The feral or wild hog (scientific name Sus scrofa) is a mammal belonging to the Suidae family, which also includes pigs. We now accept phone orders Monday - Friday from 8:00am - 5:00pm CST. Personally, Im not going to gamble on that because Im pretty sure there are some hogs who are lighter sleepers than others and hogs still rely on their sense of smell above all others. The most effective deterrents will be those that are combined with other deterrents. The smell alone of certain herbs and aromatic flowers will repel even the most determined groundhog. Keep this in mind when you are preparing or traversing to and from your hunting area or stand. (2) foraging on the ground - fruits of woody species, fungi, small animals, vertebrate carrion, etc. If you find a suitable wallowing location, it's a natural candidate for some scent. Well, we are here to tell you. Another option would be to use food they dont like to make a homemade wild boar repellent. Garrett Boelkes of Last Breath TV shares his unique techniques for creating a mock scrape. Some of the most common types of these plants are: Spider plant, Hornwort, bladderwrack, bearberry, and rattleweed. The good news is,groundhogs and woodchucks are actually the same animals, so theres no need to confuse the two! With this recipe, simply soak your corn in beer. What not to feed pigs is anything moldy, slimy, or rotten. Keeping dogs and allowing them to urinate in the surroundings could therefore scare these animals away. In severe cases, pigs may collapse and die. Therefore, if we are the ones responsible, we should seek solutions which are non-aggressive and non-harmful for the animals. Wild pigs can cause serious damage to the lawns and gardens of those living in areas where feral pig populations have increased considerably. Often, however, a more hands on, but safe approach is needed. Choosing the right mount for your Rifle Mount Flashlight. Everyone has their own opinions but in the end you have to do as much research as you can and experiment on things yourself. Feeding raw meat to pigs can transfer diseases such as foot and mouth disease. Garlic and Pepper 2. Read on to find out what scents you can use to deter groundhogs and how to use these natural scents to keep groundhogs away for good! Corn will "sour" once soaked for several days, creating a smell that will attract hogs but keep other animals, such as deer, away. One of the most crucial signs to look for when aiming to harvest a wild hog is to locate uprooted soil. With a hogs sense of smell being its strongest weapon, the hog is unable to use it properly due to the wind providing constant uncertainty of the smells around it. These products are great if you dont have the time or patience to make your own homemade repellent. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. It corresponds to the genus Sus, a type of even-toed ungulate animal. When they cause perceived problems, we try to control their growth in lethal or unethical ways. For nearly a century, scientists have investigated chemicals that can fell big, vertebrate pestsparticularly feral swine. Eliminate Skunk Spray Smell from Your Clothes with Baking Soda. They will move in one night and it will look like his pastures have been carpet bombed by B-52's. There are two kinds of people those of us with hogs and those that are going to have hogs. Hunt with caution. In fact, its more likely that the one groundhog you see is the only one around. Hogs will have a harder time even smelling you if you are soaked by the rain. Fences should be resistant and made of a material that will withstand environmental conditions. Check with your law enforcement center to find out if you arent breaking any laws by shooting the pest rodents. That's my buddy, Vito. Spread these in areas popular with wild hogs or use it in an outline around your property's perimeter. This one is my favorite tip but if you can wear your hunting clothes in front of a bonfire before a hunt, do so! . There are products out there that hunters swear by while others will condemn the same products totally. Of the five primary senses, feral hogs tend to use four of these (that is, smell, sight, hearing and touch) in their daily existence. Wild hogs, wild pigs, feral pigs, feral hogs, razorbacksthey go by many names, but one thing is certain, they cause a lot of property damage. They can cover considerable areas, except when the females are pregnant. Their burrows can create troublesome footing for hoofed animals, who may get injured accidentally stepping into one of the openings. For this reason, sound equipment with loudspeakers can be quite useful in large areas damaged by