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Prices for a Hog Deer Hunt
The cost of a hog deer hunt in is generally between $4,500 and $7,000.
Hog Deer Hunting Season
All year. Though the season itself is not regulated by the government, it is worth noting that the deer have their hard antlers from the beginning of June to the middle of October, so most hunts are taken during these months.
Trophy Hog Deer Hunts
The antlers on the hog deer generally will have just three points. Trophy racks will sometimes have 4 points. These antlers are thick at the base and have a ridge around them just above the skull. They are dark brown in color, though they do lighten just barely near the tips. The antlers usually run about 18 inches long, which looks quite impressive considering the animal’s overall size.
Physical Characteristics
The hog deer is a fairly small animal, with mature adults only reaching about 2.3 feet tall, when measured to the shoulder. The males are larger than the females, which will often be under two feet tall. The males weigh around 110 pounds, whereas the females at about 67 pounds.
Despite the small size, this is still a very solid, stocky deer with a powerful appearance. The legs are relatively short, prompting the animal to duck and run, rather than leaping with the grace of a larger deer. The body is heavily muscled and slopes down from a high point near the rump to the shoulders, before rising again when the animal has its head erect.
During the summer months the Indian hog deer sports a coat that is thick and dark brown. In the winter, the belly and legs lighten up a bit, but the back and the main coat gets even darker. Some animals appear to have more of a reddish tone, especially in the spring and summer
The coat is accented by a dorsal stripe, which may be darker than the rest. This stripe starts at the head and then extends down the length of the spine. The summer coat contains a few spots which run along on both sides of this stripe, though these can fade in the winter. The tail is white, something hunters will notice when they see a hog deer in flight.
Origin, Native Habitat and Countries
The hog deer, often called the Indian hog deer, has its origins in India and the surrounding areas. Some countries where it has been found include Pakistan, Nepal, China, Thailand and Bangladesh. It does tend to stick to the northern parts of India. Over the years, the deer as been brought to Australia, Sri Lanka and Texas. It has done well in these areas because of the light forests and fields that it prefers, though, as its range shows, it can also travel through relatively mountainous areas.
Behavior/Social Characteristics
While many deer will jump obstacles and run in an upright manner, with their heads erect, the hog deer takes its name from the fact that it tends to mimic a wild hog in behavior. The head is usually slung low, and this small animal will crash through underbrush and duck branches, fallen trees and other obstacles, rather than jumping them. It always seeks cover when it can, choosing to bolt and then hide when threatened. Like the whitetail deer, the hog deer will raise its tail while running, and the underside of this tail is a bright white.
Hog deer are also interesting in that they tend to live alone. If a group of them is found and startled;they will share feeding areas;then they will not flee as one entity, as other deer will, but will scatter and set out on their own. They do warn each other by barking, though, when danger is spotted.
Males who go into rut will attract females by pawing in the dirt and mud. They do not have any distinctive call for mating. When a male and female come together, they stay on their own, opting for a one-on-one relationship rather create a group or harem. They will then split up after mating, keeping a very low population density.