However, since then, the truffle hunting job has been given to dogs due to the pigs natural instinct to root up the land looking for food. These domesticated hogs would often become feral and were hunted or trapped for meat. They have extremely strong jaws to crack open hard-shelled nuts such as hickory nuts and pecans. Controlling your odor is an even bigger issue during the hot summer months when plenty of folks are hog hunting. Even the name sounds like it smells bad. Keep wild hogs away by identifying why they are there in the first place. Lets check out all the scents and smells they dislike so you can start deterring them today! Some of the most common types of these plants are: Spider plant, Hornwort, bladderwrack, bearberry, and rattleweed. On average, groundhogs measure 1 to 2.5 feet long and weigh 7 to 13 pounds, although they can potentially grow to be 24 inches (3 feet) long and weigh as much as 30 pounds when in an area with few predators. Their sense of smell is so good, pigs can discriminate between mint, spearmint, and peppermint with 100 percent accuracy during academic testing. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. You can mix it all together in a container or put everything into the spray bottle if its big enough. Their sense of smell is so good, pigs can discriminate between mint, spearmint, and peppermint with 100 percent accuracy during academic testing. Groundhogs come to a yard or garden because they think its a good place to find food and it provides a safe haven. However, if youre into homebrews or want to save a little money, you can easily make your own putrescent egg spray at home. 9. Few other animals have as well evolved and refined a sense of smell as do swine. 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. . Hang dry your clothes. The Best Scents To Repel Coyotes and Why They Work. If you see one, it does not indicate there is a whole colony around. Sweet corn is a staple in hog baits, because hogs can easily recognize the smell. Eliminate Skunks with Live Traps and Bait. Although groundhogs do a lot of good for the environment, in certain situations, they can become a nuisance and a pest. We have said it before, and we will say it again, hunting wild hog is becoming a very popular game to harvest. 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. That makes sow estrous a suitable attractant year-round. To groundhogs and other critters, at least. By using scents, you can set yourself up in the best position possible to put that trophy buck down for the count! What smell attracts wild hogs? Author: HOGMAN | Posted: February 10, 2018. If it is shelter, perhaps you can make changes to the shade and cover provided. Groundhog, woodchuck, whistle pig, whatever you may call them, are common mammals found in the eastern United States and Canada. Chunks of turf may be torn out of the ground or vegetable patches destroyed. You should maintain a degree of awareness of making unnecessary sudden loud noises when hog hunting. This may be a bit time-consuming and use a lot of pepper, but the effects should be pretty instantaneous. (2001). If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Although all groundhogs look about the same, just like we humans, each groundhog has unique preferences. I grew up in an area of Upstate, NY where dealing with wildlife pests is a common occurrence. Pigs have a remarkable 1113 active genes related to smell. While, Is a 26 or 28 inch shotgun barrel better? Theyre typically brown in color with dark brown or black feet. Fence Depth:As we mentioned before, groundhogs like to dig. Once the harvest had begun to grow, wild hogs rooted up his backyard when they have never done so before. Make sure to bury it a foot beneath the soil and bend the last three inches out into an L shape for maximum effectiveness. To deter the pigs, clean up any fallen or overripe fruit or veggies. Before we get into the scents and smells that repel groundhogs, lets make sure youre actually dealing with a groundhog. Click to attach a photo related to your comment, domestic pigs, feral hogs are very intelligent, How to Get Rid of Rats Naturally Without Harming Them. They are also commonly known as European Wild Pigs, Hogs or simply Boars. If the groundhog has learned that no big predators are around, they may try to taste vegetables and plants sprayed with the repellent. SMELL 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. Groundhogs tend to hate the taste of Epsom salt. Today, as many as nine million roam the U.S., displacing native wildlife and causing . It is important that we start taking the rapid growth of these animals seriously and begin heavily taking advantage of our hunting rights. Avoid growing crops that pigs enjoy, such as strawberries and other sweet fruit. Another added benefit of essential oils is their repellent capabilities. Hogs normally will not awaken to a foreign scent in their sleeping area if its not overbearing. While the eggs might smell bad, the more important feature is that rotten eggs often mimic the smell of decaying animals. Groundhogs will steer clear of anything treated with talcum powder because they hate the smell, so it is effective with preventing groundhogs from eating your garden, but it may not be strong enough to deter them from burrowing and creating tunnels in your yard. They eat almost any plant material and are especially fond of tomatoes. 