The rapidly growing feral swine population is wreaking havoc throughout the United States, threatening public safety and countless natural resources. It’s no surprise that people all over the country are seeking out the best air rifle for hog hunting and doing their part to control this invasive species.
Beyond helping to prevent significant, widespread damage, hog hunting is a whole lot of fun, but it’s also dangerous — even for seasoned hunters. Feral hogs are strong animals and can be very aggressive and territorial. And, despite their size and build, they’re incredibly fast.
Before heading out on your wild hog hunting adventure, it’s crucial that you learn how it’s done. Besides improving your odds of bringing home the bacon, some hog hunting know-how can prevent injury. Keep these six tips and tricks in mind.
1. Time Your Stalking
Wild hogs travel most frequently during the morning’s first hour and the evening’s last hour. You might see them on the move from late morning to the middle of the day, but you’re most likely to catch their trail at sunrise or sunset. Some heavily hunted hog populations have adapted to become nocturnal, so keep that in mind if you don’t spot any.
2. Recognize the Signs
Besides the obvious tracks and scat, experienced wild hog hunting enthusiasts know to look out for more subtle indications of their current or recent presence.
Wild hog tracks resemble deer tracks, but are rounder and wider. Their droppings tend to be sized and shaped similarly to a dog’s or horse’s and often contain vegetation.
Look for uprooted soil and vegetation. Wild hogs use their snouts to dig around for food. They’re also known to dig trenches near water so they can wallow in the mud to cool down.
Even the best air rifle for hog hunting won’t do a lick of good if you can’t track down your prey, so learning to recognize these signs instinctually should be your top priority.
3. Use Calls to Get Them Moving
Wild hog hunting often requires that you lure them out from their cover and into the open. Find a downwind location from where you suspect they’re hiding, and use predator calls in short bursts. With any luck, they’ll scatter quickly. Some wild hog hunters also use recordings of distressed piglets to trigger the hogs’ protective instincts. Both methods are likely to cause hogs to charge, so be on guard.
4. Know Your Surroundings
Wild hogs move fast, especially when in danger. If you spot them a hundred yards away, stalking might be a fool’s errand. Instead, take note of the location for the next hunt.
Knowing the lay of the land goes a long way in wild hog hunting. When hogs are traveling, they’re almost always heading somewhere with food, water, bedding, or a combination of those elements. Try to figure out where they’re going, and get there first.
5. Aim for Vital Organs
The best air rifle for hog hunting will be powerful and accurate enough to take down your prey humanely. Compared to a deer, a hog’s vital organs are lower and closer to the head. Aim around a quarter of the way up from the bottom of the hog, a few inches behind the rear edge of the shoulder.
6. Bring the Right Air Gun
Not all air guns are appropriate for wild hog hunting; you need a .357 caliber or higher to ethically take down a hog. There are several Benjamin pneumatic air guns that provide the velocity, accuracy, and shot-to-shot consistency that hog hunting demands.
Our Big Bore air guns are the most powerful air rifles in our lineup. The Bulldog .357 PCP air rifle will handle wild hogs with ease, and they can also be used to dispatch larger game like big bucks and even African plains game.
Interested in trying something a little different? Our innovative Airbow launches full-length arrows at 450 fps — plenty of power to take down wild hogs.
Adventure Awaits
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No matter which Benjamin model you choose, you can be confident that you’re heading out into the wild with the best air rifle for hog hunting — bar none. Our one-of-a-kind air rifles can be personalized to fit your preferences, and they’re built to last a lifetime and stay in the family for generations.
Get focused. Get inspired. Wild hog hunting is an opportunity to achieve greatness and build upon your legacy. Get a Benjamin, and make it yours.