I've been stalking the buggers here in the Smokey Mountains of NC for 6 weeks now and I can vouch for what you say about them being fast and alert. One thing I've learned here (should be the same there) is that they tend to be more active at night and at dawn/dusk. They can see (and move away from) red light, so forget using a laser aiming device or red filter on a flash light. Green light is not visible to their eyes.
Here they've moved from farmers fields to the deep forests as the acorns are falling. Once the acorns are gone, they'll probably move back into the valleys looking for anything they might have missed. If you do have a shot at one, don't aim like they're deer: their anatomy is different. A behind the shoulder shot on a hog will result in it being gut-shot. Their heart/lung is between their front legs, almost forward of them. Very much like a human on all 4s. Their spine is NOT at the top of their back line, but about 4-6" below the surface.
Best place to aim is the neck if using a good SP .223 (like I am trotting around) or head if close enough and you're aim is good. If using something larger, aim for the shoulder plate (or armor plate as they call it here) which is above where the "bicep" would be on their forelegs.
Their tracks look like deer tracks, only more rounded toes as compared to the pointy ones deer produce. Their scat looks cylindrical or squat. Males tend to be solitary unless they're breeding; then they stay with the sow until she's out of heat. Females form groups of piglets and adolescent males. If they're of Russian boar decent like here, they will have a wedge shaped body (taller in the front and lower to the ground in the rear for quicker evasive movement) and a longer, protruding snout. Either Russian or feral pig can have tusks. The Russian variety can and will charge if p#ssed at you. The feral pigs will scatter and run.
Good luck!
