HOG pictures and stories would be a blessing.

[Changeling]

It would really be awesome to see some hog kilings and hear the balistics used relavitive to weapons and results of impacts.


This a awesome!!
:drinks:

[x101airborne]

I have been dealing with the damn wild hogs since 1988 on my own and before that under the instruction of my father. While I have killed hundreds and trapped more than that, the stories run into the mundane. I have been attacked in the fields, I have shot tens and twenties at a time. I have caught the little ones in a fishing dip net, I have seen a neighbor use a machette (he's Cuban) on one. I have trapped them for friends and friends-of-friends. I have butchered enough of them to feed a medium to large country, and I have raise them from piglet to butcher more times than I can count.

Still, the one story that comes to mind is when my step-son killed his first hog last deer season. Nothing I have done is more dear to me than that hunt. I dont think Iwill ever top that memory, before or after. Well, Maybe until my son gets 8 years older.

[x101airborne]

By the way, I am going out tomorrow night with nightvision. I will try to get some pics of 55 gr. 223 AR wounds for you. And hopefully no eventful stories.

[Changeling]

By the way, I am going out tomorrow night with nightvision. I will try to get some pics of 55 gr. 223 AR wounds for you. And hopefully no eventful stories.

You sir need to write a book, not kidding!

[myfriendis410]

I suppose I could bury you in hog hunts. We fair chase hunt them in California and use rifles, muzzleloaders and bows to do the job (we can't use handguns). The first is one shot with a Pedersoli Sharps and a 300 gr. Barnes TSX handload, as is the second one. That one is on my wall. The third one was shot at 218 yards with a T/C Omega muzzleloader and Barnes 250 gr. TMZ and the last one shot with a Ruger 77 in 7mm r.m. and a Barnes 150 gr. TTSX handload (we have to shoot copper).

[Glen]

Here are a couple of hog stories:

http://www.lasc.us/FryxellForLyle.htm

http://www.lasc.us/FryxellHogHunt4050Sharps.htm

[Changeling]

Thanks guys I really enjoyed the stories.

[x101airborne]

Well, my camera had dead batteries, but I sat on a hill overlooking 400 acres of scattered brush and field. I can usually see out to around 900 yards with my night vision (PVS-14), then walk into around 200 yards for the shot. While looking long range, I had 8 come out on me at around 150 yards along a brush line. I decided to use some Sierra 65gr SBT's for a little more oomph since 200 pounders are more common now than ever. Putting the PVS-14 behind my ACOG, I ran down to them within 100 yards. At 100 yards, they must have heard me and started to walk off. The largest turned quartered away from me, so I hit him behind the ribs with one round. The others seemed to be confused and ran in a circle about 20 feet wide circling a small mesquite bush. By the time the last brass hit the ground, 3 were DRT (dead right there) and 5 ran WIA. They made the neighbors fence about 30 yards away and disappeared into the brush. I like the AR platform, but the 223 is just way too light for working over herds of hogs. Even with the 65 grainers. I am going to start fielding a 7.62x39 upper next week with 130 gr softpoints, and I have faith it will work out a little better. Music to my ears is bullets slappin hog flesh.

[GH1]

I posted these pics on the Reloaders side but since you asked I'll put it here also.
I got this 85 lb boar from a distance of 30 yards with my Marlin 1894c, chambered in .357 magnum. The bullet was a 158 gr cast RNFP from Dardas sitting on top of 13.5 gr AA#9 and lit up with a CCI small pistol standard primer.
It was a head on shot from a tree stand, with my bullet entering in the neck and breaking it, going through the lungs, and exiting in front of the rear leg. He didn't move an inch after I hit him, it was bang, flop.
It wasn't a particularly large hog, but he sure was tasty!:wink:
GH1:-D

[x101airborne]

My friend Lee who served with me on 2 tours with the 101st gave me permission to tell this tale. The first time he came to Texas on a "slam dunk" hog hunt, we hunted for 4 nights and 5 days without seeing a single rooter. Thats the way it goes. We trapped, we walked, we sat in blinds over feeders, nothing. on the last day before he went to the airport to head back to Tennessee, we took the 22's to close the traps and maybe bag some squirrels. It had been raining steady for a few days and there was a tractor on the other side of 400 acres, but hoofin to it was the only way to get there. As we approached the farthest trap there appeared to be an Angus heifer in the trap. We approached to let her out and tie the trap doors open. When we got within 50 yards and could really see through the brush, it was a HOG. Not just any hog, I mean a HOG. We walked up to the trap made of 5 foot cattle panels and drill stem pipe looking at this beast like we found DB Cooper's money. Excited, but not sure what to do now. Instead of the hog running around crazy, slamming in to the paneled sides of the trap, it walked toward us. Climbed up with it's front legs and literally leaned on the top of that 5 foot panel like it was an open bar and stared at us. That hog only had one thought "We can do this easy, or we can do this REAL easy. " I always carry a USMC fighting knife on my belt, so I pulled it out and tried to hand it to lee telling him that he wanted one, there he is. After calling me every expletive only a soldier can think of, we looked at our anemic 22's and went back to the truck shaken. Thank GOD I usually carry a trash mauser under the seat of my old pickup, this one in 8x57. We went and got the rife, then walked to get the tractor and shredder (roto-sicle for those north of Austin) then back to the pen. one shot finished the hog, we bled it, then we couldn't move it. It was too big! Even if we could move it, we didn't know how to get it through the door. Some Airborne engineering sans duct-tape, we got it done. Loaded nose first in a 8 foot pickup bed, we could not close the tailgate. Took it home and hung it from the front end loader. I am 6 foot tall and with the hogs nose still on the ground, I could not reach up and touch the hind hoof of that hog. It bottomed out a 500 pound cotton scale before the shoulders were completely off the ground. I did a skull mount of that pig and my buddy put it on his desk at Ft. Campbell. It looked like the skull of a DRAGON. No kidding. My dad still has the picture of Lee and I shaking hands in front of that pig on his desktop. I will try to get a copy from him and post it.

[Changeling]

I Just hope the ones you plan to eat are sows! Thanks for the pictures, Awesome.

[Reverend Recoil]

Here is a hog hunt story with my Ruger No.1, 9.3x74R.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=101336

[myfriendis410]

I Just hope the ones you plan to eat are sows! Thanks for the pictures, Awesome.

That's just a myth. Boars taste just fine if handled correctly. In all our years of hunting, I've only handled one hog that was "off" and that was because it sat out all night on a warm night after getting arrowed. he looked like a Macy's Day float when we found him the next a.m. and the smell was, well, indescribable. Kind of like musty gym socks and an old bum combined. Nasty.

A lot of the off taste comes from the butcher's practice of bandsawing the carcass when he's processing the meat. That introduces bone marrow into the cuts and I think has an adverse affect on the meat. We bone it out ourselves and are very careful to maintain cleanliness of both our knives and our work area. Everything is then packaged in vacuum bags and immediately frozen.

[Changeling]

That's just a myth. Boars taste just fine if handled correctly. In all our years of hunting, I've only handled one hog that was "off" and that was because it sat out all night on a warm night after getting arrowed. he looked like a Macy's Day float when we found him the next a.m. and the smell was, well, indescribable. Kind of like musty gym socks and an old bum combined. Nasty.

A lot of the off taste comes from the butcher's practice of band-sawing the carcass when he's processing the meat. That introduces bone marrow into the cuts and I think has an adverse affect on the meat. We bone it out ourselves and are very careful to maintain cleanliness of both our knives and our work area. Everything is then packaged in vacuum bags and immediately frozen.

I was raised on a farm and we butchered and cured a lot of hogs each year that we personally raised in pens and feed lots, known today as "Organically grown" pork! A feed lot is a large pasture (Lots of Shade and natural water access for the hogs) that are fed spartenally (they cant stand heat), makes them "Lean"!
Prior to butchering, for regular hogs, we poured the corn/water to them and they fattened up "QUICK"

Now, for the statement about "Boars are a myth" I personally castrated one Hell of a lot of young pigs usually about 20 lbs are so!!! It is necessary so the meat doesn't take on the "Testosterone" taste/smell if not done!
People talking about killing large male hogs and the meat is "Great" should walk softly on a hunting forum with people who have "Ben There Seen IT and Done It"

Now what I have said above relates to tame hogs (actually no such thing)! You can believe who you want!

