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Q:
so i really wanna go hog hunting but for one i dont know what caliber of gun to use i was thinking a .223 would take them down but a .270 would be much better. and how does somone go hunting them without dogs?
Question by Jefafa Iglesias. Uploaded on February 27, 2011
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Answers (19)
The .223, while sufficient, is a tad light. The .270 is, shall we say, "more" appropriate than the .223.
How to hunt feral hogs without a dog!!!
Bubba's Lesson #1:
Locate a thicket where hogs are known to bed. Work around the "down" wind side until the unmistakable odor of "hog" assaults your nostrils.
With your trusty pump or semi-auto 12 bore loaded to the gills with Hi-Velocity No. 1 buckshot, work your way gently towards the snoozing piggies, being ever mindful to keep that "odor" coming into your nose. With any luck, you may locate one or two before they hear you and vacate the premises!
Good luck, happy hunting!
Bubba
Hogs are usually found in thick cover and heavy brush.
Read Bubba's post, and follow his advice. Should the shotgun not appeal to you, my personal preference is a fast handling rifle, such as a lever action .30-30, or .375 Winchester. A pump .35 Remington or .30-'06 would fit the bill, as would a semi-auto. With hogs, I like the caliber to be .30 or bigger, and scopes should be very low power, but iron or peep sights are faster. Hogs are remarkably fast, and dangerous in some situations.
All the above is good advice, and I would only add to start your search along a creek or swamp and look for wallows, then go find the thicket that they should be bedding in. Be cautious about shooting a big one, cause you are gonna have to get it out and a big boar hog might be a little stong on the table, on the other hand, pork chops from one that weighs 75-100 pounds is 5 star dining. Enjoy.
I have to agree with crm's advice about caliber. My own preference in the matter is the .30-06, because some of those critters are very big and tough.
A 270 will work. I'm partial to my 30-06 or my 45-70 Marlin 1895. If it is going to be quick shooting I would use my Rem 870 with 00 buck.
Yes Sir, The 30/30 or 35Rem is the tickit on Hogs,
70 to 150Lb are Tops for EATs, Take a friend or two for back-up. Good Luck.
'06, 99 and treestand are spot on. A short, light lever or semi-auto is the REAL ticket. Ferals ARE tough, but they ARE NOT bullet proof. The .30-30 Win, .35 Rem and 7.62x39 are EXCELLENT feral cartridges. Even the new 6.8mm Rem SPC is excellent in the Ruger Ranch rifle. Hogs are not normally encountered at extended range when still hunting. In fact, it can get real upclose and personal....and in a thickett, you're gonna want something short, light and quick handling. Heck, even a .40 or .45 handgun is a jewel in heavy cover. Leave the 9mm for followup shots, it don't carry enough mail for my taste.
For my taste, anything over 20 to 40 lbs on the hoof is left where it fell.
Feral is "ACES" bar-b-qued!!!
Bubba
'06, 99 and treestand are spot on. A short, light lever or semi-auto is the REAL ticket. Ferals ARE tough, but they ARE NOT bullet proof. The .30-30 Win, .35 Rem and 7.62x39 are EXCELLENT feral cartridges. Even the new 6.8mm Rem SPC is excellent in the Ruger Ranch rifle. Hogs are not normally encountered at extended range when still hunting. In fact, it can get real upclose and personal....and in a thickett, you're gonna want something short, light and quick handling. Heck, even a .40 or .45 handgun is a jewel in heavy cover. Leave the 9mm for followup shots, it don't carry enough mail for my taste.
For my taste, anything over 20 to 40 lbs on the hoof is left where it fell.
Feral is "ACES" bar-b-qued!!!
Bubba
take the .270. it will have better bullet penetration and will lesson the chance of that boar takin YOU down.
I hunted hogs in Alabama over a corn feeder like you use for deer. After they get used to coming to it that make for good hunting. The feeder was set up on the edge of a field at the edge of swamp. The only hog I killed I killed with a 257 Weatherby, but I would use my 3ooWSM now. There had been over 10 hogs killed off of the feeder I killed my hog at. I only had one evening to hunt.
Two reasons I like the .375 Winchester for hogs. Big, slow, 200 or 250 gr. bullet will cut some brush, and leave a big wound channel.
