[Cuerno Largo]

Originally Posted by nate-gk

I wish there was hogs up north this stuff is kick ass.

Believe me, you don't want them.

They can tear up multiple acres of land in a single night. I'm sure flint has had experience with that since he gets so many pics.

I have seen 10 of 300 acres of my property turned over in a single evening. It looked like someone dropped bombs there.

You can have all you want. I apparently don't have enough bullets to keep up.

What makes me laugh is when people go to a ranch around here and pay 400 bucks to shoot one. Crap, I let people hunt those things for free just to try to keep up with them.

Been reading some info on contraception for them that is interesting though. Hopefully it pans out.

[Cuerno Largo]

BTW flint. Did you make your trap door?

I have seen several designs and I am about to make my own for a large pen like yours.

I don't know if I want to go with a guillotine type trap door or a slant type that others can push in once several are trapped.

I only have a small trap right now with a guillotine type door. I can't tell how tall your fence is, but I am going to guess cattle panel height. Have any jump over that yet? A pissed off hog can do remarkable things.

[flintknapper]

Cuerno Largo wrote:

BTW flint. Did you make your trap door?

No, I found mine at our local feed-store. It had every feature I wanted and was built to take punishment. So rather than break out the welder...I just bought it.

It is made by "BossHawg". I was able to get this one for $270.00 so it was a no-brainer. http://www.bosshawgtraps.com/

I have seen several designs and I am about to make my own for a large pen like yours.

Large pen is the way to go. Hogs are much more comfortable going into it.

I don't know if I want to go with a guillotine type trap door or a slant type that others can push in once several are trapped.

I used a guillotine door for many years with good success. "One Way" doors of various design....are a neat concept, but my experience has been that rarely do hogs continue to "root through" the door.

If you have a sow "in heat" inside the trap and a boar outside, yeah...he might go in also, but my game-cam pics show that whatever I catch when the doors trip is usually what I end up with.

Of course, I check my trap within 12 hours of setting it...but I can't point to a single incident where additional hogs have entered after the initial "trip". But that may be owing to the design (doors bang shut).

There are trap designs that utilize a "root through" door to begin with...and they may do better. I have had pretty good luck with a "Figure 6" trap and using nothing but the panel for a door.

I only have a small trap right now with a guillotine type door. I can't tell how tall your fence is, but I am going to guess cattle panel height.

I use 4 ga. utility panel 4" X 4" X 60" tall. If your panel squares are larger than 4X4, piglets can escape from the trap. I wouldn't even consider having panels less than 60" tall (if open topped).

Have any jump over that yet?

Absolutely, in fact the last group of 3 boars had a reddish colored one that only lacked about 8" from making it over the top. When I first checked the trap early in the morning he started "climbing" (another way they get out). The other two were trying to "root" their way out.

The reddish boar made several jump attempts and really rocked the pen. None of this group got out before I could dispatch them, but I have had larger hogs (on another trap) jump high enough to roll over the top (bending the panel). This happens more when you have a trap with "corners".

If there are multiple hogs...they will "ball up" in a corner and invariably... one will use the others as a stepping stone to launch itself to freedom. Hogs can jump, make no mistake.

A round, or teardrop shaped trap helps quite a bit...since it has no real corners, the hogs tend to "mill" in a circle, but they CAN get a little bunched up at the door.

If you stand at the door to shoot them ...it forces them to the back of the trap.

A pissed off hog can do remarkable things.

Amen!

Wait until you walk up on that has been snared. With any luck...I'll have some pics of a snared hog to share in the morning.

The worst case scenario...is when one manages to step through the loop with one leg (along with head). It results in the hog being caught around the shoulder. Yee-Hah!

When caught by the neck...they will usually stop pulling at some point. Likewise...you can catch one by the "snout" if they have mouth open when they hit the loop. They usually don't pull much then either. But, if you shoulder catch one...its pretty much "Katy bar the door".

Naturally, no matter how they are caught...they are NEVER happy to see you. So make sure you use good strong snares.

If your snares have "wimpy" stops CHANGE THEM.....or you'll have a hog come "look you up".


I even make heavy extensions with a swivel so they can't twist off or kink the cable. Then I add a spring to help cushion the shock load.

[bigbrowndog]

Originally Posted by flintknapper

Well……this boar is being about as uncooperative as is possible.





I was hoping to keep him baited in one area to establish a “pattern” on him and possibly have him “back-up” his feeding times to something more acceptable (10 p.m. to midnight). I am willing to sit on a stand and brave the mosquitoes for that long, but NOT into the wee hours of the morning.

If he would come in earlier….I could just shoot him…since he is never going to enter the trap (trap smart). Instead…. he is coming in even later than before….and to complicate things… has been joined by “spot” a hog that is off limits (long story).



