The Must-Have Gear for Successful Feral Hog Hunting

The beauty of Florida’s feral hog hunting is that it accommodates all manners of hunting under the sun and stars. Increasingly popular, some folks pursue them at night on agriculture fields with sophisticated thermal imaging equipment and suppressed rifles. On the other end of the technological spectrum, catching feral hogs with dogs has long been a traditional hunting method on both private and public property.

These, of course, are specialized adventures. Overall, feral hog hunting in Florida is as complicated as you choose to make it. Given decent scouting and setting up over a food location, a simple treestand sit is an effective ploy. Personally, I think hogs lend themselves to a spot-and-stalk approach, and I prefer slipping around oak hammocks and drying watercourses in winter and into early spring.

While wild hog hunting is exciting, for the average hunter the gear requirements are anything but. There is no reason to burden yourself with the newest "Wild Hawg Screaming Oink" call. I’ve yet to hear of a hog decoy. Unless you count corn feeders, equipment needs beyond the basics of clothing and a choice of weapon are few and far between. Still, there are certain items I would not do without when hog hunting in Florida.

1. Waterproof Boots

It’s no secret wild hogs favor wet, mucky areas. A waterproof—or at least water-resistant—pair of worn snake boots is the play here, not only for stable foot support when slogging through the mud but also to ward off pesky reptiles who thrive in similar terrain. Calf-high models also come in handy while still-hunting hogs through thorny underbrush and palmettos.

2. Binoculars

I could tell the tale of a fellow who stalked a charred pine stump thinking  it was a hog, but I think you get the gist. A lot of things in the woods will resemble hogs in the early morning light, but a pair of binos spares the embarrassment of moving on them. They’re also necessary for detecting movement in taller vegetation, discerning hogs from livestock, and for planning a stalk. Unless you’re hunting at night or with dogs, there’s no reason not to carry a good pair of glasses on your trip.

3. Tough Projectiles

Prepare not for the average 80-pound wild hog in the woods, but for what giant you might encounter. Wild pigs are tough animals. Big boars develop “shields” on their shoulders which will absorb a bullet. These are natural adaptations to protect males when fighting. They’re not impenetrable but will prevent a rapidly expanding bullet from reaching the vitals. Also, hogs do not always leave good sign to trail after a hit. Ensuring a complete pass through of the bullet greatly aids in recovery.

4. Sharp Knives

I mean, no one wants to clean deer—or even fish—with a dull blade, but it’s a relentless chore with hogs if your knife is not well-honed or can’t maintain an edge. Their coarse hair, thick skin, and dirt will knock the edge off a blade in a hurry. Not being from my father’s generation of waste-not-want-not, I don’t mind a little waste when it comes to cutlery here. Knives with replaceable blades, like a Havalon, allow for a quick swap to a sharp edge when the previous one goes dull. Cheap filet knives from a bait store that you don’t mind parting with after the hunt are other fine alternatives if you don’t want to ruin your good knives on a hog’s tough hide.

5. Protective Gear

On that note, I feel compelled to share FWC’s health advisory regarding feral swine. The animals carry and transmit pseudorabies and swine brucellosis. The former is not a danger to people, but dogs can contract it through a bite wound or consumption of raw pork. Studies suggest up to 50 percent of wild hogs are infected. Swine brucellosis is transmittable to humans, and when handling wild hogs, it is advisable to wear protective gloves when butchering them and cover any open wounds.

For more information on hog hunting in Florida, visit myfwc.com/hunting/wild-hog/

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