HOGS, are one of the most dangerous animals on earth. Think about it!

[Fenring]

I go away hunting in outback New South Wales and Queensland (Australia) a couple of times a year. We hunt on large sheep and wheat stations of some 250,000 acres. These sorts of places are low density farming as far as stock goes - essentially uncleared scrub. A lot of hunting is done on dirt bikes so you can cover enough ground - you often find them in the grass or under bushes or out trotting around in mobs. I've also hunting with dogs and sticking knives. The dogs find and hold and you stick the pig. :redneck:

Boar shot with .270 Remington 7600

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/goodooga2007/Picture023.jpg

Sow and Ruger 96/44

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/goodooga2007/Picture020.jpg

Boar and Ruger 96/44

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Goodooga%202008/Picture018.jpg

Couple of little ones and Marlin 1894 .44

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Goodooga%202008/Picture023.jpg

Ruger 96/44 again

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Goodooga%202008/P1030569.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Goodooga%202008/Picture021.jpg

[Fenring]

96/44 again

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Ridge%202008/Picture074.jpg

Small sow taken with Savage HMR and 20gr XTP

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Ridge%202008/Picture053.jpg

Some recovered pills - 265gr Hornady SP, 240gr Winchester JHP and bit of 00 buck found in a pig's ass. (not from us, were were using rifles)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Ridge%202008/Picture.jpg

[Fenring]

A few mangy curs - the hairy dog was my old staghound Bullet.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Goodooga%202009/Picture047.jpg

Pig they caught

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Goodooga%202009/Picture040.jpg

Boar shot with Marlin 336 .30/30

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Goodooga%202009/Picture027.jpg

96/44

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Ridge%202009/Picture024.jpg

Boar and Marlin 1894 .44

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Ridge%202009/Picture002.jpg

240gr Winchester factory loaded JHP that did the deed

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Ridge%202009/Picture018.jpg

Pig country!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Ridge%202009/Picture017.jpg

96/44 again, shooting 240gr XTP's loaded to 1800fps

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Ridge%202009/Picture043.jpg

Couple of little sows and 6.5 Swede shooting 120gr Sierra SP's at 2850fps

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Ridge%202009/Picture037.jpg

Open wheat paddock

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Ridge%202009/Picture026.jpg

[Fenring]

Boar and 96/44. Load was a 315gr Lee flat point cast at 1500fps

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Goodooga%202010/Picture032.jpg

Boar taken with 96/44 and Lyman Devastator loaded to 1650fps

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Goodooga%202010/Picture013.jpg

Three recovered Devastators (missing the hollow cavity which had peeled right back) and Lee 315gr mushroomed like crazy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Goodooga%202010/P1050767.jpg

Pair of little sows and 96/44's

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Goodooga%202010/Picture033.jpg

[Fenring]

Babbies :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Ridge%202010/Picture047.jpg

Wheels :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Ridge%202010/Picture048.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Ridge%202010/Picture005.jpg

Couple taken off a sheep carcass with the .17HMR - I was after foxes..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Ridge%202010/Picture066.jpg

Hope you like the pics.

[kbstenberg]

Fenring
Your pictures are very interesting. It looks like your 96-44 gets a good workout.

[hicard]

Fenring

Really appreciated the photos. Especially of the recovered bullets.

[Fenring]

Thanks guys. Yes, most shots in these conditions are close and fast so the little leverguns are ideal. .30/30's and .44's etc.

[MT Gianni]

Fenring, What size is that DR Suzuki and how are you holding the rifle on it? Thanks for the pics, I ride a DR 650.

[Fenring]

It's a little 200 mate. They are set up as an agricultural bike - racks front and rear, kick and electric start, bash plate, clutch lock etc. Very durable little bike and the low seating position is good for shooting from the saddle.

[missionary5155]

Good morning & my thanks also for the photos & time to put it all here. My deserts here are packed with lizards.. some may be 6" long... but few other critters & those are protected as they were just about extinct... about all that is left are wild burros.
Mike in Peru

[Shiloh]

Outstanding pics Fenring!!

Shiloh

[trickyasafox]

great pics! I'm surprised no one uses Rokons in the bunch. My GF is from NSW.

[myfriendis410]

If you had experience fair chase hunting hogs from where I'm from you'd know differently. I personally have killed I don't even KNOW how many dozens of WILD hogs and helped others kill the same or been involved after the fact. I've killed ONE sow in the last four years and I eat everything I shoot: if there's no room in the freezer I don't kill one. If handled properly, a boar is pork. Period. If mishandled it won't be worth eating. Period. I've had exactly ONE exception to that and it may have been due to it laying out all night. You can go on any of a dozen other forums that talk about hog hunting and they will ALL tell you that you are full of it.

I've heard the "myth" that only a lactating sow was worth eating and THAT is a load of ****. Get your facts straight, dude, before you attack someone.

[RugerFan]

Boars taste just fine if handled correctly....

That has been my experience as well. I've only shot one boar that tasted funny. Ended up making smoked polish sausage and summer sausage out of him and then it was fine.

[x101airborne]

I mirror those observations that its all pork. It is only my preference that if the boars stink like they have been rutting and breeding, I PREFER not to handle the carcases. I have eaten a few "rank" ones and they eat just fine. I just cant get the smell off of ME!! Also, If I kill a wet sow, I prefer not to butcher her because of the enzymes contained in the colostrum. Not that there is anything really wrong with it, I just prefer not to. I have even eaten several in the 350 - 500 pounds and it is all good.

I do feel that what region that they are killed in makes more difference than anything. Ever eaten a deer that has been browsing on creasote or greasebrush? Break a dog of sucking eggs, I can tell ya.

[JSimpson65]

Here is one of my most memorable. I've probably killed between 30 and 50 over the years. This one was taken with an Uberti 1885 caliber 45-70. Hog nearly did a somersault at the impact and piled up in some brush after about 5 yards. Not only my most memorable hog, but one of my favorite hunts of any type.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=324&pictureid=2242

[Fenring]

There are a LOT of pigs around in typical pig country at the moment over here - recent floods have caused a lot of growth = food and cover. One place I hunt on is, like many places, getting a chopper in to do some aerial culling. I expect to go through a lot of boolits very soon... :D

[x101airborne]

Another of my favorite hunts was when a buddy of mine from the Sheriff's Office and I got off of Hurricane Duty (24 hours a day at the office for 3 days) and we needed a break. We got a case of beer for after the hunt, grabbed the lights, and left for the ranch. The lights were not fully charged and soon began to wane. We crossed the creek on the last patrol and I immediately was knocked on my face by a bulldozer. Never even saw the sow coming. My buddy was in such shock, he did not shoot then he was laughing so hard he would not help me up. We gave up on the hunt and just drank beer. I think we needed the beer more than the hog. Although BBQ would have gone great with a case of beer. I was not hurt, just had a hard time explaining how a combat trained police officer got knocked on his face by the enemy and never fired a shot.

[41mag]

Most of our hog hunting is on a friends place which runs along about two miles of river. It has everything hogs need to survive and not have to come out into what could be described as open country. Most of the time we get in the thick stuff with them and stalk up and go to town on them. This has been a very fun way to hunt them for quite a few years.

This said however there HAVE been a couple along the way which have made things a bit hairy for us. On one such hunt I managed to get this one right before he got me, literally.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f285/41nag/58268622ClRNWP_ph.jpg

Prior to this particular evening which just happened to be New Years eve, we had seen a VERY nice buck working some does in an adjacent pasture that these woods border. The woods are somewhat of a strip which surrounds the pasture and makes a great area for them to cruise through and hold up in between feeding and such. The deer here move quite a bit from one end of the property to the other and cover a LOT of ground in doing so.

The pan was for my friend and his wife to set up on the far end of the strip, and I was going to do a grid stalk starting on the opposite end and covering the most of the area in between in hopes of pushing the buck towards them, or possibly getting a shot at him myself.

