Hog Duty

[Airgun-hobbyist]

 I use the thermal when in predator country at night. It shows you everything, even things seeming hiding behind brush. I also use it going in and out of deer stands so as not to spook bedded or feeding deer. 

Is running a thermal scope and some type of bait legal there? An electronic caller with remote would be another thing to add to the pest dispatching tool bag if legal.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Not certain on the scat. It looks like a plop or tubular but pellets as well. The print could be a yote but the one side has indication it could be just a dog. Hard to say,

If that’s a dog, that’s a big dog. There’s only been one dog I’ve been seeing out here and she’s a pregnant feral dog that comes by one of the gas wells to rummage through trash thrown out by workers and drivers. She’ll also beg the drivers for food. She’s a small-medium sized mut. 

 

[Ezana4CE]

I use the thermal when in predator country at night. It shows you everything, even things seeming hiding behind brush. I also use it going in and out of deer stands so as not to spook bedded or feeding deer. 

Is running a thermal scope and some type of bait legal there? An electronic caller with remote would be another thing to add to the pest dispatching tool bag if legal.

Funny you should ask. I just got off the phone with the property owners. They said get the yotes too. I told them I don’t know how to hunt them and the only thing I’m comfortable with is drawing them into the he open with an electronic caller and a decoy and taking my shot. If I had a partner I would have probably tried hand calling them last night. I honestly don’t know the laws concerning coyotes. I read over them once or twice but don’t remember them. I’d have to check. The owners don’t want me to bait any pest animals because this is agricultural land and there are livestock who depend on the land for food. Thermal is something a few me members have been discussing with me over the past month. I’m sort of resistant to it because tracking, setting up a stand, and calling are things I enjoy doing. I feel like a thermal unit would rob me of utilizing my skills and/or developing new hunting skills. It’s something to consider when I think about how things played out last night. 

 

[Ezana4CE]

*Update* I yanked the camera. Here's the culprit. She was last seen on camera on 2/01/22. It doesn't appear to have a schedule. I first captured footage around 8:30pm on 01/31/22, then around 4:15am the next morning, and finally a little after 8pm the same evening on 2/01/22. It appears to be a sow. I think she may be pregnant. From the trail cam footage it appears that she may be a solo actor. Owner wants her out of there. Going back tonight. Only thing I foresee being an issue is that she seems to prefer warmer weather. Se seems to like temps around the 50sF and it's forecast to be in the 20s again tonight. She has a good sense of hearing. She can hear the camera. I noticed that some deer could as well. However the hog started to sniff the air after the camera was triggered the first day. The second day she visited, she came up to the camera from behind and it appears that she either was smelling it or trying to put her mouth on it. I didn't notice any bite marks in the camera casing. The video show her pushing some soil up with her snout, rooting, for a brief moment. I may try to upload a clip later.

Edit: Add video link - Hog Duty Feral Hog EZ4CE Cam Footage

 

[JohnL57]

Can someone help me identify what type of scat this is?

Looks like coyote scat from coyotes that have been eating grapes-we live next to a vineyard and see this all the time when grapes are on the vine. I think they may also get into the leftover crushed grapes too since we see it even after harvest. Our tenant farmers dump their unsold or spoiled produce in a compost heap and we see that the 'yotes eat whatever appeals to them including pumpkins and strawberries from a nearby field.

 

[Quad82]

Being as dark as it is, I say coon. 

 

[Ezana4CE]

I got an idea. Tonight I’m trying something different. If there’s activity like last night. I intend to hand call from the truck bed. I’ll make a stand away from my campsite at the edge of an empty pasture. There shouldn’t be too much to worry concerning a backstop shooting from an elevated position with so much space and no cattle to consider. I may set out in about 30 mins. 

Edit to update: After an hour and a half my first stand was a bust. I made some coon calls and got no response. I started at the edge of an open pasture next to a gas well. It was quiet at first. Then some pumps , compressors, or something came on. I don’t know if I can blame my lack of success on that. I still haven’t heard any yote chatter tonight, but I ’s still early. I came back to camp to stoke the fire and to eat. I’ll try again in a different location later.


