This guy right next to me? It takes just 8 grams of sodium nitrite to kill a 100-pound pig, Gentry said. Keeping dogs and allowing them to urinate in the surroundings could therefore scare these animals away. With these 7 facts in the back of your mind, and your HuntWise app to guide you along the way with predictions of the best times to hunt in your area, you are sure to see success afield and harvest a wild hog. They DO NOT deter wildlife. 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. A Little Goes A Long Way Secrets To Mock Scrapes. The smell sends a message to the groundhog that big predators might be nearby and sends them scurrying away. Their sense of smell is so good, pigs can discriminate between mint, spearmint, and peppermint with 100 percent accuracy during academic testing. 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. Sweet corn is a staple in hog baits, because hogs can easily recognize the smell. 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. I have collected a lot of useful and interesting information for you in my blog. Dont chew gum! Recent studies have shown that the wild hog population is increasing across the United States by as much as 20% yearly! Considering many hog populations that are becoming hard to control are in the south (Texas, Alabama, etc. Either way, you should be practicing proper scent control if you plan on getting close and personal with the hogs. Therefore, if we are the ones responsible, we should seek solutions which are non-aggressive and non-harmful for the animals. Feral/wild hogs hearing is keen enough to detect a fairly loud whisper @ around 100 yards, human voice above a whisper and they are GONE. 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). So, if you see a large hole in your yard, chances are you have a groundhog. Even though their hearing isnt as good as their sense of smell, it is still considered their second best sense. 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. Using our partner network helps support Pest Pointers, so thanks! If you have these types of vegetables and plants in your garden, be vigilant! What can farmers do to protect their crops? Can you hunt deer with a pistol in lower Michigan? Hogs like to cover a lot of ground, especially in the morning and evening. What smell attracts wild hogs? Wild/feral hogs are extremely intelligent animals, like most animals they can also become creatures of habit therefore over time they can be "patterned" as to their movement preferences, feed times, travel patterns etc. Baking Soda Detergent. 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. for a period of time, if the noise persists they will move on. Simply whisk the eggs together until they are well combined. Once the harvest had begun to grow, wild hogs rooted up his backyard when they have never done so before. As for myself, there are certain practices I do before a hunt that I believe hides my scent from the hogs: I will say this about masking your scent though. Hearing is the least developed of the wild hogs senses. If you are hunting in an area where hunters hunt all the time, the hogs become slightly desensitized to the human scent. But there is one significant difference as well, it's called attitude. We all know the smell, and we all know its a pretty rad scent, and not in a good way! Wild pigs can cause serious damage to the lawns and gardens of those living in areas where feral pig populations have increased considerably. Another option is to pound small stakes into the ground and spray the stakes. However, they have also been introduced into the Americas, Australia and onto several islands. Make sure that you use fine plastic mesh for your fence as it prevents the pigs from coming in. Keep the meat as dry as possible too, he says. Hawk decoys are another option. Another added benefit of essential oils is their repellent capabilities. Visit our Terms and Conditions for more information. 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. Swatting flys or taking a 600lb. it is this lack of depth perception that i believe leads to the near blind myth. Their Canadian . I have had success with some while others prevented any hogs to from showing up in my sights. Once this product dries, we humans cant really smell it, so no need to worry about a rotten egg scent around your garden! When food is abundant, hogs are harder to entice. Just to add when you shop using links from Pest Pointers, we may earn affiliate commissions if you make a purchase. Keep that in mind when you're thinking about applying scent to a drag rag. Or you can also try an electronic cannon such as the one below, that is meant to scare birds, foxes, deer and wild pigs from the area. Cayenne pepper Our Farmers Almanac readers swear by this method: Simply pour cayenne pepper close to the groundhogs holes. 