the presence of these wild pigs. Chunks of turf may be torn out of the ground or vegetable patches destroyed. What Smells Keep Woodchucks Away - 9 Natural Ways 1. Now, we know what youre probably thinking Why would I care if hogs have sweat glands or not? As mentioned previously, wild boards have a highly sensitive sense of smell. To make a homemade scent spray, follow these steps: If you dont have all four ingredients, its okay to skip out on one or two, just as long as you have at leastONEscent deterrent in there. Dating as far back as the times of the Roman Empire, domesticated pigs, related to today's wild hogs, were used to hunt for truffles underground. Eliminate/minimize shadowing when night hunting and exercise awareness re: sound generation. By using scents, you can set yourself up in the best position possible to put that trophy buck down for the count! Wild boars are an invasive type of pig that are largely distributed around the world. Of course, if you're hunting from one location, like a treestand, you want scent around the shooting zone. What smell do wild hogs hate? They wont hesitate to burrow under a fence. With the wild boar, the facts become even more difficult. This wild hog repellent can also be spread around crops so that the wild pigs will not think of the food as something appetizing. I know I mentioned earlier that hogs can smell further if a scent is carried to them by the wind. Do feral hogs kill snakes? Farmers would complain like they do nowadays when the wild hogs root up the land looking for their own truffles.. , Bow and Arrow Hunting hogs with bow and arrow is a thrill that challenge-seeking hunters love. Additionally, garlic essential oil is also effective at repelling groundhogs, as they cant seem to stand the scent of garlic. Castor Oil 9. If African swine fever were to arrive in North America, feral pigs could be pivotal in spreading this devastating and deadly porcine disease. Masking your scent from hogs is no easy task. Of the five primary senses, feral hogs tend to use four of these (that is, smell, sight, hearing and touch) in their daily existence. This is why you see many hunters seeing success with the spot and stalk tactic, as you can fool the eyes if you are careful, but rarely can hunters fool a wild hogs nose. Even human scents or human related scents left on such things like boot tracks, trail cameras, and ground blinds become washed away in the rain. My field experience has proven that wild hogs often detect movement at distances up to 100 yards, not sensing immediate danger this distant movement has little if any impact on their actions. The hot sauce and garlic will reinforce the message to STAY AWAY. Sodium nitrite (NaNO2) is a meat preservative commonly used to cure meats such as sausage and bacon. It is important that we start taking the rapid growth of these animals seriously and begin heavily taking advantage of our hunting rights. While, Is a 26 or 28 inch shotgun barrel better? Therefore, without further ado, here are five scents that will drive coyotes into flight: Wolf urine. The combination of these ingredients drives woodchucks away by creating an unpleasant burning sensation. We put predator urine first on our list because it is one of the most effective scents to scare away groundhogs. With the progress of science, we should be able to get rid of wild hogs without damaging their wider ecosystem. Once the eggs are good and mixed, add the water. Porker physiology makes other areas more vulnerable, he said. Mechanical traps are ideal for catching hedgehogs, as they can be used repetitively. Pour enough beer to where the corn can be easily stirred and let sit for two to three days. Avoid growing crops that pigs enjoy, such as strawberries and other sweet fruit. The good news is, this will happen naturally once you spray your mixture outside. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. We have said it before, and we will say it again, hunting wild hog is becoming a very popular game to harvest. Ultrasound equipment to scare away wild pigs is also available in some markets, if you prefer. 