Learn to track. Do this by becoming familiar with their sign. Hogs trying to cool off wallow in mud and water and those rooting for food leave broad patches large, dug-up sections of earth and destroyed crop fields behind. Their wide, cloven-hoof tracks are easy to spot, especially when they’re from an entire sounder.

Be aware of their senses. Feral hogs have marginal vision so you should be able to move closer for a better shot even in broad daylight. However, they have a stellar sense of smell and are not deaf. Pay attention to the direction of the wind to avoid hogs scenting you and don’t move like a herd of elephants.

Use a capable caliber. AR-15s are popular for hog hunting but those chambered in .223 Rem./5.56 NATO aren’t my personal preference. Not to say you cannot drop hogs with them, because you can, but simply that there are better options out there. Calibers to try out in the AR-15 platform include 6.8 SPC, .300 Ham’r and .350 Legend. Don’t restrict yourself to .223 Rem. and don’t discount the joys of a lever in .45-70 Gov’t. If you’re using a handgun, stick to 10mm and up. The exception there is .40 S&W, which is effective on hogs. Your 9mm is not for hunting hogs. For stick and string hunters, arrows should be equipped with stout broadheads designed for deep penetration and maximum terminal performance.

Shot placement is critical. Hogs aren’t deer, so take the shot either immediately behind the ear or aim for their hearts. Avoid the shoulder shot that might serve you well on a deer. Their heart is located a few inches above the point of their elbows with their lungs being above their hearts. Hogs are tough so take care to aim carefully and, again, use a large enough caliber to get the job done quickly and ethically.