Fast handling lever, and will stop a 350 lb. hog dead in it's tracks if said hog decides to charge.
A good blood trail is sometimes necessary, as hogs tend to keep running even with their heart/lungs shot out.
I like Bubba's advice on hunting feral pigs without the feeder Sarge mentioned. As others have noted, pigs are tough. A 12 gauge slug puts a hole through them that looks like you shoved a broom handle all the way through. The only time I've lost one with an '06 was when using 180 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. Apparently the fast expanding bullet only penetrated through the shoulder enough to take out one lung. Pig wounds seem to clot very fast and it can be difficult following their blood trail. Take the .270.
Right PigHunter, but Sarge01 has a very good point.
One of those little $39.95 Moultrie feeders from Wallyworld will suck them little piggies right in. Seen it work a jillion times.
They also bait VERY well to soured grain!!! It's what I use to bait hog traps.
Hunting over a feeder, any rifle adequate for deer will work for ferals!!
For those who have never "skinned" a feral hog, or domestic either, for that matter. It's true of both.
From just behind the ears (very short neck!)
back to about the last rib and covering both shoulders and the rib cage, the hide is called a "shield" and is one inch (1") or more thick and extremely tough! You HAVE to see it to believe it! Once you "see" this, you'll understand more about caliber selection.
Bubba
The one I killed was a boar that weighed 126 pounds and I couldn't believe how thick the hide was. I was amazed how little the boar smelled. I figured when I saw it was a boar it would stink but it didn't. It was fine eating. I quartered it and brought it back to WV to my buddy who is a meat cutter to process. Meat seemed "sweeter" than domestic pigs for some reason. Has anyone else experienced that ?
Sarge, it could be what they eat affects the taste. The one you shot probably tasted sweeter because of that corn suppliment to it's diet. Those I hunt forage totally in the forest and I can tell they are not as sweet as domestic when eaten side-by-side.
A short story on their smell. My wife was with me last year when I killed one 50-lb boar. She's a retired nurse with a very strong stomach but she lost her cookies when I opened that boar up while gutting it. She said it smelled worse than anything she encountered even while working with the homeless at the free clinic!
I'll be at one of the local WMA's this weekend for a special pig hunt. The plan is to spend some time watching the wallows since it will be warm. My arms will be a Finnish Mosin Nagant with 180 grain SP's and a Ruger Vaquero with 250 grain XTP handloads.
Good advice above. I prefer a heavy bullet because they are usually in thick brush. You can get a good big bullet in a .270. A 12 gauge with a slug will stop a 350 pound charging boar in its tracks; I've seen it happen. A .270 might lodge in his breast plate... it has happened before. No scope is better if you are on foot so you can get on target quickly if they charge. You are usually pretty close.
Use a 25-06 or a .270.
i hunt them different down here in florida we drive through orange groves that are between 200 and 400 yards long and when we see one we get out of the truck and pop them. or we just walk through woods.
i use a .243 or a .270... my .243 dropped a 250+ hog were he stood in one shot. i have killed a 250 pounder a 150 pounder and 2 185 pounders.
Post an Answer
The .223, while sufficient, is a tad light. The .270 is, shall we say, "more" appropriate than the .223.
How to hunt feral hogs without a dog!!!
Bubba's Lesson #1:
Locate a thicket where hogs are known to bed. Work around the "down" wind side until the unmistakable odor of "hog" assaults your nostrils.
With your trusty pump or semi-auto 12 bore loaded to the gills with Hi-Velocity No. 1 buckshot, work your way gently towards the snoozing piggies, being ever mindful to keep that "odor" coming into your nose. With any luck, you may locate one or two before they hear you and vacate the premises!
Good luck, happy hunting!
Bubba
Hogs are usually found in thick cover and heavy brush.
Read Bubba's post, and follow his advice. Should the shotgun not appeal to you, my personal preference is a fast handling rifle, such as a lever action .30-30, or .375 Winchester. A pump .35 Remington or .30-'06 would fit the bill, as would a semi-auto. With hogs, I like the caliber to be .30 or bigger, and scopes should be very low power, but iron or peep sights are faster. Hogs are remarkably fast, and dangerous in some situations.
