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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Biggamefish on April 05, 2022, 08:33:03 AM

Title: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Biggamefish on April 05, 2022, 08:33:03 AM: I am looking to see what you guys and gals suggest for a light setup on your bows. I am looking for a strap on style. Three rivers has one that looks decent but just want some feedback before I purchase something that doesn't work.

Thanks
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Terry Green on April 05, 2022, 08:45:33 AM: I'm not sure what 3 Rivers has, but Smokin Joe and I have had great luck with the strap mount from Eagle's Flight. I have 2 just in case I'm in camp and someone wants to go night hunting.
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Tim Finley on April 05, 2022, 10:35:28 AM: I have a light that has a switch that velcros onto the side of your bow that with just a silent touch comes on and I just taped the light to my bow . But I have had only one hog that did not bolt when I moved the light down onto him I gave up on it and we now use kill lights and drive way lights that are solar powered and give different colored light we set it on green. This year we had 11 of them in different places my son found a package deal on amazon with 6 lights for $40 hes been using em for several years they are bright they will light up an area for about 20 yards .
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: GCook on April 05, 2022, 11:34:35 AM: We use feeder lights. Green.
Elusive Wildlife and a couple other brands.
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Terry Green on April 05, 2022, 11:45:26 AM: Quote from: GCook on April 05, 2022, 11:34:35 AM
We use feeder lights. Green.
Elusive Wildlife and a couple other brands.

Feeder lights work great for hunting feeders. I've shot several hogs at night by pure stalking so I just own one light for both.
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Wudstix on April 05, 2022, 12:04:33 PM: I use a green head light while stalking and have had limited success. Trick is to get the light on early in the process.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2:
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Terry Green on April 05, 2022, 02:21:17 PM: Quote from: Wudstix on April 05, 2022, 12:04:33 PM
I use a green head light while stalking and have had limited success. Trick is to get the light on early in the process.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2:

The trick is not to move shadows, so I just it on at the last minute as moving and branches waiving shadows around can spook them. If you are going to cut it on early, best move like molasses in winter if they is a lot of cover between you and them. And if in a stand move same as the shadows are worse from above.
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Wudstix on April 05, 2022, 03:37:00 PM: I kinda do that, with a headlamp it is a tad more dicey, as I hear them coming my way (@20-30 yards out) I click the light on and have them walk into the light. When it works its gold, if not you get to hear what a sounder sounds like leaving.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2:
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Phillip Fields on April 05, 2022, 04:33:11 PM: I use the Traditional Gadget Adaptor from 3 Rivers with a Sniper Hog Light, 38lrx.

It comes with 3 light colors (red, green, and white). Over the years my buddies and I have tried both green and red and have had better success with the red. Our experience has been that the pigs spook easier under green than they do under red. As mentioned above, the shadows are what seems to spook the pigs the most. I like to turn the light on with it pointed above the pigs and lower it onto target.

We also have some lights we can mount on the feeders, they are motion activated and come on gradually. For feeder lights I prefer the green.
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Wudstix on April 05, 2022, 08:02:30 PM: My experience in Texas is that red does not work, it is almost as bad as white. I guess they have been educated, here.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2:
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Terry Green on April 05, 2022, 08:18:47 PM: Phillip, not arguing, but I'm still walking up and shooting them at 15 yards with green. Have not tried red cause I never saw the need, but I do know Green is better than white! :goldtooth:
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: GCook on April 05, 2022, 10:57:43 PM: I actually have mini-sniper hawglights in green and red. I've killed them with both. My red has a stabilizer bolt mount. The green I strap on with elastic cord. Honestly though I tend to go back to camp at dark. Drink a highball. Eat a snack a sleep.
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Phillip Fields on April 06, 2022, 07:24:22 AM: Not trying to argue with anyone, just relating my experiences with the different colors of light over 20 years of hunting pigs in Texas.
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Onski316 on April 06, 2022, 07:51:47 AM: I have a friend that's a hog hunting nut here in Texas and he swears by green feeder lights and red gun/bow/headlamps. That said, I don't have a good response to your strap on light method. I know 3Rivers has one but have never tried it. I use and old TBOW that has a stab mount and use a light with trigger mounted to that, similar to how you would mount one on a compound. I've used headlamps too but I have to cock them to the side a bit to get a good beam when at full draw. Whatever you decide on, actually practicing with it at night is a huge must. A buddy of mine took a mini Mag style light with trigger and just strapped them to the side of his riser with and old bicycle inner tube. Kept it from sliding around and marking up his bow. Think it was on a SuperK which has a blockier lower riser under the grip which worked well for him.
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Terry Green on April 06, 2022, 08:32:11 AM: Quote from: Phillip Fields on April 06, 2022, 07:24:22 AM
Not trying to argue with anyone, just relating my experiences with the different colors of light over 20 years of hunting pigs in Texas.