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. Fence Height:To deter groundhogs, your fence should be at least three feet high. The feral or wild hog (scientific name Sus scrofa) is a mammal belonging to the Suidae family, which also includes pigs. Repellency of plant, natural products, and predator odors to woodchucks. 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. When food is abundant, hogs are harder to entice. 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. In fact, its more likely that the one groundhog you see is the only one around. It has given rise to hybrid animals. 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. Although landowners can use the shooting to reduce the groundhog population or to maintain a low population of groundhogs where necessary, shooting is not the best way to eradicate groundhogs. Infection can set in and this can be lethal. Check with your law enforcement center to find out if you arent breaking any laws by shooting the pest rodents. Before using an attractant, before doing anything, make sure your own scent isn't a hog repellant. Also, there are many times Ive hunted hogs, barely followed my own tips, and still bagged a hog. To keep groundhogs out of your garden, fencing will have to accommodate both the groundhog's digging and climbing. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. 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. During the rain, a hogs smell is still strong but the rain tends to dampen most of the smells around it. As wild hogs become more and more popular to hunt due to their increasing numbers, many hogs have adapted to hunters behavior and strategies by becoming nocturnal. Corn will "sour" once soaked for several days, creating a smell that will attract hogs but keep other animals, such as deer, away. To recap, here are 9 scents that groundhogs hate: You can also use physical deterrents like fencing as well as scare tactics. One may be deterred more by garlic than they are by predator urine, and another groundhog is the complete opposite. As mentioned previously, wild boards have a highly sensitive sense of smell. Depending on what scents pass through its nose, a hog will either go towards the source, or keep as far away as possible. Recent studies have shown that the wild hog population is increasing across the United States by as much as 20% yearly! 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. That familiar smell can have a calming effect. I wash all my clothes in detergents without fragrances and UV brighteners. Wild hogs do not have very good vision, although they do have a good sense of smell. What are wild hogs afraid of? Mechanical traps are ideal for catching hedgehogs, as they can be used repetitively. 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. Unfortunately, the vivid, pleasantly scented blooms tend to draw the . If you havent read my article on hunting hogs in the rain, I think you should do so. 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. They are capable of sensing odors five miles away and able to detect food sources several feet underground. Also, keep Fidos food in the house. Its for this reason that youll want to use more than one deterrent to really keep these troublesome pests out of your yard and garden. In reality, wind tends to swirl and constantly change direction in which it blows. These tips applied on your wild/feral hog hunt will improve your chance at landing that elusive wild boar! It really depends where you hunt and the type of hog hunting you do. Texas A&M suggests that hunters who are trapping wild hogs use traps with 90 degree corners must be covered on top because the pigs tend to pile up in that corner and literally climb over each other and the corner gives enough leverage for them to go over the top.. Anecdotal evidence points to one of the strangest frightening devices. Hogs rely on their good sense of smell to make up for their weaker sense of vision. 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. For garlic, onions, mustard, or hot sauce, you can make a spray mixture to apply on and around your plants. Like peppers, garlic and onions contain compounds that can upset a pigs stomach. Plus, with how smart and mischievous these guys are, it is nothing short of fun. Their burrows can be extensive, up to thirty feet in length, but one burrow system cannot bring down a house. Annuals fill the garden with flowers and fragrance from early spring until fall's first frost. When mixed with corn, it makes for the perfect wild hog bait attractant to put in your feeder. Unless you're an adrenaline junky, a close and personal relationship with a hog, possibly a sow with piglets, may not be the best tactic. The good news is, this will happen naturally once you spray your mixture outside. 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. Make sure that you use fine plastic mesh for your fence as it prevents the pigs from coming in. Pigs affected by these diseases can actually die of salt poisoning. Which breed of dog is the smallest used in hunting? Garlic And Onions. They always seem to know where to root for food or how to avoid certain predators like us. Hopefully this will be enough to deter them from your property. Wild boars are an invasive type of pig that are largely distributed around the world. Managing domesticated hogs as free ranging livestock is not a common practice any more. But scent deterrents use natural ingredients that you may already have lying around the house. When its windy, your chances on finding hogs decrease dramatically. Like predator urine, putrescent eggs also appeal to a groundhogs sense of danger. In the 1950s and 60s, says Mayer, wildlife departments promoted pig hunting and sometimes even . Its all about trial and error. Additionally, foxes are predators of groundhogs, and fox urine can repel groundhogs as well. They DO NOT deter wildlife. