Hog Hunting Near Me: How to Use Infinite Outdoors to Book a Private Land Hunt

Justin Hunold

09/20/2024

Hog hunting has exploded in popularity in recent years, and for good reason. These animals are not only a destructive invasive species, but they also offer a thrilling and rewarding hunt. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or looking to get into the sport, hog hunting provides an adrenaline-pumping experience. The appeal of hog hunting lies in its accessibility across much of the United States. With the right tools, such as the Infinite Outdoors platform, hunters can quickly find private land hunting opportunities near them, ensuring a productive and exciting hunt without the competition and over-pressure often found on public lands.

But let’s dive deeper into why hog hunting is such a great pursuit and, more importantly, how to make the most of it using Infinite Outdoors to find quality, low-pressure hunting land near you.

Why Use Infinite Outdoors for Hog Hunting?

Finding private land to hunt hogs on can be challenging if you rely on traditional methods—driving around looking for 'For Lease' signs or relying on word of mouth. That's where Infinite Outdoors, a user-friendly and comprehensive hunting platform, comes into play. This game-changer app connects hunters with landowners eager to reduce hog populations. Whether you're looking for a quick weekend hunt or a full-hog hunting trip, the app gives you instant access to private properties that would otherwise be off-limits.

Many hog populations on public land have become increasingly nocturnal and cautious due to hunting pressure. On private land, however, hogs are often less wary because the hunting pressure is much lower. This makes private land hunts not only more enjoyable but also more successful. Using Infinite Outdoors, you can book a hog hunt on land likely to hold healthy populations of hogs that haven’t been spooked by dozens of other hunters before you.

Infinite Outdoors offers several key advantages:

Ease of Use: With a few taps, you can find a property and book your hunt on Infinite Outdoors. This streamlined process saves time and reduces the guesswork. Simply select your desired location, date, and type of hunt, and the app will show you available properties. Once you've found the perfect spot, you can book it instantly, securing your hunt with a few simple steps.
Guaranteed Access: No worrying about overcrowded public land or having your spot stolen at the last minute. You book your hunt, and that spot is yours for the day.
Lower Pressure: Hunting on private land often means you’re the only one out there, giving you the advantage of pursuing less-pressured hogs that behave more predictably.

Beginner and Advanced Tactics for Hog Hunting

Regardless of your experience level, hog hunting presents unique challenges. These animals are intelligent, rugged, and can adapt to hunting pressure. However, with the right tactics, you can make your next hog hunt a success. Below are some tried-and-true tactics that can make your next hog hunt not just an adventure, but a successful one.

Beginner Tactics:

Hunting Over Feeders: One of the most common methods for hunting hogs is using bait and feeders. Hogs are opportunistic feeders and will quickly home in on an easy food source like corn. Many properties on Infinite Outdoors have feeders in place, giving you the perfect setup without extra effort. The key here is patience and timing—hogs often visit the feeders early in the morning or late in the evening.
Spot and Stalk: Spot and stalk hunting can be exciting and effective if you prefer a more active approach. In areas with open fields, swamps, or lightly wooded terrain, you can glass for hogs feeding or moving from one location to another. The most essential factors in this method are wind direction and stealth. Hogs have an excellent sense of smell, so always keep the wind in your face while closing the distance.
Night Hunting: Hogs are primarily nocturnal, so hunting them at night can significantly improve your chances of success. Most properties listed on Infinite Outdoors will allow for night hunting as long as it's within legal bounds. It's important to check local regulations regarding night hunting and ensure you have the necessary permits. A good quality light, night vision, or thermal scope will make this an enjoyable and effective method for beginners. Setting up near feeders or watering holes will give you the best chance of encountering hogs under darkness.

Advanced Tactics:

Using Dogs: Hog hunting with dogs is a fast-paced, heart-pounding experience. Trained dogs are used to track hogs, often baying them until you can move in for a shot. This method is highly effective in thick brush or swampy areas where hogs are hard to spot with the naked eye. The downside? It’s physically demanding and requires a well-trained pack, but for those up for the challenge, it’s one of the most thrilling ways to hunt hogs.
Thermal Optics: Night hunting has become a new game incorporating thermal optics. While regular night vision scopes use ambient light to create an image, thermal optics detect heat signatures, allowing you to see hogs even in total darkness. This method is highly effective on private land with dense hog populations. If you're serious about night hunting, thermal scopes are a worthwhile investment.
Hunting Water Sources: In hot climates, hogs will often retreat to water sources during the middle of the day to cool off and wallow in the mud. Advanced hunters can use this knowledge to their advantage by setting up ambush points near waterholes, rivers, or ponds. Knowing when and where hogs will likely be will help you put yourself in the correct position for a shot.

