By

Smith “Retired Hunter” Dewlen

The first way is to purchase at least ten pounds of potatoes and slice about half into thick wafers. Spread them on the ground, but place a couple dozen wafers onto the brush. This allows the scent to spread faster and farther. The spuds will be eaten quickly when the hogs arrive. However, this method limits your shot choices and their availability.

Ready for a bit of work? Buy some cracked corn and 5 or 6 gallons of buttermilk. You can save a little money by asking for the outdated buttermilk. Put the corn in a bucket with a lid and add the buttermilk to cover the corn. Leave the bucket out so the buttermilk will sour. Check the bucket in a couple of days (from up wind) and add buttermilk as needed to cover the corn. Do not fill the bucket to the top with corn, as it will expand and overflow. Find a location where hog activity has occurred. Dig a hole 1.5 to 2 feet in diameter and to the same depth. Pour the corn and sour buttermilk into the hole up to within 3-6 inches of ground level. Cover the hole with dirt and add another gallon of sour buttermilk and any remaining cracked corn over the hole. This bait will require hogs to do some rooting to get to the mixture in the hole, thus creating a longer period in one location.

Place a stand higher than you normally do. I suggest at least 20 feet. Make sure to hold down your odor in the area of the bait and stand. Locate the bait/stand location so a cautious approach is from downwind; you may find them there and be able to stalk to them. Hogs are alert and have quite excellent eyesight. Their hearing and vision are not to be taken lightly. I heartily recommend using HS Scents line of Scent-A-Way products. They have body wash/shampoo, deodorant sticks, and clothing wash and spray. I got skunked last year and the spray killed the odor overnight. The body wash and shampoo took good care of me. Use it liberally.

Fort Leonard Wood is one place you will be able to find hogs. The last time I checked, the cost of their one-year hunting permit was only ten bucks. You will be required to take a safety course lasting about 30 minutes. Sections of the grounds open to hunting change, so you are required to check in before each hunting expedition. Also, centerfire rifles and handguns are prohibited at Fort Wood. Rimfire arms and shotguns are allowed, as well as muzzle loading arms. Using a .22 mag, with solid bullets and a good headshot is extremely effective. Shotguns with slugs or 00 buckshot or muzzleloaders will also do fine.

The hide of a hog is tough as are the shoulder muscle and blade. Avoid these completely when archery hunting. Take extra care to sharpen tough broadheads especially sharp. I was told years ago to pick where I wanted the exit to be and then translate it to the facing side. This is a good practice when elevated in a tree stand. In the use of firearms, use the heavier bullets in the caliber of choice. I prefer the larger bore weapons and have used the .35 Remington, .357, .44 magnums, the .454 Casull and yes the ol’e standby .30-30.

The dinner with the “wild” hog is a taste delight. Care must be taken to cook the meat through. Pink or bloody centers are a health hazard, as the hogs may carry parasites that will gladly set up shop in the human body. I also suggest the use of surgical rubber gloves when field dressing or butchering these hogs. Having the head mounted will add to the hunt experience. I have two mounted – my first and my largest one to date. The largest was taken with my Ruger Blackhawk in .357 Magnum and the now out of production, and almost unavailable, Winchester Black Talons. This combination surely did the trick.

Remember, be scent free, quiet, and patient. Hogs may take a while finding the bait. Do not expect a one-day hunt. There are several private game ranches offering hog hunts ranging from $375 to $500 here in Missouri. Some charge by the pound. Several states have hog hunting on public land or on game ranches. You may find a ranch that offers hogs over 500 pounds. On the game ranches I prefer to stalk hogs close enough to take them with one of my scoped Rugers.

Good luck and keep it safe.