How to Handle Lone Boars?

When One Pig Becomes a Problem

Managing feral hogs is never simple. Just when you think you’ve got their patterns down, along comes the lone boar — a big, mean, roaming wrecking ball that plays by his own rules.

These guys aren’t your average sounder hogs. They’re older, heavier, more aggressive, and often the ones folks brag about when they swap “big hog” stories. Sometimes they’re easy to catch, especially when the weather’s rough, food is scarce, or there’s a receptive female nearby. But when conditions shift, those same lone wolves of the hog world can make trapping feel like a losing game.

Why Boars Complicate Things

Lone boars make trapping harder for a few key reasons. First, they spook the ladies. When females are bred or busy raising piglets, they want nothing to do with a big, aggressive male. That means sounders steer clear of traps if a boar’s been hanging around, wrecking your odds of a solid group catch. On top of that, they keep odd hours. Sows with piglets move later at night to avoid both predators and boars, leaving the big guy to show up first — forcing landowners to decide whether to catch him now or hold out for the sounder later. And if that wasn’t enough, they don’t sit still. A mature boar moves like a rutting buck, covering ground, eating heavy, then moving on again. When he hits bait, he’s quick to test the trap and just as quick to push out — putting stress on both your setup and your patience.

What to Do About It

Here’s the good news: you’re not stuck. A little strategy goes a long way.

• Target and time it. If boars are roaming heavy in your area, don’t waste the opportunity. Catch them while they’re active, then shift focus back to sounders later in the season.
  
• Run two traps. Set a second trap 50–100 yards away and pre-bait both. That way, if one snags a boar, the females still have another option. Instead of avoiding the trap site altogether, they can head straight for the backup.
  
• Plan for the long game. Catching boars and sounders isn’t either/or — it’s both. Doubling up your setup gives you more shots at more pigs in the same time window.
  

The Bottom Line: How to Handle Solitary Feral Boars in Your Hog Trapping Strategy

Solitary feral boars are big, tough, and smart — but not unbeatable. Don’t let one ruin your catch rate. With a little patience and the right setup, you can drop the lone boar and the rest of the sounder.

Want to see how others are getting it done? Head over to our YouTube channel for real catches, field tips, and expert breakdowns from landowners facing the same fight.