This is going to be tough. IH8HOGS!

Years ago when I was a kid my Grandad had pigs that looked similar to that one, seem to remember they were known as Gloster Spot pigs, they were gradualy sold off and replaced with what was the the Tamworth White a pig that was longer and heavier. cool thread, thanks

[73fj40lc]

Honey, Spot went bye bye. He decided to take a long dirt nap with the rest of his friends.

[flintknapper]

Done deal!

Story tomorrow…..too tired tonight.








How it happened:

I planned to be on stand by 8:15 p.m. (gets dark about 9:00 p.m.) and was resolved to stay until midnight if necessary.

It was terribly hot here yesterday and I was expecting the boar to go to water about dark….then begin to work his way toward the bait site.

I knew he was bedding not far from the pond….so I needed to be as quiet as possible going in. To that end…I decided to leave my truck about ½ mile from the stand and have my Father in Law drive me up close to the stand in his “mule”.

The idea was that the boar would hear the “mule” leaving and not be alarmed…as he might be if he heard a truck stop a distance away but not leave. Sure enough…..it worked, but it worked a little too well.

I walked slowly and quietly to my stand. I had already placed my rifle and binoculars in the stand earlier in the day so I would be able to climb into it making the least amount of noise. I looked at my watch when I got there, 8:07 p.m., perfect, (or so I thought).

I carefully climbed into the ladder stand….pleased that I had made no noise. I sat down and repositioned the rifle. But, as I did so….I barely “ticked” the end of the barrel against the rail on the stand. Immediately I heard a “sniffing” sound come from the bait site about 60 yds. away! OMG, the boar was already there.

Two more “sniffs” and then I heard a crashing sound (sticks breaking) as the boar ran into woods just out of sight. He stayed there less than 50 yds. away pacing back and forth “growling”. This is typical behavior for a boar when they are agitated about something, but don’t want to leave.

I strained my eyes looking into the woods…hoping to get a glimpse of him, looking for any shot opportunity. I knew he wouldn’t stay long and I was concerned he would circle behind me and get my scent. So far…he had only heard something “unnatural” and was simply being cautious.

I a minute all was quiet, he had slipped away. Somewhat dejected… I decided to wait it out….but knew that if the boar was really “spooked” he would NOT come back …or would do so in “stealth mode” most likely circling the area first.

As luck would have it…almost an hour later (very dark now), I heard the unmistakable sound of corn crunching. With spirits renewed….I got my flashlight out, positioned the rifle to shoot and waited. It was agonizing…but after 10 minutes I could just barely make out a head coming into view through the scope.

As soon as the boar gave me enough head and neck to see….I turned on my flashlight (red lens) to get a better sight picture, I quickly found his neck in the scope and tapped the trigger.

“Luck” was with me last night, I didn’t expect this particular to come back, but he did.

Flint.

[IDave]

[MARLIN375]

So now what do you do Flint?

As accute as these hogs are for things out of the norm, How do they react to the smell of "death" particlarly one of thier own.

Do you have to move the trap and bait setup to a new location? or is death just business as usual like with ungulates.

[flintknapper]

MARLIN375 wrote:

So now what do you do Flint?

First thing we do is to get rid of this one.

He’s being “recycled”.

Kind of hard to find someone on a Friday night…. who wants to come pick up a Boar, field dress it, skin it, bone out the meat…. and get it on ice (before it spoils in this heat).

As accute as these hogs are for things out of the norm, How do they react to the smell of "death" particularly one of thier own.

Depends largely upon the circumstance. For instance, in this case the boar was alone. There were no other hogs around to encounter a "bad experience" and thus make an "association".

All that is left...is bloody spot that will be completely gone in a couple of days (beetles and ants).

However, it is always a good thing to be careful and quiet when removing the carcass. The less commotion in an area the better.

Do you have to move the trap and bait setup to a new location?

Not in this case...and not "normally" if you rake out the first layer of dirt in the trap soon after dispatching the hogs. As far as a "bait site" is concerned....I have shot dozens of hogs in the same spot over a period of time. But, I am careful and patient.

Too, hogs can be a bit different (one individual to the next), some spook more easily than others. So, I can't say the smell of blood, musk, etc...never alarms them...but not normally.

or is death just business as usual like with ungulates

They encounter other dead animals in the woods from time to time. By the time a hog is a year old... a little blood left behind is not a particularly alarming thing (unless found in conjunction with a strong human scent).

You raise a good point about hogs being aware of things out of the "norm". It is incredible sometimes.... how little something need be out of place for them to notice. It doesn't mean they will always spook from it, but they WILL notice.

I have moved just a few limbs (3' long, 2" diameter) near a trail in order to funnel movement a foot or so... and completely "killed" that trail for weeks.

