[flintknapper]

O.K., so everyone knows whenever I first bait out my hog trap…I ALWAYS place a “Corn Arrow” in front of the entrance. Just for fun (but it works).



This afternoon while dribbling out corn on a hog trail….I noticed a “pocket” dug in the side of an old Pine Stump. No doubt… the work of some armadillo, but it gave me an idea. The pocket in the stump is a little bigger than my fist…but way too small for a hogs snout to fit into. I am curious to see just how hard a hog will work for some corn.

The stump is a few feet off of the trail…so I put down a “Corn Arrow” and then placed a big handful of corn in the pocket of the stump.



Any predictions?



Follow up pics in the morning (assuming a hog comes in).

[Cuerno Largo]

I predict stump rooted out if they find it.

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by Cuerno Largo

I predict stump rooted out if they find it.

Thats what I'd predict as well.

[flintknapper]

Not surprisingly, a hog took the stump completely out of the ground last night. Judging from the tracks present…I would guess it is a lone boar.





That would explain the lack of game-cam pics at the trap the last two nights. This animal will eat the corn on the trail.... to within 10-15’ of the trap then quits.

Let’s play with this a bit and see if we can identify the hog and also get him/her to re-root the stump hole.

I will go this morning and see if there is a suitable site to move the game-cam to. We will need to try to catch this animal on the trail leading to the trap.

This hog is likely “trap shy” so pics will be helpful, that way we know what we’re dealing with. I would bet….it is a boar…and I bet he comes in late.

If I can find some rocks nearby….I will place them over the rooted hole along with the stump and we’ll see if we can get some pics. My camera is set to take two pics, 13 seconds apart, then it does not take another pic until one minute has expired.

I could set it on video mode…but at night it would only be a 5 second duration (daytime 15 seconds).

If it turns out to be a boar….(and he is coming in late), he may be a candidate for a snare.

[Trunk Monkey]

Flint, you and your hogs have become my favorite reality TV show.

[flintknapper]

Uh….Oh.

Looks like I was wrong, it wasn’t a hog after all.
I went to go move the game-cam awhile ago…and walked up on this fella.



Who knew they were that strong? Thank God….he didn’t charge.





It got pretty “tense” there for a moment, but he finally backed down.

[Cruiserdrew]

"E's got a mean streak a mile wide...."

[brian]

you got lucky man. not many people get that close....and walk away.

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by brian

you got lucky man. not many people get that close....and walk away.

Telephoto lens, but I was still "sweating bullets" I tell ya.

[Joe_E]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

"E's got a mean streak a mile wide...."

"and he's got nasty sharp pointed teeth"

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by Joe_E

"and he's got nasty sharp pointed teeth"

The dreaded "Saber-Tooth" cottontail.


I'm a LUCKY MAN.......!

[brian]

would have been justified in using the holy hand grenade you would have been.

[LukeZero]

Originally Posted by brian

would have been justified in using the holy hand grenade you would have been.

good call

[Joe_E]

Originally Posted by brian

would have been justified in using the holy hand grenade you would have been.

"And the Lord spake, saying, 'First shalt thou take out the
Holy Pin. Then, shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three
shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting
shalt be three. Four shalt thou not count, nor either count thou two,
excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once
the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou
thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thou foe, who being naughty
in my sight, shall snuff it.'"

[flintknapper]

Just what I thought, a “Lone Boar”.

Apparently, I left too much scent behind for this guy. I have this pic and another of his tail end…leaving a few seconds later.



Not a “big” boar…..but old enough to be cautious. When I re-bait the area today….I will apply a light mixture of Kreso-D to the stump and the rubbing trees in the area.

Hopefully, that will be enough to partially mask any of my scent. I should have done that yesterday. “Laziness” will cost you….when dealing with hogs (my bad).

[Liam]

i really love these threads...

[brian]

being new to these threads.
i must ask if this fellow is being invited to a bbq?

[MARLIN375]

Tell me Flint. What do hogs do during the day, they seem to be mostly nocturnal or is that just the older educated ones?

[nate-gk]

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

[flintknapper]

MARLIN375 wrote:

Tell me Flint. What do hogs do during the day,

Depends upon the time of year (temperature). But, in the summer months hogs tend to seek shady, cool (relatively), secluded places...not far from a water source.

In these areas, they will "lounge" most of the day, sometimes ranging small distances to forage or visit a water source for relief, but for the most part they are just trying to stay cool and conserve energy. Hogs have no sweat glands....and can only regulate their body temperature by means of limiting their movement...or by immersing themselves in water or mud.

