Hunting hogs with a crossbow is not only a hunt you can pull off in the summertime, but also helps curb a problem.

[caption id="attachment_6351" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Hunting hogs with a crossbow will not only keep you tuned up but will help solve a problem.[/caption] Summer months are a slow time of year for the hardcore archer. Most guys are content to shoot a few fish, occasionally hit the range, or just put their bow down for a few months. This time is even more difficult for an avid crossbow shooter to escape with their bow in hand. When the slow summer months hit, what is a crossbowman to do? One option for a dedicated crossbow archer is hunting hogs with a crossbow. Odds are your state has a feral hog population and allows the hunting of that animal. These animals can be hunted from a stand, baited, or stalked. Check out this spot and stalk hog hunt filmed by Deer and Deer Hunting. https://youtu.be/3ed1r3_Lpe4 As you can see, stalking hogs may not be easy, but is definitely possible depending on your terrain. Most folks realize that hogs are a non-native species in the United States. All feral hogs can be traced to domesticated hogs that were either released or escaped into the wild. In addition to farm pigs that became feral, the Eurasian wild boar was also deliberately introduced in the U.S in the early 1900's. Much has been made about the destruction caused by wild hogs. These critters can not only be destructive on habitat, but also have a very negative impact on deer populations. This is one reason many folks advocate hunting hogs rigorously for sound deer management. Hogs impact deer populations in a variety of ways. First off, hogs have been documented to kill fawns while they are young. These omnivores won't hesitate to pass up a free meal if it happens to be a helpless young fawn. Secondly, hogs are direct competitors with deer for forage. If you have hogs in your area they are consuming a large amount of feed that could be benefiting your deer population. They are also known carriers of various diseases. By hunting hogs with a crossbow or any other weapon, you can create a better environment for deer. [caption id="attachment_6352" align="alignright" width="161"] A 2 blade broadhead will help aide penetration.[/caption] Hog hunting with a crossbow is best with a heavy duty arrow setup. A perfectly tuned heavy arrow and two blade broadhead has proven over time produce the best penetration. Whatever you choose to shoot make sure it is robust enough to bring down these tough animals. If you are a diehard crossbow hunter and are looking for a summer hunt that not only will help hone your hunting skills and land some meat in the freezer, but will help solve a problem, give hog hunting a try.

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