Hunting for Feral Hogs: Using Trail Cameras

Why Trail Cameras Are So Effective for Hog Hunting

Feral hogs are intelligent, wary, and heavily nocturnal—making them difficult to pattern without help. Trail cameras give you:

• Accurate time-of-day movement

• Group size and composition details

• Travel direction and approach routes

• Preferred feeding times

• Seasonal and pressure-based changes

• Confirmation of big boars using the area

When paired with wind-smart setups, cameras become one of the best tools for consistent hog hunts.

Best Locations to Place Trail Cameras for Feral Hogs

1. Feeding Areas

Hogs key in on easy food sources such as:

• Corn feeders (where legal)

• Agricultural fields

• Oak flats during mast drop

• Peanuts, wheat, and milo fields

• Berry patches and early root shoots

Place cameras 10–20 feet away from the food source, angled slightly downward for full-body shots.

2. Water Sources

Hogs rely heavily on water for cooling and hydration.

Set cameras near:

• Stock tanks

• Ponds and creek edges

• Swamps and marsh pockets

• Wallows and mud slicks

Expect high midday activity during hot weather.

3. Travel Corridors

These are some of the most productive camera sites.

Watch for:

• Trails leading from bedding to feed

• Fence gaps and crossings

• Dry creek beds

• Logging roads

• Tree line transitions

Hogs often travel the same paths daily unless pressured.

4. Bedding Area Edges

Hogs bed in thick, nasty cover. Cameras placed on edges of:

• Willow thickets

• Dense brush clusters

• Palmettos

• Swamp islands

…often capture predictable early-morning or evening movement.

How to Set Up Trail Cameras for Hog Hunting

1. Mount Cameras at the Right Height

For hogs, place cameras:

• 2–3 feet off the ground for best angle

• Slightly higher if photographing large sounders

• Lower for thick brush environments

Hogs travel low—don’t mount your cameras like you would for deer.

2. Angle for Maximum Detection

Aim cameras:

• Slightly downward

• Across trails, not directly at them

• Away from direct sun to reduce glare

A cross-angle shot captures groups better and improves trigger timing.

3. Use Fast Trigger Speeds

Hogs move quickly across openings. Set cameras to:

• Fast trigger mode

• Three-photo bursts

• Short delay intervals (5–10 seconds)

This ensures you capture every hog in a sounder—not just the first one.

4. Set Time-Lapse Mode for Field Edges

In large agricultural fields, hogs may enter from unpredictable directions.

Time-lapse settings allow you to:

• Watch an entire field

• Track large group movements

• Identify entry and exit paths

This is perfect for evening or nighttime field hunts.

What Trail Camera Photos Tell You About Hog Behavior

1. Movement Patterns

Even nocturnal hogs show patterns:

• Early evening feedings

• Midnight rotations

• Pre-dawn travel routes

This tells you when to be in your stand or blind.

2. Group Composition

Photos show:

• Sows vs. boars

• Size of sounders

• Piglet numbers

• Dominant boar behavior

Mature boars often show up alone and more cautiously—crucial to know before your hunt.

3. Direction of Travel

Look closely at:

• Body angles

• Tracks in dirt

• Multiple photos in a sequence

This reveals exactly where to place your stand, blind, or rifle rest.

4. Seasonal Shifts

Trail cameras document:

• Changes in food availability

• Pressure-driven pattern shifts

• Weather-influenced timing

• New hogs entering the area

These adjustments help you stay one step ahead.

Using Trail Camera Data to Plan Your Hunt

Plan Entry Routes

Use camera intel to avoid:

• Walking where hogs approach from

• Crossing their trails

• Contaminating bedding cover with scent

Quiet, wind-wise access is critical.

Choose Ideal Hunt Times

Cameras often reveal:

• Predictable feeding windows

• Multiple nightly visits

• Pre-dawn movement patterns

Target the most consistent periods—usually early evening or late night.

Position Stands and Blinds Correctly

Use camera photos to:

• Place stands downwind of approach trails

• Set up at natural pinch points

• Position blinds near feeding zones

• Avoid overhunting pressured routes

Camera-guided setups drastically improve close-range opportunities.

Safety and Ethical Considerations

• Avoid hunting sows with small piglets

• Ensure proper backdrop and shot safety, especially at night

• Never approach a downed hog without verifying it's dead

• Keep cameras secure and respect private land rules

• Follow your state’s regulations regarding electronic devices and baiting

Trail cameras must support safe, ethical hog hunting—not replace fieldcraft.

Gear to Pair with Your Trail Camera Strategy

• Trail cameras with long battery life

• Black-flash or no-glow IR for cautious hogs

• Large memory cards for multi-day monitoring

• Steel security boxes or bungee mounts

• Wind checker for verifying stand access

• Thermal or night-vision optics (where legal)

• Accurate rifle (.223 to .308 class) or crossbow/bow

Better intel + better tools = better hog hunting.

Why Many Hunters Book Guided Hog Hunts

Professional hog outfitters offer:

• Access to high-density private land

• Pre-scouted camera-monitored setups

• Knowledge of hog patterns and bedding cover

• Safe nighttime hunting with thermal gear

• Opportunities for multiple hogs per hunt

If you want to maximize your success and eliminate guesswork, compare trusted hog outfitters through our hunt marketplace.

FAQs About Using Trail Cameras for Hog Hunting

When should I check my trail cameras?
Every 3–7 days, depending on pressure and camera location. Avoid checking frequently near bedding cover.

Do hogs notice trail cameras?
Yes—especially low-glow or noisy units. No-glow IR is best.

Where should I place cameras on hog trails?
At waist height, angled across the trail with minimal brush obstruction.

How can trail cameras help with night hunts?
They reveal exact arrival times, reducing how long you sit in the dark.

Are cameras useful after hogs shift patterns?
Yes—they help you relocate the herd quickly.

Trail cameras give hog hunters a powerful edge, turning unpredictable movement into clear, patterned opportunities. With smart placement, consistent monitoring, and wind-conscious setups, you’ll dramatically increase your chances at close, ethical shots on big boars and entire sounders. When you're ready to plan a high-success feral hog hunt, explore trusted outfitters and book through Find A Hunt.