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. Often, however, a more hands on, but safe approach is needed. In contrast, in times of drought only the leading females reproduce. Things like garlic, black pepper, onion, mustard, and hot sauce can be used to deter groundhogs from your yard and garden. So do wild hogs have a good sense of smell? Rating a feral/wild hogs senses would be 1) SMELL 2) SIGHT 3) HEARING. This website primarily references personal learning experiences. He is the 11, A person must be at least 18 years of age to hunt with (possess), High-powered rifles are must-haves when going out hunting. They are capable of sensing odors five miles away and able to detect food sources several feet underground. So, where the heck do you find predator urine? 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. In January, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved a warfarin-based pesticide for registration called Kaput. Always keep a bottle ofCode Blue Smoke Detectorin your pocket to ensure that you're still playing the wind properly. Uprooted soil from a wild pig feeding, bedding, etc. Annuals fill the garden with flowers and fragrance from early spring until fall's first frost. Therefore, uprooted soil is one of the most recognizable signs of a wild hogs presence and is going to help you harvest a nice pig. These tips applied on your wild/feral hog hunt will improve your chance at landing that elusive wild boar! Rosemary and lavender are on some of the "won't eat" lists, as are basil and mint. A feral pig can host at least 30 viral and bacterial diseases, along with nearly 40 parasites. Wild pigs may seem an unusual species to thrive in Canada's cold climate, but the feral swine descendants of European wild boars brought to the nation for game farms and as food are . One such repellent which quickly scares them away is the human scent, so collecting human hair in a barbershop and spreading it around the areas they usually frequent is an effective way to scare them off. Smoke Wrap Up What Smells Keep Woodchucks Away - 9 Natural Ways So, let's read it out what woodchucks hate to smell, and then we can fix your woodchuck issue without any glitch! The smell is what keeps it off the list of groundhogs' favorite foods, although they do occasionally eat them. Using game cameras and some stealthy pre-hunt reconnaissance can help identify the hog trails. They go by many names, including wild hog, razorback, piney . Also, use a complete scent elimination system to remove scent from your body, clothes, and gear. Wild hogs are excellent foragers, moving soil with their snouts in order to reach food. If youd like to learn more, you can read in-depth about howgroundhogs and woodchucks are the same here. During the rain, a hogs smell is still strong but the rain tends to dampen most of the smells around it. These products are great if you dont have the time or patience to make your own homemade repellent. Locations that show obvious damage from hog activity are also choice places to introduce Sow In Heat Urine as an attractant. It will just work to drive away the groundhog if you sprinkle it around the perimeter of your garden. The significant role played by bitcoin for businesses! Hogs rely on their good sense of smell to make up for their weaker sense of vision. This is best applied to completely dry plants. Astudydone by the University of Nebraska identified geranium oil as an effective scent repellent against groundhogs. When moving they are continuously searching for food, mainly vegetable matter. Feral Hogs are wild animals that need food, shelter, and water. Therefore, that is all the more reason to hunt them. Finally make sure that you do not live any food close to your garden that the pigs can scavenge. However, because of the complicated history of hogs in North America, the terms can be used interchangeably. 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. There are three different kinds of pesticides; herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. David is the main protagonist of the Duck Season game. (n.d.). As mentioned previously, wild boards have a highly sensitive sense of smell. Traps for Hedgehogs control: Traps are used to monitor or reduce the population of insects or other pests. However, any landowner that plans to trap or snare hogs should have a valid Texas hunting license, since these activities could affect other wildlife species. Pouring scent around bait, or at any location, can put hogs at ease. Many repellents today, including the one mentioned above, are safe to use directly on your plants. . They always seem to know where to root for food or how to avoid certain predators like us. With this recipe, simply soak your corn in beer. It will usually wait for the high winds to die down before venturing off again. 