Since we have a lot of hunters and hunting talk...anyone out there hunt hogs?

What I want to know is whats the lightest caliber you've used sucessfully? In both handgun and rifle...from a distance of 40 yrds on out to say 200 ish.

I'm trying to shoot one with jsut about everything I have...right now 7mm-08 using 140 sierra game kings(which I've done already twice)...but I was thinking of using my AR-15 (.223) tomorrow since were heading into a big herd...but then I reconsidered.

The samllest handgun I used at any distance was my .357 although I bought a .44mag I haven't had the opportunity, maybe I'll take that too.

 

use the .223 selectivly and put it between its eyes or behind the ear. no meat waste and you don't gotta track the pig.

 

well the problem with the .223 is here they are now illegal; therefore I run the risk of getting caught with it away from my secure shooting site; although I do have a depradation permit...it that long drive to and from that bothers me...but I'm sure someday I'll do it...by the by...the last two boars (about 200# each) the 7mm-08 left a nice clean shot. My reasoning for the .223 was the sheer number of pigs we're likely to run into tomorrow...hopefully

 

where are you that the .223 is "illegal" and in what way?

 

AR-15 Kalifornia

 

I'm a lifelong hog hunter. 99+% of the hogs I've taken, which has to be well into the hundreds, I have caught live, by hand with dogs. The ones I've shot have been taken mostly with a 22 Mag, a .222 and a 30-06. I've taken a few with a 45ACP. Avoid the shoulders (shields) on bigger boars, and you'll be fine with most anything. I agree with redstroker, I usually opt for a forehead shot or a spot about halfway between the eye and ear on a profiling shot. If you can't do precision work because of range, terrain or skill, step up to a larger caliber and go for the lungs. They may run, but it won't be far.

 

I too have shot likely 60 hogs in the last 15 years maybe more; this year has been crazy...I've lost count...in fact we are shooting so many we are leaving them our freezers are full and noone wants anymore meat...the land owners just want them scared off, but there have been tons of them this year. I used to hunt with pitbulls and a knife seeing a lot of dogs killed, but that is illegal and I'm too old (and smarter now) for that anymore...or just too lazy.

We went this morning but I guess we missed them. The owner gave me the key to a new ranch with about 6 ponds and some nice cover...so we'll se how that ends up...looks good for deer next year too...should have brought the shotgun...lots of doves.

 

Not to bash your hunting stories but ya'll must be hunting milk suckers. We had a city guy bring his hog dogs down for a hunt. My first and only time with dogs. The dogs picked up a sow that weighed a little over 400 lbs and finally got her stopped. She took five shots to the forehead with a 44 Mag at about 7 feet, between the eyes and then got mad. She charged knocking me and the other two idiots down. Thank God for the dogs otherwise we would be little piles of hog crap all over the ranch. A shoulder shot from a 45-70 put her down. Two of the dogs died from hog inflicted wounds. This was not necessarily a large hog for these parts and a 500 pounder is not uncommon. Using a 22, 44, 45 anything is like going bear huntin' with a switch. I use either the 375 Winchester, 45-70, or the 444. I don't have to worry about putting one down or having to track one using those. And the same goes for these parts as well, we kill all of them we see. Nothing likes them and they have no natural preditors to kill 'em. In Texas, there is a swine quarantine. Over 50% have brucilousis (sp), or they have pseudo-rabies. Both, according to the Parks and Wildlife, can be caught by humans and can be fatal. We shoot the darn things and if they aren't in the way- leave 'em.

 

Well we dont get any that big out here...although there are stories...or at least I haven't personally seen any that big...I know back east there's alot more domestic bred into them.

I too was once save by a dog; boar got just to between my leg when "max" grabbed him and they went at it...just glad it wasn't me!

I'd like to find out more about the dieases they might carry; a good friend of mine whos a local large animal vet said wild hogs have a much lower disease rate than domestic hogs...although I know they are resistant to anthrax and they do transport it.

I dont care what I do to the meat either...I only butcher when I need it or unless its a big trophy. I shot a 200# boar one time and it took five of six of my .357mags to the head the last shot stopped it. I found 4 bullets in the flesh around the skull; only the last on penetrated and the was one miss. I guessed it was the angle of the shot.