Something I learned tonight. Steam from my breath clouds up the infrared picture through the Pard NV007a. I pulled my gaiter over my nose and mouth while using it to dissipate the steam. That at least made it to where I could get a decent view.

1:43am Made it back to camp after about an hour of posting up where the hog was recorded. I didn’t see it tonight. There was some movement behind me coming from the creek bed and before I swiveled my Evol around to see what was moving through the woods I checked the safety and attempted to engage it. My fingers were numb and accidentally I fired a shot into the mud. Whatever was moving in the woods went back in after the shot. It sounded too small to be the hog. I hope it wasn’t the hog. I stayed as long as I could take. I noticed myself nodding off behind the tripod and I could feel the temperature dropping significantly. It is now 30F. I packed up my tripod and slid it into the scabbard in my gunrunner pack and headed back to camp. I didn’t hear any coyotes until I headed back and they sounded distant. Time to prepare for bed. 

 

[JungleShooter]

Dave,

that was some INTENSE hunting trip! Cool!

Too bad I missed it while it was going on. Neat idea of reporting and posting during the trip!

Matthias

 

[Ezana4CE]

Dave,

that was some INTENSE hunting trip! Cool!

Too bad I missed it while it was going on. Neat idea of reporting and posting during the trip!

Matthias

@JungleShooter Glad you joined and got caught up. The most intense moment was when I was awakened by a coyote that was barking and calling close enough to my tent to give me goosebumps and make me reach for my gun. I literally laid in wait on the cold tent floor, prone, fresh out of a deep sleep, and in my pajamas and thermals in twenty-some-odd degree weather anticipating an approaching yote when I had no line of sight on it. That was nerve racking.

I know this sort of thread isn’t for everyone. I belive that a lot of visitors and members want to see kill shots, as do I, but I also like to share real experiences, good or bad. Honestly I think many folks venturing outdoors, new and veterans, make mistakes, more than they care to admit sometimes. This sort of hunting experience is good for several reasons. I can see my deficiencies and work on them. I also really like the idea of showing or discussing gear. I got the chance to put some different gear to work and tried a few ideas for configurations I’d been playing with. Discussing gear is also beneficial so that others can see how items hold up on real world situations. They may also see that things don’t always play out like they do on YouTube regardless of what you have or you’re using. The a few pieces of equipment I really enjoyed and felt that my money was well spent was on my hog light, tent, sleeping bag, and hatchet. I also identified deficiencies l and limitations in some of my gear as well. That’s great information for me to work with. 

 

[squirrel_getter]

Here piggy piggy! Sprinkle salt on the pigs tail when it comes to the call. I kid! I am loving reading of your adventures. Bring home the bacon.

 

[squirrel_getter]

Can someone help me identify what type of scat this is?

Looks like coyote scat from coyotes that have been eating grapes-we live next to a vineyard and see this all the time when grapes are on the vine. I think they may also get into the leftover crushed grapes too since we see it even after harvest. Our tenant farmers dump their unsold or spoiled produce in a compost heap and we see that the 'yotes eat whatever appeals to them including pumpkins and strawberries from a nearby field.

Agree with you. They love the wild muscadines (a wild grape) around here. They have almost identical seeds.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Can someone help me identify what type of scat this is?

Looks like coyote scat from coyotes that have been eating grapes-we live next to a vineyard and see this all the time when grapes are on the vine. I think they may also get into the leftover crushed grapes too since we see it even after harvest. Our tenant farmers dump their unsold or spoiled produce in a compost heap and we see that the 'yotes eat whatever appeals to them including pumpkins and strawberries from a nearby field.

Agree with you. They love the wild muscadines (a wild grape) around here. They have almost identical seeds.