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. The fourth factor is human perception and human dynamics. Yes, a hogs smelling sense is the strongest of all its senses and is one of its best defenses against predators and hunters. Homemade repellents with unpleasant smells can be made to discourage feral pigs. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm Zack DeAngelis, the creator of Pest Pointers. They include: Bearberry, bluebird's weed, cinchona bark, iris, liverwort, mountain laurel, Valerian, and more. 4. Reapply Hog Scram as a preventative to repel Hogs from the area. Groundhogs are part of the squirrel family and are similar in size and shape to their western cousins, the marmot. A sounder's rooting can resemble the mad ramblings of an out-of-control backhoe. Spear A cold steel bushman aimed at the ribs or the lower front shoulder vitals. You should maintain a degree of awareness of making unnecessary sudden loud noises when hog hunting. When mixed with corn, it makes for the perfect wild hog bait attractant to put in your feeder. To recap, here are 9 scents that groundhogs hate: You can also use physical deterrents like fencing as well as scare tactics. Pigs have a remarkable 1113 active genes related to smell. The smell alone of certain herbs and aromatic flowers will repel even the most determined groundhog. With one of nature's most sensitive noses, hogs can smell roots, tubers and grubs deep underneath that fine stand of winter wheat or clover and will literally turn the plot upside down to get to the groceries. Beer and Corn Even wild hogs enjoy a few beers after a long day. With all of this talk about repellent scents, it makes you wonder what groundhogs hate the most? "A hog's vitals are low to the ground. It really depends where you hunt and the type of hog hunting you do. Even more acutely, however, they have excellent hearing. The problem is, this second opening is often hidden or covered to help protect the groundhog. Most hogs can detect scents up to 8 miles away and thats even when the scent isnt being carried by the wind or light breeze. There are many special traits about a hogs sense of smell that should be learned in order to better hunt it. If the appeal of your yard is food, try to remove the food source. With the progress of science, we should be able to get rid of wild hogs without damaging their wider ecosystem. There are products out there that hunters swear by while others will condemn the same products totally. Cows, horses, and other hoofed animals may not see the hole before its too late. Pouring scent around bait, or at any location, signals that the spot is safe. Use the same odor-elimination procedures with hogs that you do with deer. Spread these in areas popular with wild hogs or use it in an outline around your property's perimeter. Now, we know what youre probably thinking Why would I care if hogs have sweat glands or not? 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. PB1624 Managing Nuisance Animals and Associated Damage around the Home. This site is owned and operated by Hog Hunting For Beginners. As mentioned above, there are similarities between deer and hogs. By using scents, you can set yourself up in the best position possible to put that trophy buck down for the count! The rain will wash away the spray pretty easily since all the ingredients are natural. Although they have solve the problem of deterring wild hogs, they may have a negative effect on the local ecology. Three feet should be enough to deter them. Dont worry; no live animals will be involved on your part! Although groundhogs do a lot of good for the environment, in certain situations, they can become a nuisance and a pest. In the warm months, you cant spray down enough with scent-eliminating spray. If youre in need of an exterminator or wildlife professional, you can learn more about our nationwide network of pest control professionals. Corn will sour once soaked for several days, creating a smell that will attract hogs but keep other animals, such as deer, away. In the 1950s and 60s, says Mayer, wildlife departments promoted pig hunting and sometimes even . That familiar smell can have a calming effect. Thus, the negative impact on crop plantations described above is exacerbated by a significant number of these animals and is perpetual. Masking your scent from hogs is no easy task. What are pigs afraid of? Be aware of seasonal food sources, whether native or agriculture. Take advantage of a hog's highly developed sense of smell. 