5. Sounds or alarms that could scare away feral hogs include: As they are very sensitive to sound, all these recordings could frighten them and scare them away. A scent such asCode Blue Sow In Heat Urineis essential for any hog hunt. The range of how far a hog can smell decreases and water forming puddles blocks smells from underneath the ground. They can trample and uproot crops, springs, and creeks, and many times this means going over homes and business that are in close proximity to humans, livestock, or watering facilities. The opening should not allow corn to free-flow from the bag, just large enough to release a couple kernels as the bag is jostled about. The first step has nothing to do with building a fence or calling animal control. To recap, here are 9 scents that groundhogs hate: You can also use physical deterrents like fencing as well as scare tactics. Groundhogs are part of the squirrel family and are similar in size and shape to their western cousins, the marmot. And it does! Groundhog Resistant Plants. Use soap and shampoo right before your hunt that specializes in killing your human scent. In January, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved a warfarin-based pesticide for registration called Kaput. Can you hunt deer with a pistol in lower Michigan? What is themosteffective way to repel groundhogs? This can include seeds and animals buried in the ground. This is best applied to completely dry plants. In some areas, the problems caused by wild hogs have increased as due to crossings with domestic pigs. Start by building fences around your crops, vegetables, and gardens. Wild hogs are native to Europe, Asia and some parts of Africa. Wild hogs are native to Europe, Asia and some parts of Africa. ), knowing this fact will help you better plan your hunts, and hunt the weather to the best of your ability by getting into the mindset of a wild hog. Therefore, now that you know why we believe this game is important to hunt (and if you havent read that last blog yet, click here before moving on), we want to provide you with crucial facts that we believe will elevate your future hog hunts. It should stand at least 5-feet tall above ground, down to 3-feet deep below. It does its job and leaves your horse alone. Erect fences that are at least 3 feet tall to prevent pigs from jumping over them. There are plenty of commercially available products likeI Must Garden Groundhog/Woodchuck Repellent, where the main ingredient is whole eggs. Hot Sauce And Cayenne Pepper: Why They Work To Repel Rats, 11 Things That Attract Ticks (And How To Repel Them), 9 Different Ways That Spiders Get Into Your Home, How Long Pigeons Nest For (And If They Reuse The Same One), Garlic: Can You Use It to Repel Squirrels? Plus, with how smart and mischievous these guys are, it is nothing short of fun. However, they are also opportunistic and may consume certain types of invertebrates (e.g., insects and crayfish) and some types of vertebrates (e.g., amphibians and small mammals). The effects of red fox scent on winter activity patterns of suburban wildlife: evaluating predator-prey interactions and the importance of groundhog burrows in promoting biodiversity. Whether these little bandits have been stealing your garden vegetables or their burrows are getting out of control, youre ready to do something about it. In our previous hog hunting blog titled Hog Hunting: 12 States Where You Can Hunt Them Year Round & Why You Should, not only did we elaborate on what states allow you to hunt them without a tag limit, but we also indicated 4 crucial reasons of why you should consider hunting them. In the 1950s and 60s, says Mayer, wildlife departments promoted pig hunting and sometimes even . A hogs sense of smell is so powerful because it can pick up scents from a long distance away. If wild hogs have become a problem for your property, AnimalWised brings some practical advice on how to get rid of wild hogs. To deter the pigs, clean up any fallen or overripe fruit or veggies. Swatting flys or taking a 600lb. Commercial Wildlife Repellents. If you see one, it does not indicate there is a whole colony around. Well list a few scents that groundhogs cant stand and how to use them. Pouring scent around bait, or at any location, can put hogs at ease. Hunting feral hogs is no exception, understanding and thinking like a hog you'll greatly improve your chance of taking that elusive wild boar. Anecdotal evidence points to one of the strangest frightening devices. Hawk decoys are another option. Wild Hog Scram is a proprietary blend of natural and biodegradable ingredients specifically designed to reduce and eliminate wild hog activity. Wild hogs have nocturnal behavior. While we want the eggs to be a little rotten, you dont want mold growth in your mixture, either. By using scents, you can set yourself up in the best position possible to put that trophy buck down for the count! Wild hogs prioritize monocular vision, that is using each eye separately as opposed to our priority of binocular vision. These adorable animals are part of the squirrel family, called ground squirrels, and, Read More 9 Natural Predators That Eat ChipmunksContinue, Squirrels can be cute little