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Hog Hunting Tips in Alabama?

m_west_co

New Member
Joined
May 29, 2020
Messages
2
Howdy,

I'm new here but was curious if anyone had some tips for finding hogs and a general hunting strategy? I recently moved to Fort Rucker, AL and have access to lots of hunt-able land (i'd consider it semi public - decent numbers of hunters here but still restricted access). Most terrain is heavily wooded, with decent amounts of creeks/muddy bottoms and few clearings. I've tried setting up near fields at dusk with little success, but when i try to spot/stalk through the woods i feel like i make so much noise moving through the thick brush/leaf covered ground that i'd never stand a chance sneaking up on anything. There's no feeders to hunt here either.

I recently got a saddle hunting setup for fall deer season, but still need some more practice before hunting out of it. Is saddle hunting for hogs worthwhile? I've been thinking of trying to slip in to some marshy/swamp areas or creek bottoms mid day while it's hot to try to find hogs off the ground- is this a worthwhile strategy? Sorry for the dumb questions but i'm new to hogs and i feel like most information out there is based off of hunting off a feeder.

Michael
 
U got a good plan....any good shade along the water during the summer can hold pigs...depending on your comfort level u can wear sneakers if ur not scared of getting wet or some hip boots.... a slow shuffle (dont raise your feet out of the water) makes for a pretty silent approach...I dont have anywhere to hunt in the off season but if I go out scouting I like walking the creeks

U need to learn about permethrin if u dont already know about it...

I'm in florida but I think it applies to other areas too
 
On private land this past year I’ve got pics of hogs at most all the same places I have pics of deer. I feel like im almost as likely to see some pork as I am a deer, especially if there’s corn involved. As far as specifically targeting them, I’d think bait is the way to go, especially since it’s legal here now. Other than what’s already mentioned above of course.
 
I’m at Ft. Benning and have had pretty good success finding the pigs around here. Haven’t been to Rucker but imagine the terrain is fairly similar. Right now we’re finding quite a few a little higher out of the swampy areas concentrated around areas that have blackberries. Their eyesight and hearing aren’t great, but they can smell really well. Walk with the wind in your face and move slowly, stopping every 10 yds or so to listen. Often times you’ll hear them before you see them. Not sure if you’re using a bow or a gun, but if it’s a bow I’d take a good look at arrow/broadhead combo. The Ranch Fairy YouTube channel has all you’d ever want to know about that topic, swapped over to the heavy arrow/cut in contact setup this past fall and won’t ever go back to a lighter setup.
 
Funny. I actually went scouting this evening and jumped a sounder of 8 back in the swamp.

This time of year, they will stay close to water to stay cool. These were in an interior gum pond area maybe a foot deep. Water, thick cover, food. I do not usually have much luck sitting and waiting for hogs. Their home range is much larger and they are more nomadic than deer. I like to walk slowly along transition lines between wet/dry areas or thick/open areas. You may get luck and see and hear them hundreds of yards out. You may wet yourself jumping them 10ft in front of you. Both have happened to me. These actually cut my trail behind me maybe 30 yards. Two of them stopped to settle a not-so-friendly dispute. Cool to see them there popping tusks and trying to keep their shield up. Wish we could shoot them here in the summer. Have to wait until something else is in season.
 
Thank you all for the tips! I’m an adult onset hunter so I appreciate all the help I can get! The couple times I’ve gone out here I’ve taken my bow (waiting to get my firearms registered here), but have a 30-30 I’ll probably start using too. I have checked out ranch fairy’s stuff and will he testing it out soon! Right now I have ~ 400 grain ‘twisters’ with muzzy broadheads.