Methods for Hog Hunting

Hunting at Night:

Night hunting is one of the most productive methods for targeting hogs, especially in areas where they’ve become nocturnal due to hunting pressure. You can catch hogs using lights, night vision, or thermal optics while they’re actively feeding or moving. Set up near feeders, trails, or watering areas that hogs frequent during their nocturnal routines for best results.

Using Bait and Feeders:

Baiting hogs with corn or other grains is a proven tactic in areas where baiting is legal. Feeders create a reliable pattern for hogs, encouraging them to return to the same spot at predictable times. It’s crucial to have good concealment—blinds or tree stands work well to keep you hidden and downwind.

Hunting with Dogs:

If you’ve never hunted with dogs before, hog hunting is a great way to get started. The use of dogs in hog hunting is a long-standing tradition in many parts of the country. Bay dogs track and corner the hog, while catch dogs are used to hold the hog in place for a close-range shot. It’s a physically demanding hunt but highly effective in thick terrain.

Spot and Stalk:

Spot and stalk hog hunting involves glassing open fields or along the edges of thick cover for feeding or moving hogs. Once spotted, use the wind to your advantage and carefully move in for a shot. This method is best in the early morning or late evening when hogs are more likely to be active.

Best States for Hog Hunting

Texas: With an estimated 2.6 million feral hogs, Texas is the epicenter of hog hunting in the U.S. The state has an open season on hogs year-round, and there are countless opportunities on both public and private land.

Florida: Known for its swamps and forests, Florida is home to large populations of wild hogs. The state offers hunting year-round and is a great destination for hog hunters.

Georgia: With over one million feral hogs, Georgia has a long tradition of hog hunting. The state offers both public and private land opportunities, and many outfitters specialize in hog hunts.

Alabama: With its diverse landscapes of farmland, woods, and wetlands, Alabama is another great state for hog hunting. Private land leases are plentiful, and the state encourages hog hunting to control populations.

California: Surprising to some, California has a significant population of wild pigs, particularly in the coastal and central regions. Though regulations are stricter than in some other states, there are still many opportunities to hunt hogs year-round.

Hog Hunting Gear List

To make the most of your hog hunting experience, you’ll need the right gear. Here's a basic list of essentials:

Rifle or Shotgun

When it comes to hog hunting, choosing the right firearm is crucial for a successful and ethical harvest. Hogs are tough animals with thick skin and dense muscle, which means you need a rifle caliber capable of delivering a clean, lethal shot.

Rifle: The .30 caliber range, including options like the .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield, is widely considered ideal for hog hunting. These calibers deliver enough stopping power to penetrate through thick hide and bone, especially when targeting larger boars. A .308 offers a balance of range, accuracy, and recoil control, making it versatile for both close and medium-range shots. The .30-06, known for its long-range performance, is a good option if you're hunting over open fields or from elevated stands where you may need to reach out for a shot.Other popular choices include the .300 Blackout for closer, sub-200-yard encounters or the 6.5 Creedmoor for those looking for even flatter trajectories and long-range precision. The key is to choose a caliber that you're comfortable with, and that has proven terminal ballistics on hogs.
Shotgun: For hunters who prefer getting up close and personal, a 12-gauge shotgun loaded with slugs is a formidable option. Slugs pack a powerful punch at close range, making them excellent for dense cover or night hunts where the hogs may surprise you at shorter distances. The effective range for most slugs is around 50 to 100 yards, and the large wound channel they create ensures a quick kill, even on large boars. The shotgun's versatility also allows you to hunt other game like deer or predators, adding value to this tool in your arsenal.

Night Vision or Thermal Scope

Since hogs are nocturnal and primarily active after sunset, night hunting offers a significant advantage—but it requires the right optics to be effective.

Night Vision: Night vision scopes amplify available light to create an image in low-light conditions. They work well in areas where some moonlight or ambient light is present. Night vision is a popular and relatively affordable option for hog hunters who want to see clearly in dark environments. Look for scopes with a good infrared illuminator, as this will enhance your ability to spot hogs in complete darkness without spooking them.
Thermal Scope: Thermal optics, which detect the heat signature of living creatures, are considered the gold standard for night hunting. They allow you to spot hogs in total darkness, even through thick brush or in conditions where visibility is otherwise low. Thermal scopes not only give you an advantage at night but also help detect hogs hidden in dense cover during the day. Although more expensive than night vision, thermal scopes are incredibly effective, and for serious hog hunters, they are a worthwhile investment. High-quality models will pick up the heat signature of a hog from hundreds of yards away, giving you time to set up your shot without alerting the animal.

