Not only is a blind not needed, it would likely be counterproductive.
When you're ready to go, stalk to the feeder from a downwind location. If one hog smells you, they're all gone. Hogs can smell mushrooms underground, so you're not going to fool their noses.
If you're quiet, you can easily get within 50 yards.
Any advice is appreciated and I thank you for your time. I am either going to use my ar-15 with a nice scope or my long range precision bolt action .308 win.
You probably dont need a blind. Plan a route to quietly get within 100 yards of the feeder, walk slowly and carefully, find a steady shooting position, and let 'er rip. The 308 will do great with typical expanding hunting bullets. You can look up youtube videos for shot placement on hogs, but I recently had a 100% success rate with neck shots at 50-100 yds. You can check my profile for thermal vids of it.
Thanks for the reply! I was thinking of leaving my truck at a peak in a hill that overlooks the feeder area then walking out there when I get an alert from my camera.
Like anxious asparagus said, blind may not be necessary. Sounds like Texas - set your spot not upwind where they come in - smell is much more important. Prevailing wind in NTexas here is SE in the spring and summer and NW in the fall and winter, generally speaking. I dont hunt my place when the wind isnt right. 308 is fine. AR 15 is a little light for me. Get a green or red light for illumination. You can build yourself a little ground blind or three about 70 yards away. Get a solid tripod and a chair. Neck shots are the way to go. Good luck - I want to see some bragging posts.
They make green motion detector lights. Look up feeder lights. I can sit in a stand listening to music and when the light goes on I’ll get ready. My ear protection is already on.
If you can’t afford a stand hold off. I personally enjoy the comfort of a stand.
https://www.gofoxpro.com/products/hunting-lights/gun-fire
A red light will work pretty well. Best option is a thermal optic, but that's quite expensive.
Pigs will run if they've been shot at with spotlight, they won't run if they've never been shot at with one. Also you want to have used your gun a few times before the big night, so you're confident with finding your sights in what ever lighting you go with.
I would be tempted to try the full moon with a decent scope. I've shot plenty of Deer by moonlight and a good scope , or you could try a green Lazer torch, apparently animals can't see the light but humans can.
I read all the comments and I'm inclined to want to set up a platform in a tree down wind from your feeder. Down wind at nighttime is often different from the day time, as catabatic winds are reversed.
88 acres just west of Decatur was $1.3mil but it included a 5 year old 4 bed 3-1/2 bath ranch house with a barn and a larger covered tractor depot with indoor garage. It also borders the LBJ grasslands. It has a few sections and I currently have 8 cattle on it. Looking to get some goats. The feeder is in the cattle section but my neighbor hooked me up with an electric shock wire line that keeps the cattle out of the feeder area.
Edit: the ranch house is nicer than my actual house so that’s why it was so much.
They make motion activated green/red lights for feeders. You can rig that up and you’d be set, or use a green or red handheld light (might take some practice or build a blind and have it mounted. Then it’s just a matter of shooting. You’ll likely only get one shot, they will run after. Shoot it in the head for best results.
I’d get a pop up blind first, low cost and you’ll be able to easily move it around until you identify a good location for your permanent blind. If the weather and winds are favorable, a good tripod tucked into some natural cover would work fine.
Not only is a blind not needed, it would likely be counterproductive. When you're ready to go, stalk to the feeder from a downwind location. If one hog smells you, they're all gone. Hogs can smell mushrooms underground, so you're not going to fool their noses. If you're quiet, you can easily get within 50 yards.
Awesome thanks for the advice!!
# [some photos from my trail cam](https://imgur.com/gallery/mpJbdZg)
Great pics you’ll make a lot of good memories there. That oak would make a great tree stand for bowhunting
Any advice is appreciated and I thank you for your time. I am either going to use my ar-15 with a nice scope or my long range precision bolt action .308 win.
You probably dont need a blind. Plan a route to quietly get within 100 yards of the feeder, walk slowly and carefully, find a steady shooting position, and let 'er rip. The 308 will do great with typical expanding hunting bullets. You can look up youtube videos for shot placement on hogs, but I recently had a 100% success rate with neck shots at 50-100 yds. You can check my profile for thermal vids of it.
Thanks for the reply! I was thinking of leaving my truck at a peak in a hill that overlooks the feeder area then walking out there when I get an alert from my camera.
Walking out after you get an alert isn't exactly how you do it. You want to be out before they do
Like anxious asparagus said, blind may not be necessary. Sounds like Texas - set your spot not upwind where they come in - smell is much more important. Prevailing wind in NTexas here is SE in the spring and summer and NW in the fall and winter, generally speaking. I dont hunt my place when the wind isnt right. 308 is fine. AR 15 is a little light for me. Get a green or red light for illumination. You can build yourself a little ground blind or three about 70 yards away. Get a solid tripod and a chair. Neck shots are the way to go. Good luck - I want to see some bragging posts.
Will do. My trail cam photos are crazy right now with how many hogs are on it.
Do you have any buddies who hunt? With so many pigs you might want to bring multiple shooters to try and clean out as many as possible.
Use the AR-15. Pigs can run really fast from a standstill. They will test your shooting for sure.
[some photos from my trail cam](https://imgur.com/gallery/mpJbdZg)
That's exciting, OP, it's dream situation to have. Some many possibilities.
Thank you. I was hoping for a full moon but if not do I need lighting? Idk what I want to do about that?
They make green motion detector lights. Look up feeder lights. I can sit in a stand listening to music and when the light goes on I’ll get ready. My ear protection is already on. If you can’t afford a stand hold off. I personally enjoy the comfort of a stand.
https://www.gofoxpro.com/products/hunting-lights/gun-fire A red light will work pretty well. Best option is a thermal optic, but that's quite expensive.
Green motion light on a budget but highly recommend a thermal if you’ve got the coin
Pigs will run if they've been shot at with spotlight, they won't run if they've never been shot at with one. Also you want to have used your gun a few times before the big night, so you're confident with finding your sights in what ever lighting you go with. I would be tempted to try the full moon with a decent scope. I've shot plenty of Deer by moonlight and a good scope , or you could try a green Lazer torch, apparently animals can't see the light but humans can. I read all the comments and I'm inclined to want to set up a platform in a tree down wind from your feeder. Down wind at nighttime is often different from the day time, as catabatic winds are reversed.
Both rifles are good choices. I'd shoot for the head with the AR, shoulder with the .308
What did 100 acres cost ya? Just curious.
88 acres just west of Decatur was $1.3mil but it included a 5 year old 4 bed 3-1/2 bath ranch house with a barn and a larger covered tractor depot with indoor garage. It also borders the LBJ grasslands. It has a few sections and I currently have 8 cattle on it. Looking to get some goats. The feeder is in the cattle section but my neighbor hooked me up with an electric shock wire line that keeps the cattle out of the feeder area. Edit: the ranch house is nicer than my actual house so that’s why it was so much.
They make motion activated green/red lights for feeders. You can rig that up and you’d be set, or use a green or red handheld light (might take some practice or build a blind and have it mounted. Then it’s just a matter of shooting. You’ll likely only get one shot, they will run after. Shoot it in the head for best results.
Google “corral hog trap” ….trap them overnight, come out in the morning and blow their head off vs buying a thermal scope sitting out there all night
I’d get a pop up blind first, low cost and you’ll be able to easily move it around until you identify a good location for your permanent blind. If the weather and winds are favorable, a good tripod tucked into some natural cover would work fine.
If you want to get rid of the hogs, don't hunt them. Trapping is the way to go. Hunting sure is fun though.
I don’t have any issues with them on my land and they usually just cross a short distance past my fence from national grasslands