10. Also, keep Fido's food in the house. This results in more pregnant females and, therefore, more offspring per litter. Instead, spray around the plant or directly on its stems and leaves. Primarily herbivores, they will occasionally eat smaller rodents and insects. It has given rise to hybrid animals. Using physical deterrents is more effective than scent deterrents, but its also more costly. According to theUniversity of New Hampshire, groundhogs love beans, alfalfa, clover, dandelions, peas, broccoli, and tomatoes, among others. When a hog is downwind from a scent, it can smell up to 10 miles away. Strong perfumes. In turn, Americans kill pigs at an astonishingly vicious pace. The nice thing about these types of scent deterrents is that they are probably already in your pantry! Keep this in mind when you are preparing or traversing to and from your hunting area or stand. In 2019, South Carolina hunters reported killing 31,508 hogs while pursuing deer. Bear repellents. In addition, there are natural ways to repel groundhogs besides planting groundhog-proof plants. Remember that hogs will often feed on rodent carcasses. Wildlife and Fisheries, 6-7. https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1014&context=utk_agexfish. Although all groundhogs look about the same, just like we humans, each groundhog has unique preferences. 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 . Table 9. It is interesting to note that pigs have 9 different glands that allow it to to recognize a wide variety of odors anal, buccal, digital, Harderian, mental, preorbital, preputial, salivary and vulvar. Learn how to eliminate natural body odors to stay undetected by whitetail this season. However, feral hog populations remained and are spreading throughout the state. Snake predation by feral hogs is most likely insignificant at best. Wild hogs are native to Europe, Asia and some parts of Africa. "Spicy" and "hot" smells can be helpful for deterring squirrels, according to Cindy Glokler of the "Times Union" in Albany N.Y. Squirrels simply don't like them. Hogs are used to encountering the scent of other hogs. One of Pompi's friends, Delvin, a doughy guy with red cheeks and khaki shorts sagging at his rear, climbs down from the cab. Human Hair 7. If you have sufficiently technologically advanced equipment, it could be possible to set up a trigger where the presence of an animal sets off the noise. What can I do to keep ground hogs out of my yard? If you want to read similar articles to How to Get Rid of Wild Hogs, we recommend you visit our Facts about the animal kingdom category. Spicy Odors. Again, experiment with different products and techniques. All three of these pesticides are used to kill different kinds of pests that can be found on a farm. Since wild hogs have big noses and huge nostrils, I have always wondered if they have a good sense of smell. The feral or wild hog (scientific name Sus scrofa) is a mammal belonging to the Suidae family, which also includes pigs. Unfortunately, the vivid, pleasantly scented blooms tend to draw the . Be observant of what you do before a hunt and make sure you limit yourself around scents that can stick to you. If you have any extra, be sure to store it in the fridge. This wild hog repellent can also be spread around crops so that the wild pigs will not think of the food as something appetizing. In this way, they are durable and easy to maintain over time. For those of you who plan on stalking hogs in their nests, this is a question you may be asking yourselves. 4. What smells do pigs hate? However, there are a few easy ways to keep pigs out of your back lawn. In field tests I have intentionally made noises to alert the hogs at a feeder, they typically acknowledge but tolerate the common noises (movements, rustling of brush, shuffling of rocks etc.) What smell do wild hogs hate? Scent masking is a science that can sometimes be a hit or miss. For your convenience, we now accept phone orders Monday - Friday from 8:00am - 5:00pm CST. They are terribly afraid of humans and will vacate as soon as they detect human presence. Put Up Fences. You can use them in a variety of ways. If you find a suitable wallowing location, it's a natural candidate for some scent. Repellency of plant, natural products, and predator odors to woodchucks. However, we feel that various wild hog hunting equipment such as the Game Alert Hog Hunting Light, which can be attached to the bottom of feeders and provides momentary illumination when a hog is within range, simplifies the process of hog hunting at night and helps you see success. Also, keep Fidos food in the house. Avoid growing crops that pigs enjoy, such as strawberries and other sweet fruit. When eaten in high doses over a short period of time, it is toxic to feral swine. Theyre typically brown in color with dark brown or black feet. In reality, wind tends to swirl and constantly change direction in which it blows. You can often find it at home improvement stores if you would rather go to a brick-and-mortar store. Skatole may also be detected in gilts, but this is linked with faecal contamination of