PORT ARTHUR — Feral hogs are one of the most challenging creatures pursued by Texas hunters.

If they were not, then hog populations would be skyrocketing throughout their range.

There are no bag limits. Hogs can be trapped, hunted with dogs, at night and even out of helicopters 365 days a year.

The ability to adapt and remain hidden under pressure is a key element to the hog’s survival and is something very rarely spoken of in a public forum.

Back in March, my friend Dustin Ellermann and I hunted hogs on several properties with the J.B. Hunting Ranch in Matagorda County.

Dustin took a super mean, werewolf-looking boar that was hidden in a crevice below a tree that was covered branches and brush. One of the ranch hands caught the animal move while walking through the area and told us we might sneak down that direction.

An hour later when we were able to make it down there, the hog was hidden so well it took a couple of minutes to make it out even though we had been made aware of its exact position. Ellermann took it out with a clean headshot and that is when we realized the lengths this hog had taken to remain hidden.

We had an extremely difficult time getting in to the hog’s lair and to this day cannot figure out exactly how it got in there.

Back in the mid 1990s, my good friend wildlife photographer Gerald Burleigh snapped a photo of a 125-pound class hog that was literally three feet away from me, hidden under a push, covered in pine straw. He noticed it move its ear while I searched for the blood from a shot we just shot.

Hogs have an uncanny ability to remain hidden and are extremely patient in waiting out humans. They can stay still in the most uncomfortable habitat far longer than we desire to look for them.

On my old deer lease in Newton County, I was just about to draw my bow back on a fat sow that was at my feeder along with 12 other hogs. Then suddenly I hear a deep, guttural grunt.

To the north of me at about 100 yards out was a boar that would probably only way 175 pound but that sported three inches of tusk protruding its mouth.

The wind was blowing lightly from the north so it could not wind me but I could tell something was bothering it. I figured as long as I stayed quiet, it would come in and feed with the others and offer a shot.

This hog looked around, cleared its nostrils and then walked in a 100 plus yard circle around me to catch a whiff and not only retreat but make a loud squeal that sent the others packing.

Those are the kinds of stories deer hunters talk about all the time but are rarely attributed to hogs.

While young hogs (like young deer) can be easy to kill and almost seem tame at times, mature hogs are super challenging.

For wildlife managers, this is a great area of frustration but for hog hunters it serves as inspiration.

There is nothing like putting in the time to scout, hunt and eventually bring home the bacon.

If it came easy all the time, it would be no fun.

(To contact Chester Moore, e-mail him at cmooreoutdoors@yahoo.com. You can hear him on “Moore Outdoors” Fridays from 6-7 p.m. on Newstalk AM 560 KLVI. you can find him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/extremewildlife.)