rodents prancing around at parks and along city sidewalks, sitting on their generous rumps and munching acorns. It takes just 8 grams of sodium nitrite to kill a 100-pound pig, Gentry said. Mothballs are 99% pesticide and are dangerous to both humans and wildlife. Hogs forage in several ways: (1) browsing and grazing - leaves, fronds, stems, etc. Pouring scent around bait, or at any location, can put hogs at ease. As mentioned above, there are similarities between deer and hogs. For nearly a century, scientists have investigated chemicals that can fell big, vertebrate pestsparticularly feral swine. A black truck pulls into the shop. Hogs normally will not awaken to a foreign scent in their sleeping area if its not overbearing. Like predator urine, putrescent eggs also appeal to a groundhogs sense of danger. This is easily accomplished by simply carrying a pound or two of corn in a bag tied to my pack or belt, cut a small hole in the corner allowing a few kernels to drop out as the bag moves from your actions. Most often asked questions related to bitcoin! "A hog's vitals are low to the ground. During the rain, a hogs smell is still strong but the rain tends to dampen most of the smells around it. In general, boars have widely distributed populations and, in some cases, show signs that their numbers will keep on growing. While the eggs might smell bad, the more important feature is that rotten eggs often mimic the smell of decaying animals. Once this product dries, we humans cant really smell it, so no need to worry about a rotten egg scent around your garden! Here's a look at how dangerous feral hogs are and what should you do if you encounter one. Groundhogs have a few distinguishing features to separate them from these animals, such as their tail shape, solitary nature, and white guard hairs that give them a frosted appearance. Frightening devices are less effective on groundhogs than other critters, but they do still work and are great to pair with other deterrents. Wild hogs do not have very good vision, although they do have a good sense of smell. When Im not out roaming around 50+ acres of pastures, woods, and a freshwater bass pond, Im at my computer writing on Pest Pointers. How strong is their sense of smell? Applying scent at a location where they are known to travel through can help stop them long enough for a shot. In National Wildlife Research Center Repellents Conference 1995 (p. 4). They constantly chew and destroy property, and, Read More Hot Sauce And Cayenne Pepper: Why They Work To Repel RatsContinue, Finding a tick on your pet or in your home can be a startling experience. Hogs do not only use their strong sense of smell to smell whats in front of them but below them as well. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. In reality, wind tends to swirl and constantly change direction in which it blows. What is the best place to shoot a wild hog? Rosell, Carme, Fernndez-Llario, Pedro and Herrero, Y. Find the best hunting times for game in North America, turkey hunting, turkey hunt, turkey hunting weather, turkey hunter, turkey tips, squirrel, squirrel hunting, hunting tips, hunting for squirrel, best time to hunt squirrel. Snake predation by feral hogs is most likely insignificant at best. We all know the smell, and we all know its a pretty rad scent, and not in a good way! Eliminate Skunks with Live Traps and Bait. On the other hand, Clayton said, a one-shot takedown through a big boar's tough shoulder armor an iffy proposition. Be aware of seasonal food sources, whether native or agriculture. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Hogs rely on their good sense of smell to make up for their weaker sense of vision. With that being said, there are similar-sized animals that also burrow, such as skunks and raccoons. Although they have solve the problem of deterring wild hogs, they may have a negative effect on the local ecology. Before we get into the scents and smells that repel groundhogs, lets make sure youre actually dealing with a groundhog. If youre just trying to get a quick hunt in, then you can sprinkle packets of raspberry jello mix around an area to attract them. Therefore, that is all the more reason to hunt them. Citrus Peels are Natural Home Remedies to Keep Skunks Away from the House. Dating as far back as the times of the Roman Empire, domesticated pigs, related to todays wild hogs, were used to hunt for truffles underground. Wild hogs are excellent foragers, moving soil with their snouts in order to reach food. To deter the pigs, clean up any fallen or overripe fruit or veggies. Like we mentioned before, groundhogs have a keen sense of smell. They