I did get out this afternoon and adjacent to a creek (~90 degrees when I started so figured it’s be a good bet). I’ll keep trying and try to find some transition areas as mentioned (or blackberrys - haven’t noticed any of those But will keep my eyes out!
Good tip on the permethrin, I actually soaked some clothes in a .5% solution for the first time last week, seems like it worked decent! And I like the idea of hip boots in the creek - I’m not quite ready for the tennis shoes yet! Unfortunately the stream I was next to today was a little to deep for my boots
 
Thank you all for the tips! I’m an adult onset hunter so I appreciate all the help I can get! The couple times I’ve gone out here I’ve taken my bow (waiting to get my firearms registered here), but have a 30-30 I’ll probably start using too. I have checked out ranch fairy’s stuff and will he testing it out soon! Right now I have ~ 400 grain ‘twisters’ with muzzy broadheads.

I did get out this afternoon and adjacent to a creek (~90 degrees when I started so figured it’s be a good bet). I’ll keep trying and try to find some transition areas as mentioned (or blackberrys - haven’t noticed any of those But will keep my eyes out!
Good tip on the permethrin, I actually soaked some clothes in a .5% solution for the first time last week, seems like it worked decent! And I like the idea of hip boots in the creek - I’m not quite ready for the tennis shoes yet! Unfortunately the stream I was next to today was a little to deep for my boots
I got turned onto yoders chaps with tingley boots last year and have never found such an awesome tool for hunting in the swamps. I walked 2 miles through swamp this evening in them. Knee high poison ivy, briars, knee deep water...lots of good stuff. They're lightweight and you can actually walk pretty quietly in them. Not really that expensive either.

I also like them because in the winter you can launch your canoe without having to worry about a boot full of icy water.
 
I'm getting ready to try to hunt some as well here in NE Alabama. I have a customer that has some tearing up his cotton field. Trying to decide on when to go. Seems like the wind is always blowing to the swamp where I think they are holding up in. I have convinced myself to wait on an afternoon when is misting rain or raining to try them. Thinking they may come out earlier if its cooler. I figure they are coming out at night though. I went there yesterday to pull some tissue sample and seen fresh sign. Years ago we would just walk around till we found where they were and position ourselves in front of where they were going. This situation is going to be a little different because I don't have permission to the property where I think there are holding up on.
 
I'm getting ready to try to hunt some as well here in NE Alabama. I have a customer that has some tearing up his cotton field. Trying to decide on when to go. Seems like the wind is always blowing to the swamp where I think they are holding up in. I have convinced myself to wait on an afternoon when is misting rain or raining to try them. Thinking they may come out earlier if its cooler. I figure they are coming out at night though. I went there yesterday to pull some tissue sample and seen fresh sign. Years ago we would just walk around till we found where they were and position ourselves in front of where they were going. This situation is going to be a little different because I don't have permission to the property where I think there are holding up on.
Can't we night hunt them in Alabama on private property now? I know you can with a depredation permit.
 
SPECIAL NIGHTTIME SEASON ON PRIVATELY OWNED AND LEASED LANDS ONLY
May 1 - August 31

  • No bag limit. May be hunted during nighttime hours
  • Dogs only - no firearms allowed
 
That's what I told the farmer to do. He gave me free range to do whatever I wanted. He talked to the game warden to see if they would help him trap them, they said they would but it would be 3 months before they could do anything, plus another month to set the trap, because of the process that they have to go through to set a trap. IDK, sounds like they just gave him the run around. Anyway I'm going to try them, gives me a chance to hone in on my hunting skills before deer season and if I'm successful we both win.
 
Stalked a big boar this evening. Got within 10 yards of him in a cotton field. Which was very exciting. The 300 black out worked on his head. Got a small pig a week ago just scouting around trying to figure out where the were bedding and where they were going. Got close to the bedding, wind swirled and spooked a good size sow.
 

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If it’s legal to bait, I have a method that works extremely well here. Take and soak a 5 gallon bucket of shelled corn in koolaid and take you a pair of post hole diggers and dig down about 2.5-3 ft. Pour the whole bucket in. It will take them a while to eat it all out and it makes for a easy shot. We do this on private land and it helps us with kids shooting them. Just make your set up where the wind will be in your favor. Although some pigs won’t care, the big ones will pick you off like a big buck. And if you do it at night... get a Moultrie kill light and hang it above it.
 
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