That was one of my first thoughts when he made the grape comment. When I first saw it I thought berries, but the seeds are too big. Muscadine seeds around that size. Thing is, I have not seen a fruit bearing muscadine vine in the woods. I usually pick wild berries and fruit when they’re in season. If I had seen muscadines, I would’ve pick all I could carry. On top of that, this isn’t muscadine season, at least not when I’m used to getting them from other people. They the to ripen late summer-early fall around here. I know I really want to identify this scat. @johnL57 that was a really good guess and I can’t say that you’re wrong. I’d just like to know for sure. I have some muscadines in my freezer. I think I’ll take a closer look at some seeds later on to compare them. 

 

[squirrel_getter]

Yep in Alabama muscadines made August - September with a few hanging on till October. Are their any varieties of grapes producing in your area now? I am eating some frozen grapes now and looking at the seeds.

 

[AncientSword]

This is a great thread, thanks for sharing.

I’m very interested in Hog and Coyote hunting. We’ve been hearing some coyotes at our permission, but it’s mostly thick, not much open area. Makes hunting them a lot harder. We see them on camera every so often though.

I’m hoping we can get a couple hogs down and then get them quartered out there. If we leave a couple big gut piles and some carcass, maybe we can use it as a coyote bait pile.

 

[Ezana4CE]

This is a great thread, thanks for sharing.

I’m very interested in Hog and Coyote hunting. We’ve been hearing some coyotes at our permission, but it’s mostly thick, not much open area. Makes hunting them a lot harder. We see them on camera every so often though.

I’m hoping we can get a couple hogs down and then get them quartered out there. If we leave a couple big gut piles and some carcass, maybe we can use it as a coyote bait pile.

@AncientSword Thanks for checking in. Yes, areas with dense vegetation is very tough to hunt. When you’re trying to hunt around the wind it can greatly limit your options. I’ve tried it with smaller game and I could hear shots ricochet off of branches. Gotta be very precise in that stuff with airguns. People are saying that thermal is a good way to go for that sort of terrain.

It’s probably best to bury the innards. If not, it will attract buzzards, possums, and possibly feral dogs and raccoons. Also the yotes can pick through it and eat it faster if you leave it laying around on the surface. I suggest that you try burying it in shallow dirt and let em dig for it. I’m also thinking while they’re digging and eating may be a good time to take your shot. The pigs you’re hunting seem to be fed if you have feeders out there, so I’m thinking they’re less likely to feed on the remains of one of their own. 

 

[N2 Shooter]

Dave,

that was some INTENSE hunting trip! Cool!

Too bad I missed it while it was going on. Neat idea of reporting and posting during the trip!

Matthias

@JungleShooter Glad you joined and got caught up. The most intense moment was when I was awakened by a coyote that was barking and calling close enough to my tent to give me goosebumps and make me reach for my gun. I literally laid in wait on the cold tent floor, prone, fresh out of a deep sleep, and in my pajamas and thermals in twenty-some-odd degree weather anticipating an approaching yote when I had no line of sight on it. That was nerve racking.

I know this sort of thread isn’t for everyone. I belive that a lot of visitors and members want to see kill shots, as do I, but I also like to share real experiences, good or bad. Honestly I think many folks venturing outdoors, new and veterans, make mistakes, more than they care to admit sometimes. This sort of hunting experience is good for several reasons. I can see my deficiencies and work on them. I also really like the idea of showing or discussing gear. I got the chance to put some different gear to work and tried a few ideas for configurations I’d been playing with. Discussing gear is also beneficial so that others can see how items hold up on real world situations. They may also see that things don’t always play out like they do on YouTube regardless of what you have or you’re using. The a few pieces of equipment I really enjoyed and felt that my money was well spent was on my hog light, tent, sleeping bag, and hatchet. I also identified deficiencies l and limitations in some of my gear as well. That’s great information for me to work with.