Thank you! I started in TX in 06 but not a resident. Much appreciate your input.
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: GCook on April 06, 2022, 09:26:07 AM: It's funny because some pigs just don't react well to any light.
Most often I start well above them and slowly bring it down and see what their reaction is.
Most times though it's on corned roads orbwhen they are on acorns so they are preoccupied with feeding.
I've heard blue will work but haven't tried it.
I do know for a fact Moses spooked the other night when shined with a green laser designator light. Like he knew it.
So light intensity, shadows, etc probably all have different affects on different pigs. A group of 80 to 100 pounders on a feed pile will not be as spooky as a mature lone boar. Or a mature sow with piglets.
Just have to be versatile and use different stuff.
Especially if you are like Terry and Phillip traveling to hunt them. Better to be prepared. Those of us fortunate enough to hunt them regularly a missed opportunity isn't a big deal.
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Wudstix on April 06, 2022, 09:36:17 AM: Interesting, that makes allot of sense about the individuality of pigs. I guess most of the hogs I have the chance to hunt are so heavily pressured and red was the deal years ago, that the population "evolved" and the pigs that ran on red survived to breed. The same will eventually happen to green and we'll move to blue, or something. As mentioned by several above a key is the slow movement of the light used.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2:
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: pdk25 on April 06, 2022, 10:59:38 AM: I think pigs react very differently to lights based on their experience. When I lived in Oklahoma, if you used a bow mounted light, either green or red, you had about a second to shoot after you turned on the light. After that, they were gone. Problem was I saw the same sounders over and over, and they had become educated to lights. Best bet was definitely using a feeder light and letting the hogs get comfortabe at the feeder before stalking in from a long way away. I killed a couple using a bow mounted light, but by far the exception to the rule. In other areas, they don't seem to mind hardly at all. Dendy Cromer kills tons of them stalking with the green light on in the fields in Georgia. They don't seem to mind. I still have a bunch of bow mounted lights just in case a hog is just outside the main beam of a feeder light and I can't see well enough for a shot.
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: GCook on April 06, 2022, 11:23:41 PM: Having the feeder lights is good but I think it does help to have a bow mounted light as well. The ambient light it puts in the blind I think helps me "aim" and it definitely makes it easier to pick a spot. I also think the pigs notice it less with the feeder light on.
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Russell Southerland on April 07, 2022, 04:45:17 AM: Yeah I like Green the best. Bow mounted as I don't hunt feeders much at all. Feeder lights are useless if you aren't hunting them.
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Mike Malvaini on April 07, 2022, 07:00:30 AM: Love reading and learning the hog hunting threads. Thanks guys!

Tarz, haven't you killed hogs in other states besides TX?
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: BigJim on April 07, 2022, 07:37:30 AM: I have lights on every feeder.. I know from experience that pigs.. and deer will get used to white light on the feeders in a day or two, but I cover mine with green tape just because.. The feeder lights work without anything else, but are still a bit dark at times.
Just in case they don't come on... never know when one is on it's last leg.. I use a bow mounted light. I have owned dozens of the cheap Chinese lights with remote pig tail switches and they are ok unless you accidently tug on the wire once! I have owned lights from All predator as well and they are expensive and heavy.

Lately I have been using lights from fenix lighting. They sell a fairly small light.. or several models. Not only do they have a light, but choice of green, red, or blue lens covers, a mount for a picitinny rail, and a silent remote switch.... all for about $110 shipped.
I mount a picitinny rail to the bracket on my bigjim bow quiver and clip the light on it.. a little bit of electrical tape to hold the switch to the grip and I'm good to go.
The light can be adjusted from barely on to full go melt crap and within second can be removed from the bow, remove lens cover and used as a blood trail light or get out of the woods light.

For a long time, I thought the light would spook certain hogs and also certain deer as I would shine to see what was on the edge.. but I think more than anything, any critter coming in alone is a tuff task. Even if I would allow a lone pig to get comfortable eating, the slightest noise, movement or even light would send them in to convulsions and flying out of sight.. yes, pigs can fly! Yet, a group of pigs would often seem easy.

If you are the only critter in the feeder and a noise is made.. or shadows are slung around, you know it aint you! However if there is at least one other critter with you, you don't necessarily know that it wasn't them.

All of my feeder lights are green.. i've read that dark or black objects show up better under green light. I have used both green and red filters on my bow lights with no discernable difference to the pigs.