the skin. Are wild boars . This includes our own. Fill clear jars with clear water and place them periodically around your garden. White pepper and . We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. But for groundhogs, this isnt quite as appetizing. They can also be prohibitively expensive. The good news is, this will happen naturally once you spray your mixture outside. Well, we are here to tell you. Figure 1. If you dont prepare properly and remove your scent as best as possible, your hunt could already be over before it starts. We wrote an in-depth piece on if awoodchuck can actually chuck wood here. Landowners or their agents are allowed to kill feral hogs on their property without a hunting license if feral hogs are causing damage. Not only are rats pretty repulsive, but they can cause quite a few structural problems inside your home. This appeals to a groundhogs sense of danger. , Bow and Arrow Hunting hogs with bow and arrow is a thrill that challenge-seeking hunters love. Of the five primary senses, feral hogs tend to use four of these (that is, smell, sight, hearing and touch) in their daily existence. Like predator urine, putrescent eggs also appeal to a groundhogs sense of danger. 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. Pigs have a remarkable 1113 active genes related to smell. Garlic And Onions. Coyotes can be persistent little buggers, so here goes: Feral/wild hogs use of monocular (both eyes independent) results in hogs being very aware of close movement in their field of vision (130 degrees). Now that youre packed full of groundhog deterrent information, you should have a small arsenal of ideas to repel these pesky critters. Join us and I will tell you everything. To keep groundhogs out of your garden, fencing will have to accommodate both the groundhog's digging and climbing. Avoid growing crops that pigs enjoy, such as strawberries and other sweet fruit. These ain't grandpa's hogs running the woods, these are crossed with Russian boar and bad to the bone. Groundhogs always create at leasttwoentrances to their burrow, the second entrance being an emergency entrance or exit. Protecting the boar during battles . Safer Brand Spray powerful groundhog repellent that contains 3 great-for-repelling-groundhogs ingredients capsaicin, piperine, and black pepper oil. Pet food left outside attracts the attention of pigs as well as other opportunistic critters. HogHuntingForBeginners.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Wild hogs possess one of if not the strongest highly developed senses of smell of any animal you will hunt, capable of detecting certain odors in excess of 5 miles away. Technically, a "feral" pig or hog refers to a domestic animal that has returned to wild after escaping or being set free and "wild" refers to an animal that has never been in captivity. While we want the eggs to be a little rotten, you dont want mold growth in your mixture, either. Of these, feral hogs excel at the sense of smell. The good news is,groundhogs and woodchucks are actually the same animals, so theres no need to confuse the two! Thanks to their acute memory, every time they smell that food they will associate it with its bad taste. If you see one, it does not indicate there is a whole colony around. The corn will soak up most of the beer, and be ready for spreading. By submitting your personal information, you acknowledge that PRADCO Outdoor Brands will collect and process your information in accordance with its Privacy Policy, including the categories and purposes of use for such information as described here. Pustilnik, J. D., Searle, J. if you do not disrupt there senses. In some areas, the problems caused by wild hogs have increased as due to crossings with domestic pigs. Dont use scented lotions or deodorant either. How strong is their sense of smell? You can always see them constantly sniffing around wherever they go, using their noses like metal detectors on a beach looking for treasures. In fact, its more likely that the one groundhog you see is the only one around. Its not just for a successful hunt but for your safety as well. It has been proven that areas with sufficient available food, such as acorns and other forest fruits, have a positive effect on wild boar reproduction. 18 Tips To Prepare For A Helicopter Hog Hunt. Wild hogs eyesight is often misunderstood and misstated in hunting blogs and articles. When its windy, your chances on finding hogs decrease dramatically. Frightening devices are less effective on groundhogs than other critters, but they do still work and are great to pair with other deterrents. Dog or Cat 5. Youll use the urine to create a barrier around your garden, spraying the scent liberally around the perimeter. However, they have also been introduced into the Americas, Australia and onto several islands.