When stalking like this I usually carry my Ruger Redhawk in 41mag, but this particular evening I for what ever reason had decided to carry my TC chambered in 7x30 Waters, and loaded with a very potent 140gr Nosler BT load. I also had along my 25-06 in case I neded to thread the needle to get the shot on the buck. This particular strip is thick but you can reach out a ways if you have the load and skill to thread the needle, as an example, this picture is taken about 100yds from where the following happened, there are two 4 wheelers and a trailer on the road straight back through the trees about 100yds can ya see them.....
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f285/41nag/P4010004.jpg

So now you have an idea of what I was stalking through. I had parked my ride and headed into the woods. As I slowly made my way through, I could see movement of deer slowly making their way quietly away from me. They knew I was there but with the thick cover they don't get overly excited and just run, they will move slowly away trying to go undetected as they slip away.

I started my usual pattern of zig zagging and keeping the wind just such that if the buck was in there he might wind me and start heading away and towards my friends. I had made it several hundred yards from my 4 wheeler when I heard the unmistakable sounds of a bunch of hogs getting up for their evening feed. If you have never heard it, it will sometimes raise the hair on your neck with the low guttural grunting and squealing that goes on. I knew by the sounds that there was at least one very big hog in the bunch and figured it would make for a nice topping on the freezer for the season.

I eased along keeping a lookout for signs of them when I spotted movement in the brush some 50 or so yards away. I quickly found a vantage point that would allow a shot with the TC, and stood the rifle up next to a tree close by, and took up a position sitting on my rear with the TC rested across both knees. I only had to wait a few minutes for the huge hog to step into an opening which would allow my shot, and as it did I settled the cross hair right on the shoulder and let one loose. At the shot the TC recoiled and in the now almost darkness th muzzle flash somewhat obscured the fact that the hog didn't drop. In fact as I recovered from the recoil, I could clearly see it coming right at me at full speed covering the 40 or so yards almost in the blink of an eye. I had enough time to open the action, throw down the TC and crawl backwards to my rifle as this huge hog is barreling down on me, intent on sharing whatever pain I had just inflicted on him.

Just as I reached my rifle, the hog was there, I only had time to put up my right foot to brace for impact, and point the rifle at him and fire. The range from muzzle to hog was in inches, and at the shot the spatter covered my right boot and pant leg, as I rolled out of his way. I was immediately up on my feet as he went by and stopped to turn and come back some 10 or so yards away. I braced the rifle against a tree and was going to send another round as he staggered sideways and fell over.

To describe the feeling I had come over me at the time is something I really could not put into words. The closest thing I can relate it to, is if you have ever gone under an overpass, you have signals on both sides, yours turn green and you proceed across the feeder and under the overpass, then the other signal usually turns and you proceed on. Well if you have ever done this and an 18 wheeler decided to run his light, and comes blasting through air horn blazing and almost wipes you off the planet, you know about how I felt.

So I am in the dark and half mile or so from my 4 wheeler adrenalin pumping so much I can hardly stand, and a huge hog on the ground. Well I manage to get enough snap to get back to my ride, meanwhile my bud is now waiting impatiently at the barn wondering what is going on. Well after getting there and explaining to him why I can't think straight and I am so pale, we ride over to get a few pics. To be honest I was so shook up I only knew where I came out of the woods to walk to my ride, and thats where we headed in. It was about 75yds in when my bud hollered "is that a cow down"? Well it wasn't a cow, it was the hog, but he was close to the size of some of their heifers.

Now in the above picture, I have the 14" barreled TC sitting on the back of the boars head. To put it into perspective on how big he actually is, compare the TC lenght to the length of his head from ears forward. I am 6' tall and at the time was around 210#.

We weren't able to drag him, and as you can see how thick it is in the other pic, we couldn't get in there to him with the 4 wheelers. I would have loved to have weighed him but based upon several others we have weighed he went in excess of 400# easily. It would not have been a good thing IF he had gotten me where I was at.

Well that's my first memorable hog hunt, hope you enjoyed it. The next one has to be the greatest for me though....

[chaos]

We kill a few around Abilene Texas. I disagree about the big boars, they STINK to High heaven. I leave 'em for coyote bait. Fair Chasing hogs ?!?!?, if ya'll had half the pigs we did, you'd put a bullet into them any which way possible.

A couple with the 45-70:

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s132/colbcheese/piglet.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s132/colbcheese/hog1.jpg

44 mag, 44-250-swc, straight wheel weights:
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s132/colbcheese/hogs2.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s132/colbcheese/sow.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s132/colbcheese/hoghead.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s132/colbcheese/LandinHogs2.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s132/colbcheese/makarov.jpg


45 acp:
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s132/colbcheese/piggy1.jpg

[chaos]

My kids prefer the 30-30 with 150gr Power points:
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s132/colbcheese/chaseshog.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s132/colbcheese/chasey.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s132/colbcheese/ChasesHogIV-1.jpg


This one was smokin a cigar
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s132/colbcheese/casesHogII.jpg

This is a typical photo from one of out feeding stations:

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s132/colbcheese/CDY_01021.jpg





I have about a million more photos that are not uploladed. They are like mice here and you cant take them out faster than they breed.

[pls1911]

It's an older entry on this site, but do a seach for "Short story... sixty seconds"

Sixty seconds, six shots, six pigs.
1949 or '47 Marlin, cast bullets in a pocketfull of home rolled ammo.
You should have been there....
What fun.
What terrific evidence of cast bullet performance!!!

[41mag]

It's an older entry on this site, but do a seach for "Short story... sixty seconds"

Sixty seconds, six shots, six pigs.
1949 or '47 Marlin, cast bullets in a pocketfull of home rolled ammo.
You should have been there....
What fun.
What terrific evidence of cast bullet performance!!!

I slipped up on some that were sunning one cold windy afternoon. The first one raised it's head up just in time to receive a 265gr Cast Performance RNFP from my Raging Bull, just below it's eye and out it's offside ham, at about 30', then the second came up and likewise, but from ham to head, then the third came around the end of the small hill for a broadside. The fourth hung tight, until I walked up on the first then it decided it had better get out of dodge, but waited just a tad too long and got one down through the shoulders from top to bottom. The fifth one got it through the side of the head as it tried to sneak out through the tall grass, and the 6'th, well thats when I found out I was out of shells as it came running by within about 15 feet of me and all I could do was holler at it. LOL Danged 5 shot revolver. LOL

[1kshooter]

:Fire:very cool pic's folks....I wish that we were infested with them...or I have to grab my 1894 44mag and 1895 45-70 and move to Texas

[1kshooter]

Chaos I just got the 1894 and I have not even fired a shot out of it yet...I did buy a Ranch Dog .432-265 for it and see that you also used 265gr 44mag pills would you be willing to share some of your loads with me?
via pm would be fine as to not clutter this fine post!
Thanks Jonathan

[1kshooter]

I got to try the 1895 45-70 today with the new Ranch Dog 420gr pill with a Sage Outdoors aluma Check and I think I am ready for just about anything! .....I got to look into Texas hog hunting for a non res.
well for offhand with ghost ring sights at 50 yards what do you think? http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/bowboy/0719012148a.jpg
I am as pleased as punch!
Jonathan

[Armorer]

....I wish that we were infested with them...

I wish we WEREN'T! Can't shoot em fast enough. Actually being in the right place at the right time to shoot enough of them is the problem that I have. I put out a protein block at my deer feeder this past weekend and my gamecam picked up a hog eating the entire thing in less than 15 minutes. 25# of protein gone like that. They really are a scourge in Texas, and I wish a whole lot more folks would get out and hunt em.

Armorer

[1kshooter]

you know the old saying...you allways want' what you don't have not what you do!! lol
any idea if a non residant need special permits or lic. to hunt them? I would love to see Texas and also help out with the pigs if it is feasible!

[Armorer]

1kshooter, give this place a looksee. You just might find out more than you ever wanted to know about hunting hogs in Texas. http://www.texashoghunter.com/home.php
If not, then have a look here: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/licenses/

Happy hunting!
Armorer

[HollowPoint]

"Originally Posted by 1kshooter
....I wish that we were infested with them..."



