The Art of Spot-and-Stalk Pig Hunting: Lessons from 40 Years in the Woods

This article is derived from Episode #58 - Pig Hunting with Mark Land of the InsideTwenty podcast.

When Mark Land first started hunting wild hogs with traditional archery equipment four decades ago, he couldn't have imagined he'd still be learning something new on every hunt. But that's exactly what keeps him coming back to the swamps, palmetto flats, and mountain ridges where wild pigs roam.

"I swear, even though I've been doing it for 40 years and I've been very successful with it, I learn something every time I go," Land explained on a recent Inside Twenty podcast episode. "There's always something new—a change in environment, a change in species habit, or something to try. It's a continuous learning process."

Follow the Food

If there's one universal truth about pig hunting that Land has discovered over his decades in the field, it's this: find the food, find the hogs. Everything else is secondary.

"Hogs are all about eating. That's all they care about doing," Land emphasized. "The most important thing anytime I go to a property, whether I've hunted it before or it's brand new, is I'm gonna try to figure out what the hogs are eating right now. Not last month, not last winter—right now."

This principle holds true whether you're hunting the marshy swamps of South Georgia or the mountainsides of North Georgia. While most hunters envision hogs in traditional swamp habitats, Land has found them thriving in diverse environments from thick pine thickets to mountain peaks at 2,000-3,000 feet elevation.

In the mountains, hickory nuts become a major food source when acorn production is inconsistent. The bonus? You can hear a hog crunching hickory nuts from half a mile away—a valuable hunting tip that applies to both pigs and bears in that terrain.

Debunking the Vision Myth

One of the most dangerous misconceptions about wild hogs, according to Land, is that they can't see well. "That's something I know immediately tells me someone has very little spot-and-stalk hog hunting experience," he said. "Hogs absolutely can see extremely well. I've been picked off in a swamp standing motionless beside a tree at 200 yards by a hog."

The rule is simple: if you can see their eye, they can see you. And unlike deer, which might run off and stop to look back out of curiosity, hogs have no such hesitation. Once they determine they've seen or smelled you, they're gone—and they're not coming back to investigate.

But there's good news. Hogs seem to have short memories. Unless they get a really good whiff of you or they're heavily pressured, they usually don't run far. Give them a few minutes to calm down, stay downwind, and you might get another opportunity to close the distance.

The Clock Is Ticking

Once you locate hogs, time becomes your enemy. Land's advice contradicts what many deer hunters instinctively do: "Once you're in that 100-200 yard range, that clock starts ticking. A lot of people make their biggest mistake by going into slow deer stalk mode. The winds are most inconsistent, especially in the swamps, and the longer you're in close proximity to those hogs, the sooner you're gonna get busted."

The key is to move with purpose, planning your route quickly and trying to get ahead of the moving pigs rather than stalking up on stationary animals in a group. "There's always somebody looking," Land noted. "They're never all consumed into one thing at the same time."

Wind Is Everything

If there's a mantra for successful pig hunting, it's this: respect the wind. "You will not get away with making a mistake with the wind on a hog ever," Land stated emphatically. "Their sense of smell is incredible—they can find food underground and underwater with their nose."

This constant vigilance about wind direction makes pig hunters better at all forms of hunting. The skills translate directly to deer hunting, from choosing the perfect tree stand to understanding how thermals move across terrain features throughout the day.

Shot Placement Matters

Perhaps the most critical technical advice Land shared concerns shot placement. Unlike deer, hogs have their vitals positioned much farther forward and lower in the chest cavity.

"You can make an absolute perfect white-tailed deer shot six inches behind the shoulder on a hog and you're in guts," Land explained. "When I'm shooting a hog, I'm shooting right on the elbow of his leg, probably three inches above the bottom of his chest."

He also warns against quartering-away shots. While popular with some hunters trying to avoid the shoulder shield, these shots often result in poor blood trails. The arrow typically embeds in the far shoulder without an exit wound, and the combination of the pig's thick fat layer and gut material clogs the entrance hole.

"If you hit 'em good, they go down quick," Land said. "If you hit 'em bad, they go a long ways, and they're very hard to find in those swamps."

Summer Hunting Opportunities

While many hunters avoid the summer months due to heat, bugs, and snakes, Land has found this can be prime time. A certain type of green grass that grows along waterways becomes irresistible to hogs during summer months. The key is adjusting your hunting schedule—focus on the first couple hours of morning and the magical last hour before dark when the woods "just open up and start raining hogs."

Meat care becomes critical in warm weather. Land carries waterproof bags, garbage bags, gloves, and towels, and he field quarters animals in the woods. An 80-100 pound hog can be reduced to 20 pounds of pure meat, making it manageable to pack out even from remote areas. This is another reason he prefers shooting 50-80 pound sows over large boars—better meat quality and easier to handle.

Public Land Success

Land's most memorable recent hunt demonstrates the importance of adaptability. At a popular Georgia WMA where he maintains an 80% success rate, conditions one year were dramatically different. With virtually no acorn production and limited browse, it took him three to four days just to find hogs—a stark contrast to his usual pattern.

The hogs had completely changed their diet, surviving primarily on gallberries and palmetto roots in areas he'd never hunted before. By remaining open-minded and putting in the miles, Land was able to adapt. Out of approximately 30 hunters during that event, only three pigs were taken—and Land killed two of them.

Getting Started

For hunters interested in trying spot-and-stalk pig hunting, the opportunities are better than many realize. In Georgia, pigs can be hunted year-round on private land, day or night, with any weapon. Public land offers opportunities during small and big game seasons, with some WMAs now hosting special hog hunts.

Land's advice for beginners is straightforward: get out there and start logging miles. "If you get good at hunting hogs, you'll be good at hunting other things as well," he said. "You learn how to move, when to move, when not to move. You learn how to play the wind."

For those seeking permission on private land, Land recommends showing up in person, being presentable and respectful, and visiting at reasonable times—Saturday midday or Sunday rather than early morning or late evening when farmers are busy. Many landowners hate the destructive nature of pigs and welcome hunters who will help control the population.

About Inside Twenty

Inside Twenty is a podcast dedicated to traditional bowhunting and the pursuit of wild game at close range. Hosted by passionate traditional archers, the show features in-depth conversations with experienced hunters who share their knowledge, stories, and lessons learned from years in the field. Whether you're a seasoned traditional bowhunter or just starting your journey, Inside Twenty offers valuable insights into the skills, mindset, and dedication required to hunt with stick and string. Listen to all episodes at Inside Twenty Podcast.