Upcoming hog hunt

[35 Whelen]

I live in a sea of hogs and about a year ago they invaded my back feeder; my cell camera was sending photos all hours of the night. At first I tried an AR with a flashlight, no go. Next I tried a shotgun with buckshot, perfect. The first was an average size boar at under 20 yds. hit broadside with a 2 3/4" factory load of 000 buck. It rolled him over like a sack of potatoes and he never took a step. Next was a slightly smaller boar hit with a 16 ga. with handloaded #1 buck. He ran a little ways but was likewise dead. Last was a small-ish boar hit head-on with a factory load of 9 ea. 00 buck at around 50', he never took a step.

35W

[Hickok]

I have only taken 4 hogs in my lifetime, so I am no expert.

Just be cautious,...they can go down at the shot, then they are back up!....Like they are dead, but don't know it yet!

[lar45]

If I can, I like to go for the base of the ear on a side shot. = NO tracking!
Looking forward to photos of your adventure.

[lightload]

Stay with buckshot since the ball shoots high. This way you can relax and not fret about correcting aim if you did fire the ball load. Ask the guides if they know how to remove the back strap which is choice meat. Some take this and leave the rest.

[RMc]

Yesterday I put the deposit down with the guide service for a hog hunt with dogs. I double checked and they allow buckshot, so I’ll have my ten pellet home cast single 0 load in the chamber. It patterns well at forty yards and they said the shots are usually twenty.

I had planned on having a couple of tri-ball loads in the front of the magazine after reading about a tough old boar shaking off a charge of #1 buckshot. Problem is they impact at least a foot high at forty yards. I might just use my single 0.600” ball load instead?

Heavy load/“light gun” phenomenon. It’s the reason I sold my Super 16 45/70 Contender barrel.

That is highly unusual for Tri-Ball buckshot loads.

[Barry54]

That is highly unusual for Tri-Ball buckshot loads.

Unless the third went through the same hole as the other two, I’m assuming it went over the top of the 42x48” brown paper at 40 yards. My #0 buckshot load was well centered. I was shooting sitting with the back of my hand on a rest, holding the fore-end.

The black dot on the far bottom left was a fly that insisted on being photographed.

[cherokeetracker]

You are good enough to go. Listen to Hickok and know that they can fool you into thinking they are down for the count but yet they are not. The neck shot or the right behind the ear (virtually the same ) is best,,, never even consider the shoulder shot unless the Hog is facing directly towards you and then put the shot right between the shoulders NEVER THE HEAD ! Shotguns are great but if you ever start using a pistol it gets tough to use anything else. With one exception. That is when a large sounder is in a wheat field, and you got to take them with Thermal and AR at night. Nothing is more fun than running shots. If one runs with you take the shot. Get past the nose and slap that trigger.
Good Luck and let us know results

[gwpercle]

In Louisiana when hog hunting with dogs ...
the action gets Hot, Humid , Fast and Furious ...
dogs and hogs going everywhere !

Be sure you are fit enough to climb a tree ...hogs can't climb very high ...
Keep a tree near you when the dogs corner a hog and he takes a stand ...
And whatever you do ... Don't Shoot A Dog !

Good Luck ... it will be a hunt you will never forget !
Hogs and Dogs ... going to be fun ,
Gary

[Barry54]

[lar45]

Looks like very thick brush to go through.
Just hope that there aren't any blackberry patches...
Some of the areas that I hunt in Southern Arkansas look alot like that.
That's why I prefer the behind the ear shot with a rifle.

[Barry54]

The (mostly) white dog is facing a black pig in that photo.
I’m not sure of the clarity of photos I’m able to upload.

[Barry54]

Here’s another one they bayed.

[gwpercle]

The (mostly) white dog is facing a black pig in that photo.
I’m not sure of the clarity of photos I’m able to upload.

There is a Hog and a Dog in that photo !!!!
That is what we call ... Thick - Thick !
I see the white patch now ... don't be shootin the dog no .
Gary

[lar45]

They call me Captain Oblivious, lol
I see the Dog and Hog now.
That is some seriously thick brush.

A couple of years ago, one of the guys on our deer lease had a friend with some Hog Dogs come down for a hunt. They let me tag along and were very nervous about me carrying a big revolver on a bandolier. I swore to them that I would not shoot a dog, it was just there incase things went to sh*t. He had bay dogs and a BIG Pit Bull that was leashed riding on a side by side. They said, what ever you do, do not get inbetween the Pit and the Pig. They had gps callers on the bay dogs to find them in the thick brush. When they got a pig cornered, we'd get close on 4wheelers, then crash through the brush in the direction of the bay dogs. That pit would get so amped up when it smelled a pig, it was scary. The dog would almost be screaming sometimes to be let loose. The dog would run full tilt and slam into the hog, grab it's snout and clamp it shut. Sometimes they would have guys grab the hind legs and pull back against the pit and the third guy would come in with a big pig sticker and knife it in the heart. It would bleed out and die real quick. Other times they would hog tie the legs, tie the mouth shut and load it on the side by side alive for the ride back to camp.
No thank you... I would not want to be on that side by side.

[Barry54]

This was the 3rd or fourth one they bayed. Said it had decent cutters and suggested I take it. I was appreciative of the work the dogs had accomplished and heeded their advice.

[Barry54]

Attachment 330428
Attachment 330429

There’s a fellow from Kenya I’ve been working with the last few weeks in Florida. He asked if I saved the head. I had put it on ice, mainly to keep it from stinking till I got it home. I had planned on a European mount via letting it sit outside for a few years.

He asked for the head and took it home and cooked it. I showed him photos of European mounts and convinced him not to break the bones, and return them to me intact.

Upon arriving at the job site the next morning, he presented to me the meat, and tongue and who knows what else in that bowl. He insisted I eat the tongue and said pick it up and bite it. He said in his country, it was an honor when someone cooked the tongue for you, and said it was the best part of the animal.

It was boiled. With who knows how much hair and dirt and sand...
I cut the tip off with my pocket knife and managed to eat it. Reminded me of Vienna sausage, but not enough salt. Then he whipped out the African style flat bread. It sure helped get the second bite down. I stopped there before it all came back up.