[MARLIN375]

Great info Flint, thanks for that.

Now if someone would just come up with a teleporter. I would gladly take one of those hogs off your hands.

[flintknapper]

Looks like someone else wants to “play”.




Sometimes I feel like Jeremiah Johnson, I just get rid of one of the enemy….and they send ANOTHER!

[lunyou]

I would love to come hunt some pigs sometime. I supposedly have a decent pig population near me but I have never seen one nor have I heard of anyone killing one.

lunyou

[flintknapper]

Got a 600lb hog on my game-camera yesterday.



“BushHog”

[D'Animal]

Don't shoot the 600lb'er


The bullet might bounce off and flatten a tire.

[flintknapper]

This boar was quite the challenge despite his young age. A very cautious animal that “spooked” easily.






Tonight he circled the entire area…but ended up coming in right underneath my ladder stand. I had already stood up when I heard him sneaking in from behind me…but I couldn’t really see him in the dark.

He eventually stopped about 5 yds. from the base of the tree and just to my left. This was about 9:00 p.m. (not total darkness but darn near). I could just make out his form (head from tail), but was not expecting such a close encounter. I still had my scope set on 6X…. and no time for adjustments!

I was afraid he would scent me any second….so I decided NOT to wait and see if he would move up to the lighted bait site.

I leaned out over the rail a bit and found a bunch of hair in the scope. It was very difficult to tell where to place the reticle because of the darkness and the magnification. The solution was to open both eyes using my weak eye as a co-witness. As soon as I thought I had him targeted…I tapped the trigger.

I gotta tell ya….it was pretty bright shooting straight down like that. In a few seconds my vision returned and I could see the hog. I could actually hear him kicking around before that.

Anyway, one more I don’t have to deal with.

IH8HOGS!

[flintknapper]

I guess its just too much to ask to have a few days "vacation" before they send in the "replacements".



I swear these things will be the death of me.

For all those out there still "wishing they had hogs"...I'll say it again: YOU DON'T!


Gawd.....IH8HOGS!

[alex e]

Get the ghost of Earle on 'em....they'll never come back!

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by alex e

Get the ghost of Earle on 'em....they'll never come back!

"Earle the Squirrel", his memory lives on!

[LukeZero]

Originally Posted by flintknapper

I guess its just too much to ask to have a few days "vacation" before they send in the "replacements".



I swear these things will be the death of me.

For all those out there still "wishing they had hogs"...I'll say it again: YOU DON'T!


Gawd.....IH8HOGS!

OK- I've never seen the need for a fully automatic weapon is a hunting situation- but now I do.

[D'Animal]

Looks like deer hunting in Iowa.

Originally Posted by LukeZero

OK- I've never seen the need for a fully automatic weapon is a hunting situation- but now I do.

You can kill them faster than you can clean them.

[flintknapper]

A few more taken out.







My brother and his youngest son came up Friday to visit. We loaded up some 6.8’s that my brother wanted try out and baited out the hog-trap.

We had only three hogs this morning…but that’s three less than before.

Anyway….my nephew had a good time setting the trap and could hardly wait until morning to see if we had caught anything.

We let him dispatch the hogs and then email the pics to his older brother who didn’t come up (these two siblings are competitive).

[Trunk Monkey]

"Dude - there is a green dot on you . . . ."

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by Trunk Monkey

"Dude - there is a green dot on you . . . ."

Yup, 25mW green laser.

They always find that out too late.

[alex e]

Oh is that a sickening feeling or what?

"Hey Najib, there's a green dot on you!" BOOM. Six point eight to the rescue via the Trigger Puller Express......

[flintknapper]

Well……I knew it couldn’t last.

I’ve been pretty much hog free for a couple of weeks, even got some of my deer to show back up.



I’ve been enjoying the reprieve…until now.

Looks like we have another one that wants to “play”.



Small boar, always alone, been coming in the last 3 nights.

They just never learn.

[Liam]

damn i would love to come down and shoot some hogs....

[PHBeerman]

Flint,
Are your neighbors good about eradicating hogs as well? It seems that if they are not going about it the same way that you do, they may just be chasing pigs from their properties to yours. Is this a problem? Or do you and your neighbors work together?

[73fj40lc]

looks like that little piggy needs to go to the market or wewewewe all the way back home.

[romegadave]

Flint,

Maybe I missed it earlier or in another thread but I wondered what your disposal method was considering your kill ratio. Do you just dig a long linear pit and cover them up? Here in N. Georgia we have lots of clay and a lot of areas have lost top soil to erosion so some areas are hard diggin' (as opposed to south GA where the sand can be raked back). Is it pretty sandy there to make it quick digging with the bucket to cover them up? Dave

[Atticus]

buzzards got to eat, same as worms