Recently I got invited to go on a hog hunt. As a part of the information concerning the hunt, it was passed along that night hunting may be the best.
So what I'd the best light for hunting hogs at night, and what is proffered, bow mounted, or headlamp?
Thanks,
Full moon from what I've been told! :)
If you have a stationary light that you can leave on for extended periods that will work. Hogs will come in to light that is already on, but turning one on will spook them.
Disclaimer: That is my experience and is based on ranches that put out feeders or food on the roads. Not sure how that would apply to free range.
Tim, if you are hunting a bait you should see the hogs well-enough to shoot without a light if the moon is up and bright. I have used a headlamp with LED and it worked fine for close shots. I sat in the dark until I heard the pigs munching on the corn and then turned it on. Also have used flashlights attached to a tripod or tree limb using a bungee cord.
Set up for a close shot (10 yards). Put a bunch of corn exactly where you want the pig for the shot. A lighted nock is something to consider so you can see where your arrow hits or help you track one in the dark. I lost a pig last year on a night time hit. Never found my arrow. Never found a drop of blood. Next time I may have an arrow or two with lighted nocks.
For hogs that have been hunted before it is ALWAYS best to have a light that is tree or stand mounted (where legal). Any movement of the light will cause big wary boars to explode. Ideally a stationary light with a rheostat will do a fantastic job on the most wary of boars if left on its lowest light level and then slowly dialed up. Red or green lights will provide the best results.
green light mounted to the bow
Thanks for the comments, am kind of leaning towards a stationary or bow mounted light with remote switch, any recommendations on brands, lumens, etc.?
Thanks,
Eagle flight archery has an awesome bow mounted light!
Check out Elusive Wildlife Technologies. I bought one of their Kill Lights that has magnets to attach to the bottom of a corn feeder. It comes on at dark and shuts off when light. They have every kind of light for hunting at night including bow lights or lights that strap to a tree. I am very happy with the one I bought and if I hunt hogs at night again I will buy one of their bow lights for those times you run into a sounder on your way to or from stand.
Illusive wildlife Tech. also has a kill lite that comes on gradually after the hogs are under it, and takes 45 seconds for it to become full brightness. I've used the standard kill light and it works but it takes several days for them to get used to it . A much cheaper alternative is driveway or patio lights that come on when the sun goes down they have them in different brightness and can be hung from a tripod or tree limb . I make tripods from rebar and wire my lights at the top and spread corn around it. It doesn't seem to make much difference what color but we seem to think red may have an edge, most of what I have is green. Patio light are all white but they will come into them as well. I have put colored cellophane around the patio lights but it diminishes there brightness. I'm really interested in trying the kill light that comes on slowly .
Sniper Hog light in red attached to my bow. If they run off I keep the light on...most will come back. I attach it with a simple leather strap. Legal in SC...tippit
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QuoteOriginally posted by Flingblade:
Check out Elusive Wildlife Technologies. I bought one of their Kill Lights that has magnets to attach to the bottom of a corn feeder. It comes on at dark and shuts off when light. They have every kind of light for hunting at night including bow lights or lights that strap to a tree. I am very happy with the one I bought and if I hunt hogs at night again I will buy one of their bow lights for those times you run into a sounder on your way to or from stand.
This !
I bought a kill light about 8-9 years ago and will buy another if this one ever stops working. I've shot about 70-80hogs under this one light. (About a dozen with traditional gear)
Worked me for in Texas.
QuoteOriginally posted by Jerry Russell:
For hogs that have been hunted before it is ALWAYS best to have a light that is tree or stand mounted (where legal). Any movement of the light will cause big wary boars to explode. Ideally a stationary light with a rheostat will do a fantastic job on the most wary of boars if left on its lowest light level and then slowly dialed up. Red or green lights will provide the best results.
Red bow mounted light worked for me in Texas. switched on pointing skyward and brought down slowly during the draw. Didn't even phase the boar munching on corn.
I have had the best luck with a bow mounted light. Headlamps are tough to manage as far as where the beam is hitting while the hogs are on the bait. As stated, start with the light above the hog and drop it down on them. I have had the best luck with a red light, the green, not so much. For what its worth, I am a fan of Sniper Hog Lights, great people to do business with and a well built product. I use $10.00 solar lights from Wally World to keep a constant light source on the bait, and I keep the solar lights between the hogs and my stand. Good luck!