How to Scout and Track Wild Boar in the Southern United States

Find out what a typical wild boar looks like by doing some research., Plan ahead on encountering the aggressive hog; devise a plan that will allow you to either escape or engage the animal in the open and on your own terms., Survey the perimeter of...

10 Steps 2 min read Medium

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Find out what a typical wild boar looks like by doing some research.

    Arm yourself with a weapon capable of lethal force before scouting for signs of activity. ,, Look for a mud hole near a creek bed called a hog wallow.

    Near the wallow you should see a hog rub at the base of small trees that will appear scratched and caked in mud. , Look for signs of hogs digging up roots and digging into rotting tree trunks.

    Be cautious if you find any tell-tale signs of activity like hog wallows, hog rubs, or hog rooting. , Look for specific hog shaped prints while tracking.

    A hog track resembles a deer-sized track except it lacks pointed grooves, and it has larger rounded front tracks without dewclaw prints. , Look for the highway trail that is used the most in the area.

    A highway trail may be several miles long with minor trails branching off.

    This is the best area to scout from. , Do not confuse hog scat for deer droppings; the pellets of hog scat are three times larger with remnants of hair and bone. , Home for the hog is a “hot spot” called a hog bed, which is nothing more than a bowl shaped hole in the ground used to hide and rest in.

    The hog bed is called a hot spot because they are hard to spot, making it easier to stumble on a sleeping hog.

    Be cautious! If you accidentally disturb a sleeping hog be prepared for an unprovoked attack. , Choose to either:
    Scout the area from a camouflaged hide until you make a positive identification of the hog; Plan a way to safely ambush the hog by engaging from a far away distance. (Optional) Arrange to have the hog captured and relocated by Wildlife Services.
  2. Step 2: Plan ahead on encountering the aggressive hog; devise a plan that will allow you to either escape or engage the animal in the open and on your own terms.

  3. Step 3: Survey the perimeter of your property for fresh signs of activity.

  4. Step 4: Be advised that hogs live in swampy terrain with dense cover that must be near water.

  5. Step 5: Watch for overturned soil since hogs dig for tender roots instead of eating grass.

  6. Step 6: Search for hog footprints near the sites of activity that lead to more trails.

  7. Step 7: Track the direction of the hog prints until you are lead to the main highway trail.

  8. Step 8: Infer the level of activity on the highway based on droppings.

  9. Step 9: Be aware that the highway is the direct route to and from food and water.

  10. Step 10: Establish your hide somewhere along the highway.

Detailed Guide

Arm yourself with a weapon capable of lethal force before scouting for signs of activity. ,, Look for a mud hole near a creek bed called a hog wallow.

Near the wallow you should see a hog rub at the base of small trees that will appear scratched and caked in mud. , Look for signs of hogs digging up roots and digging into rotting tree trunks.

Be cautious if you find any tell-tale signs of activity like hog wallows, hog rubs, or hog rooting. , Look for specific hog shaped prints while tracking.

A hog track resembles a deer-sized track except it lacks pointed grooves, and it has larger rounded front tracks without dewclaw prints. , Look for the highway trail that is used the most in the area.

A highway trail may be several miles long with minor trails branching off.

This is the best area to scout from. , Do not confuse hog scat for deer droppings; the pellets of hog scat are three times larger with remnants of hair and bone. , Home for the hog is a “hot spot” called a hog bed, which is nothing more than a bowl shaped hole in the ground used to hide and rest in.

The hog bed is called a hot spot because they are hard to spot, making it easier to stumble on a sleeping hog.

Be cautious! If you accidentally disturb a sleeping hog be prepared for an unprovoked attack. , Choose to either:
Scout the area from a camouflaged hide until you make a positive identification of the hog; Plan a way to safely ambush the hog by engaging from a far away distance. (Optional) Arrange to have the hog captured and relocated by Wildlife Services.

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William Lewis

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