Skip to main content

Night Hunting

Multifaceted wild pig control programs can lead to increased nocturnal movement of wild pigs, thus reducing removal success. To maintain pressure on wild pig populations, landowners and natural resource managers often incorporate nighttime control operations to continue their “war on pigs.”

There is a common misconception that harvesting pigs at night is easy, but this could not be further from the truth.

Comparison of the types of night hunting

Type of night hunting Distance of sight Type of habitat it works best in
Rifle and spotlight 100 yards Open habitats (fields, roadsides, pastures)
Night vision optics several hundred yards All habitats
Thermal Imaging more than 1/2 mile Open habitats (fields, pastures, roadsides)

Rifle and Spotlight

  • can illuminate pigs out to 100 yards
  • best used in open habitats
  • better vision when used in bright moonlight
  • very difficult
  • success rates are low

Night Vision Optics

  • can detect pigs our several hundred yards
  • allows you to take close shots
  • increases chances of multiple shots from effective ranges
  • cost of quality products is prohibitive
  • works in multiple habitat types

Thermal Imaging

Thermal instruments detect heat given off by all objects in nature and produce a gray-scale visual image of the heat differences. Animals appear against a gray background as if illuminated by a white light.

  • can detect animals at more than 1/2 mile away
  • does not work well in heavy forest cover
  • works best in open habitats
  • cost is prohibitive