I wish we WEREN'T! Can't shoot em fast enough. Actually being in the right place at the right time to shoot enough of them is the problem that I have. I put out a protein block at my deer feeder this past weekend and my gamecam picked up a hog eating the entire thing in less than 15 minutes. 25# of protein gone like that. They really are a scourge in Texas, and I wish a whole lot more folks would get out and hunt em.

Armorer


This comes across as a difficult to understand paradox of sorts.

On the one hand, those of us who would like the opportunity to hunt these animals and in a small way help to keep these hogs in check find it difficult because of financial constraints and the fact that we live to far away from the problem.

On the other hand, land owners who've been over run and are having to deal with the damage done by these hogs, hope to make up for some of their losses by charging folks to hunt hogs on their land.

As someone on the outside looking in, it appears like those on the inside looking out have created a "Catch-22" situation.

It seems like if they really wanted to get a handle on their hog problem they'd implement a hunt strategy similar to the way a state Game and Fish Department manages deer and elk herds.

If they are being overrun by hogs then, (in the short term) bringing in a sufficient number of hunters that are allowed to hunt for free, (with hunting safety and competence a priority) in order to cull the desired number of hogs would be logical.

After their hog numbers were brought in check, then they could have a sustainable herd/cash crop.

I'm sure I've over-simplified my point, and I'll be the first to admit I don't know the first thing about hog biology or hog hunting but, there has to be a better way than just complaining about one's hog problems or wishing you had the money to be able to hunt hogs.

As it is, it seems like these land owners with hog infestation problems have become "Co-dependent." The Hogs rely on the landowners to enable them to proliferate and the landowners rely on the hogs for cash flow. It's a No-Win situation; at least for the landowners.

The hogs on the other hand, continue to multiply.

HollowPoint

[DrB]

I think the problem with introducing hogs in the first place, or trying to manage them sustainably like deer in the long run is that their time-to-double is just way too short.

Doe's drop a pair of fawns a year, and around here, fawn in their second year. Sow's drop litters of more than half a dozen more than two times a year. Domestically a sow can produce something like 30 piglets a year. It isn't anything like that in the wild, but it's still going to be completely out of kind as compared to deer, bear, etc.

Just for the sake of illustration, assume no mortality (predation, aging, disease, etc), no resource limitation, and one year to reproductive maturity for sows, two years for does, sows 6 piglets/litter, does 2 fawns/fawning, 50/50 sex ratio, 2.5 litters year for sows.

Year1:year2:year3....year5
(old animals)+(new animals)

Deer:
2(1)+2:
4(1)+2:
6(2)+4:
10(3)+6:
16(5)+10=a 26 deer herd in 5 years


Pigs:
2(1)+6,8(1)+6,:
14(1)+6,20(4)+24,44(7)+42:
86(10)+60,146(22)+132,:
278(43)+258,536(73)+438,974(139)+834:
1808(268)+1608,3416(487)+2922= a 6338 herd of pigs in five years

That's 26 deer vs. 6338 hogs in five years! Now that's just illustrative as there's no mortality... And nature is more complicated than geometric progression.

However the point stands that a pair of hogs on a piece of land can root it up and completely change things in just a few short years.

Be careful what you wish for! :)

Best regards,
DrB

[1kshooter]

ok now I am bagging for them lol....
I would have to agree with the above statments...as an outsider looking in I would think that if I am the owner of a cash crop that is over run with hogs I would be more then happy to interview hunters res or not for the reduction or elimination of the promlem on my property!
.....it's just like ground hogs here...I shot over 1600 ground hogs in my best year...I do not pay for permission to hunt them ...and I don't charge them for my time gas,food ammo guns gear or ware and tear on gear trucks ...me! ....a simple hand shake and a thank you...both ways
works for me!...glad to help!

[Changeling]

That is some awesome shooting, I wish I was that good!

[1kshooter]

I thank you for your kind words Changeling!
I have for some reason fought the urg to own and shoot a lever gun and to cast my own and lol of course the iron sights thing ...glade I gave in it has been a reel fun ride!

[DrB]

ok now I am bagging for them lol....
I would have to agree with the above statments...as an outsider looking in I would think that if I am the owner of a cash crop that is over run with hogs I would be more then happy to interview hunters res or not for the reduction or elimination of the promlem on my property!
.....it's just like ground hogs here...I shot over 1600 ground hogs in my best year...I do not pay for permission to hunt them ...and I don't charge them for my time gas,food ammo guns gear or ware and tear on gear trucks ...me! ....a simple hand shake and a thank you...both ways
works for me!...glad to help!

Tribbles, man, they're ugly, smelly, ravenous tribbles!

(filled with tasty pork meat) :)

The biologists absolutely hate them. There's one on a wma I hunt that supposedly shot 160 in the off season last year... Just walking into greenfields.

And by the way, that is some nice shooting you posted above, 1kshooter.

Best regards,
DrB

[1kshooter]

Thanks DRB,
I hope I did not send the wrong message with my above post ....if I did and upset someone I am truly sorry for that!

I was just stressing the fact that I wish I hade the chance to fill my freezer with someones pest!....groundhogs are great shooting practice but thats were it ends for me as the farmers want them belly up to feed the coyotes ...they do less damage to there live stock then the g-hogs do to there crops I guess!
again I am sorry if I ruffelled any feathers!
Jonathan

[DrB]

Thanks DRB,
I hope I did not send the wrong message with my above post ....if I did and upset someone I am truly sorry for that!

I was just stressing the fact that I wish I hade the chance to fill my freezer with someones pest!....groundhogs are great shooting practice but thats were it ends for me as the farmers want them belly up to feed the coyotes ...they do less damage to there live stock then the g-hogs do to there crops I guess!
again I am sorry if I ruffelled any feathers!
Jonathan

No feathers to ruffle here! I understand the sentiment... I wish I had some good groundhog fields where I live. :)

The closest hog lands are about an hour and a half away...

I was just trying to make the point about the significance of the pig problem when they get established on gamelands. Everywhere around here its been done apparently by guys thinking "gee, wouldn't it be nice" who apparently didn't understand the long term consequences.

I completely agree that it would be nice if folks with the problem would invite others in to help exterminate them, but there are enough yahoos out there I guess that's perceived as a risky proposition... :?

I know you've seen my thread on hogs with a rimfire... I am frustrated by our game department allowing me to carry a big bore handgun but not use it for hogs (have to use a rimfire).

[1kshooter]

DrB,
I hear you re stupid rules .....we in Canada have to jump through hoops to even own a hand gun ...have to take and pay for another course and we have to belong to a registerd handgun club .....and we have to have a special permit to pick it up and take it home from where we buy it and another totake it to the club to shoot it .....see what I mean?
sucks that there is no chance for us to ever hunt with them
oh same goes for all AR's

[Gee_Wizz01]

Hollow Point;

One of the problems in Texas, is that there is very little little public land which makes it difficult for TPWD to manage hunts. In Texas feral hogs are not regulated in the sense of game animals, and can be shot on sight in most cases. In the past few months, hunting for pay from helicopters was legalized in the area of my Dad's ranch. In the past couple of years, farmers payed helicopter crews to kill hogs on their land. Last year the rancher down the road from my Dad, killed over 200 hogs in two weeks using a helicopter. This didn't put a dent in the population. Allowing people to hunt on your land has many problems and risks, and quite frankly a few people have ruined it for everyone. In the past, my aunt allowed dove hunting by the day on one piece of her property. She had a fenced area around a waterhole marked off with signs and all you had to do was drive up to the house and put $5.00 in the box on her porch. Time after time there would be there would be $5 or $10 in the box and 10 or 12 people hunting. She finally posted the property and nobody but family got to hunt. My Dad allowed hunting on our property for a couple of years and got fed up with the problems and quit allowing anyone other than family to hunt. For dove hunting Dad had a few simple rules; don't shoot the livestock; don't shoot toward the house, don't violate the daily limits, no alcohol, pick up your trash and empty shells and if you didn't pay don't shoot. After the second week of dove season the place looked like the local dump, 2 cows had been shot, one at very close range and both died. No one knew how it happened and nobody told us. Dad caught one guy with over 30 doves and the limit was 10. Gates were left open and fences were torn up, several hunter were drinking. Several times we caught people hunting who had not paid. After the second year Dad said no more. While I was on active duty Dad leased some of the land for deer hunting with similar results. We also have the hog problem and I have mentioned to Dad that it might be lucrative to allow hog hunting, but Dad said it just isn't worth the trouble. Some of the ranchers will still allow hog hunting, but they have to know you, or someone they trust must vouch for you. Again a few horses a$$es have ruined it for everyone. In addition to these problems, liability has also become an issue, ie... if a hunter gets hurt on your property you could get sued. I know it doesn't seem fair, but this is why it's difficult to find a place to hunt hogs.

