Fact checked by Steven Lines, lifelong Hunter and Outdoorsman
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When you’re hunting hogs, you’ll need to find a way of getting them onto your property. Because of this, you’ll need to set out some baits. But how long before you start to see results?
Hogs have a sensitive sense of smell. When they can smell food, they will be in the area within 24 hours. At the most, you will need to wait 72 hours before they arrive. Before you start hunting, you might want to wait a few days. This will let you observe the group and learn their habits.
While you might not have to wait long before the hogs start to arrive, there are still some things you’ll need to know. What’s the best way to attract them? How long will they stay? Here’s everything you need to know about to plan a successful hunt.
In this post, we'll cover:
How Long Does it Take For Your Bait to Start Attracting Hogs?
The time it takes to attract a hog can vary. Often, it will depend on how far away the hogs are. Before you start setting out bait, you’ll need to investigate where the hogs are. This will tell you the best area to put your bait.
Signs of hog activity can include things like tracks on the ground. There will generally be markings on the trees from where the hogs have rubbed themselves against the bark. You might also be able to find a wallow.
When you know where the hog population is, set-up your bait, there are plenty of things you can use to attract them. The most popular is soured corn. You might also want to use a creosote post or diesel rag. If you have rotting vegetables, you can create a tray of slop. The more pungent the attractant, the more likely it is that you will be able to bring hogs into the area.
Hogs have a keen sense of smell. Because of this, they will be able to detect food sources in the area. They will be able to travel large distances to get to the food. If your bait is fairly close to the population, you should start to see activity on the first night. If not, you should see signs of hog within 48 to 72 hours.
This sensitive sense of smell is why you will need to use scent masking tools when hunting. It’s also important to make sure that you are standing downwind during the hunt. If the hogs can smell you, they will avoid the area.
When Can You Start Hunting Hogs?
After you set out the bait, it shouldn’t be long before you start to see activity. However, it can be wise to wait for a little longer before you start hunting. There are a few reasons for this.
First, waiting will give you time to gather information on the pack. Set-up trail cameras around the bait area; this will let you learn how large they are. You can see how many male and female hogs there are. You can find what times they are most active and how long the activity lasts.
This information will help you when structuring your hunt, helping you choose your priority target. If you are bowhunting, how large the hogs are will determine what type of broadheads you will need to use.
It can take a few weeks for the hogs will start to trust the food area. For hunters, this often won’t be a big issue. As long as they can see the hog, they will have a chance of landing a good shot. However, for trappers, taking the time to earn the trust of the hog is vital. They will often need some time to get used to going inside the trap to get their food.
This video shows you how you can set-up a successful hog trap.
How long the hog will stay around can vary. Usually, as long as there is food in the area, they will keep coming back. Even if you shoot one, the group will still return the next night. This will give hunters plenty of chances to shoot one.
However, these are intelligent animals. If something about the set-up changes, they might move on. For example, some people have found that a tree falling was enough to dissuade the hogs from coming back. Other hunters report that older hogs can grow suspicious about lights around the feeding areas.
Because of this, you should check the area before you set-up for your hunt. You want to make sure that the conditions are the same as they were previously. If they were, you’re likely to get some good activity.
What Time of Day Does Hog Activity Increase?
Hog tends to be most active at night. This helps them avoid detection. During the summer, the lower night temperatures also help them with sweat. However, in the winter months, you might be able to get a good shot during the middle of the day.
Generally, the best activity comes during the early morning or early evening. Because they tend to come out at night, it will be harder for hunters to kill. Often, it’s best to use either green or red lights. Hogs won’t be able to see these spectrums.
During the day, they will stay in thick patches of brush that are hard for people to access. However, that doesn’t mean that it will be impossible to hunt during the day. You’ll need to work a little harder to track them down. This will often mean looking for a hog crossing; these are the paths they use to get through the area. Generally, you will need to use stalking techniques rather than waiting for them to come to you.
What Time of the Year Are Hogs Most Active?
Hogs will be active throughout the year. Because of this, the population will consistently need to be controlled. But during the winter months, food will become scarcer. Because of this, they are willing to travel long distances to get food.
In most states, you will be able to hunt for hog on private property all year. Often, there won’t be any bag limits. However, if you are planning to hunt on public land, there might be seasons that you need to follow. It’s a good idea to check these things before you start your hunt. This will ensure that you don’t receive a fine.
What Other Factors Affect Hog Activity?
A few other things can affect how long it will take for the hog to fin your bait. For example, they will be more populous in some states. Places like Texas, Florida, and Georgia have the largest wild hog population. As we mentioned, you will need to consider the temperature. The colder it is, the more desperately the hog will need food.
The amount of deer activity in the area might be affected by barometric pressure. When there is a low-pressure system, the air stays closer to the ground. This will make your scent more noticeable. On these days, you might have better results if you are using a tree stand. It’s also more important to take steps to mask your scent.
Final Thoughts
Attracting hogs to your property isn’t very difficult. Though they prefer smelly foods, like soured corn, they will eat anything. Once you put out bait, you should expect to see activity within three days. They will stay until the food supply is exhausted.
Steven Lines is a hunter and outdoorsman from Safford, Arizona, USA. Since he was a child, he has been hunting and fishing and has over 20 years of outdoor experience. Steven works as a hunting guide in Arizona during his spare time and runs a Youtube channel dedicated to sharing his outdoor adventures with others.