Hunting wild boar can be one of the most exciting experiences in the hunter’s world.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to experience the thrill of stalking through brush and waiting for the perfect shot at a charging boar, you’re missing out on something special.
Facts about Hunting Wild Boar
Here are amazing facts about hunting wild boar that will make you want to put this sport on your bucket list immediately.
- There are two types of boars – the feral and the farm-raised. Feral boars live in forests or mountainous areas, whereas farm-raised boars live on a particular owner’s property. Farm-raised boars live under fences and can reach about 240 pounds in weight, whereas feral ones are considerably bigger, reaching over 1,000 pounds.
- They have one of the strongest bite forces per pound among all living mammals – up to 1,600 psi! Their lower incisors point straight down and grow into tusks that can be up to 11 inches long. The tusks don’t show when they’re asleep, but may protrude from their mouths if they feel threatened.
- Wild boars can run as fast as 30 miles an hour for short distances; though it is not considered to be their main form of defense, it is still faster than humans at top speed.
- One cannot determine the sex of a wild boar by its coloration because males and females both have dark hair with shades ranging from brownish-black to black with light gray underparts (though the males’ back is more grizzled). Males usually weigh around 100kgs, while females weigh around 70kgs.
- An adult boar has four sets of teeth: four large lower tusks used for cutting and stabbing, six premolars used for grinding, four molars used for chewing meat off bones, and 20 cheek teeth which the animal uses only occasionally (usually during mating season).
- Sometimes boars might kill each other in fights – either out of anger or competition for food.
- Hunting wild boars is legal throughout North America with some restrictions depending on location; additionally hunting them has become something of a sport due to regulations set forth by governing bodies such as the National Pork Board.
- Poaching on private property is prohibited, though this isn’t always enforced. Some boars are protected species in certain states and need special permits before being hunted.
- Wild boars inhabit many places throughout the world including Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia; they mostly live near riversides or wetlands where they eat frogs, roots, plants, fruit – basically anything that grows nearby.
- Another difference between the two species is that it’s believed that wild boars have much stronger senses of smell and hearing than domesticated pigs which helps them survive on less resources by alerting them to danger such as predators or hunters before it gets too close.
- Wild boars are omnivores meaning they eat both plants and meat. But unlike domesticated pigs which will eat just about anything, wild boars require a specific diet high in protein.
Which country has the most boars?
Of all the boars in the world, China is estimated to have by far the most with about 1.4 million wild boars roaming around.
That is more than four times as many as in America which has about 320,000 and more than seven times as many as in Germany.
This number is changing drastically as hunters are killing up to 2,000 boars per day in the country.
Norway has next most wild boars in the world with about 1.5 million roaming through the hills and forests there.
Europe has seen a drastic increase of boars over the last few years because of wolf populations dwindling which leaves plenty of deer and carrion for these wild pigs to feast on.
Are wild boar active at night?
Wild boar are mostly active during the day, although their activity patterns vary by region.
In summer months, they can be active all day, while in winter months they’re generally nocturnal and most active at night.
Wild boar have good night vision, but cannot see as well as other animals such as humans and dogs.
Because of this and the inherent danger involved with hunting wild boar at night, it’s often easier to track them down in the early morning or late afternoon hours.
What is the best caliber for Hunting Wild Boar?
While wild boar meat is leaner than pork, their large size and high energy level make hunting a rewarding challenge.
If you’re considering trying it for the first time, here are some pointers about gun calibers for hunting wild boars in particular
Use any rifle with at least 7mm of caliber. Bolt-action rifles offer better accuracy and less noise during nighttime hunts.
However, semi-automatic rifles tend to be more user-friendly.
Just keep in mind that they are louder, harder to aim properly and offer less accuracy than bolt action models.
Semi-automatic guns may also increase the risk of overpenetration which can be dangerous when there are many other animals in the woods with you.
For hunters who are new to wild boar hunting, a .270 or 306 would be an excellent choice.
The recoil on these guns will not overwhelm a beginner hunter and both offer enough power for taking down larger game animals.
For experienced hunters who enjoy long range shooting and want the additional security of being able to take multiple shots quickly, consider using a .30-.378 Weatherby Magnum rifle with its muzzle velocity of 3240 fps or greater.
Remember that this powerful weapon should only be used by skilled shooters who have ample experience because its added power could result in severe injury if not handled correctly by inexperienced hunters.
An important consideration when choosing ammo is shot placement as well as knowing how close you need to get before firing on your target.
Is wild boar meat good for you?
It depends. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, wild boar meat is high in protein and minerals like phosphorus, calcium, iron, and potassium. But according to WebMD, red meats are high in saturated fat that can be hard on your heart if you consume them frequently.
