6 Best Portable Hog Hoists For Predator Protection Old Farmers Swear By

You can do everything right—good fences, clean pens, watchful eyes—and still hear that sound in the middle of the night. A distressed squeal, a frantic scuffle. For a small-scale farmer with a new litter of piglets or a prized sow, a determined predator is a constant threat that fencing alone can’t always solve. This is where a little unconventional thinking, borrowed from the hunting world, can make all the difference.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Using Game Hoists for Nightly Hog Protection

The idea of hoisting a hog seems strange at first, but it solves a fundamental problem. Most common predators, like coyotes, foxes, and stray dogs, are ground-based threats. By simply lifting your most vulnerable animals a few feet off the ground each night, you place them out of reach. This isn’t about suspending them from a branch; it’s about using a hoist to lift them into a secure, elevated crate or a heavily reinforced section of a pen that’s inaccessible from below.

This method is a targeted, temporary solution for high-risk periods. Think about the first few weeks after a sow farrows, when piglets are small, or when you know a predator has been testing your fences. It’s not for your entire herd. It’s a practical intervention for one or two animals that represent a significant investment of your time and resources.

The setup is straightforward. You need a reliable hoist, a comfortable and secure sling or harness for the animal, and a safe, elevated destination. This could be a custom-built platform in a stall or a reinforced crate secured to the inside of a sturdy shelter. The goal is temporary, nightly security, not a permanent living arrangement.

HME Magnum Lift System: Secure and Reliable

The HME Magnum isn’t a free-standing unit; it’s a winch-and-pulley system designed to be mounted to a solid anchor. This makes it perfect for use inside a barn against a strong support beam or outside on a mature, sturdy tree. Its simplicity is its greatest strength. There are few moving parts to fail, and the operation is intuitive.

What matters most here is the self-locking winch mechanism. As you crank the animal up, the lock prevents the cable from slipping back if you let go of the handle. This is a non-negotiable safety feature. With a 440-pound capacity, it’s more than enough for most young hogs or smaller breeding stock.

The main tradeoff is its lack of portability. You can’t just set it up in the middle of a pasture. You are tied to your anchor point, so you need to plan your pen location accordingly. But for a fixed farrowing stall or a pen near a good-sized oak tree, it’s a tough, reliable, and cost-effective option.

Guide Gear Tripod Hoist: Unbeatable Stability

If you need to set up in an open field without a convenient tree or beam, a tripod hoist is your answer. The Guide Gear Tripod provides a freestanding, stable lifting platform that you can place exactly where you need it. The three-legged design distributes weight evenly, creating a solid base that resists tipping, which is crucial when dealing with a live, potentially shifting animal.

These hoists typically offer a 500-pound capacity and an adjustable height, often reaching up to 8 or 9 feet. This gives you plenty of clearance to lift a hog into a raised enclosure. The feet at the bottom of the legs are designed to dig into the soil slightly, adding another layer of stability to the whole setup.

The downside is its size and weight. A steel tripod isn’t something you’ll want to assemble and disassemble every single day. It’s better suited as a semi-permanent installation for a farrowing season. You set it up over your high-risk pen and leave it there until the piglets are old enough to fend for themselves.

Kill Shot 500 lb. Hoist: High-Capacity Lift

When you’re dealing with larger heritage breeds, weight capacity becomes a primary concern. The Kill Shot 500 lb. Hoist is built for exactly that. It gives you the confidence to lift heavier gilts or young boars without worrying that you’re pushing the equipment to its absolute limit. Having a safety margin is just smart farming.

Like other tripods, its main selling point is its freestanding stability. The construction is typically heavy-gauge steel, and the winch system is designed for a smooth, controlled lift. This isn’t a lightweight, flimsy piece of gear; it feels substantial because it has to be.

This is the kind of tool you invest in for the long haul. It’s not just for nightly protection; it becomes an indispensable piece of equipment for other farm tasks that require heavy lifting. But for its primary purpose of securing valuable livestock, its robust build and high capacity provide essential peace of mind.

Viking Solutions L-E-Vator: Effortless Hoist

Lifting a few hundred pounds every night and morning can take a toll, especially if you’re farming solo or dealing with a bad back. The Viking Solutions L-E-Vator is designed to minimize that physical strain. Many of their models feature unique winch designs or even allow you to attach a cordless drill to do the heavy lifting for you. This turns a strenuous chore into a quick, manageable task.

The focus on user convenience is what sets this hoist apart. It acknowledges the physical reality of farm work. While it might have more moving parts than a basic tripod, the reduction in manual labor can be the deciding factor that makes the nightly protection routine sustainable over several weeks.

You’ll want to check the specific model’s weight capacity, as some of the more convenient designs may trade a little bit of lifting power for ease of use. However, for most piglet and young hog scenarios, the capacity is more than adequate. It’s a smart choice for anyone who wants to work smarter, not harder.

Big Game Apex Tripod for Uneven Ground Use

Most of us don’t farm on a perfectly level concrete slab. Pastures have dips, slopes, and uneven terrain. The Big Game Apex Tripod directly addresses this reality with its independently adjustable legs. This feature is a massive advantage for real-world farm use.

Being able to shorten one leg and lengthen another allows you to create a perfectly level and stable lifting platform, even on a hillside. An unlevel hoist is an unsafe hoist; it’s prone to tipping under load. The ability to adapt to your actual ground conditions is a critical safety feature, not just a convenience.

This adaptability makes the Apex incredibly versatile. You can move it from a flat spot inside the barn to a sloped area by the woods without compromising stability. It shows the design was thought through by someone who understands that farm work rarely happens in ideal conditions.

Titan Attachments Tripod: Rugged Simplicity

Titan Attachments has a reputation for building simple, heavy-duty equipment that just works. Their tripod hoist is no exception. It’s a no-frills tool built from thick steel with a straightforward winch system. There are no fancy features, just rugged, reliable construction.

This is the hoist for the farmer who prioritizes durability above all else. You can set it up and leave it outside through rain and sun without worrying about it. The simplicity of the design means there are fewer points of failure—no complex gears or delicate parts to break down. It’s overbuilt for its stated weight capacity, which is exactly what you want.

The trade-off for this ruggedness is weight. It’s heavy and not easily moved. But if your goal is to establish a secure lifting station for an entire season, the Titan is an excellent "set it and forget it" option that you can count on year after year.

Key Safety Checks for Any Portable Hog Hoist

Using any hoist carries inherent risks, and complacency is your enemy. A few seconds of prevention are worth avoiding a major accident involving you or your animals. Before every single use, run through a quick mental checklist.

Make these checks a non-negotiable habit:

• Solid Footing: Ensure the hoist’s feet are on firm, level ground. If using a tripod on soft soil, place flat boards under the feet to prevent them from sinking.
• Hardware Inspection: Glance over the welds, bolts, and cable. Look for any signs of stress, fraying, or loose connections.
• Winch Lock Test: Crank the winch a couple of clicks and pull back on the handle. Make sure the locking pawl engages securely and holds the load.
• Respect the Limit: Know the weight of your animal and the capacity of your hoist. Never try to lift more than the equipment is rated for.

Remember, a failing hoist can cause serious injury. This equipment makes your animals safer from predators, but it’s your responsibility to use it in a way that keeps both them and you safe from the equipment itself.

Ultimately, a portable game hoist is a perfect example of the hobby farmer’s mindset: using a proven tool in a creative way to solve a specific, pressing problem. It’s not a solution you’ll find in a standard farming textbook, but it’s one that works in the real world. Being resourceful and adaptable is how we keep our animals safe and our small farms thriving.