Summary
Bushpig hunting will take you to the thickets and dense underbrush, where they lay up during the daylight hours.
They are best hunted during the night when they are most active. Their nocturnal nature makes them particularly challenging to track and hunt, requiring specialized techniques and equipment due to their preference for dense environments.
They must be hunted over bait from a blind or using hounds to flush them from the areas they bed down during the day. Using bait involves placing rotting meat or fermented corn to attract bushpigs before hunting takes place.
Typically shot at close range.
There are no seasonal restrictions on trophy Bushpig hunting in South Africa. However, the best months for hunting bushpigs in Africa correspond with the dry winter months, when food is scarce. In South Africa, there are no seasonal restrictions on trophy bushpig hunting, allowing for year-round hunting opportunities.
Bowker Hunting offers Bushpig African safari trips year-round. Bushpig hunting packages are customizable to meet the specific preferences and goals of the hunters.
A giant boar is an impressive animal—a true hunting adventure and experience in the Eastern Cape.
Bushpig rifle hunting safaris need prior notice.
Table of Contents
Introduction to the Bush Pig
The bush pig, scientifically known as Potamochoerus larvatus, stands out as one of Africa’s most elusive animals and a prized target for hunting enthusiasts. Found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, including the wild landscapes of South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, these nocturnal creatures are renowned for their cunning behavior and ability to vanish into dense cover. For hunters seeking a true challenge, hunting bushpigs promises an adrenaline-filled adventure and the chance to pursue a species that tests both skill and patience.
Bushpigs are well-adapted to a variety of habitats, from thick forests and tangled bush to open grasslands and even farmlands where they are notorious for raiding crops like sugar cane. Their excellent hearing, keen sense of smell, and razor-sharp tusks make them formidable opponents. With an average shoulder height of around 32 inches and a robust build, a trophy bushpig is a memorable addition to any hunter’s collection.
A successful bushpig hunt requires more than just marksmanship—it demands a deep understanding of the animal’s habits and environment. These pigs are primarily active at night, making night hunting the most effective strategy. Outfitters in the Eastern Cape and other regions of South Africa offer guided bushpig hunts year-round, often utilizing advanced tools like thermal imaging and trail cameras to track these nocturnal animals. Their strong sense of smell and keen hearing make them elusive during hunts, adding to the challenge. Paying attention to signs such as rooting in the soil or tracks near water sources can also increase your chances of encountering a bush pig.
Bushpigs feed on a diverse diet, including roots, tubers, fruits, and insect larvae, and their foraging habits often bring them into conflict with farmers. Their aggressive nature, especially when wounded or protecting their young, means that shot placement and a well-thought-out hunting strategy are crucial for both safety and success. The thrill of the chase, the challenge of outsmarting such a wary animal, and the satisfaction of a well-earned trophy make hunting bushpigs an unforgettable experience.
Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or new to African safaris, pursuing bushpigs offers a unique blend of excitement and challenge. With the right preparation, guidance from experienced outfitters, and a respect for these remarkable animals, your next bushpig hunt could be the adventure of a lifetime. Start planning your journey and discover why hunting bushpigs in Africa is a pursuit like no other. Additionally, bushpig hunting supports local communities and eco-tourism efforts, contributing to overall conservation. Bushpig hunting is available year-round in South Africa and Zimbabwe, while other countries have specific hunting seasons.
Bushpig Trophy Hunting Fees in South Africa -2025
The average price for bushpig hunting is around $1000. Bushpigs can be added to any of our package game hunts, and our African hunting prices provide value for money.
Our 2025 price is $1000
The Bushpig trophy hunting package includes a licensed hunting guide, a hunting license, and all permits in the East Cape of South Africa.
Some places charge an additional rate for night hunting ranging from $50 to $100. A hunting trip in Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Mozambique requires a minimum of a 7-10 day hunt with a daily rate of $600-$700.
In Tanzania, a minimum 10-day hunt costs approximately $1,200 per day with a trophy fee of $550-$850.
Shot placement must be in the bottom third of the animal directly above the front shoulder. This will ensure a heart or lung shot. Avoid head and neck shots, which are high-risk when hunting bushpig.
Bushpig Hunting in South Africa
Your African Bushpig trophy should have an average shoulder height of around 32 inches, weigh about 180 pounds, and have a Tusk length of approximately 4 inches.
The Bush pig is one of the most challenging species of plains game hunting in South Africa. To hunt bushpigs successfully requires skill, patience, and knowledge of their elusive behavior, making it a true test for any hunter.
Hunted over bait from a blind or using hounds to flush using hounds to flush them from the areas they bed down during the day. Hunting with dogs is an exciting and effective method for tracking and pursuing bushpigs, as the dogs enhance the hunt by helping to locate and drive the animals from dense cover. In Mozambique, bushpig hunting can also involve using beaters to drive the pigs out of the long grass for a chase.
Either way, Bushpig are an incredibly tricky yet satisfying game species to hunt. The method you choose—whether baiting, hunting with dogs, or sitting in blinds—can greatly influence your success when you hunt bushpigs.
Bushpig inhabits grasslands, riverine woodlands, swamps, reed beds, and semi-arid areas. Indigenous trees provide essential cover and food sources for bushpigs in these habitats.
They are rarely seen in the wild because they inhabit hardly accessible terrains and are most active at night. Paying attention to details when planning your bushpig hunt, such as scouting locations and understanding their habits, is crucial for success.
Pig hunts will take you to the thickets and dense underbrush, where they lay up during the daylight hours. Hunters often set up in blinds in the late afternoon to prepare for night hunting, maximizing their chances as bushpigs become active.
