Most bowhunting sports are performed in the daytime with plenty of light to see the game you’re hunting. Then there’s bowfishing where the “game” intended is attracted to the light shone from a watercraft, giving the archer plenty of light to see the fish. What if you’re after a creature in the night that light would only keep them away? Then what?
Are You Kidding Me?
The first option is to find the nearest mud pit, leaving your bow in a dry, clean space, enter said mud pit. Next wallow like the hog you’re going after. Once you’ve covered yourself substantially, get your bow and sneak up to a sounder or lone boar using the ATN NVM14 Monocular. Once you’ve gotten close enough give them a good pet and ask them to sit still while you blindly guess shot placement. If you think I’m serious, you probably shouldn’t be hunting.
If you’re taking the TenPoint Turbo X Crossbow, that’s an easy fix because the crossbows are generally equipped with an appropriate optics rail. With said rail you can mount an optic that turns the night into day with a simple IR light like the ATN X-Sight LTV. I say it’s easy because all you do is mount the X-Sight on the rail and sight it in. After you’ve done so, it’s ready to get into the field for a night hunt.
A Little Trickier
A compound bow is a little trickier. I did some research to see what the most crucial item is for a hunter with a compound bow to hunt the night. What I’ve found is most people use green or red predator lights, most people prefer the red over the green. It’s said the predators are less likely to see the red than the green.
If I were to take the Bear Archery Whitetail Maxx Compound Bow into the dark I’ve got three options to illuminate the target game without giving away my twenty, I mean yours.
Lighting Things Up
If you’re hunting from a blind with a bait site the Moultrie Feeders Feeder Hog Light will light the situation up without giving away your location. It may take a few nights for the hogs to get used to it, or not. You’ve got to get to know your hogs. Once they are used to it, the rest is up to you to make the perfect shot.
The next option is to hunt down a red or green light that is mountable to the bow and also plays the part of the stabilizer. As I said previously most night hunters prefer the red light to the green, keep that in mind on your hunt, well both hunts.
Just as you have to get to know your hogs, there are a couple ways to approach them using a light. Walk up on them with your red light shining hoping they don’t see you. Then take your shot when you get to a comfortable distance. Next option is once you get into position and are sure you can make a great shot, you can all at once give them a full shine and be ready to make a quick shot.
No Distractions
You don’t like either of those options, take this advice. I want you to imagine yourself at the dinner table or your favorite restaurant. While you’re enjoying your favorite food are you thinking about the person walking by to go to the restroom or get a refill on their drink? I know the answer. The pigs are at their dinner table and you’re the one getting a refill on your drink.
Relax, get into position, aim the light high and slowly bring the outer ring to the hogs dinner table until your site is on the chosen target, then release. That’s how you bow hunt hogs at night.
Warning!!!
Hog hunting can be extremely dangerous and you’ll need to know how to read your arrows so you’re aware of the condition the hog is in that you may encounter, if tracking is necessary. Another warning, DON’T GET COCKY! That’s when bad things happen, I don’t know you, but I’m sure you’re just like the rest of us, you don’t want bad things to happen.