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.352.5547&rep=rep1&type=pdf, Harper, C. A., & Deck, A. L. (2012, September 2). Dont chew gum! Always keep a bottle ofCode Blue Smoke Detectorin your pocket to ensure that you're still playing the wind properly. Porker physiology makes other areas more vulnerable, he said. Wild pigs are part of social groups which are considered matriarchies. In contrast, in times of drought only the leading females reproduce. Since groundhogs have a strong sense of smell, you can use predator urine, putrescent eggs, garlic, black pepper, onion, mustard, hot sauce, geranium oil, and garlic oil to repel them from your property. Chain-link fences and those made with heavy-duty steel hog mesh should keep the wild pigs out of your garden, but . Therefore, that is all the more reason to hunt them. Their burrows can create troublesome footing for hoofed animals, who may get injured accidentally stepping into one of the openings. Hogs love to wallow in the mud. Corn will sour once soaked for several days, creating a smell that will attract hogs but keep other animals, such as deer, away. If you decide to use fencing, there are a few things to keep in mind. Spread these in areas popular with wild hogs or use it in an outline around your property's perimeter. If you do not want to line your garden with peppers, you could simply swap out the peppers for garlic or onion plants. Problems only arise when groundhogs begin burrowing near the foundation of your home or if they find their way into your garden. You can use them in a variety of ways. A hogs sense of smell is so powerful because it can pick up scents from a long distance away. This method is more of an area repellent as opposed to a taste repellent. Well, we are here to tell you. They can also be prohibitively expensive. This type of swine comes with a shield, a suit of armor that becomes harder and thicker as they age. As they predate upon or scavenge animal carcasses, they can easily break bones and often consume the entire carcass, often leaving little if any sign behind. Pet food left outside attracts the attention of pigs as well as other opportunistic critters. Avoid growing crops that pigs enjoy, such as strawberries and other sweet fruit. Snake predation by feral hogs is most likely insignificant at best. You also can sprinkle some near groundhog burrows to discourage them from remaining in the area. That causes all sorts of agricultural,. Garrett Boelkes of Last Breath TV shares his unique techniques for creating a mock scrape. Hunting often comes down to trying to intercept them. One of Pompi's friends, Delvin, a doughy guy with red cheeks and khaki shorts sagging at his rear, climbs down from the cab. The let their guards down just a tad because even though they smell humans constantly, they know humans arent always necessarily around. 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. The average hog can smell up to 25 feet below its hooves in order to root up worms, insects, or whatever it's in the mood to eat. Feral hogs are credited anecdotally with good, but not great eyesight. It will just work to drive away the groundhog if you sprinkle it around the perimeter of your garden. Figure 1. JMrocek / Getty Images. Wild hogs are very strong, so they can charge weak points in a fence if they feel like it. In this way, they are durable and easy to maintain over time. Wild pigs can cause serious damage to the lawns and gardens of those living in areas where feral pig populations have increased considerably. Also, keep Fido's food in the house. Along with the wild hogs' sense of smell comes acute hearing, as well as eyesight that proves a hog can detect a human figure over 100 yards away. Pouring scent around bait, or at any location, signals that the spot is safe. Either way, you should be practicing proper scent control if you plan on getting close and personal with the hogs. Boar taint is the offensive odor or taste that can be evident during the cooking or eating of pork or pork products derived from non-castrated male pigs once they reach puberty. Hunt with caution. They take the same trails every day. 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. White vinegar. Hawk decoys are another option. This nocturnal behavior means that one of the best time to hunt wild hogs is often when they are feeding at night. Now, what does all of this mean? Broadside-Shoulder Shots are Best. Of the five primary senses, feral hogs tend to use four of these (that is, smell, sight, hearing and touch) in their daily existence. A feral pig can host at least 30 viral and bacterial diseases, along with nearly 40 parasites. However, hogs will surely awaken to sudden, abrupt noises and will further investigate or make a quick getaway. 