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! When used outdoors, they end up in our groundwater. You can also spray tender plants with a mixture of 2 teaspoons cayenne with one quart of water to deter them from nibbling. These truffle pigs were very expensive at the time and were greatly recognized for their great sense of smell. All three of these pesticides are used to kill different kinds of pests that can be found on a farm. Hunting feral hogs is no exception, understanding and thinking like a hog you'll greatly improve your chance of taking that elusive wild boar. Consider all rodenticides sufficiently toxic to cause death to pigs. Always keep a bottle ofCode Blue Smoke Detectorin your pocket to ensure that you're still playing the wind properly. Coyotes can be persistent little buggers, so here goes: 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. groundhogs and woodchucks are the same here, American Heritage Industries Coyote Urine, I Must Garden Groundhog/Woodchuck Repellent, Mary Tylor Naturals Geranium Essential Oil. When it is extremely hot, hogs will tend to stay along water if available or near the thickest cover possible. 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. But for groundhogs, this isnt quite as appetizing. Hang dry your clothes. There are plenty of commercially available products likeI Must Garden Groundhog/Woodchuck Repellent, where the main ingredient is whole eggs. Few other animals have as well evolved and refined a sense of smell as do swine. In a 1913 photo, two feral hogs on St. Vincent Island, Florida, trigger a camera by pulling on a baited string. Since wild hogs have big noses and huge nostrils, I have always wondered if they have a good sense of smell. 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. Even though their hearing isnt as good as their sense of smell, it is still considered their second best sense. Pouring scent around bait, or at any location, can put hogs at ease. 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. They can be drawn to an area using feed that emits a strong odor. The Epsom salt won't do anything harmful to a groundhog, as it's a natural product. There are products out there that hunters swear by while others will condemn the same products totally. We all know the smell, and we all know its a pretty rad scent, and not in a good way! At one time, domesticated hogs were managed as free ranging livestock in parts of the state. Although groundhogs do a lot of good for the environment, in certain situations, they can become a nuisance and a pest. Does cayenne pepper keep hogs away? Scent masking is a science that can sometimes be a hit or miss. One may be deterred more by garlic than they are by predator urine, and another groundhog is the complete opposite. Take advantage of scarce food supply periods to target problem hogs. FERAL/WILD HOG SENSE OF SMELL, SIGHT, AND SOUND. Even the name sounds like it smells bad. What is themosteffective way to repel groundhogs? Use soap and shampoo right before your hunt that specializes in killing your human scent. If youre just trying to get a quick hunt in, then you can sprinkle packets of raspberry jello mix around an area to attract them. There are currently no poisons that can be legally used in the United States against wild hogs, but not for a lack of options. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Using game cameras and some stealthy pre-hunt reconnaissance can help identify the hog trails. Believe it or not, skunks and raccoons typically use abandoned groundhog burrows for themselves and rarely dig their own burrows. 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. 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. Dating as far back as the times of the Roman Empire, domesticated pigs, related to todays wild hogs, were used to hunt for truffles underground. Porker physiology makes other areas more vulnerable, he said. For the eggs to become putrescent, they will need to rotten up a bit. Hogs love to wallow in the mud. It should stand at least 5-feet tall above ground, down to 3-feet deep below. This site is owned and operated by Hog Hunting For Beginners. I grew up in an area of Upstate, NY where dealing with wildlife pests is a common occurrence. Remember that hogs will often feed on rodent carcasses. 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. Mint and Oregano 8. This means that if you are aiming to spot and stalk this game you best be careful, as they can hear and see you at decent distance. Their burrows are typically ten to twelve inches in diameter, so it would be hard to confuse them with a mouse, rabbit, or other small, burrowing mammal. 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. How do you fight a boar? Now, what does all of this mean? Considering many hog populations that are becoming hard to control are in the south (Texas, Alabama, etc. Their burrows can be extensive, up to thirty feet in length, but one burrow system cannot bring down a house. According to astudydone in New York,coyote urinewas found to be incredibly effective at deterring groundhogs/woodchucks. Many repellents today, including the one mentioned above, are safe to use directly on your plants. The erosion that results from this rooting leaves the soil uncovered or unprotected, in turn affecting the growth of certain plant species. 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 . In National Wildlife Research Center Repellents Conference 1995 (p. 4). Groundhogs have a keen sense of smell that helps them stay safe from predators. However, if youre into homebrews or want to save a little money, you can easily make your own putrescent egg spray at home. for a period of time, if the noise persists they will move on. Here are some of the known groundhog attractants: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Minimize your chances of alerting hogs by choosing a way in that doesn't follow a hog trail. Groundhog Resistant Plants. 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. Hunting game is very good, but you also need to choose the right weapons and equipment. What can I do to keep ground hogs out of my yard? Wild hogs seem to have poor eyesight and use their nose to detect food and danger. Confident hog hunters accurately shooting well within their comfort zone might consider sending a well-placed round directly into the recessed spot behind a hogs ear. Just to add when you shop using links from Pest Pointers, we may earn affiliate commissions if you make a purchase. Ournationwide pest control findercan get you in contact with a wildlife pro for free. Devices should play the selected sounds automatically and and at regular intervals. What Animal am I According to my Zodiac Sign? 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. They are good options if you are looking for aquick,cost-effectiveway to repel one or two groundhogs. Hogs like to cover a lot of ground, especially in the morning and evening. In 2019, South Carolina hunters reported killing 31,508 hogs while pursuing deer. Take care to keep baits out of the reach of domestic animals or non-target wildlife; place baits where only rodents can access them. 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. Eliminate/minimize shadowing when night hunting and exercise awareness re: sound generation. 