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=^ Baiting Wild Hogs "Refreshing the bait pile yourself, once every other day or so, can work as well as a timed feeder ... If there are a lot of pigs in the area, they may find the bait overnight/'

By Will Brantley

couldn't believe how chilly it got as Pigs can't see much, but their keen soon as the sun began to set. Getting noses rival any big-game animal's. I sat Icold isn't part of the plan when you with the release clipped to my bow- are strapping yourself to a palm tree string, hoping the pig would settle down south of Lake Okeechobee, but with and commit to the bait. No such luck. nothing heavier than a T-shirt and cotton With one low, gurgling grunt, it turned camo pants between me and a stout and trotted away. breeze, 60 degrees felt downright brisk. Maybe 30 minutes later, and it Not that I was complaining. The was a long 30 minutes shivering in the wind had shifted north to northwest stand, something black and in motion (from directly in my face to off my left caught my eye. Another boar, this one shoulder), which was fine for any wild a tad bigger, crossed a clearing 100 hog feeding on the corn pile in front of yards away. I considered climbing down me. But I was a little concerned about and attempting a stalk, but then the one showing up behind me. Depending boar reappeared a bit closer and started on what the wind trotting straight did at the moment, toward the corn. my scent could The wind was a ruin things fairly little more off my quickly. left shoulder now, Turned out the but I still held my hit. This one fell 20 feet from the feeder. concern was valid. breath as the pig Much has been said about the Hogs can approach passed through the proliferation of feral hogs and the nega- with amazing "hot zone" where tive impact the nonnative animals are stealth, particularly the first one had having on native plants and wildlife. in sandy palmetto winded me. Take a look at the devastation caused country when a When the pig by a herd of Florida hogs on the edges breeze is blowing. finally stepped of a palmetto thicket, and it's easy to I glanced over up to the bait pile understand why wildlife managers want my left shoulder, and began rooting, them out. But the animals are here to and there stood a there was plenty stay, at least in the South. Since they're 100-pound boar of time for me to not going away, and excellent eating, I just 15 yards away. settle down and figure I might as well hunt them. When a pig is enjoy the warming A feeding pack of hogs leaves standing stock-still boost of adrena- behind a lot of sign. Even if you've 30 yards from a line that comes never seen it, hog rooting is unmistak- big pile of corn, you know it's nervous when a shot is at hand. I drew and aimed able. Picture king-sized turkey scratch- about something. The body language is low behind the shoulder, waiting for a ings that dig into the ground half a foot. sort of like a whitetail doe bobbing her slightly quartering-away shot. Pigs can Or, better yet, picture a garden tiller head and stomping the ground. be difficult to kill without a sood bow pulled randomly across the land.

16 FUR-FISH-GAME The pigs may not return to a rooted- to harvest one over bait, given a little timed feeders, typically set for a few out spot, but it indicates they're at least time. (First check state game laws for seconds of corn distribution in the morn- in the area. Their muddy wallows are any baiting restrictions.) Exploit a pig's ing and again in the evening. This condi- also easy to identify. Hogs must have tions the pigs to visit the site during water, particularly when it's hot. daylight hours. It also helps the corn last Scratching posts — trees where hogs rub "Even if you've never seen it, a little longer. A pack of hogs can finish their bodies—are also good sign. off a 40-pound pile of corn in no time. "You can tell the size of the hogs in hog rooting is unmistakable. "You can buy just the timed feeder an area by looking at how high the rubs head for not a whole lot of money and are on trees," said Terry Van Arkel, a Picture king-sized turkey attach it to a barrel to make your own wintertime resident of the Florida Keys feeder," Van Arkel said. "You don't have who has been hunting the local pigs for scratchings that dig into the to program it to feed every day. It can 30 years. "They like to rub pine trees to feed every other day if you want. Hogs get that sap on them. It keeps the bugs ground half afoot." will still be conditioned to come by and off. I've seen boars that were just com- visit, and you can always carry a little pletely covered in the stuff." Ziploc bag of corn to the stand with you Deer hunters targeting hogs for the weaknesses —its poor eyesight and insa- and pour it out so they'll stop and give first time may be baffled by their differ- tiable appetite —and you may overcome you a shot when they do come in." ent ways, but after they find an area with its keen sense of smell. Refreshing the bait pile yourself, pig sign, chances are they will be able Serious hog hunters often opt for once every other day or so, can work as