don't exhibit signs of poor eyesight and they certainly are no where close to blind as some articles will lead you to believe. Hogs love to wallow in the mud. Go in after them (spot and stalk) Wild hogs love to hang out in dense, brushy areas. Read on to find out what scents you can use to deter groundhogs and how to use these natural scents to keep groundhogs away for good! Simple enough, right? It will just work to drive away the groundhog if you sprinkle it around the perimeter of your garden. Why do groundhogs come to my yard and garden? One of Pompi's friends, Delvin, a doughy guy with red cheeks and khaki shorts sagging at his rear, climbs down from the cab. No one wants a tomato that tastes like hot sauce and mustard, right? I wash all my clothes in detergents without fragrances and UV brighteners. Safer Brand Spray powerful groundhog repellent that contains 3 great-for-repelling-groundhogs ingredients capsaicin, piperine, and black pepper oil. They left their usual corn at the corn feeder to raid this mans garden. What can I do to keep ground hogs out of my yard? Lets break these senses down. Pigs that are seriously ill may reduce water intake or suffer excessive fluid loss e.g. Symptoms may include lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting, hypersalivation, nasal discharge, muscle tremors, coughing, frothing at the mouth, sneezing, involuntary eye movement, labored breathing, and bloody diarrhea. Here are some of the known groundhog attractants: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Spiders! So do wild hogs have a good sense of smell? To read more from the Texas A&M research on wild hogs, click here. To use predator urine to repel groundhogs, be sure to follow all the directions on the label. (n.d.). Eating raw eggs can interfere with the biotin absorption of pigs. If you think that the posting of any material infringes your copyright, be sure to contact us through the contact form and your material will be removed! All materials are posted on the site strictly for informational and educational purposes! Feral Hunting: Yes; it is legal to kill feral hogs on your own property and on public lands where hunting is allowed. This cross-breeding is mainly true for males since the females avoid pigs. In this way, they are durable and easy to maintain over time. Groundhogs tend to hate the taste of Epsom salt. Wear a face mask so the hogs wont smell your breathe. The Epsom salt won't do anything harmful to a groundhog, as it's a natural product. What do hogs hate? If you have these types of vegetables and plants in your garden, be vigilant! That means storing your hunting gear and clothes in ways that minimize the introduction of foreign scent in the field. 4. These tips applied on your wild/feral hog hunt will improve your chance at landing that elusive wild boar! Fact 6: Many Wild Hogs Are Becoming Nocturnal. You can also spray it on fencing around your garden. So, if you see a large hole in your yard, chances are you have a groundhog. Today, America's feral swine include wild boar, escaped domestic pigs, and hybrids of the two. They are very good at adapting to their habitats and adjusting to the weather that their region brings them, and that is why their numbers are growing at an outrageous rate. Believe it or not, skunks and raccoons typically use abandoned groundhog burrows for themselves and rarely dig their own burrows. And once this product dries, you will not be able to smell the rotten egg scent. For your convenience, we now accept phone orders Monday - Friday from 8:00am - 5:00pm CST. 2:545:05How To Survive This Scary Wild Boar Attack - YouTubeYouTube. They have also been known to jump over fences that are less than 3 feet high, and researchers have sighted wild hogs making their way out of traps that were 5 to 6 feet high. Hunting without a rifle is like, Like humans, polar bears have a plantigrade stance: they walk on the soles of, Once downed by a hunter, well-trained tollers will retrieve the bird as well. Groundhogs can cause real problems for home vegetable and flower gardeners. In a 1913 photo, two feral hogs on St. Vincent Island, Florida, trigger a camera by pulling on a baited string. Hogs are used to encountering the scent of other hogs. It corresponds to the genus Sus, a type of even-toed ungulate animal. Think of the consistency of scrambled egg mix. If you are hunting in an area where hunters hunt all the time, the hogs become slightly desensitized to the human scent. Use the same odor-elimination procedures with hogs that you do with deer. There are currently no poisons that can be legally used in the United States against wild hogs, but not for a lack of options. Rating a feral/wild hogs senses would be 1) SMELL 2) SIGHT 3) HEARING. Repels wild hogs and alters their digestive system in 2-ways: Food tastes bad and their digestive system is disturbed and surrounding soil become bad smelling. 