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.
Hunting pigs at night is not legal in all states. Be sure to check the state hunting and trapping regulations specific to the area or contact your local conservation officer.
| 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) |
Thermal Image of a Wild Pig
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.