By Peter Ruddle

Many hunters cannot resist the opportunity to hunt the bushpig (Potamochoerus larvatus). European hunters often see them as Africa’s equivalent of the wild boar, more so than the warthog, But bushpigs have their own tricks, and plenty of them. There are few animals that humble hunters as reliably as the bushpig. Outwitting one is always satisfying; in fact, it is a lot like the sense of achievement you get after taking a leopard over bait.

Bushpig Distribution in Africa

Bushpigs are found in Trans-saharan Africa, mostly in the basins of large rivers and along the coasts: from the Congo Basin to Western Cape, and from Eastern Cape to the swamplands of Somalia. The main thing for them is abundant water; they do not inhabit the dry south-western desert, or the arid and semi-arid areas of Southern Africa.

Bushpig hunting areas in South Africa

In South Africa, bushpigs can be hunted in the Limpopo Basin (Limpopo Province) as far west as the North West Province, as well as Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape Provinces, and the central and eastern parts of the Western Cape Province. They now also occur naturally in the Free State Province and have become a menace to crop farmers.

Other African countries where bushpigs are hunted

Bushpigs exist and can be legally hunted in Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Cameroon, and the Caprivi in Namibia. In most instances, they are hunted as a trophy of opportunity.

Bushpig Habits and Behaviour

Bushpigs are gregarious animals with a life expectancy of about 20 years. They are often found in small groups called sounders. The average group size is 5–7. The boars weigh between 46–82 kg (100–180 lbs) and are much larger than the sows.

Bushpigs are mostly nocturnal and have very poor eyesight, often looking like they are just about blinded by sunlight when encountered during the day. They sleep during the day in dense cover and emerge at night to feed. Being omnivores, bushpigs will dig for roots, eat bulbs and tubers, and enjoy feasting off maggots in a rotting carcass. They grunt softly while feeding and have a long, resonant growl for an alarm call.

Bushpig Habitat

Bushpigs’ preferred habitat is natural forests, swamps, thick bush, reedbeds, and riverine areas—often combined with access to agricultural crops like corn (maize), vegetables, sugar cane, and water. As South Africa’s agricultural footprint increased, so has the bushpig population, making the country the most promising and popular destination to hunt this animal.

How to Hunt Bushpigs

Being a nocturnal animal, bushpigs are usually hunted at night, but may also be found during the day and hunted as a trophy of opportunity.

1. Night Hunting

In South Africa, bushpigs are treated as vermin, which is why it is legal to hunt them at night, using artificial light and night vision or thermal devices. Night hunting is conducted in numerous different ways—from driving around fields with a spotlight, to stalking the pigs while in the sugar cane fields on a moonlit night.

Stalking at night is perhaps the most challenging way to hunt bushpig. Bushpigs are noisy feeders, so they’re easy to locate, but they have a good sense of smell and hearing, making for a difficult approach. Approaching bushpig on foot can be very dangerous, and they have been known to attack when cornered.

The most common way to purposefully target a bushpig is to set up a bait site using fermented corn, corn porridge, kitchen slop, rotten fruit, meat, and vegetables. Baiting is the most successful way to lure bushpigs out of the thickets where they rest up during the day.

Some professional hunters dig a small hole in a clearing and cover the bait they are using with heavy rocks to prevent porcupines from getting to the bait. Others use automatic feeders activated by a timer that spreads the corn seeds around the feeder.

A blind or an elevated stand is then set up approximately 40–50 yards downwind of the prevailing evening breeze. Once the pigs are feeding regularly, it is time to enter the blind and get set for the hunt. Photos or videos from trail cameras are often used to ensure that there is a suitable boar in the sounder to hunt and not just females with young. “Camera traps”, as they are called in South Africa, also give you a good indication of what time the bushpigs are coming in to feed, so you do not need to sit in the blind all night.

2. Daytime Hunting

Hunting bushpigs during the day is more of a hunt of opportunity. You may just bump a pig, or have one come for a drink if you are sitting in a blind bow hunting. They often sleep very soundly—sometimes snoring—so keep an eye open when hunting in thickets or long grass.

Unlike wild boar hunting in Europe, driven hunts are not as common in Africa. It is not that they are useless, in fact, there is no reason why this should not bring the same results. The problem is that many other unwanted animals are also going to be disturbed during this process. It may not be a problem if the animals are antelopes, but a sudden and unexpected encounter with a leopard, buffalo, or black rhino is not something a good PH would willingly subscribe to!