In the cooler months (Fall, Winter, Spring) hogs will travel great distances in search of food, water and safe bedding areas. They will seek sheltered areas out of the wind and elements when the weather is inclement. Also, increased travel and more frequent feeding cycles (about every 3-4 hrs) helps to keep them warm.

So, there are stark differences in daytime habits where temperature extremes exist.

they seem to be mostly nocturnal or is that just the older educated ones?

No, hogs (like deer and many other animals) are "crepusular", meaning: They tend to be most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk, but will forage all day in cool weather.

The only other reasons for them to take on a nocturnal pattern would be owing to hunting pressure or in reaction to the daytime temperatures.

In the cool months we see them all times of the day and night. In the summer months their movement is almost exclusively at night...and the hotter it gets...the later they wait to forage and will restrict travel as much as possible, (or as the availability of water dictates).

The subject of "older educated" animals is a valid point, some hogs (particularly older, solitary, boars) will develop patterns of feed/travel that are entirely nocturnal.

Even in states that allow hunting them at night (Texas is one), the hunting pressure is greatly reduced at night, as well as other farm activities that might prove disturbing.

A hog does NOT have to be "older" however, only "educated".

This is where the well deserved statement "Hogs are smart" comes into play.

Even young hogs "learn" quickly. I can think of no other animal (excepting crows) more capable of making "associations" as quickly as hogs. While I do not believe hogs are capable of abstract thought or reasoning, they WILL make the "association" between a bad experience/event and "danger" the very first time!

Hogs also enjoy an excellent "memory" and put it to full use everyday. If hogs were predatory animals....we'd all be in a world of hurt.

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by nate-gk

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

I have seen this sentiment expressed many times and I am sure some folks would enjoy hunting/pursuing them if they (hogs) only existed in small numbers.

However, hogs will quickly populate an area and drive other (more desirable) animals out....while at the same time destroying property, crops, etc...

Trust me, you don't want them. They are a scourge.

[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!

[Atticus]

We have time. Why is Spot "off limits"?

[Trunk Monkey]

Originally Posted by flintknapper

has been joined by “spot” a hog that is off limits (long story).

LOL. I sense a child involved. "Dad, that pig is cute, I'm calling him Spot. You're not going to kill Spot are you . . . . ?"

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by Atticus

We have time. Why is Spot "off limits"?

http://forum.ih8mud.com/hunting-fish...le-devils.html

Post #17 (and others).


Trunk Monkey was "spot on".

[Mace]

Can you trap and "fix" spot?

I just cannot see being kind to these hogs as a good thing if they are as busy as they seem to be...

[flintknapper]

Mace wrote:

Can you trap and "fix" spot?

Trap yes, "fix" no.

If "Spot" were a male....no problem, happens to animals on the ranch all the time. Females....though, would require a spaying process (surgery), and that is just a tad beyond my scope of talents.

Alternately, (to be legal) I could have a veterinarian come out, test her for Swine Brucellosis and Pseudo-Rabies, then I could legally transport her to the Vet's facility where she could be "fixed".

I just cannot see being kind to these hogs as a good thing if they are as busy as they seem to be...

Nor can I. But now you have interjected "logic" into the discussion. It is a well known fact that females of the Human species do not always work off of "logic" but default more often to "feelings".

My hands are tied.

[Mace]

Originally Posted by flintknapper

But now you have interjected "logic" into the discussion. It is a well known fact that females of the Human species do not always work off of "logic" but default more often to "feelings".

My hands are tied.

Sometimes, what the females don't know can't hurt them

Stuff her and pull her out for pics occasionally


Was it the daughter that shoots these pigs that left you handcuffed?

[flintknapper]

Mace wrote:

Sometimes, what the females don't know can't hurt them

Yes, but MY females (Wifey and Daughter) have an uncanny ability to find out things they are not supposed to "know".

Stuff her and pull her out for pics occasionally

Thats a "novel" idea and perhaps a plausible solution in another household. Problem is....my Daughter is basically a "hog expert" from having hunted them for the last 10 yrs. I'm going to hazard a guess she would "notice" that Spot was in the same position in each photo. We will have to come up with something a bit less conspicuous.

Was it the daughter that shoots these pigs that left you handcuffed?

The same. Usually a "natural born killer"....but she took a "liking" to this pig when it was little. Done deal.

She shot every single mature animal out of that herd, so its not about "killing" pigs. Its just about THIS pig. Don't ask me why.

[Mace]

lol

Awesome