22 replies to this topic

[FLTaxidermist]

(accidental post, please delete!)

Edited by FLTaxidermist, 31 August 2010 - 08:18 AM.

[FLTaxidermist]

(accidental post, please delete!)

Edited by FLTaxidermist, 31 August 2010 - 08:18 AM.

[FLTaxidermist]

I went hog hunting with some friends this last weekend. This was my second hog hunt, although I had yet to get myself a hog. This place we were hunting looked promising though. First morning in the stand, I saw 3 hogs, but unfortunately missed my chance at them, since something else spooked them and they ran off before I could do anything.

So we returned to camp in the afternoon and went back out to the stands in the evening. I wasn't there 30 min. before a huge black boar slipped under a fence to the left of me and trotted out toward the feeder, about 80 yards away. He stood broadside to me, in clear veiw, so I put the crosshairs at the back of his shoulder, and pulled the trigger (I was using a .223 I borrowed from somebody, since I don't own a rifle myself)

But I soon found out that was not the best gun to use. That hog hightailed it into the woods at full speed. We found no blood at the spot he'd been standing, and only 2 small drops further into the woods. We tracked him for a couple of hours but found no more blood and no sign that he'd fallen anywhere.

The next morning I hunted the same stand, and listened for crows or coyotes that might indicate where a carcass was. But I heard none. I'm thinking he must have survived the shot, the bullet probably stuck in his sheild or shoulderblade and didn't pass through.

I was later told by one of the guides that I should have aimed for the head or neck when shooting a smaller caliber at a hog that large. Is this true?
It was a great learning experience anyway, and really exciting, since that was the first hog I have ever shot at. But next time I go, I will definitely use a larger caliber.

If anyone has hog hunting tips they'd like to share, I'd like to hear them!

[FLTaxidermist]

I'm sorry about the triple post with this. It kept giving me an error message so I wasn't sure it went through. If the moderater can delete the others, that'd be great. I do apologize!

[bar-d]

FLT, too bad you lost your hog but at least you got a crack at it. I would not hesitate to use either of my .223's for hogs at that distance. If you are confident in POI of the rifle you are shooting, aim for the ear. Try to put it in his eardrum. If you can get a quartering away shot, shoot behind the shoulder to access the vitals. Check out this link, it has great info on this subject. Graphic photos.
Keep trying. You will never run out of targets.

[youngdon]

Sounds as though you had an exciting hunt FLTaxi, I'm sorry to hear that he ran off on you. I know there are a lot of guys that shoot .223's at hogs and very successfully. I personally would probably use my .243 ( I don't own a .223) As for the head or neck shot I'll bet bar-d or wilded would have some good advice for you on that. We don't have many hogs here. How was the heat ? Did you happen to take a few pics to share ??

Edited by youngdon, 31 August 2010 - 10:33 AM.

[bar-d]

Don't know what happened to the link FLT, you should be able to see it now.
http://www.texasboars.com/anatomy.html

[youngdon]

Good link bar-d.

[wvcoyote]

That was very informing, thanks bar-d

[TexAgBQ81]

Am also sorry you did not retreve the hog. I must agree with Bar-d a well placed 223 will do the trick at that range and a little more if you are use to shooting your weapon at that distance i.e. experience with the weapon. Since it was a borrowed weapon did you have a chance to sight in the rifle to your "eye"? many times the POI (point of impact) for one perosn is not the same for another. For the non-pig hunter I usually do suggest a larger caliber at least to begin with as the novice sometimes shoots at the whole animal rather the kill zone, this can give you a little larger margin of error. Try a 243 or 7mm08 if you can, hope you have the chance to try again soon.

Edited by TexAgBQ81, 01 September 2010 - 04:51 PM.
spelling error

[ebbs]

X2 on the point of aim being different from one shooter to another. Not always the case, but it can happen.

[FLTaxidermist]

Great link Bar-d, thanks a lot. I bookmarked that site, it seems to have a lot of good info on it.

The next hog hunt at that place is scheduled for February, so I will try and use a larger caliber then. I did get to shoot the .223 a few times before heading into the woods and it was very accurate, but I think TexAg was probably right in that I was looking more at the whole pig than just at the kill zone.

And at the end of this month I am going to South Carolina with the same group of friends for a doe management hunt. I will definitely be using a .243 for that one, since another lady I know has one that she is letting me use. So hopefully, I will actually have some success!

[youngdon]

It sounds as though you have a good group of friends. I'd see if I could put in a little trigger time on that .243 if I were you.

[Silverboar]

Sorry to hear about the one that got away. Hogs are notorious for doing just that.They are tough critters! Here's a link that may help next time with shot placement.

http://hsoiblog.wordpress.com/

Also, Maybe want to invest in your own dedicated hog gun if you can. Other folks' guns are like other people's cars. You get in and even if the thing is in good running order, you still need to adjust the seat, adjust the radio station and volume, adjust the rear view mirrors, tilt the steering wheel, etc. Guns are the same way. The rifle may shoot dimes at 100 yards, but only because the gun is tuned to that particular shooter's style. It's really best to have your own tool tuned specifically to how you shoot for all things to be accurate. Good luck next time as the world needs fewer hogs!!!

[ebbs]

Good analogy, Silverboar. Welcome to the site!

[Silverboar]

Gracias!!!!

[singlesix]

Hey I have lost a hog or two and know how you feel. I helped a freind track a hog over 500 yards in thick brush IN THE DARK just to find out he went into a close area on the range. I just moved from flordia and i really miss the hog hunts. Most of the ones i shot at i just flat out missed, but i am one of the few that do not want to aim for a head shot unless really close. Hogs are tough animals but if you can hit that lung or heart area you will find them. I killed my first hog three years ago and i remember it so well, will never forget i hope you get one soon good luck. Oh and i would use a 223 for hog hunting if thats all i had but i would prefer bigger.

[FLTaxidermist]

Hi everyone, I'm back (I've been SO busy with college stuff I haven't had time for much else on the computer) but anyway, thanks for the hog advice! I definitely would like to save up for my own gun, I don't like to have to borrow other people's guns for hunting. Somebody suggested a .270 would be good since you can easily kill both deer andhogs with it.

I am getting ready to go on my doe hunt this weekend, and I have shot the .243 I'll be using, and have a good feel for how it works. With any luck, I will be able to get some meat for the freezer this time!

Edited by FLTaxidermist, 21 September 2010 - 04:38 PM.

[youngdon]

Good luck FLT we got our fingers crossed for you. Make sure to take pics.

[stop'em an drop'em]

a 223 aint bad if u have that sucker zeroed in i think u would have to hit him close to the head if he is at a good distance, but i would use a 243 next time or maybe even a 270 my 270 or 243 with 85 g bullet or 90 does work on hogs