Using Technology to Combat the Feral Hog Invasion
Feature Story by TF&G STAFF
LISTEN: (2 min, 48 sec)
THANKS TO BREAKTHROUGHS in high-tech optics, hog-hunting tools have come a long way.
These innovations are giving hunters new advantages, making night time hog hunting more effective, and helping keep feral hog populations in check. These modern optics are changing the game for hunters tackling these invasive exotics which number more than three million in Texas alone.
Thermal Imaging Scopes
Thermal imaging has become a go-to for hunters working after dark. Instead of relying on light like traditional night vision, thermal scopes focus on heat. This means warm-blooded animals like feral hogs stand out against cooler surroundings,
making them easy to spot even in dense brush. High-definition thermal scopes go a step further, with color gradients that make distinguishing hogs from other objects easier. Many models even come with rangefinders, so hunters can calculate the exact distance to their target, boosting accuracy and helping ensure ethical shots.
Old School Night Vision
Traditional night vision uses an intensifier tube to amplify ambient light, to allow a hunter to see in low-light conditions. The light enters the scope, is amplified within the tube, and produces a greenish image typical of analog night vision. This technology has been popular in military and hunting applications for decades due to its reliability.
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Digital Night Vision
While thermal imaging is powerful, digital night vision remains popular, especially as a budget-friendly alternative. Night vision scopes amplify available light—whether it’s faint moonlight or starlight—to give hunters a clear image. This approach works well for close-range encounters, and many night vision models have infrared (IR) illuminators that create an invisible light source only the scope can see. This lets hunters move in undetected, as hogs can’t see IR light, making it easier to get closer without alerting them.
Recording and Sharing the Hunt
Many high-tech optics now come with recording and live-streaming features, allowing hunters to capture their hunts on video. Some hunters use these features to keep a digital record, track hog sightings, and create video logs for future reference or simply post on YouTube.
Thermal imaging optics helped TF&G Editor-In-Chief Chester Moore, Britt Perry and Andrew Austin bag these two hogs on the Warren Ranch.
(Photo: Chester Moore)
With the help of high-tech optics hunters have a better chance at scoring on hogs and having an impact on controlling their populations.
High-tech hunting advances give property owners a fighting chance in the war against the destructive impact of runaway hog populations.
(Photo: Adobe)
Large-scale hog population control has failed at every level but on small properties putting pressure on them will cause them to move eventually and at least give the property owners or leaseholders a reprieve from their destructive ways.
—story by TF&G Staff
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