How to Get Hogs Used to a Feeder Light Without Spooking Them

Wild hogs notice change. That doesn't mean a new feeder light will automatically scare them away. I've had customers install a green 3-Color Feeder Light, hunt that very first night and be successful. But when I have the time - especially when dealing with a cautious mature boar - I prefer giving hogs a chance to become accustomed to the new light before adding hunting pressure.

Quick Guide

Watch the hogs, not the calendar.

Start With the Least Amount of Change You Need

If hogs have been coming to the same feeder night after night in complete darkness, installing a feeder light is already a noticeable change to their environment. I wouldn't change five other things at the same time. If you don't have to, don't move the feeder, completely change the feeding schedule, clear the entire area and add several new objects all at once.

For a particularly cautious hog, I generally start at a lower brightness setting. If the light allows you to control how long it stays illuminated, you can also begin with a shorter operating period. The goal isn't to leave the light dim forever. You're simply introducing the change and giving the hogs time to accept it.

Can You Hunt the First Night?

Absolutely. I've had people install our 3-Color Feeder Light in green, hunt that very first night and successfully take a hog. Gradual activation can help because the area isn't instantly blasted with full-power illumination.

If someone told me, "I'm putting this light up today and hunting tonight. What color should I use?" My answer would be red. Green can absolutely work the first night, but if your light offers red, that is my choice when maximum stealth is the priority and the animals haven't had time to acclimate.

What If a Hog Backs Away From the Light?

Give it time. One of the biggest mistakes is immediately changing the setup because a hog doesn't walk straight underneath a new light on the first or second night. Every hog and every property is different. Some accept a new setup immediately; an exceptionally cautious animal may take considerably longer.

If I've already started at a reasonable low setting, I may simply leave everything alone. If necessary, I can also adjust the light so the strongest part of the beam isn't aimed directly at the animal's approach. For an especially wary mature boar, red is another option I would consider.

Watch the Hogs, Not the Calendar

I don't believe in telling everyone to leave a feeder light on low for exactly seven days. Watch the animals. If an entire sounder is walking into the illuminated area, feeding normally and showing no concern, they're telling you they're comfortable. At that point, increase the brightness if you want more illumination.

A fully acclimated group looks normal. They're not creeping toward the feeder, constantly staring at the light or backing away when the illumination increases. They're feeding and interacting normally. Once they're comfortable, run the light the way you actually want to hunt.

Don't Change a Successful Setup Just Because a Big Boar Shows Up

Suppose a green feeder light has been operating for months and a big mature boar suddenly appears on camera. If he's already standing inside the green illumination eating corn, I would not switch everything to red just because he's mature. He's already told you the green light isn't bothering him. Don't fix what isn't broken.

What If I Don't Have a Trail Camera?

A trail camera makes acclimation easier to monitor, but it isn't required. Check the feeder the next morning. If the corn is gone and there are fresh tracks and hog sign, they're likely using the area. If hogs had been feeding regularly and the corn suddenly sits untouched after the change, give them more time before increasing the light.

Feeder Timing Can Help

After years of experimenting with nighttime feeder setups, I generally like nighttime feedings spaced at least about three hours apart. If a feeder goes off too frequently, hogs may simply stay nearby waiting for the next feeding, which can make it difficult to enter your blind or stand undetected.

With more time between feedings, I've found they're more likely to move off, get water or continue traveling before returning. That can give the hunter a better opportunity to enter the area. This is a firsthand field recommendation, not a requirement for using a feeder light.

Install During the Day or at Night?

If I'm concerned about disturbing hogs already using an area, I usually prefer installing the light during the day. That gives me time to finish the work, get out and let the area settle before the hogs normally arrive.

Installing or adjusting after dark does have one advantage: you can actually see the beam and exactly where the illumination is hitting. That's why we put detailed placement information in our product instructions.

For example, the Outfitter instructions recommend mounting the light about 7-8 feet above the ground and placing a single light approximately 10-12 feet from the center of the feeder for optimal performance. The instructions also include a measured two-light layout, solar-panel orientation and guidance for avoiding feeder shadows. Those recommendations came from actually setting up and testing the lights in the field.

The Bigger Lesson: Hogs Notice What's New

I've seen this same behavior with other changes around established feeding areas. A wild hog lives in that environment every night and knows what is normally there. A cautious animal may take time to investigate a new light, scent or object before deciding it's safe.

Change one major thing at a time. If the hogs hesitate, don't assume the light isn't working and start changing everything again. Sometimes the best thing you can do is leave the setup alone and give a wild animal time to get comfortable.

My Bottom Line

Start conservatively when necessary. Use red when maximum stealth is important. Don't change everything at the feeder at once. Watch the hogs instead of following an arbitrary calendar, and give cautious animals time.

Once they're walking into the illuminated area and feeding normally, set your light up the way you actually want to hunt. The purpose of acclimation isn't to keep the light dim forever - it's to get the animals comfortable enough for you to use the illumination you need.

About the Author

Chad Stevenson is the founder of Elusive Wildlife Technologies. For more than two decades, he has developed, tested and hunted with specialized nighttime hunting and feeder-lighting equipment, with products evolving from his own experiences hunting feral hogs and other wildlife after dark.