Boar hunts are unlike other hunts in that there are very specific markers to look out for and strategies to put in place in order to be successful. Very little is left up to luck in a boar hunt. Here are a few tips from our experts to optimize your boar hunting experience.
First and foremost, always look for signs of rooting. Wild boar can actually devastate ecosystems with this practice of searching for roots by tearing up the ground. Boar do not digest grass very well, so they will look for tender roots or even grubs and worms underground for most of their diets. This leaves a pretty wide trail to track. You can also look for the above ground plants that attract boar to a particular rooting site: wild onion, Bermuda, nut grass, and bulbs.
Boar, like cattle, also use the same trails to get from rooting site to rooting site. Being familiar with hog prints and following deep trails of herds will almost always lead to a boar sighting. Trails can also lead to wallow and rub sites. Boars wallow and rub as a type of hygienic care in order to eliminate parasites. Wallows are most commonly found on clay banks along rivers and creeks. Clay is a better substance than sand or silt as it will stick to hide and hair.
Oddly enough, telephone poles are another great site for boar. They rub on the creosote on the poles before finding a wallow site. Boar may also rub along pine trees for the needles. Cuts and scrapes in poles and trees are a great sign. They are often made by mature boar cutters and tusks.
For more tips and tricks on how to spot a boar trail and to set up your own hunt, contact Tioga Boar Hunting today. Our guides can’t wait to hit the trail!