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. Wear a face mask so the hogs wont smell your breathe. Be aware of seasonal food sources, whether native or agriculture. I have tested most cover scents on the market, while some do seem to perform most fail to perform as advertised. Frightening devices are less effective on groundhogs than other critters, but they do still work and are great to pair with other deterrents. The problem is, this second opening is often hidden or covered to help protect the groundhog. 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. You can also catch wild hogs laying in the mud, or moving late at night when they temperatures begin to drop. What is the best place to shoot a wild hog? Therefore, uprooted soil is one of the most recognizable signs of a wild hog's presence and is going to help you harvest a nice pig. Wildlife and Fisheries, 6-7. https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1014&context=utk_agexfish. Learn how to eliminate natural body odors to stay undetected by whitetail this season. As wild hogs become more and more popular to hunt due to their increasing . Wild hogs are excellent foragers, moving soil with their snouts in order to reach food. After white-tailed deer, feral pigs are the most popular big game animal in North America, though existing patchy data hardly bear out the true extent. If youre unsure about your groundhog problem or if you dont think you can handle it on your own, get help from a professional! Does cayenne pepper keep hogs away? Jesse also pointed out that you do want to take extra care in the field with pigs. Their sense of smell is so good, pigs can discriminate between mint, spearmint, and peppermint with 100 percent accuracy during academic testing. Choosing the right mount for your Rifle Mount Flashlight. Castor Oil 9. Join us and I will tell you everything. Often, however, a more hands on, but safe approach is needed. Finally make sure that you do not live any food close to your garden that the pigs can scavenge. When used outdoors, they end up in our groundwater. Groundhogs can climb, but theyre not the most graceful. 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! Just to add when you shop using links from Pest Pointers, we may earn affiliate commissions if you make a purchase. 18 Tips To Prepare For A Helicopter Hog Hunt. Coyotes can be persistent little buggers, so here goes: Pink, red, white, and yellow are the most common flower colors. Also, keep Fidos food in the house. Since groundhogs have a strong sense of smell, you can use predator urine, putrescent eggs, garlic, black pepper, onion, mustard, hot sauce, geranium oil, and garlic oil to repel them from your property. Put Up Fences. Groundhogs are part of the squirrel family and are similar in size and shape to their western cousins, the marmot. Things like garlic, black pepper, onion, mustard, and hot sauce can be used to deter groundhogs from your yard and garden. Simple enough, right? for a period of time, if the noise persists they will move on. We wrote an in-depth piece on if awoodchuck can actually chuck wood here. Dog or Cat 5. In the warm months, you cant spray down enough with scent-eliminating spray. D/CODEconsists of scientifically-proven Field Spray, Body Wash & Shampoo, and other scent-elimination products, that when used together, provide an effective scent-elimination solution. Additionally, garlic essential oil is also effective at repelling groundhogs, as they cant seem to stand the scent of garlic. What can I do to keep ground hogs out of my yard? Its important to note that scent deterrents will not be as effective as physical deterrents such as fencing. 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. They are terribly afraid of humans and will vacate as soon as they detect human presence. We put predator urine first on our list because it is one of the most effective scents to scare away groundhogs. They wont hesitate to burrow under a fence. Primarily herbivores, they will occasionally eat smaller rodents and insects. 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. The Epsom salt won't do anything harmful to a groundhog, as it's a natural product. If you dont want groundhogs coming into your space, see to it that you make it less attractive to these burrowing pests. (n.d.). So, where the heck do you find predator urine? If you find a suitable wallowing location, it's a natural candidate for some scent. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks or "whistle-pigs," are a type of mammal called a marmot, a member of the squirrel family. What smells do hogs hate? Monocular vision enhances the wild hogs field of vision this improves the ability to locate food and detect immediate danger, this field of vision enhancement comes at the expense of depth perception. Small croquettes of cereal mixed with some type of animal oil, such as fish oil, can be used. Similarly, they reduce crop growth by consuming large quantities of seeds, which causes damage to certain crops planted by humans. 