G

[1kshooter]

Gee Wizz01,
I can whole heartedly appreshiate that!....tha is kind of what I was elluding to with the (interview) in my post above....I worked for two years to get on to a propperty for ground hogs and the follwing year ...from word of mouth I had about every farmer in the area contacting me for permission! ....I guess it goes both ways ...it only takes one bad apple to ruin the pie but if you eat an amazing apple pie you know from experiance how to spot another one ....most of the time lol!.....if I ever get down there I would like to hook up With a land owner that hunt as this would be the best case as I could learn his ways and he can learn me...and I also would have the opertunaty to make a new friend or two..and that is what this game is all about!
Jonathan

[myfriendis410]

I thought I'd share a different perspective. I'm in California where there is a huntable population of hogs. My primary hunting is on the Air Force base (Vandenberg). We have a fairly large number of hogs, but the conditions are quite different here. The land can't support the numbers of hogs Texas has and the brush is so thick the sows usually can't rear any piglets that can't hide behind her for all of the coyotes and bobcats and mountain lions. The range can suffer greatly when we have a poor rainy season (the yearly average here is less than what Phoenix gets). A lot of hunters come up here to take advantage of the hunting so that puts pressure on the local population. All of these factors contribute to a higher mortality than Texas experiences.

We who live close by share a "home field" advantage in that we can get out every night if we want to. My hunting partner and I have worked to encourage taking only dry sows and boars, and it has certainly helped the overall hog numbers. Usually we see hogs when we get out and that translates into the out-of-towners having more opportunities when they do come up. It's a great resource for the service men and retirees.

[HollowPoint]

Hollow Point;

One of the problems in Texas, is that there is very little little public land which makes it difficult for TPWD to manage hunts. In Texas feral hogs are not regulated in the sense of game animals, and can be shot on sight in most cases. In the past few months, hunting for pay from helicopters was legalized in the area of my Dad's ranch. In the past couple of years, farmers payed helicopter crews to kill hogs on their land. Last year the rancher down the road from my Dad, killed over 200 hogs in two weeks using a helicopter. This didn't put a dent in the population. Allowing people to hunt on your land has many problems and risks, and quite frankly a few people have ruined it for everyone. In the past, my aunt allowed dove hunting by the day on one piece of her property. She had a fenced area around a waterhole marked off with signs and all you had to do was drive up to the house and put $5.00 in the box on her porch. Time after time there would be there would be $5 or $10 in the box and 10 or 12 people hunting. She finally posted the property and nobody but family got to hunt. My Dad allowed hunting on our property for a couple of years and got fed up with the problems and quit allowing anyone other than family to hunt. For dove hunting Dad had a few simple rules; don't shoot the livestock; don't shoot toward the house, don't violate the daily limits, no alcohol, pick up your trash and empty shells and if you didn't pay don't shoot. After the second week of dove season the place looked like the local dump, 2 cows had been shot, one at very close range and both died. No one knew how it happened and nobody told us. Dad caught one guy with over 30 doves and the limit was 10. Gates were left open and fences were torn up, several hunter were drinking. Several times we caught people hunting who had not paid. After the second year Dad said no more. While I was on active duty Dad leased some of the land for deer hunting with similar results. We also have the hog problem and I have mentioned to Dad that it might be lucrative to allow hog hunting, but Dad said it just isn't worth the trouble. Some of the ranchers will still allow hog hunting, but they have to know you, or someone they trust must vouch for you. Again a few horses a$$es have ruined it for everyone. In addition to these problems, liability has also become an issue, ie... if a hunter gets hurt on your property you could get sued. I know it doesn't seem fair, but this is why it's difficult to find a place to hunt hogs.

G


I understand your point but, this is a classic "Catch-22" situation none the less.

If nothing is done the problem continues to grow and attempts to do something about it has the potential of creating problems of a different sort.

It sounds like perhaps the folks you've referred to may benefit from creating some legally-binding "Hoops" for prospective hunters to jump through.

If they made those "Hoops" sufficiently difficult to jump through it would tend to cull the slob-hunters from the mix and possibly initiate the first logical steps to getting these hogs under control.

"Hoops"??? In exchange for free hunting privileges.

(1) Legal contract with liability exemption clause

(2) Proof they've passed a hunter safety class

(3) Shooter proficiency testing

(4) And whatever else the land owner feels pertinent.

HollowPoint

[Arisaka99]

Thats a good idea HP!! Around here there are public lands, but they are somewhat of a drive away. I would like to be able to hunt on someone's land, but most of the people around here have posted their land. There is also a large number of hunt clubs, but they are pretty expensive, and I dont think they take teenagers.

[1kshooter]

Hollow point,
man I think you are bang on with that idea!
some that hunt can not afford the extra coin each year for paying for hunts ...when it becomes more expensive to buy meat in the store then hunt it my self something has gone wrong in a big way!

in Ontartio Canada it cost almost as much for a wild turkey tag as it does do go to the store and buy one cleaned and ready for the oven! .....not the best way for the Gov to try to get more money to pay for crop damage caused by turkeys do to over population.....how about make it cheapier and more liberal bag limits....hmmm that might get more people hunting them and reduce the population a bit!!!

[Changeling]

Hollow point,
man I think you are bang on with that idea!
some that hunt can not afford the extra coin each year for paying for hunts ...when it becomes more expensive to buy meat in the store then hunt it my self something has gone wrong in a big way!

in Ontartio Canada it cost almost as much for a wild turkey tag as it does do go to the store and buy one cleaned and ready for the oven! .....not the best way for the Gov to try to get more money to pay for crop damage caused by turkeys do to over population.....how about make it cheapier and more liberal bag limits....hmmm that might get more people hunting them and reduce the population a bit!!!

Man it's like that everywhere , I have gotten to the point that I don't care to much what the hell the local government regulations want! I might just as well shoot the the guys that don't give a dam about my livestock/steers as they do about a "bag of Fries from McDonald's", From what I hear they think it is for kicks and "FUNNY"! What in the Hell happened to kids, I would never have even dreamed of doing souch a horrible thing to my neighbors!!!!!!! Hell man that was three FOOD!

IF you know the answer please let me know, I'm fed totally up !!!

[1kshooter]

again DrB...great idea!

[DrB]

deleted.

[HollowPoint]

"Bond" or no "Bond," the point of these suggestions was to show that there are ways to deal with the apprehensions that land owners have toward allowing hunters on their property.

Not every hunter is a slob-hunter. There are ways that would allow prospective financially strapped hunters to gain access to hog hunting. It just takes a little creative common sense.

I'd like to repeat the confession I made back on my first reply of this thread; "I don't know the first thing about hog biology or hog hunting" or landownership for that matter so, it's real easy for me (and others) to sit here and offer up these type of fixes. (that may seem crazy to the land owner)

There could be a myriad of extenuating circumstances involved that keep this hog-dilemma from being addressed with any kind of proficiency.

From this simpletons point of view, if a land owner's concerned about littering then arrange for a prospective hunter to do some land clean up or maintenance in exchange for a hunt.

If there's concern about the lack of gun handling or marksmanship then proof of competence is in order.

If they're afraid of getting sued by an idiot-hunter that gets themselves hurt while on your land then a written contract in order.

OK; I'm starting to repeat myself now so I'll stop but, I hope my point comes across.

It seems like we humans have become so adept at deliberately complicating simplicity and obscuring the obvious in order to justify our procrastination that when we reap what we've sown it's hard for us to admit it.

