, the initial signs of boars are noticeable in open ground where they begin rooting. Rooting is a highly common sign that boars make. They are easy to observe and to keep track of.

The primary mistake hunters make after seeing rooting is to go into the woods to search of the boar’s hide-out. That should be the last thing that should be done. The first one is studying the sign and deciding how fresh it is, for how long, or for how many days have the boars been rooting in the area. This is significant info, since wild boars are animals of habit. The sole thing hunters can and ought to try is take advantage of the boar’s recurring behavior, which is a major weakness. Hunters must look for tracks leading into the rooted fields. Boars often use the same track over and over making a clean trail beneath a fence and into the pastures. By studying and recognizing these signs a capable hunter is able to conclude whether or not the boars have created a reliable pattern.

Various things have to be taken into consideration before choosing bait. A number of skilled hunters are fully convinced that the sour corn is the absolute best and no other can match it. There are plenty of things to think of when choosing bait or a mixture of baits. One of these things should be the coons. It doesn’t come to any good placing 20 pounds of corn for boars if the raccoons scarf it up by the time the hogs find it. A different one is the use of bait to cover the hunter’s scent; another one is that corn should stay crispy so it makes noise when the boars are feeding. The noise will cover the hunter’s noises,luring other hogs to a feeding frenzy. With these motives in mind corn combined with diesel or corn and milo combined with diesel is strongly recommended. Diesel will discourage coons, as it has a powerful smell and the corn will remain crispy. To prepare bait one just applies a quart of diesel to five gallons of corn.

There are plenty of ways to bait boars. One frequent way is to excavate a hole 1 or 2 feet deep and 1 or 2 feet in diameter. Lay some bait at the bottom and cover it up with a coating of dirt. Put more bait in the ground hole and cover it up with a film of dirt. Continue until the hole is filled then make sure you don’t forget to put some bait on top of it. The boars will effort long and hard and will come back time after time until the corn is through. Providing the hole is constantly baited the boars should return. Another method to bait is by using a pipe. A 4 and 5 inch sewer tube with the holes previously in it works really well. The inflexible pipe can be cut into 2 or 3 foot parts with caps at each end. Just remove a cap, fill it up a slightly over half and lay it on the ground. It would be clever to attach it in such a manner that the boars can bang it around getting the corn out without dragging it somewhere you wouldn’t find it. You’ll see that this is cheap to make, it generates some noise to make you aware that the boars are on it. Also, it makes corn last a bit longer by forcing the boars to struggle more to get that corn out.

Once you have chosen the bait and the means to hold the bait, it’s time to decide upon the spots where you will be placing the bait. These spots ought to be easy reachable and should be positioned in an area that can fit the method of hunting you’ll be using. They should also be located far enough from any areas frequented by the hogs so that they cannot hear, smell or see you as you get there. The spots baited are best located right next to tracks, flounders and other often used areas. The location is tremendously important in all of those considerations, particularly where there is a small number of boars around.