So it really depends on what you’re looking for out of the meal; there’s a risk either way!
For those who would rather have a less-risky meal, look into other types of meats.
The healthiest option would be chicken breast with its high levels of proteins and minerals such as selenium, zinc, iron, vitamin B6 and niacin which make it perfect for maintaining health weight.
For those who want something even higher in protein without the associated risks of obesity or cardiovascular disease, turkey has twice as much lean protein than chicken or beef.
What Should I Wear while Hunting Wild Boar?
You should wear clothes that can easily be concealed and won’t give you away.
Wearing any bright colors is a definite no-no as it’ll make you much easier to spot.
If possible, try to camouflage your clothes with some branches or leaves.
Wear long pants so the animals don’t get close enough to claw or bite at you.
And if the weather permits, carry along a hoodie or scarf – these will work wonders in hiding your scent.
What Should I Bring When I Hunt For Wild Boars?
As wild boars are primarily active during night time, bring along a flashlight.
Another essential thing to have on hand is food bait such as bread or doughnuts.
These are an irresistible meal for boars who are also hungry from waking up from their nightly slumber!
Lastly, you need to carry guns when hunting for wild boars.
It’s best to have different types of weapons for various situations such as handguns for daytime hunts and shotguns for nighttime hunts.
There are many ways to hunt for wild boars and each one has its pros and cons.
Though it may seem daunting at first, all you need is good preparation and the right equipment before heading out into the forest to find them!
How well can wild boar see?
Wild boars have excellent senses and their most developed sense is the sense of smell.
They can find food from over 30 feet away and they are able to detect humans at nearly that distance as well.
At night, their vision is just as good as a human’s and they can see in color in both low light conditions and high light conditions.
During the day, they have better depth perception than a human, but otherwise, their eyesight is similar to ours.
What to do if a wild boar is chasing you?
- Run as fast as you can and try not to look back, because if you slow down or look back.
- If you get into an open field where there is nowhere to hide, just curl up into a ball and hope for the best!
- Consider running parallel in order to confuse it and give yourself time so that maybe it will lose interest or go another way.
- Use your pepper spray, if have one on hand. The boar will stop momentarily after being sprayed with pepper spray, but don’t wait around too long-spray it again or use the next measure of self-defense if possible!
And remember to never stand still when facing off against a wild boar: they may charge and you need to be able to run quickly.
The last measure of self-defense (if using pepper spray doesn’t work) is calling out fire.
There are some problems with this strategy, however.
Some wild boars are accustomed to humans yelling fire in their natural habitat and are conditioned to ignore this cry.
On the other hand, many animals (including humans) will panic at hearing the word fire and may stampede away from the sound–and toward whatever object has been set ablaze–so it’s best only to call out fire if no other measures work.
How do you attract wild boars quickly?
If you are trying to attract wild boars quickly, shelled corn is the best bait that you can use.
Place it in a sack, bag or bucket and scatter it around your hunting area.
Another way to use shelled corn is to mix with oats and then tie some hay bales together. Use this as a feeder for wild boars.
They will be attracted to it because of the smell of the shelled corn mixed with the smell of hay.
It’s not uncommon for them to eat from these types of setups even when there isn’t any food left on them.
Skinning, Butchering & Cooking Hogs (Best Practices)
In America, the most common way to skin a hog is by making an incision along the back of the hog from shoulder blade to buttocks and then grabbing each side of the skin on the shoulder blades and pulling it off in one piece.
Then, cut off the head and trotters.
After that you may use your saw or knife to remove certain internal organs from inside the body cavity, such as heart, kidneys, liver, etc.
Cut slits into hams and tenderloins in order for them cook evenly throughout during cooking time.
The four main types of meat cuts are ham, bacon, pork chops, and spare ribs.
The two major parts of bacon are the side with the rind which contains fat-strips and can be cured (dried) or smoked; this part is called streaky bacon.
The other part has less fat but more meat; this part is called back bacon. Ham comes from below the knee joint so there will be no bone present.
Pork chops come from various locations on the pig’s body depending on what cuts are being sold at market time while spare ribs come from various locations around the rib cage including rib tips and short ribs.
Final Thoughts about Hunting Wild Boar
In short, hunting wild boar can be challenging.
Not only do you need the right equipment and skills, but also a great deal of patience.
Hopefully these facts have enlightened you to some of the important considerations that come with it.
Make sure you read our other blog posts on hunting and wildlife safety tips before heading out into the field.
We’ll leave you with one last bit of advice: use your most powerful weapon at the very end, because once they know they’re being hunted, they’re going to become much more cautious.
Hope you got an better idea about Hunting Wild Boar.
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