HollowPoint

[Changeling]

Another example that really hurts me! I really like "Blue Gills", I have all my life, to me there is nothing better! I don't care about a mans largemouth bass, I have been through that stage and am not interested!

However not one pond owner in my area will let me fish there pond for bluegills even though they know it is beneficial to weed out the small ones! I have tried to explain to them to no avail!

What can I do???

[Gee_Wizz01]

HollowPoint;

While I agree in principle with your points about requirements for prospective hunters, it just doesn't work out that way in real life. When our cows got shot there were at least 3 hunters present both times. Every single one of them denied they did it. Dad took them to court and lost because no one witnessed the shooting. It was a huge hassle for Dad and became even more expensive with the lawyer and court. He solved the issue by posting the land. Many of our neighbors are scraping to get by. One or two dead cows is a month or two of income gone. These issues have been going on for over 40 years and it just gets worse for the farmer and ranchers. Two of our neighbors have gone to high fences and sell hunts for hogs, deer and exotic game. We used to trap hogs and they would buy them for $30 a head. They charge $250 to shoot them. Now the game wardens have stopped this by requiring the trapped hogs to be vaccinated for Rabies and several other diseases if we sell them and relocate them! The guys with the exotic game also have problems as road hunters shoot their animals and cut fences. We have had issues with PETA members and other wack's on several occasions. The only way the local farmers feel comfortable, is to have friends shoot the hogs, or provide "guided hunts". I know it seems unfair but land owners are just fed up with all the problems with stupid people and government. We had people in church that wanted meat, but didn't want "wild hog meat", I guess they just weren't hungry enough yet. Right now the farmers feel the best way to solve the hog problem is to go together and rent a helicopter and kill as many hogs as possible. For the time being I have convinced my Dad to prevent the helicopters from killing hogs on our property. There are several places that have hog hunts for reasonable prices, $100 to $300 per hog. They are guided hunts and are usually quite successful. I was home on leave the week before last, and I hunted for 5 days and never saw a single hog. Last night Dad saw 34. The best way to get invited, is through friends who will vouch for you.

G

[1kshooter]

Gee Wizz01,
I can understand your point load and clear ....and i would feel the same if I were in the same boat!.....I might be working in San Antonio (sp) this winter and I will me there for a month or so...and as I am volentering the work(convent) I will be low on funds when I am there ...see where this is going lol
that is why I was looking for a spot to heck just ride a long with some locals and learn from them and maybe get a chance to pull the trigger once or twice and get a small bit of meat that I could consume while on my visit...I think it would be hell trying to bring it across the border!!

[Gee_Wizz01]

Gee Wizz01,
I can understand your point load and clear ....and i would feel the same if I were in the same boat!.....I might be working in San Antonio (sp) this winter and I will me there for a month or so...and as I am volentering the work(convent) I will be low on funds when I am there ...see where this is going lol
that is why I was looking for a spot to heck just ride a long with some locals and learn from them and maybe get a chance to pull the trigger once or twice and get a small bit of meat that I could consume while on my visit...I think it would be hell trying to bring it across the border!!

San Antonio is the right place to be! You will be in an area that has more than their fair share of hogs. It might be easier than you think to get on a free hog hunt, especially if you are there for a month, especially if you are there in Jan or Feb, or later. Nov and Dec is deer season and land owners are not very receptive to hog hunting during deer season. Good Luck

G

[1kshooter]

Thanks man it is still a little up in the air right now as for time and dates but it is a real possibility..i leave next week for two weeks to N.J to another convent for the same purpose
and I will be getting the room and food ...and return gas money lol....the big guy pays much better just not in cash!

[Gee_Wizz01]

....the big guy pays much better just not in cash!

That's a fact!

G

[chaos]

Chaos I just got the 1894 and I have not even fired a shot out of it yet...I did buy a Ranch Dog .432-265 for it and see that you also used 265gr 44mag pills would you be willing to share some of your loads with me?
via pm would be fine as to not clutter this fine post!
Thanks Jonathan


I use two different RCBS moulds, one is 44-240-swc and the other is 44-250-KT. They both cast to 252, 253 gr with straight wheel weights.

I use middle of the road loads of 296 and javelina 50/50 lube for my loads. The kids use moderate loadings of Unique with the same pills and lube.

I never did get around to getting one of Ranch Dog's moulds. I hear they are some of the finest designs available.

My 1894 as well as my 4 rugers like slugs sized to .430 with excellent accuracy and Zero leading............ I think the ranch dog moulds cast fat slugs which most folks actually prefer. I've been repeatedly told by folks that I'm sizing my slugs too small. Seems to work for me.

Good luck with it,

Chaos

[1kshooter]

Thanks Chaos, i am having a blast with the RD mold .432-265gr and it cast .432-.433 and around 270-273gr with gas check and light lube with LLA I am going to have a look at the Javelina lube sonds good!
Jonathan

[tcrocker]

Well there I was deer hunting and the day has been quit nothing moving but a few tree rats. After about 3 hours of setting in my stand I spyed something moving in the brush, I thought deer no to short , dog no to big. Then it was clear it was two hogs looking at them they were brothers. I watched them move around for a few minutes seamed like hours before one of them gave me a shot. He came almost right under my tree stand. I got my Marlin 1895GS right on his shoulder and boom, I lounched a 464gr cast boolit moving at about 1850fps. And as I watched him I didn't even brother to reload and the son of a gun took off like a bat out of he!!. I was dumb founded:shock:. Then it dawned on me what I did, I'm a ground hunter and I placed the sights right on his shoulder and from that angel the shot was tooo low. I got down and looked for sign didn't see eny blood but located my gas check and could smell bloud but didn't see eny. I started walking the direction they cut out in and heard movment going up hill away from the swamp. I started to go in the direction I heard the movement then I thought "I know I hit that thing and all things hit go towards the water and mud if hit". So I went away from the the twigs cracking and headed towards the swamp bottom. I kicked it into stealth mode trying not to step on a twig. And right at the edge of the swamp I heard movment. I eased out of the thick stuff and there he was trying to get mud on his wound, I was about 45yds away from him so I took a minute to get my sight lined up and put another 464gr 45cal boolit right at the base of his ear. Needless to say he didn't run off from that.
http://http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss8/crockerthomas/P1010071.jpg

[1kshooter]

very nice...I am so jellous!

[tcrocker]

I wish I could have found this one.
http://http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss8/crockerthomas/PICT00011.jpg

[myfriendis410]

Here's a monster we got around the first of the year. Not with a cast bullet, but still.....336 lbs. live weight.

[Gee_Wizz01]

I wish I could have found this one.
http://http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss8/crockerthomas/PICT00011.jpg

That one looks like a small Buffalo!

G

[Gee_Wizz01]

Thanks Chaos, i am having a blast with the RD mold .432-265gr and it cast .432-.433 and around 270-273gr with gas check and light lube with LLA I am going to have a look at the Javelina lube sonds good!
Jonathan

1Kshooter
I am using the same boolit with 2 light coats of LLA and it is the most accurate boolit of any kind (including j-words) that I have shot in my Rossi Puma. The LLA works just fine and I don't have any leading at 1700 fps. I worked up a load with 2400, and shot so well that I haven't even tried H110 yet.

G

[tcrocker]

Let me make a correction I just weighted the boolits with lube and gas check and they are comming in at 475gr - 480gr.[smilie=s:

[shastaboat]

I'm hungry!

[tcrocker]

I thought I bought a deer feeder but they must have put the hog feeders next to the deer fedders and I picked up the wrong one.
http://http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss8/crockerthomas/021.jpg

[canyon-ghost]

Wow, I count more than a dozen hogs there! Happy Shooting now!

Ron

[Old Goat Keeper]

And you are complaining TCrocker??? LOL Some of us would kill (pun intended) to have hog hunting like that.