They are best hunted during the night when they are most active. When hunting from a blind, you must wait patiently for bushpigs to appear at the bait site, as patience is key to a successful hunt.
Things get a lot more interesting in the case of pig hunting using hounds. Using dogs as part of your method adds excitement and challenge, as they track and pursue bushpigs through difficult terrain.
We will get a pack of hounds and send them into an area where we think the Bushpig might be sleeping during the day. At bait sites, corn is commonly used to attract bushpigs, making it easier to observe and hunt them. Some additional fees for baiting can reach up to $200 for a successful Bushpig hunt. Bushpig hunting with dogs can cost an additional $300 a day.
The Bushpig hunters stand along likely routes of escape for the Bushpigs. To monitor activity, a camera or trail camera is often set up on a nearby tree to capture images of bushpigs visiting the bait, helping hunters identify prime targets. When a bushpig appears, sometimes it happens suddenly, requiring the hunter to be ready to shoot at the right moment. Tracking and identifying large boars, especially those with distinctive warts and manes, is an important part of selecting a trophy animal.
Trophy Judgement and Rifle Caliber for Rifle Hunting Bushpig
The 7mm is more than adequate for your pig hunt safari. For those hunters who wish to avoid going through the red tape of bringing a rifle into South Africa, Nick Bowker has 300 magnums fitted with suppressors.
Mounted on the rifles are Swarovski tactical scopes. We have hand-loaded Hornady ELD-X ammunition for safari hunting.
This setup, including ammunition, is available as part of all hunting packages free of charge.
Bushpigs should be treated with respect, especially when they have young, as they can show aggression. Hunting bushpigs requires caution as they can be aggressive, especially when wounded or with piglets.
Hunting bushpigs can make for an exciting evening, and use caution, as these bad-tempered game animals can be dangerous when wounded.
Trophy Bushpig hunting hunts can be added to one of our 7 animal safaris, for example, the sable package. Bushpig hunts can often be combined with hunts for other species, such as kudu and zebra, offering a more diverse safari experience.
The difference between a male and female for Bushpig hunts
The color of the body of the bushpig varies widely between dark brown and reddish-brown in both males and females. The bony ridge and two warts on the snout distinguish between a male or boar and a female bushpig. Large boars are often identified by their prominent warts and manes, making them notable trophies for hunters.
Interesting facts about trophy Bushpig for hunters
- The Africa Bushpig is a mammal that belongs to the family of pigs. There are six subspecies of bushpig in the eastern and southern parts of Africa. Other indigenous species, such as cape bushbuck and kudu, are also found in these free-range hunting areas, offering additional opportunities for hunters.
- The upper tusks of bushpig are poorly visible. Lower tusks (elongated canine teeth) are large, curved, and sharp and used mainly as weapons against predators.
- Bushpigs share several morphological features with warthogs. Compared to warthogs, bushpigs have less prominent warts on the muzzle (only adult males have warts), shorter tusks and they run with downward positioned tails (warthogs run with erect tails).
- They are nocturnal creatures (active during the night).
- Bushpig is an omnivore (it eats meat and plants), and its diet consists of roots, tubers, rhizomes, fruits, crops, earthworms, and insect larvae.
- Also, they will occasionally follow monkeys and collects their leftovers.
- Bushpig hunting requires a warning as it’s necessary to prepare. Hunts are over bait or with hounds.
- Bushpig hunting is regulated to ensure that hunting activities comply with conservation goals.
- An excellent swimmer who often wallows in the mud to prevent overheating and to protect himself against insect bites.
- They live in groups (called sounders) composed of 4 to 10 animals, and the group consists of a dominant male, dominant female, and young animals of both sexes.
- Bushpig uses grunts, squeals, and growls for communication.
- Mating season for bushpigs takes place from April to June.
- The Female uses grass and builds a nest shaped like a haystack. The nest can be 10 feet wide and 3 feet high.
- Pregnancy lasts around four months and ends with 2 to 4 piglets. Babies spend the first days of their life in the nest.
- Bushpig young are dark brown colored and covered with pale stripes that provide camouflage in thick vegetation, and both parents take care of their offspring.
- Bushpig aggressively defends their young from predators.
- Bushpigs reach sexual maturity at 18 months and can survive up to 13 or 14 years in the wild.
About the Bushpig for Hunts
Bushpig inhabits grasslands, riverine woodlands, swamps, reed beds, and semi-arid areas. Hunters often search for suitable free-range locations that support healthy bushpig populations. The Eastern Cape in South Africa is considered an excellent free-range area for hunting bushpigs.
Bushpigs are mainly nocturnal. Adult bushpigs stand from 26 to 39 inches at the shoulder and weigh from 121 to 331 pounds.
Their color varies from reddish-brown to dark brown and becomes darker with age. However, both sexes have a lighter-colored mane, which bristles when the animal becomes agitated.
The upper parts of the face and ears are also lighter in color. Their sharp tusks are relatively short and inconspicuous.
Unlike warthogs, bushpigs run with their tails down. Males usually are larger than females.
A typical group will consist of a male and a female, with other younger females and juveniles accounting for the rest.
Litters of three to four young are born in summer.
Bushpigs game can be aggressive, especially when they have piglets.
They are omnivorous and eat roots, crops as well as carrion.
They grunt softly while feeding and make a long growl as an alarm call.
How much does it cost to hunt a Bushpig?
In South Africa, daily rates range from $350 to $450 per day with a trophy fee of $400 to $1250.
Hunters can expect to pay for daily rates and trophy fees when booking bushpig hunting packages.
How to hunt a Bushpig?
Bushpigs are hunted over bait from a blind at night or using hounds to flush them from the areas they bed down during the day.