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. Learn how to eliminate natural body odors to stay undetected by whitetail this season. We wrote an in-depth piece on if awoodchuck can actually chuck wood here. Hopefully this will be enough to deter them from your property. Mothballs are 99% pesticide and are dangerous to both humans and wildlife. So, where the heck do you find predator urine? This wild hog repellent can also be spread around crops so that the wild pigs will not think of the food as something appetizing. Spear A cold steel bushman aimed at the ribs or the lower front shoulder vitals. With this recipe, simply soak your corn in beer. However, they have also been introduced into the Americas, Australia and onto several islands. 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. To deter the pigs, clean up any fallen or overripe fruit or veggies. Shadows are detected as a potential threat, running a light beam across the body of a hog, a tree, feeder leg etc. Heres How. We have said it before, and we will say it again, hunting wild hog is becoming a very popular game to harvest. will cast a shadow, often times alerting one or more of the hogs in the group, they will become skiddish and possibly leave the feed area. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Groundhogs can climb, but theyre not the most graceful. Homemade repellents with unpleasant smells can be made to discourage feral pigs. Using our partner network helps support Pest Pointers, so thanks! That familiar smell can have a calming effect. What smell attracts wild hogs? Even more acutely, however, they have excellent hearing. No matter which method you like to use to pursue hogs, there is typically a time and place to use hog scents, too. Of these, feral hogs excel at the sense of smell. What are pigs afraid of? if you do not disrupt there senses. Sprinkle Talcum Powder in the Garden. This is best applied to completely dry plants. Things like garlic, black pepper, onion, mustard, and hot sauce can be used to deter groundhogs from your yard and garden. Groundhogs are also confused with woodchucks. 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.. This method appeals to a groundhogs sense of danger. As we stated above, they have a great sense of smell, and they are large, aggressive animals that can come charging at high speeds which means that if you are planning on hunting or trapping these wild hogs, you must be careful with the techniques that you are aiming to use. Wild hogs eyesight is often misunderstood and misstated in hunting blogs and articles. 4. If you find a suitable wallowing location, it's a natural candidate for some scent. If youre in need of an exterminator or wildlife professional, you can learn more about our nationwide network of pest control professionals. Keep this in mind when you are scanning an area with a rifle mounted or hand held green light. 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. Groundhogs can cause real problems for home vegetable and flower gardeners. That familiar smell can have a calming effect. If youre dealing with a groundhog problem, there are a few scents and smells you can use to deter them. "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. Can you hunt deer with a pistol in lower Michigan? Hogs forage in several ways: (1) browsing and grazing - leaves, fronds, stems, etc. Try combining scent deterrents with physical or auditory deterrents. 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. Managing domesticated hogs as free ranging livestock is not a common practice any more. 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. Thanks to their acute memory, every time they smell that food they will associate it with its bad taste. Their high reproductive capacity is due to three main factors; they reach sexual maturity early, they have a relatively short gestation and they produce a high average number of offspring. 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. Photograph by Ryan Brook. Therefore, now that you know why we believe this game is important to hunt (and if you havent read that last blog yet, click here before moving on), we want to provide you with crucial facts that we believe will elevate your future hog hunts. (n.d.). But there is one significant difference as well, it's called attitude. This type of swine comes with a shield, a suit of armor that becomes harder and thicker as they age. They always seem to know where to root for food or how to avoid certain predators like us. Simply whisk the eggs together until they are well combined. However, there are a few easy ways to keep pigs out of your back lawn. Of course, if you're hunting from one location, like a treestand, you want scent around the shooting zone. 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. In contrast, in times of drought only the leading females reproduce. Well list a few scents that groundhogs cant stand and how to use them. He has a live sow in his truck bed . The problem is, this second opening is often hidden or covered to help protect the groundhog. You may be wondering how long its been on your, Read More 11 Things That Attract Ticks (And How To Repel Them)Continue, Finding spiderwebs around your home can only mean one thing. That familiar smell can have a calming effect. Rating a feral/wild hogs senses would be 1) SMELL 2) SIGHT 3) HEARING. One of the most crucial signs to look for when aiming to harvest a wild hog is to locate uprooted soil. Do feral hogs kill snakes? Uprooted soil from a wild pig feeding, bedding, etc. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. ), knowing this fact will help you better plan your hunts, and hunt the weather to the best of your ability by getting into the mindset of a wild hog. I have tested most cover scents on the market, while some do seem to perform most fail to perform as advertised. Herbs 6. Landowners or their agents are allowed to kill feral hogs on their property without a hunting license if feral hogs are causing damage. Strep Meningitis, Swine Dysentery respectively. A single groundhog burrowing under your home usually isnt a problem. 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. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Wild pigs are part of social groups which are considered matriarchies. In addition, there are natural ways to repel groundhogs besides planting groundhog-proof plants. 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. The good news is, this will happen naturally once you spray your mixture outside. The largest groundhog chunks can weigh up to fifteen pounds and reach a length of over two feet. A feral pig can host at least 30 viral and bacterial diseases, along with nearly 40 parasites. Their burrows can create troublesome footing for hoofed animals, who may get injured accidentally stepping into one of the openings. It will usually wait for the high winds to die down before venturing off again. 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). Depending on what scents pass through its nose, a hog will either go towards the source, or keep as far away as possible. The smell alone of certain herbs and aromatic flowers will repel even the most determined groundhog. Author: HOGMAN | Posted: February 10, 2018.