August, 2009 17 well as a timed feeder. If you live near strong odor of food will bring hogs in." When the wind is right, slipping the hunting area, this usually isn't much If you have enough land, it's a within bow range is a possibility due to of a problem. If there are a lot of pigs in smart idea to establish several bait the pig's near-sightedness, especially in] I the area, they may find the bait over- stations. Van Arkel has seven feeders thick cover. If you're carrying a rifle, it] night. At most, it may take a few days. spaced out on a few hundred acres, with a cakewalk. The biggest drawback to this tree stands at every one. Prior to the The kill shot is a topic of lively method is that you must visit the area hunt, he checks the wind and decides on debate among hog hunters. The "shield"] to freshen the bait, and you leave a lot stands accordingly. Always approach a on a big boar's shoulder is the stuff of of scent doing this. It doesn't take hogs stand from downwind. legend—turning arrows and absorb- long to shy away and only visit under You don't have to put out multiple ing bullets with little effect. I know I cover of darkness. Pigs react to hunting baits, but the more baits you put out, the was baffled, at first. I lost animals that pressure same as whitetails. more wind-direction options you give seemed to be perfectly hit with the While putting out bait, wear knee- yourself, the better your odds. arrow. In retrospect, I was still thinking too much like a whitetail hunter. Deer have big lungs with a lot of and removes the internal organs. square inches of kill zone sitting open Preparing wild pork He uses a water hose to frequently behind the shoulder. The vitals of a spray off the meat during the skinning hog are much smaller and positioned for the dinner table process. He finishes by quartering the elsewhere. To kill a hog, you need to animal, taking extra time to remove any think between the shoulders where the ome say feral hogs are among the excess fat and glands during final butch- lungs sit; the heart rests at the bottom of Sbest-tasting wild meat. Others say ering, prior to cooking or freezing. the chest cavity. The deadliest shot with the animals are tough, gamey, and foul- This recipe is pretty easy, and if you a bow and arrow is a slight quartering- smelling. Both can be true. enjoy sauerkraut, very tasty. away angle as the hog reaches its front Though tusks may be the goal of a leg forward. Rest the sight just behind trophy hunter, experienced meat hunters Sauerkraut Pig the hog's "elbow" and envision where let the boars walk in favor of tastier 2-3 pound trimmed boneless pork roast the arrow will exit. The idea is to hit the table fare. Some boars are good to eat, 1 cup vinegar opposite shoulder dead-center. but others have a very strong flavor. 1 cup water Big boars do develop a fleshy shield Truly large boars are tough and require Salt of gristle over their shoulders, and even a bit of cooking ingenuity. Pepper with a medium-sized hog, the arrow may The difference in the tastiness of Garlic powder not pass through. But chances are you'll a big boar and a dry sow (one without 1 large can sauerkraut get plenty enough penetration, nonethe- piglets) is truly night and day. Sows 1 can beef broth less, and if the arrow hits that opposite typically have mild meat, although Rub the roast down with the vinegar shoulder, the hog will probably fall bigger ones can be a little tough. Young and sear on all sides in a hot skillet (a within sight. pigs, those 75 pounds or less, are the tablespoon/id of olive oil keeps it from The same shot works well with a tenderest and tastiest of all. sticking). Transfer the roast to a crock gun, too. Just center the shoulder and Van Arkel brings his animals home pot or slow roaster with the rest of the hold a bit low. Or, as many experienced whole without any field dressing. He ingredients. Add salt, pepper and garlic gun hunters prefer, aim just behind the then hangs and skins them, being care- powder to taste. Cook eight hours or eye for a head shot that drops the animal ful to keep the hair off of the meat. Then until the meat easily pulls apart. Serve where it stands. It's a small target, but if I he makes the shallow cut down the belly over the sauerkraut. you're hunting over bait, shots should be close enough to pose little problem for a decent shot with an accurate rifle. rubber knee boots and don't touch When you do shoot a pig, rest the Though some hog hunters use nearby trees and weeds. Van Arkel bait a few days by hunting elsewhere. rimfire rifles (again, check the game said he likes to fill his feeders from the Multiple bait stations can create laws for caliber restrictions), a mature bed of his truck without touching the opportunity for still-hunters, too. Rather hog may outweigh an adult whitetail, ground. Regardless of how you distrib- than remain at one bait, a stealthy hunter and it's better to stick to centerfires with ute bait, you can burn through a lot of can ease through the hunting area, wind big-game bullets. it, and corn is expensive. Van Arkel also in his face, cautiously approaching each There are many ways to hunt hogs. uses other, less expensive baits. bait. If the hogs haven't been hunted too Spot-and-stalk and chasing with dogs "I've dug holes in the ground and heavily, they're apt to be standing over are both a lot of fun. But, to consistently filled them up with old fryer grease," he that bait any time of day (although early put pork on the table, especially when said. "The restaurants just pour it out. morning and late evening are best). If hunting with a bow, a tree stand or Some guys use food scraps from home they aren't at the bait or at a wallow, ground blind overlooking a stocked bait to make a slop pile. Anything with a often, they are bedded nearby. station can't be beat. •

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