Story by Shane Jahn

Dust hung in the cool evening air, obscuring the distant mountains from view. The stiff wind from the north had a bite to it and I was glad I had the forethought to slip on a jacket before making a short trek up the hill in hopes of some late evening hog hunting action. Monitoring the area around my deer feeder for several weeks prior showed increasing signs of feral swine activity.

I had no idea how many hogs were visiting the feeder until installing a game camera. A variety of hogs were hitting the corn daily. “Daily” as in a 24-hour period. The pigs gave no indication of following a watch. They might show up at daybreak, two hours before dark, or at midnight, but they would come.

Thus began a series of hog versus man endeavors. It appeared they had a sixth sense of knowing when I was there, perched behind a boulder on the hillside overlooking the thick arroyo and deer feeder that sits above its brushy banks. When I was there in the evening the hogs would show after dark. Until yesterday, I didn’t own a light to attach to a scope, so they were safe once darkness fell. Maybe they knew that too.

On the afternoons when obligations negated a hunt, they would dine before dark. I started to wonder if these hogs were watching me instead of the other way around! Finally, it all came together, and we unknowingly coordinated our rendezvous. On this blustery afternoon I took my spot a couple hours before sunset. I watched two mule deer feed and darting blue quail putter about in the last hour of daylight, but it started to look as if the feral posse would once again be uncooperative with my plans.

Just before dark a line of pigs trailed into the area heading directly for the buffet of golden corn they had become accustomed. The smaller-sized hogs are certain to be tasty table fare, but most need more time and groceries before they are ready to be selected with a precisely placed shot.

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