Read also: Wild Boar Hunting in Europe

In Mozambique, a common practise in the Sand Forest areas is to set patches of long grass alight—or just have a few people walk through the area, beating the long grass with a stick while shouting and whistling. If there is a bushpig in the grass, its nerve will eventually break and it will take off at the speed of knots heading for the forest. That’s when it’s time to get lead in the air. Running shots are difficult if it is something you have not tried before or had the opportunity to practise, but no matter what the result, it’s great fun.

3. Bow Hunting

The best bow hunting option is over bait at night, so you need to be set up with night sights. If you have scentlock clothing this would be a good option; otherwise it is recommended you shoot from an elevated platform above the bait so that your scent is carried away over the feeding bushpigs.

Always be on the lookout when sitting in a blind at a waterhole—you may just be surprised by an uncharacterised visit from a thirsty bushpig, or one coming in to take a mud bath.

4. Hunting with Hounds

Another hunting option offered by some outfitters in South Africa is hunting bushpigs with hounds. With a good pack, this is perhaps the most successful way of shooting a bushpig. The dogs will bay the pig and you need to dispatch the bushpig as soon as possible, otherwise the dog handler runs the risk of his dogs being attacked and injured by an angry bushpig. Hunting with hounds works especially well for hunters who prefer to be active in their pursuit of game, but, obviously, requires a certain degree of fitness, as you are required to keep up with the dogs once they are onto a pig.

Best Season to Hunt Bushpig in South Africa

The drier the better: late winter or early spring (August–October) before the rains, when food is in short supply and the ground is hard to dig.

However, if it rains during your hunt and you are hunting over bait, this is likely to affect your success. The bushpigs will be able to smell underground food sources and dig these out with some ease—and most likely not return to your bait pile.

Breeding Projects

Bushpigs do not form part of the game ranching breeding projects established in South Africa and Namibia. Some are raised as pets when found at a young age, but become very aggressive when reaching adulthood.

Fences

This is one animal that cannot be contained by a high fence or an electric fence, and is truly a free-range animal even if hunted on a fenced game ranch. Learn more about high fences in South Africa.

Threats

Habitat destruction and deforestation, are affecting bushpig numbers in some areas. They are also fairly prone to snaring, as they use regular pathways in and out of the thickets, making an easy target for poachers.

However, due to their high reproductive potential, their numbers often bounce back—especially where food is abundant. So, although heavily hunted in South Africa due to the damage they cause to crops, the bushpig numbers and range distribution are on the increase.

In a few areas, bushpigs have now crossed with escaped domestic pigs (feral pigs) and Russian boars that were introduced to South Africa and escaped from captivity.

General Bushpig Hunting Tips

Make sure to dress warm and spray yourself with insect repellent, otherwise you could become a warm meal for the mosquitos. As the pigs approach, you often hear them flapping their ears to chase away the annoying mosquitos.

Anatomy of porcines, including bushpigs, differs from antelope and deer, and you have to bear it in mind when deciding on the aiming point.

Time your hunt with the full moon, which will not only help with your night vision but is also when the bushpigs are most active.

Use a red lamp, as this will allow you a little extra time to aim when you switch on the light. General rule of thumb is to shoot the biggest pig you can see, as there is no time to judge trophy quality.

Bushpig as a Trophy

As with most wild pigs, the main trophy part of the bushpig are the tusks. Given the bushpig’s bright coloured and exotic appearance, a shoulder mount or a full mount would work even better for most trophy rooms.

Hunting permits and licenses are readily available and no CITES permits are required. However, in some areas bushpigs may carry swine fever, which is deadly to domestic pigs but not to humans. All trophies imported into the USA must be exported in a separate crate to the USA in line with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) swine import regulations.

Venison

Unfortunately, the meat from all animals hunted in Africa may not be exported due to veterinary regulations. However, if you have the opportunity to try a well-prepared bushpig roast you will go a long way to find better tasting venison.

We’re indebted to Clive Curtis, the best bushpig hunter in South Africa and probably the whole world, for the images that illustrate this story. If you want to know more about bushpig hunting, there’s nothing better than Clive’s video series. Check them out—and once you’re ready, you’ll understand why bushpig hunting gets under your skin.

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