BigJim
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: BigJim on April 07, 2022, 07:43:57 AM: fenix light mounted on aluminum bracket.. works like a picitinny.
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: BigJim on April 07, 2022, 07:48:46 AM: Pigs on camera show up better when under light as well!
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: BigJim on April 07, 2022, 07:50:43 AM: Even really big black pigs!
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Terry Green on April 07, 2022, 07:51:38 AM: That's great Jim and I'm a HUGE fan of Fenix lights as I have tracked 3 animals IN DAYLIGHT with my Fenix flash light... folks thought I was crazy when I pull it out on someone else's blood trail twice..... then they all bought one after the hunt! I love em. The Wensels got me one em.
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: BigJim on April 07, 2022, 07:53:44 AM: Let this big sow go.. sometimes they are just too much work to fool with!
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: BigJim on April 07, 2022, 07:57:20 AM: Couple of little pigs
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: BigJim on April 07, 2022, 07:59:13 AM: Last year
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: BigJim on April 07, 2022, 08:02:06 AM: During deer season
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Terry Green on April 07, 2022, 08:04:45 AM: That's good stuff Jim! Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: BigJim on April 07, 2022, 08:11:31 AM: I also use lighted nocks.. When I can make it happen, I want the arrow to stay in the pig as long as possible because of the lighted nock.. I shoot to lodge the arrow in the offside shoulder.

In a perfect world, I would shoot to hit near the last rib on the close side and have the arrow angling to the offside shoulder. Pigs can leave very difficult blood trails especially within the first 50 yards +-. The lighted arrow will give you a good idea of what direction to start looking. I have watched my arrow start out in one direction and then doing a u turn within 20 yards three times this year alone.
It will also help you differentiate your pig from the group that scatters like a glass hitting the concrete!

The lease I hunt is thick.. I mean thick! I've hunted in lots of areas that people call thick..lol.. Imagine trying to see through a wig.. now add another wig on top of it! then, fill it full of razor blades and needles! There is some open areas.. mostly about two feet or so high and the size of a pig :) Did I say it was thick?
BigJim
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Phillip Fields on April 07, 2022, 08:22:17 AM: This one was taken in South Texas. You can see my light set-up. Actually, this pig was shot on a white sand road at midnight, under a full moon, without turning the light on.
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: BigJim on April 07, 2022, 08:26:25 AM: Shot a 200+ lb boar last week.. shot it in the day light so I saw the whole thing happen. Near perfect "whitetail" hit. broadside, 12 yards, hit an inch above center.. angling down from 15 feet up. Entered an inch behind the crease and lodged securely in the offside shoulder. .. I mean I saw it all. Pig runs 30 yards, does a 90 and I watch it and lighted nock run 50 more yards through volunteer oak saplings .. very thick!

Somehow, that pig was able to run through all of that crap without braking off my arrow.. I found two drops of blood at about 60 yards and then nothing.. not even the glow of a nock. I have no doubt the pig is dead and no doubt something made several good meals of it, but nearly impossible to find without a dog..
BigJim
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Terry Green on April 07, 2022, 08:29:01 AM: Quote from: Phillip Fields on April 07, 2022, 08:22:17 AM
This one was taken in South Texas. You can see my light set-up. Actually, this pig was shot on a white sand road at midnight, under a full moon, without turning the light on.

I LOVE it....

Done the exact same thing in SC at 'The Bacon Strip' lease a couple of times. That black sure stands out on that white sand.... thanks for jarring those memories sir!
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: tippit on April 08, 2022, 04:59:14 PM: I use a Fenix PD35 Tac light with a Green Filter that I attach with a leather strip to a quiver insert that I've added to the handle. I like it attached this way so it doesn't stick out very far in front of the bow. The Fenix PD35 Tac light has 6 brightness settings that are easy to turn on with a button...tippit
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: ozy clint on April 08, 2022, 10:07:33 PM: I started making a light setup for my bow after being inspired by Jerry Russell's tale of his pursuit of 'Kong' the giant hog.

I wanted a light with red, green and white lights all selectable by turning a dial, beam focus, intensity control and quick detach mounting system.

There was just what I wanted here in Australia- Zvisions JP303. It looks to be the same as the Wicked lights A67IC you have in the USA.

I use it mainly on some of my rifles but I made a bracket that allows me to use the stabiliser insert in my riser. Once I install the bracket the light mounts quickly via a scope ring picatinny rail adapter.

I can turn the light on and off and change the intensity with the ring finger on my bowhand. For bowhunting I'll have it set on flood beam. I haven't hunted with it yet but I have practised with it using lighted nocks and it sure adds another dimension to shooting the bow.

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Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Terry Green on April 25, 2022, 05:15:37 PM: Quote from: Mike Malvaini on April 07, 2022, 07:00:30 AM
Love reading and learning the hog hunting threads. Thanks guys!

Tarz, haven't you killed hogs in other states besides TX?

Sorry, I missed this somehow. Yes, SC, FL, GA.
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: charles m on May 06, 2022, 12:42:51 AM: Anyone use a head lamp for night hunting?
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Russell Southerland on May 06, 2022, 11:45:10 AM: Great question Charles!
Title: Re: Hog hunting setup for NIGHT
Post by: Cory Mattson on May 06, 2022, 12:59:15 PM: Headlamp
YES

I’ve used one a few times. I would turn it to the side so it (the light) was going the same direction my eyesight, bow hand, nocked arrow was pointing. Got 6 doing this in Australia. Hogs would come into camp middle of the night.
Shot some Gators wearing a headlamp too - same prep