Tom

[kjg]

Last oct, during ga muzzleloader hunt, found myself in the middle of my favorite swamp, nothing moving, not even a breeze, I didn't even hear this monster hog come In , real unusual, anyway I leveled my 1861 Fayetteville right between the shoulders , touched it off sending a 467 grain rcbs n-ssa wad cutter backed by 75 grs of goex 3fg , right into his head , it knocked that monster right I to the mud, I didn't even bother to reload, looking to my left I saw two white flags and a snort and bark from two stinking does, heard a gasp grunt and groan in the direction of my pig, I literly saw that thing stand up, shake it's damn head blood brain matter fur and scull fragments, fly in all directions, I said oh my god, you your not leaving it not possible, I loaded as this thing was starting to turn left, I hped recapped and fired sending another right into the monsters left low side just behind it's left elbow, normally were the heart is , it smacked it to the ground, to my dismay it got up and started runnning, man there was more blood on the ground, than water , we got tracking dogs from the nieghbors place , you know we 8 of us tracked it for 8 hours , we never recovered it, but he was seen last week, side of head missing, same brownred coloring, this thing was massive, it's over 400 lbs easy, well it's a no ******** story, that same rifle has nailed 2 other pig 255,240 lbs. So I don't know what the deal was , quite possibly it wasn't it's time, and it's a true surviver.

[tcrocker]

No I decovered I love hog hunting. I'd just as soon hunt hogs over deer. Last deer season I was on a trail and heard a deer working his way down a trail then I heard some hogs grunting just down the creek a bit so I went after the hogs just couldn't get close to them. But fun all the same.:smile:

[HollowPoint]

Holy Cow! That's quite a heard of hogs.

It looks like if a guy was shooting a bullet with enough penetration he might be able to get two or three hogs with one shot.

When they're packed that tightly together a load of buckshot aimed at the heads of two or three together might accomplish the same thing.

Just dreaming out loud.

HollowPoint

[hicard]

I know for a fact that a 45-70 loaded with a 460 gr hammer head will penetrate and kill two large hogs with one shot. And you don't even have to aim for the heads.

[mstarling]

Most interested in the experience folks have had with cast boolits on piggies. Have used piggies as test for heavy rifles from 9,3x62, .375 H&H, .416 Rigby and several wild cats such as .376/.416 Steyr Improved and .458 AccRel. Several of those rifles are wonderfully accurate with cast boolits.

Also interested in any experience folks might have had with the .300 Whisper, 300/221, and 300 BLK on piggies.

Thanks!

[AussieHunter]

Gday Guy's Every where I look on here I find Fellow Aussie Hunters, Yep there is just some thing very satisfying about hunting Hogs with a big calibre Cast Lead bullet, I spent 16 years up in the tropics ( Darwin ) N.T. hunting Hogs, Donkeys and Buffs, and the Odd Dingo and Brumby for good measure, Used to Shoot 225Grain Cast Gas Checked RCBS Bullet from my old M-94 Winchester in .44-40 and pushed them hard( as in throw the case away after 3 shots as from 4 or more shots they would start to brake in half) Used IMR4227 and then latter AR2205 Powder as it became available ( we are talking early 1980's on wards) it was a deadly little light weight killer on hogs and large Donkeys, that pill would break both shoulders at 60m on a big Jack donkey, as with pigs it would leave the lead pill nicely mushroomed under the hide on the for side, Love that old 44-40Winchester round once its loaded up to its full potential(it has more powder space than the 44mag) In time I moved on to the Marlin 45-70 for hunting Buffs again with lead cast gas checked bullets again pushed hard 52Grains of IMR3031powder with Win Brass and a 405 Grain lead bullet for 1880FPS, same load with Winchester 405 Grain Jacketed bullet gave about 1775FPS both were great Buff killing pills, again on shoulder shots with the pills under the hide on the far side of the body, one of the retrieved 405Gr Winchester pills at its widest point measured 0.900" not bad for some thing that started out at .457", In time I found that the 300Grain Gas Checked RCBS Pill pushed between 1900 and 2000FPS was more than enough pill for any Buff, hog or donkey and was much nicer to shoot that the 400 and 482Gr grain pills that I had started with years earlier, the 300Gr RCBS became my standard pill for all of my 45-70 hunting after that right up till I left the N.T. 1998, Many of the Best years of my life were spent hunting in the Top End. As for that old 44-40WCF I made it into a 45Long colt( had the barrel re-bored to .452"Dia: with a 1-14" twist ) had ta do a few mods ta make the old gal work but its better now than it ever was, Again the 45LC Loaded up hard with a cast lead pill is a great killer as well, if not better than before? 20years latter and Iv still NOT broken 45LC case in half, Hell knows Iv tried to this old case in a Rifle can get a 200Grain bullet fairly craken across the flat on its way to hog town or goats town as it now is, As Im living down south now in S.Aust: its just goats and more goats so these days the old lead chuckers don't see much use and it's back to more modern stuff ( well there's a short 25year history of my life with levers and Lead) cheers all. from AussieHunter PS: Please note That if you are shooting any Marlin Lever gun They ALL have Over size Bores My 45-70 had a .461" Dia Bore it gave me no end of leading until I started using Gas Checks and then moved up to shooting a bullet 1 or 2 thou: Over size then it worked well, Marlin Micro Groove Rifling is VERY Good with Lead Gas Checked Bullets AS LONG AS THEY ARE THAT .001 or .002 Thou over size. The Marlin 30-30 bore will slug out at .311 or .312 ( yep thats a 303 cal bore) and again if you slug your bore and shoot a cast bullet thats 1 or 2 thou: over size your problems are just about Nil. my .44 and 45 cal lead mix in the old days was just straight wheel weights, 10LBS of W-Weights to 1 bar of 50-50 plumbers solder and use [ Good Alox based Bullet Lube that mix killed many Hogs, donkeys and Buffs all with good results.

[AussieHunter]

Years ago Up in Darwin ( Northern Australia) I borrowed a .375H&H Parker Hale Rifle from My Local Gun shop to prove a point to them, in regards to how good a cast lead bullet will kill, I used 10lbs of wheel weights and some linotype printers lead and a stick on bar solder I cast up some 270Gr pills from a Double Cavity RCBS Mould WITH Gas Checks fitted, Because of the calibre I made them fairly hard but NOT Brittle, and proceeded to develop load data using the then(308 military powder) AR2206 Powder( similar to IMR3031 in Burning rate) I don't recall the charge weight now but I was looking for 2500FPS and ended up with 2550FPS it shot well with little to no leading the pills mushroomed well and did their job just fine, I had set out to prove that you didn't need full house 270Gr silver tip or 300gr FMJ Winchester factory loads to kill a Asiatic Water Buffalo ( they are much softer/easier to kill than African Cape Buffalo) But that said you still don't want to hurt a Water Buff and not take due care as they can develop a very dark attitude towards you if you don't place you shot well, Iv had 2 over the the years that I can remember that were determined to have a piece of me, or more correctly my mate that I as backing up, their approach due to injury was slow but very determined with ill intent on their minds waving a good set of horns around in the process just to make the point very clear as to what they had in mind for us, in this mode they have their nose down and head/horns forward (In Charge Mode) this gives you a flat surface to shoot at and the brain is right up high between the horns under what is in effect two layers of bone knitted together it has been known to stop small high speed calibres, also if this animal is some distance off and is just standing there looking down its nose at you so to speak, the angle and toughness of their skull has been known to deflect heavy calibre rounds even 458Win Mag, but it does leave them with a sudden attitude change, Any way about the 2 that came looking for us One was put down at about 20 feet from us, the other I brain shot with a Speer Brand 400gr 45-70 bullet traveling at 1780FPS from 10 feet away, The bullet passed through the left side of the brain and stopped under the hide beneath the bottom of the jaw, the bullet pulled up in like about 12 inches but thats a lot of bone and mussel to deal with and the Speer bullet was a very Soft design, great on Hogs But not much good on big heavy buff's. But Hey Dead is Dead at the end of the day and it was the buff not me or the guy that I was backing up.{:>) Cheers From the AussieHunter

[LIMPINGJ]

Got home yesterday from a couple day trip for work and found that most of what used to be the yard looks like it was roto tilled. This dry weather has them coming out of their usual haunts looking for food and water anywhere.

[Twinkiethekid]

Nice pigs, I still have to harvest my first one. they are spreading out here in California!

[Topper]

45-70 Marlin, Ranch Dog 360gr cast.
Shoot him on the run, broke his little neck ;-)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/Topper_1950/PB140025.jpg

[badbob454]

great pics guys keep em coming ...