You have no idea just how fantastic what you are doing is! I may try and do a live stream when I go yote hunting if I got a good enough signal and an infrared power source.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Back out on the property. Getting my fire going and about to get some chow going. Hopefully I can get out there in about an hour. It’s warmer tonight and I’m feeling pumped. I came out earlier and set up my tent. Then I went out to check my zero. Everything checked out at 100 yards. Then I gathered my holdovers and holdunders for 75 yards and 50 yards. My ammo of choice for the night is .30 JSB Hades 44.75 grain. They make a helluva sound upon impact at 50 yards. I’m hoping the sound is somewhat representative of the kind of expansion and damage I can expect.

I took a day off yesterday to handle some business and rest my body. I was sore and very tired. I had not realized how tired I was. Although I did pass out one night before I got my sleeping bag zipped up all the way and left my lantern on. That was the night my hands went numb and I fired a shot accidentally while attempting to engage the safety. My father called to check on me and when I told him how I felt, he let me know that now I know how he felt when he and his buddies took me out hunting when I was a young man. I say do it as long as you’re able to.


Tonight there’s descent moonlight, about a half-moon, and it’s about 50F right now. I’m expecting low temperatures around 37-40F. Not much wind at all. I hope this works to my favor because I forgot my scent killer spray. I really don’t like how tending to the fore has me smelling smokey either. I feel that this puts me at a disadvantage. However I think the warmer temperatures may bring out the hog if I haven’t already missed her. It was around 70F midday. 

 

[Ezana4CE]

You have no idea just how fantastic what you are doing is! I may try and do a live stream when I go yote hunting if I got a good enough signal and an infrared power source.

@estarkey7 I guess I don’t. I’m just glad to be a part of a community that I can share the experience with. Thank you very much. Cellular and data signals are definitely shaky out here. I go from no bars to roaming to no data in different areas. So live steaming may prove tough. I imagine that also demands your attention and that can take away from the experience. If you do it, I’d be interested in watching. 

 

[Airgun-hobbyist]

I use the thermal when in predator country at night. It shows you everything, even things seeming hiding behind brush. I also use it going in and out of deer stands so as not to spook bedded or feeding deer. 

Is running a thermal scope and some type of bait legal there? An electronic caller with remote would be another thing to add to the pest dispatching tool bag if legal.

Funny you should ask. I just got off the phone with the property owners. They said get the yotes too. I told them I don’t know how to hunt them and the only thing I’m comfortable with is drawing them into the he open with an electronic caller and a decoy and taking my shot. If I had a partner I would have probably tried hand calling them last night. I honestly don’t know the laws concerning coyotes. I read over them once or twice but don’t remember them. I’d have to check. The owners don’t want me to bait any pest animals because this is agricultural land and there are livestock who depend on the land for food. Thermal is something a few me members have been discussing with me over the past month. I’m sort of resistant to it because tracking, setting up a stand, and calling are things I enjoy doing. I feel like a thermal unit would rob me of utilizing my skills and/or developing new hunting skills. It’s something to consider when I think about how things played out last night. 

Pest and predator hunting should be looked at a little bit different than hunting deer or other trophy game animals. Once you do the legwork and have found a spot to hunt them then use what tools, like electronic callers and thermal scopes or the like to get the job done. I actually discovered the thermal handheld unit made by Leupold (LTO Tracker) when I was researching the idea of making one. Hunting in predator country in the north after dark a lot, I and had been followed/stalked on more than one occasion be bear and wolves, and even pinned up in a bow stand well after dark by a pack of coyotes feeding close by one time years ago. The thermal unit I have essentially lets you see what warm-blooded animals that are near you in the dark, but it can be used in many helpful ways.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Just made it back into camp. Temps dropped to 36F and it’s been quiet tonight. I have seen anything, not hear much more than nocturnal birds and occasional movement of a small animal here and there in the woods. It was hard to keep still in the cold. I’ll be at it again tomorrow. Most likely check the cameras and do some tracking in the day time. I’m trying to warm up by the embers in the fire pit.