Dogging for hogs

Hog hunting with 704 Outdoors Unfiltered

Hog hunting is legal throughout the Carolinas, as well as most of the southeast. Hogs are known as a nuisance species throughout the region, and hunters can pursue hogs in a number of ways.

Hunting from a stand is an effective way, and the one most hunters are familiar with. It’s not much different than hunting deer. But hog dogging is another way, and it’s a different story all together. Guns are not involved in these hunts. It’s hogs versus dogs, with mankind coming in for the kill with nothing but knives.

John MacPherson put together a three-part series for his televison show 704 Outdoors Unfiltered while hunting with the Hard Core Hog Dogs, on a large parcel of agricultural land that gets its share of trouble from wild hogs.

Things started out on a cold morning, with the hunters hauling  their well-trained dogs into place. Once the dogs were let loose, it didn’t take long for them to bay a wild hog, and the hunters sprang into action, tracking through the woods toward the sound of the dogs.

One of the most interesting aspects of this type of hunting involves the catch dogs, which are held back in reserve while the other dogs give chase. Even as the hunters approach amid the chaos, the catch dogs stay pretty well glued to the hunters until given the command. And once that happens, things definitely kick up a notch.

While the other dogs keep the hog cornered, the catch dog charges in, latching onto the hog with ferocity.

That’s when one hunter grabs a hog by the back legs, flips it, and sticks a knife straight to the heart.

In some ways, this is the most primitive way of hunting most outdoorsmen will ever experience. But these hunters also use some high-tech equipment.

When the dogs get on the trail of a hog, they can run that hog for miles. And even though they raise plenty a ruckus, it can often be difficult for hunters to pinpoint exactly where they are.

This is where electronic tracking collars and handheld tracking units come into play.

Each dog is identifiable on the tracking units, so hunters always know exactly where each dog is. This aids greatly in getting to the location of the bayed hog without wasting time.

“They’re 1.3 miles that way,” is the type of thing you’ll often hear when hunting this way. Even when the dogs are too far away for hunters to hear them, it will be evident that the dogs have a hog bayed because the hunters can see the collection of dogs all in one place, and no longer moving by glancing at the tracking unit.

These tracking units also help in day-long hunts by allowing hunters to mark where a hog lies once it’s been killed. It’s not always feasible to haul each hog out to the vehicles right away, especially when the dogs are already hot on the trail of another hog.

The electronics also help when it comes time to gather all the dogs together once it’s time to leave.

The 3-part episode “Wild Hog Dog Hunting with Hard Core Hog Dogs” is on Season 10, Episode 10 on the 704 Outdoors Unfiltered YouTube channel. It includes some awesome footage of some of the most exciting and interesting hunting you’ll see.

Year-round hunting

Hunting hogs is legal year-round in both North and South Carolina, and on most private lands in both states, it’s legal to hunt them any time of the day or night.

It’s legal for private land hunters to use electronic calls and artificial lights, and they can be hunted in a number of ways, including with dogs.

No bag limits exist in either of the Carolinas, so hunters looking to fill the freezer have a lot to like about hog hunting.

Regulations are more strict on public game lands and WMAs, but in comparison to other game hunting, the regulations here are still fairly loose.

See more about hog hunting regulations in both states by checking SCDNR’s and NC Wildlife’s regulations booklets.