2. Putting a tree between you and a wild boar, then climbing, can be an effective tactic (six feet off the ground should be enough), with rocks, dumpsters and car hoods also good avenues of retreat. There are many different ways these sneaky little arachnids find their way into your, Read More 9 Different Ways That Spiders Get Into Your HomeContinue, If youve recently moved to a new area and noticed pigeons nesting nearby, or you have lived somewhere for a while and noticed pigeons always, Read More How Long Pigeons Nest For (And If They Reuse The Same One)Continue, When mother nature made chipmunks, she added an extra dash of cuteness! Hogs forage in several ways: (1) browsing and grazing - leaves, fronds, stems, etc. According to astudydone in New York,coyote urinewas found to be incredibly effective at deterring groundhogs/woodchucks. There are many special traits about a hogs sense of smell that should be learned in order to better hunt it. What is the best way to hunt in RDR2 online? When eaten in high doses over a short period of time, it is toxic to feral swine. I know these numbers because I met a farmer who planted various fruits and vegetables in his backyard but had a corn feeder installed 10 miles away so he could do some occasional hunting. He has a live sow in his truck bed . Those who have cattle and other livestock or horses may be concerned about groundhogs as well. Even though their hearing isnt as good as their sense of smell, it is still considered their second best sense. 5. Be sure to reapply the spray at least once a week, and especially after heavy rainfall. Yes, a hogs smelling sense is the strongest of all its senses and is one of its best defenses against predators and hunters. "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. You can always see them constantly sniffing around wherever they go, using their noses like metal detectors on a beach looking for treasures. 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! Contacts | About us | Privacy Policy & Cookies. But when you go to pull it apart, watch out. It corresponds to the genus Sus, a type of even-toed ungulate animal. What not to feed pigs is anything moldy, slimy, or rotten. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm Zack DeAngelis, the creator of Pest Pointers. Try to make minimal cuts in the first 24 hours to let the rigor mortis process take place. 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. Patterning is only possible if they establish a home-range (wild hog home ranges vary from 4-6 square miles) a home-range will only be established if there is plenty of food, water, escape cover and the area is not subjected to excessive hunting pressure. How do banks earn a profit from lending money to their customers? If you dont prepare properly and remove your scent as best as possible, your hunt could already be over before it starts. To use predator urine to repel groundhogs, be sure to follow all the directions on the label. It has also been reported that wild boars avoid places where they can smell other animals such as dogs or wolves. This results in more pregnant females and, therefore, more offspring per litter. Hogs love to wallow in the mud. In addition, there are natural ways to repel groundhogs besides planting groundhog-proof plants. Spear A cold steel bushman aimed at the ribs or the lower front shoulder vitals. This guy right next to me? 4. What can you do to keep wild hogs from tearing up your yard? A successful hunt requires you to trick their senses and allow them to carry on as if you werent around. Their Canadian . Instead, spray around the plant or directly on its stems and leaves. Bar Room Banter There are eight species of pig worldwide; none is native to North or South America. In 2019, South Carolina hunters reported killing 31,508 hogs while pursuing deer. When rifle hunting for hogs, the two most effective shot placements are behind the ear and broadside, through both front shoulders. Try to avoid spraying directly on vegetables or fruits. Scents lure deer straight to a specific location. Hogs will have a harder time even smelling you if you are soaked by the rain. When the wind won't work with you, we will! Four different kinds of cryptocurrencies you should know. When moving they are continuously searching for food, mainly vegetable matter. Keep this in mind when you are scanning an area with a rifle mounted or hand held green light. Rosell, Carme, Fernndez-Llario, Pedro and Herrero, Y. Feral hogs are credited anecdotally with good, but not great eyesight. While doing rattlesnake telemetry at the Chapparal Wildlife Management Area, I walked (usually within a few feet and quite often a few inches) up on numerous snakes, hundreds of times. Habitat Groundhogs generally prefer wooded or grassy areas. While there is currently no substance that can legally be used for the purpose of poisoning wild hogs in the United States, there have been major progressions toward approval earlier this year. Is it against the law to shoot a groundhog? Lazy, right? You can sprinkle the repellent around the perimeter to create a barrier and keep them out or spray liquid right onto surface of plants, wood, grass, mulch or wherever you have found signs of the ground hog. There are usually many solutions to hiding your scent. Spray around areas you are trying to protect against groundhogs. The problem with this educational approach is that there are twice as many myths as there are facts out there regarding the challenges created by the senses of the feral hog. Make sure to clean your washer out beforehand and clean out any residue. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Pet food left outside attracts the attention of pigs as well as other opportunistic critters. Keep the meat as dry as possible too, he says. And once this product dries, you will not be able to smell the rotten egg scent.