18 Tips To Prepare For A Helicopter Hog Hunt. Instead, spray around the plant or directly on its stems and leaves. Always keep a bottle ofCode Blue Smoke Detectorin your pocket to ensure that you're still playing the wind properly. If it is shelter, perhaps you can make changes to the shade and cover provided. If you wish, you may try planting repellant plants such as fragrant herbs among growing flowers and fruit trees, as these are supposedly plants javelina will not eat and tend to avoid. Like peppers, garlic and onions contain compounds that can upset a pigs stomach. What smells do pigs hate? The problem is, this second opening is often hidden or covered to help protect the groundhog. Feral Hogs are wild animals that need food, shelter, and water. Hang dry your clothes. I basically describe the benefits of hunting hogs in the rain in more detail and how it can end in a successful hunt. For those of you who plan on stalking hogs in their nests, this is a question you may be asking yourselves. If youre interested, you can read more about thebest coyote urines for repelling animals here. Regardless of the establishment of or lack of a home-range feral/wild hogs are movers and they rely heavily on their senses to survive. The Best Scents To Repel Coyotes and Why They Work. The chilling sound of two Velcro pieces being pulled apart is more than enough to send shivers down a horse's spine. Another tactic is to bend the fence in an L-shape at ground level, extending 2 feet from the garden. Bean, N. J., Korff, W. L., & Mason, J. R. (1995, August). That causes all sorts of agricultural,. Also, keep Fido's food in the house. Homemade repellents with unpleasant smells can be made to discourage feral pigs. However, now that you know where they will reside during the warm months, they might be easier to locate. They include: Bearberry, bluebird's weed, cinchona bark, iris, liverwort, mountain laurel, Valerian, and more. If you dont prepare properly and remove your scent as best as possible, your hunt could already be over before it starts. Pigs have a remarkable 1113 active genes related to smell. They usually dont cause too much damage or fuss but have the potential to create problems when they burrow or when they find your prized garden. This method is more of an area repellent as opposed to a taste repellent. Groundhogs are also confused with woodchucks. (3) rooting - rhizomes, tubers, bulbs, corms, invertebrate larvae, small fossorial vertebrates, etc. What Does It Mean When a Cat Shows Up at My Door, My Female Dog In Heat Wont Accept A Male - Causes, The 10 Most Solitary Animals in the World, The 10 Animals Most Faithful to Their Mates, How to Keep Birds Away - Humane Methods of Bird Repellent, Different Types of Domestic and Wild Parrots, How to Volunteer at an Animal Shelter in India: Tips to Get Involved. Of these, feral hogs excel at the sense of smell. In this way, we humans are often responsible for altering their habits. Heres HowContinue, Your email address will not be published. Try to make minimal cuts in the first 24 hours to let the rigor mortis process take place. Try to avoid spraying directly on vegetables or fruits. What can you do to keep wild hogs from tearing up your yard? Again, experiment with different products and techniques. it is this lack of depth perception that i believe leads to the near blind myth. I've concluded that no scent is as distracting to a wild hog as the scent of FOOD! You will find so many products, sprays, chemicals, and specialized clothing options out there that claim to be the next best thing to keep you undetectable to the wild hog. FERAL/WILD HOG SENSE OF SMELL, SIGHT, AND SOUND. Also, keep Fido's food in the house. Luckily for me, Vito isnt the biggest pest in my life. The pigs that we have in the United States, whether classified as "domestic," "feral," or "wild," all belong to the same species: Sus scrofa.This pig's native range extended across much of Europe, Asia, and North Africa, with island populations from Corsica and the British Isles to . No matter which method you like to use to pursue hogs, there is typically a time and place to use hog scents, too. For garlic, onions, mustard, or hot sauce, you can make a spray mixture to apply on and around your plants. Published April 30, 2021. Given their high capacity for reproduction, they have unfortunately become an invasive and harmful exotic species.