what gun for wild hogs?

You Texas hog hunters - two questions:

1. Are these hogs good eating or are you just killing them like varmints?

2. Can I come down and play? Sounds like a lot of fun /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Answer to number one is yes and yes. They eat very good at the right size and body condition, and yes, we also shoot them just like varmits. You can have your cake and eat it too, so to speak. Most of mine just lay, but the right one every now and then sure is yummy.

Feral hogs cause a tremendous amount of damage to both crops and the natural ecosystem (they are a non-native species, after all), and breed like rabbits. They are a destructive force that must be seen to be appreciated, and are very difficult to control. Most are shot on sight around here.
 
wow. you've got to invite me down this summer. I'll bring my son and we'll help you anihilate a herd or two. Maybe even bring some fresh meat home to NH /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Thanks hildalgo for the compliment.
Yes Omega, when processed correctly they are awesome eating.
2 things if they smell similar to "light brown sugar" generally good eating. If they smell like you just peed on the campfire worthless to eat unless you smoke them outside and then not to good. Just my .02

Now I don't know all there is to know about hogs and never will but I kill plenty and write how too's for a magazine that specializes in hogs.

caliber choice has many factors, ethics, your capabilities as a hunter,distance of shots and shot placement.

I have killed hogs with many calibers the smallest being a .22 long rifle. I once killed one in self defense with a claw hammer.{shot placement} I don't recommend either.

I have seen many hogs shot in the head with a .204 and a .223 other than the ones I shot personally with the .223 all of the others kept going with a bullet in them. Just what I've seen.
I recently called a hog to a hunter that was running directly towards us.The hog was shot directly above the eye point blank with a 60gr .223 he stumbled and kept going. never found him.
There are many here that are capable of killing them with either, you are the one that has to live with your decision.

I strongly recommend something at least or larger than .243 a wounded hog is a very dangerous animal, I know first hand!

If you choose a small caliber I strongly recommend waiting for the proper shot which I would consider to be from the base of the ear to the point of the shoulder, but not in the shoulder! With this shot placement there will be no trailing.
Hogs shot straight on in the head usually die a miserable death, hence the "claw hammer hog" he was shot straight on by some one and I stumbled on to him while unarmed {rare for me to be unarmed}.
Hogs shot straight on are often times hit low through the bridge of the nose. Hogs that are hit high enough to hit the brain with small calibers usually result in a deflected bullet due to the slope and thickness of the skull. A side shot is best.
You can kill hogs by hitting them behind the shoulder with small calibers, but there will be far more lost than recovered in most cases.
I hope this helps.
 
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my only other option is my .300 win mag. Will there be any head left at all?? The lighest factory load I can get is 150 grain.



You might take a look at the Remington Managed Recoil loads for the 300 win mag. They load it down to a velocity about equal to a 300 Savage. 150 grain at 2650 fps.
 
Quote:
You Texas hog hunters - two questions:

1. Are these hogs good eating or are you just killing them like varmints?

2. Can I come down and play? Sounds like a lot of fun /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif



If you want to take some hogs come on down and bring a Bow, I can just about gaurantee you all the porkers you feel like taking. We go out to the corp. of engineers land near Lake Whitney and slay the little buggers and the little ones are down right tasty. Be prepared for some walking though. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I have shot a few this year with my ruger 44 mag. I was using bullets that don't expand much, 240gr, but always have punched through...even 3 1/2 feet of pig at 80 yds. That was the longest shot...most were 40-60 yds. The pigs ranged from 150-320lbs. I have also shot a few with my 30-06. If I didn't know the distances for sure that I was going to be shooting I grab the 30-06...if I know it was close quarters, I would grab the 44 or 30-30, because they handle better. I would agree with Guess...woudln't go with anything lower the .243. I have shot them with smaller, but was all I had in my hand...if I think I am going to run into some pigs, I always grab for a bigger gun.
 
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Quote:
You Texas hog hunters - two questions:

1. Are these hogs good eating or are you just killing them like varmints?

2. Can I come down and play? Sounds like a lot of fun /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif



If you want to take some hogs come on down and bring a Bow, I can just about gaurantee you all the porkers you feel like taking. We go out to the corp. of engineers land near Lake Whitney and slay the little buggers and the little ones are down right tasty. Be prepared for some walking though. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif



I don't mind the walking. I can walk miles and miles /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The only issue here is I can't shoot a bow. Arthritis in my shoulders prevents me from drawing anything but a kids bow.
 
I am almost positive that the corp. land is Bow only but I could be wrong, maybe shotguns are allowed, I'll have to check. I'm certain we couldn't use rifles or pistols though. I'll check and get back to ya. But it's a lot of fun and there is no season or limit on them.
 
Ive killed with 38 different calibers, the bow and the knife, they all work as long as you put them in the right place. They can be tough, but the average hog I kill with gun and bow weighs 100-150lbs and they are not hard to kill. Lately we have been catching a couple hundred a year with the dogs and selling them to huntin operations at $.33lb for small hogs and a $1lb for those over 200lbs. I still shoot everyone I see in day to day activities though unless the dogs are close and have the time. otherwise shoot and eat or leave lay
 
in east texas we can kill as many as we like when ever we want. i have killed several with as little as a .22lr. but i much prefer a .308 or a .35remington
 
here in ohio , outside of deer firearm seasons, you can use what you wish on private property.
on public land, no rifles or pistols from oct 15 through jan. 01...so youre good now.

why not use the win mag youve got? rather more gun than less....
 
I have a new predator hunter 204 and have killed 7 or 8 hogs with it. I have killed hundreds with a 22-250. I don't consider either as ideal hog guns. My choice is a 300 Win Mag with 180 partitions. A big boar with adrenaline can be hard to bring down with anything. A big boar that doesn't known anybody is around will drop like a brick with a well placed shot. We have killed over 1500 since 1994.
 
ok guys how about the new 450 "thumper" by bushmaster, give you a hog of a bullet, semi auto, with a 7 shot single stack mag,.......but i like large rifles and the 450 in a simiauto really got my blood pumping
 
I have killed 62 hogs in the last year with every thing from a 22 to a 45-70. I agree with Mr. Guess. Nothing under a 243. Most of the hogs you find in East Texas will run under a 100 pounds, but don't count on it. You never know when you will run head on with 250 pounds of attitude. Any hog hit badly can get you way more than you bargained for.

Go with the 300 wm.

 
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hey Ohio Hunter, ever hunt in Belmont county? My dad and I are considering going there and Vinton county. I just need to find info on public land. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks.
 


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