Daily Routines of a Wild Pig

Actually, there is no such thing as a 'daily routine' for wild boar since all wild pigs, except mature males, live in small family groups and act as a group. Each group member is an individual. But their 'individuality' expresses itself only within the context of group behavior. Where the group goes and when is determined by the group leader (usually a mature sow) and not by individual members. The leader determines, say, to raid the barley fields; individuals may then pick their own spot to dig up.

Wild pigs follow certain sets of daily activities that occur generally at about the same time every day - give or take a little based on weather conditions, moon phases and season of the year.
Hunting pressure is another potent modifier of pig routines.

In the absence of hunting pigs are active during daytime.

Under low hunting pressure, wild boar generally have their most active feeding times very early in the morning and right around dusk.

High hunting pressure will shift their daily routine to after dark and most of the night. They are usually gone by daybreak. I am tempted to say that they learn in boar survival class to retire to their bedding places in the densest thickets before shooting hours.

When hunting pressure becomes very intense, wild pigs leave the area completely.

Wild hogs need lots of water. Therefore, they visit the local water source first thing in the morning. Starting out at low spots, they work their way slowly to higher ground as daytime temperatures rise in summertime.

Spot and Stalk hunters use this to glass for wild boar from the highest spots to the lowlands below. Once a group of wild boar is spotted, the stalk begins always working into the wind.

If you reached a high spot too late, the pigs have most likely moved own to higher ground and into brush, manzanita, oak and conifer stands. It is obviously much more difficult to spot them there.

In areas undisturbed by hunting, wild hogs will be higher up on the slopes and pretty much bedded down for the day no later than 10:00 in the morning.

This pattern repeats itself in reverse order in the late afternoon. Down from the elevated areas or safe bedding grounds, to the water and food sources.

Given enough ground cover and thick brush, wild boar sometimes make their bedding close to water and food sources.

If you live in pig country and have access to land occupied by wild boar, go on "storm watch' together with your local weather person. When the storm has passed, you should be out in the fields as soon as possible. Wild pigs will often come out of the brush to feed in the open right after a big rain storm. Then they are easy to spot and to stalk.