[Whitworth]

Here are a few of mine.

Shot this sow in North Carolina last year around this time right around midnight. Was using my Ruger Bisley Hunter in .44 Mag, stoked with 320 grain WFNs. Shot was offhand at right around 50-yards (double lung). I was using an Elusive Wildlife XLR 250 green light mounted to my barrel. She went just over 225-lbs.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/MarkoR/P1010475.jpg

This 200-lb sow was also shot in North Carolina a few years ago -- again, at night, but with my custom SRH in .475 Linebaugh. Was using 44man's 420 grain bullet. Shot was about 40-yards.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/MarkoR/DSC04047.jpg

This little meat hog was shot in Florida with my .475 SRH. Same loads as above.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/MarkoR/CONVAR447.jpg

This Florida boar also fell to my .475 SRH -- same load -- from an 80-yard shot:

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/MarkoR/myhog.jpg

This Florida boar died from lead poisoning administered by my SRH in .454 Casull. The load was a 400 grain WFN at 1,400 fps. Shot was about 35 yards offhand.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/MarkoR/DSC02403.jpg

[Whitworth]

45-70 Marlin, Ranch Dog 360gr cast.
Shoot him on the run, broke his little neck ;-)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/Topper_1950/PB140025.jpg

That's a really good hog, Topper!

[Te Hopo]

A brand new bolt action .22WMR and some nice country not far from home.

I was stalking though a swampy area with plenty of feed, pig sign and sound.
Just ahead I saw a pigs backside as it was rooting up some fresh ground and stalking to within 30yds I was able to see it's head, I found a steady rest against a tree and shot it in the neck breaking the spine and the cutting up the throat.

Was a very tasty wee sow:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/162870_10150117157485289_717725288_7819540_4399343 _n.jpg

[Te Hopo]

And then just this past Saturday we hunted some new territory with the dogs, grey hound cross with bull terrier:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/s720x720/552796_10150799788445289_717725288_11920005_249974 139_n.jpg

Been awhile since I caught a hog but I still managed to perfectly stick this boar in the heart with my knife while the dogs held the ears:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/s720x720/580791_2995827655988_1271125736_32174557_776635623 _n.jpg

Got some currently roasting with veges and apple sauce cooking ready for my dinner. :D

[jp1]

Sir, I have never seen so many hogs, or such big ones. Thank you for the pictures

[Norbrat]

Here's a real big one.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/109144fa1b76c16397.jpg

No, that's not me in the pic.

This monster was supposedly shot in Western Australia.

The biggest one I've shot was maybe 100 kgs in the the top end of New South Wales.

It is amazing how many pigs are in the outback of Australia, even more so that you can find them in fairly dry areas well away from major waterways.

[1kshooter]

fantastic pictures folks thanks so much for sharing with us all!
Jonathan

[TXGunNut]

Not my biggest or best but very memorable. Guide watched this boar from the other side of the canyon previous night. We (guide, brother and I) set up on a bluff next night overlooking the little draw to see if he'd show again. Watched him work his way thru some very thick brush for about 20 minutes. Boar was spooky but seemed to be in a romantic mood and was waiting on a sow. Guide finally told me I needed to shoot...last minutes of the hunt, literally. I quietly picked up my rifle and deliberately dropped him in his tracks with a 45-70 spine shot from about 40 yds. Never seen a hog drop that fast but tracking him in that brush even for a few yards would have been tough.
Teeth are nice enough too, always wanted a Euro mount.:D
Sorry, butcher rack photos wouldn't upload.

[1kshooter]

did you do that mount your self? looks great!

[HiVelocity]

"Well, now I know where my ex-mother in law's dentures wound up!" Lol!

HV

PS- Nice hog. I think more folks should consider hogs as a prized mount. Some are quite colorful and mount-worthy. Just my $.02 worth.

[TXGunNut]

did you do that mount your self? looks great!

No, Wade's Taxidermy did it for me.
Another taxidermist did this shoulder mount for me, stole the skull and put plastic teeth in this one. He shall remain nameless. Nice enough mount, kinda hard on houseguests but a good litmus test. Still can't get the other one to load.

[Whitworth]

Most taxidermists use plastic teeth nowadays as they don't crack.

[GH1]

This one a friend of mine shot in the end of February. I loaned him my .45-70 Handi loaded with a 405 gr FP from Missouri Cast on top of 30 gr AA5744.
We were standing about 20 feet off an ATV trail when the pig ran by. He ran out to the trail, dropped to one knee and nailed her at about 30 yards while she was on a full run. Didn't go far, maybe another 20 yards or so.
She ended up going an even 200 lbs.






http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/176094fab91dbd3a04.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=5127)

[1kshooter]

nice mount TX!

[Tatume]

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh7/Moscheutos/P1.jpg

[fishnbob]

Tatume, great picture. Where did you bag that nice one? What caliber is that fine lookin' rifle? Looks like a Ruger Mannlicher, impressive.

[Tatume]

Hi Bob,

The Ruger No. 1 RSI is chambered in 270 Winchester, and has an old Leupold fixed 4x scope. The hog was taken about five miles back in a swamp in South Carolina. It ran about 30 yards and piled up, but had crossed a ditch in the process. I trundled back to my truck, drove out of the swamp, and came back with a fellow who dragged the pig over the ditch for me. He also took the photo.

Take care, Tom

[x101airborne]

Great story and pic.
I havent killed a hog in so long, I cant remember. Home remodeling and all...
I did see some at the ranch last nite, but after fixing fence all day and leaving late I just went on by.
I think that was the first time I have EVER passed a shot on a hog. But they were small, anyway.

[Whitworth]

Nice work, Tom! Congratulations!

[Longwood]

Nice going Tatum.
Nice rifle also.
I love long, wood stocks, (hence the nickname), and have had the privilege of owning a few.

[lcclower]

Chaos, did that little spotted one make a pile of little cocktail smokies?

[Hamish]

Well done old squash, uhm, I mean bean! @(;^]#>:::

[TXGunNut]

Nice hog, Tom. Lots of Russian traits. Can't say I've ever seen a No 1 with a Mannlicher stock but it looks good to me. Cool chair, too, but only a bike mechanic would say that.

[Fishman]

Here is my son with two small pigs he shot yesterday out of a group of nine. He got an invite from a family friend to come and have a go so we went. These both fell from a single .243 wssm round (not cast) and he emptied the magazine before the rest of the group made it to the woods (maybe 5 seconds?). I was rather proud. The single six in .32 mag was backup and was what he carried to check out the results. This is high adventure for a 10 year old, for sure. His first two pigs, a little boar and sow.

[Whitworth]

The last two I killed a couple of months ago. The first with my .500 Maximum and the second with my .45 Colt Bisley.


http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/MarkoR/P1020631.jpg


http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/MarkoR/P1020688.jpg

[GLynn41]

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp337/GLynn41/th_IMG_1160.jpg (http://s425.photobucket.com/albums/pp337/GLynn41/?action=view&current=IMG_1160.jpg)


http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp337/GLynn41/th_IMG_1167.jpg (http://s425.photobucket.com/albums/pp337/GLynn41/?action=view&current=IMG_1167.jpg)

My hog but that is who dressed it not me-280# 255gr .41 cal in a 5.5"41 GNR- mv was 1330
first shot was up the mount at the boar-I hit the mount and knocked a fist size hole in the edge so I thought --hoped I had missed-- I did not-- so I track trailed him until I could see blood on the ground and then found him-- I shot behind the right shoulder high and he went down at about 40 steps --next shot to the back of the ribs making a 1"+ hole and he let our a bellow--death bellow? anyway he was still clacking his jaw so i shot him in the spine for every once in a while he still clacked his jaws-- but was quiet when we got down no bullets were foun as all wnet thorugh --shot one was at about 45 steps and above me- 2 was at about 40 steps and above me - last was with the barrell on the spine all wounds in the hide were about 1" as the bullet has a .331 meplat-- once I learned how to cook him he was very good-- it is about time to go again -- but I intend to aim better especially up HILL but it was fun

[x101airborne]

THAT is a nother nice rooter. Congrats and thanks for sharing.