Now that deer season has wrapped up in my neck of the woods, I am turning my big game pursuits toward the infamous wild hog.

Hogs are a serious problem to the ecosystem, and I have decided to do my part to help reduce their ever-increasing numbers. I have hunted hogs, mainly with a bow and arrow, for close to 20 years.  During this time I have learned some things that have helped me become more successful in my pursuit of these pork chop-toting beauties.

Below are a few tips that will help you to bring home the bacon and maximize your effectiveness in the woods:

1. Pour on the feed

Keep in mind they don’t call them “hogs” for no reason. These animals love to eat. The more feed that is put out, the more the hogs will visit your location.

As far as what kind of feed to use, it is hard to beat regular deer corn. If you want to get fancy, you can mix in some red Kool-Aid or some hog wild. Horse and mule sweet feed is very effective as well.

The main thing is to keep the feed out on a regular basis. Sometimes I dig a hole with post hole diggers and pour the feed in. This seems to buy me a few extra days without having to re-bait. If a pig shows up once or twice and there is no feed, he is likely to change his pattern.

2. Pay attention to the wind

If you have ever been busted by a deer and thought that it is hard to beat a deer’s nose, multiply this times 10 and that is a hog’s nose.

If you don’t have the wind in your favor, simply change locations or stay home. If a big boar comes in down wind, he will smell you.

Unlike a deer that will often stop and stomp a few times when he is scared, a hog simply runs out of sight. I can’t say it enough … make sure the wind is in your favor!

3. Trail cameras are your friend

If there has ever been a device that makes hog hunting easier, it would be the trail camera.

Once a hog finds feed, he is very predictable. A trail camera will tell you exactly when hogs are showing up. I usually wait until they have been regular for three or four days in a row, then I plan my attack.

It is wise to show up at least an hour before the time the pigs are showing up. Remember that many times, pigs will wait in the area before the feeder goes off. The early bird gets the worm.

4. Don’t be afraid of the dark

Many of the hogs I have killed in the past have been taken well after dark.  If the camera shows pigs after dark, then plan your hunt accordingly. A red light for your bow or gun is a great help for these late night adventures.

Other options include night vision or a feeder light. If you plan your hunt on a bright full moon, you can cover the area under your feeder with flour. A black hog on white four in the moonlight will give you a good silhouette to shoot. Regardless of the option you choose, if you stick with it, you should have night-time success.

5. Shot placement is everything

As the old saying goes … “practice makes perfect.” Whether you are shooting a bow, crossbow, rifle, pistol, muzzleloader, or shotgun, you still need to be able to hit the kill zone.

Keep in mind that the bigger boars have an extremely thick armor plate that guards the vitals. The best shot for a bowhunter is low behind the shoulder with a slight quartering away angle.

For rifle hunters, the most lethal is behind the ear or right between the eyes if you can pull it off. Regardless of the shot you choose, by practicing regularly with your weapon of choice, you be more confident when it comes time to make it count. Join a gun club or archery club and practice as often as you can.

When in the hog woods, take a minute to look around and admire the beauty that God has created.  Sunrises and sunsets visible from a stand are some of His greatest masterpieces. Remember the best hunts are not judged on the kill but rather the memories you make with family and friends. By putting these time-tested tips into practice, you should be able to make some great hog hunting memories that last a lifetime.

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Brian Johnson, originally of Port Neches, is pastor of the Outdoorsman’s Church in Winnie, owner of DuckDogTrainer.com and outdoors writer for The News.