The red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus) or bushpig is a member of the swine family. It is native to the forests of Western and Central Africa. They are rarely seen away from rainforests and generally prefer habitats near rivers or swamps. When hunting in Africa, these hogs are offered on game hunting safaris in Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Congo-Brazzaville.
The red river hog is a social animal and lives in groups of 12-20, but these groups can even reach as large as 100 hogs. Their breeding season runs annually from September–April and peaks during the wetter months of November–February. The gestation period is 120 days, and three to six piglets are usually born at a time. The sow gives birth in a nest made of grass. Both the sow and the boar take care of the young.
They are omnivores and feast on a variety of food, including eggs, insects, small mammals, reptiles and birds, roots, bulbs, and fallen fruit.
Predators of the red river hog include leopard, python, lion, spotted hyenas, and man. Red river hogs can get vicious when threatened by predators. They can swim very well and run quite fast, which assists them in evading capture by their natural predators.
They mark their territory using their tusks to scrape and mark bark on the tree trunks. They also use foot, neck, and periorbital glands near their eyes to scant marks. These hogs tend to keep to their trails and are very territorial. Plan your hunt accordingly!
When targeting red river hogs on a hunting safari, take note that they are often active during the day, but are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular.
Name:
Potamochoerus Porcus
Weight:
99–164 pounds
Shoulder Height:
22-31 inches
Range:
Western and Central Africa
Mating Season:
September – April
Pursuing the Red River Hog in Africa
When hunting red river hogs in Africa, look for a hog about 3-3.5 feet long, with a round body and short, sturdy legs. Their coat is shaggy and red, with black and white contrast markings on their head. Red river hogs have a white mane that runs the length of its body, and when excited or threatened, this mane stands up. They have a hairless tail, except for a tuft of hair at the end. They are also called “tufted pigs” because of their long white whiskers and tufts found in their ears. Red river hogs have small upper and lower tusks that grow up to three inches. If you wish to target a male on your hunting safari, take note that males have long snouts covered in warts and ridges, although this may not be easily visible due to facial hair. Adult red river hogs weigh 99-264 pounds and are one of the smaller hogs found in Africa. The average weight for an adult boar is 130 pounds, and a sow’s average weight is 120 pounds. vegetation.
The main methods for hunting red river hogs in Africa are stalking, tracking, and spotting. The hog uses its marked trails to get to and from its burrow at sunrise and sunset. Utilize this knowledge and set up a blind and wait for them to appear. Hunting safaris for red river hogs is done mainly at night when they are active, utilizing a spotlight. This method remains the most effective and successful for eradicating these pests from farmers’ fields.
Hunting in Africa remains something that all hunters should experience during their lifetimes. The specialty animals, such as the red river hog, remain great trophies and build memories of fantastic hunting adventures in a hunter’s paradise.
Red river hogs are not that large. While they look scary and are unique in appearance, they are not that tough. Any caliber used for plains game hunting will work. A good quality scope with a large diameter will suffice. Anything from a .270 to 30 caliber range will work. A .338 or a .375 with a solid will come in handy on a red river hot Africa hunt.
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