Learn How To Scout Before A Hunt
Scouting includes a variety of tasks and techniques for finding animals to hunt.
One of the biggest problems a lot of hunters have – is that many hunters do not “scout” (actual field scouting or glassing) as much as they should prior to the hunt, so that they can gain as much information about the area, the game, the time the game move, and where the game moves in that area.
How To Scout For Wild Boar
Effective tracking begins with developing awareness for signs of activity. The directions provided are the first line of defense for would-be-victims of an unprovoked attack. By proactively scouting secluded areas from time to time the reader will find signs of activity and prevent an attack before it happens. The safest way to identify and neutralize a possible threat near your home is to engage the animal on your own terms without surrendering the element of surprise.
Steps
One of the biggest problems a lot of hunters have – is that many hunters do not “scout” (actual field scouting or glassing) as much as they should prior to the hunt, so that they can gain as much information about the area, the game, the time the game move, and where the game moves in that area.
How To Scout For Wild Boar
Effective tracking begins with developing awareness for signs of activity. The directions provided are the first line of defense for would-be-victims of an unprovoked attack. By proactively scouting secluded areas from time to time the reader will find signs of activity and prevent an attack before it happens. The safest way to identify and neutralize a possible threat near your home is to engage the animal on your own terms without surrendering the element of surprise.
Steps
- 1. Find out what a typical wild boar looks like by doing some research. 1.1 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. **WARNING** Arm yourself with a weapon capable of lethal force before scouting for signs of activity.
- 2. Survey the perimeter of your property for fresh signs of activity.
- 3. Be advised that hogs live in swampy terrain with dense cover that must be near water. 3.1 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.
- 4. Watch for overturned soil since hogs dig for tender roots instead of eating grass. 4.1 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.
- 5. Search for hog footprints near the sites of activity that lead to more trails. 5.1 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 declaw prints.
- 6. Track the direction of the hog prints until you are lead to the main highway trail. 6.1 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.
- 7. Infer the level of activity on the highway based on droppings. 7.1 Do not confuse hog scat for deer droppings; the pellets of hog scat are three times larger with remnants of hair and bone.
- 8. Be aware that the highway is the direct route to and from food and water. 8.1 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 accidently disturb a sleeping hog be prepared for an unprovoked attack.
- 9. Establish your hide somewhere along the highway. Choose to either: 9.1 Scout the area from a camouflaged hide until you make a positive identification of the hog; 9.2 (Optional) Plan a way to safely ambush the hog by engaging from a far away distance. 9.3 (Optional) Arrange to have the hog captured and relocated by Wildlife Services.
Tips
- The wild boar is a dangerous animal that can easily outrun a human and slash through human tissue using their sharp tusks. The reader is instructed beforehand to prepare for an encounter by arming themselves with a weapon capable of lethal force.
Warnings
- Warning*** Tracking a dangerous animal means that you need to be able to defend yourself from attack. By reclaiming your territory from an aggressive animal you may be the target of an unprovoked attack.
- Warning*** Carrying an unlicensed firearm is illegal. Firearms must be used according to law.
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