Feeder and Bait

Baiting hogs is a highly effective method for hunting, especially on private land. Corn is the most common and cost-effective bait, as it appeals to the hogs’ omnivorous diet. When using feeders, it’s essential to select an automated feeder that dispenses corn consistently.

Feeders: Many hunters set up feeders to distribute corn at specific times each day, often in the early morning or late evening when hogs are most active. Gravity feeders or spin feeders work well, but make sure the feeder is sturdy, as hogs are notorious for knocking over or damaging cheap models. Place feeders near known hog trails or in open areas with clear shooting lanes.
Bait: Beyond corn, some hunters enhance their bait by mixing it with attractants like molasses or sweet liquids. Fermenting corn is another popular trick—mixing corn with water, sugar, and yeast to create a strong odor that will draw hogs in from far away. Keep in mind that baiting regulations vary by state, so be sure to follow local laws.

Calls

Hog calls can be an overlooked tool in the hunter's kit but can be incredibly effective for luring hogs out of thick cover. There are several types of hog calls available:

Distressed Piglet Calls: These mimic the sound of a piglet in distress, which can trigger a protective response from sows or boars in the area. When hogs hear a piglet in trouble, they may rush in to investigate, giving you a clear shot.
Feeding Grunts: These calls imitate the contented grunts that hogs make while feeding. This can be used to put hogs at ease or lure them into an area where they think food is present.

Calls work best when used sparingly and in conjunction with other tactics, like baiting or setting up near hog-heavy areas. Overcalling can spook wary hogs, so timing and subtlety are key.

Sharp Knife

Once you’ve successfully harvested a hog, the work isn’t over. Field dressing a hog can be a labor-intensive process, especially given their size and tough hide. That’s why a sharp, durable knife is essential for field dressing and skinning.

Look for knives with a fixed blade, as folding knives tend to be less robust and can become clogged with fat and hair. A gut hook helps make clean incisions without puncturing the stomach or intestines, which can ruin the meat. Some hunters prefer to carry multiple knives—a large skinning knife and a smaller, more precise blade for detailed work.

Thermacell or Bug Spray

Hog hunting often occurs in marshy, swampy, or heavily forested areas where insects are rampant, especially during warmer months. Mosquitoes, ticks, and other pests can quickly turn a good hunt into an uncomfortable experience.

Thermacell: This device uses a heat-activated mat that releases an insect repellent, creating a bug-free zone around your setup. It’s odorless and highly effective, ideal for stationary hunters sitting in a blind or near a feeder.
Bug Spray: Always carry bug spray with a high concentration of DEET or picaridin to protect yourself from mosquitoes and ticks, especially if you’re stalking through brushy areas where pests are prevalent.

Headlamp

A quality headlamp is indispensable for night hunting, field dressing, and tracking hogs in the dark. Consider one with white and red/green light options when choosing a headlamp.

Red or Green Filters: Red or green light won’t spook the game as easily as white light, allowing you to check your surroundings or gear without alerting nearby hogs. Most hunters prefer red light because it’s less visible to animals and preserves your night vision.
Brightness and Battery Life: Look for a headlamp with adjustable brightness settings. You want something powerful enough to see clearly but also dimmable for discreet tasks. Opt for rechargeable headlamps or models with long battery life, as you’ll often be out in the field for hours during night hunts.

Hog Dogs (if applicable)

Having well-trained hog dogs can be a game-changer for hunters who use dogs. The two main types of hog dogs are bay dogs and catch dogs.

Bay Dogs: These dogs are trained to find and corner hogs, keeping them in place by barking or "baying" until you arrive. Bay dogs are typically lighter and more agile breeds, like Catahoulas, Black Mouth Curs, or Walker Hounds. Their job is to track hogs by scent and hold them at bay without engaging physically.
Catch Dogs: Once a hog is bayed, catch dogs move in to physically hold the hog by the ear or neck until the hunter can make the kill. These are usually stronger, more muscular breeds like Pit Bulls or Bulldogs. It’s a high-risk, high-reward method that requires strong, well-trained dogs and skilled coordination.

Bringing dogs into the hunt adds a thrilling element of teamwork and challenge, but it also requires a lot of preparation, training, and care for the dogs to ensure both their safety and the success of the hunt.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a novice hunter looking for your first experience or a seasoned veteran looking to bag more hogs, platforms like Infinite Outdoors make booking a hog hunt on private land near you easier than ever. The combination of low-pressure hunting and accessible properties ensures that you’ll have a memorable and successful hunt. With the right tactics, from hunting over bait to using thermal optics or dogs, and in the best states for hog hunting, your chances of success are higher than ever.