I hunted hogs in Alabama over a corn feeder like you use for deer. After they get used to coming to it that make for good hunting. The feeder was set up on the edge of a field at the edge of swamp. The only hog I killed I killed with a 257 Weatherby, but I would use my 3ooWSM now. There had been over 10 hogs killed off of the feeder I killed my hog at. I only had one evening to hunt.
All the above is good advice, and I would only add to start your search along a creek or swamp and look for wallows, then go find the thicket that they should be bedding in. Be cautious about shooting a big one, cause you are gonna have to get it out and a big boar hog might be a little stong on the table, on the other hand, pork chops from one that weighs 75-100 pounds is 5 star dining. Enjoy.
I have to agree with crm's advice about caliber. My own preference in the matter is the .30-06, because some of those critters are very big and tough.
A 270 will work. I'm partial to my 30-06 or my 45-70 Marlin 1895. If it is going to be quick shooting I would use my Rem 870 with 00 buck.
Yes Sir, The 30/30 or 35Rem is the tickit on Hogs,
70 to 150Lb are Tops for EATs, Take a friend or two for back-up. Good Luck.
'06, 99 and treestand are spot on. A short, light lever or semi-auto is the REAL ticket. Ferals ARE tough, but they ARE NOT bullet proof. The .30-30 Win, .35 Rem and 7.62x39 are EXCELLENT feral cartridges. Even the new 6.8mm Rem SPC is excellent in the Ruger Ranch rifle. Hogs are not normally encountered at extended range when still hunting. In fact, it can get real upclose and personal....and in a thickett, you're gonna want something short, light and quick handling. Heck, even a .40 or .45 handgun is a jewel in heavy cover. Leave the 9mm for followup shots, it don't carry enough mail for my taste.
For my taste, anything over 20 to 40 lbs on the hoof is left where it fell.
Feral is "ACES" bar-b-qued!!!
Bubba
take the .270. it will have better bullet penetration and will lesson the chance of that boar takin YOU down.
Two reasons I like the .375 Winchester for hogs. Big, slow, 200 or 250 gr. bullet will cut some brush, and leave a big wound channel.
Fast handling lever, and will stop a 350 lb. hog dead in it's tracks if said hog decides to charge.
A good blood trail is sometimes necessary, as hogs tend to keep running even with their heart/lungs shot out.
Right PigHunter, but Sarge01 has a very good point.
One of those little $39.95 Moultrie feeders from Wallyworld will suck them little piggies right in. Seen it work a jillion times.
They also bait VERY well to soured grain!!! It's what I use to bait hog traps.
Hunting over a feeder, any rifle adequate for deer will work for ferals!!
For those who have never "skinned" a feral hog, or domestic either, for that matter. It's true of both.
From just behind the ears (very short neck!)
back to about the last rib and covering both shoulders and the rib cage, the hide is called a "shield" and is one inch (1") or more thick and extremely tough! You HAVE to see it to believe it! Once you "see" this, you'll understand more about caliber selection.
Bubba
The one I killed was a boar that weighed 126 pounds and I couldn't believe how thick the hide was. I was amazed how little the boar smelled. I figured when I saw it was a boar it would stink but it didn't. It was fine eating. I quartered it and brought it back to WV to my buddy who is a meat cutter to process. Meat seemed "sweeter" than domestic pigs for some reason. Has anyone else experienced that ?
'06, 99 and treestand are spot on. A short, light lever or semi-auto is the REAL ticket. Ferals ARE tough, but they ARE NOT bullet proof. The .30-30 Win, .35 Rem and 7.62x39 are EXCELLENT feral cartridges. Even the new 6.8mm Rem SPC is excellent in the Ruger Ranch rifle. Hogs are not normally encountered at extended range when still hunting. In fact, it can get real upclose and personal....and in a thickett, you're gonna want something short, light and quick handling. Heck, even a .40 or .45 handgun is a jewel in heavy cover. Leave the 9mm for followup shots, it don't carry enough mail for my taste.
For my taste, anything over 20 to 40 lbs on the hoof is left where it fell.
Feral is "ACES" bar-b-qued!!!
Bubba
I like Bubba's advice on hunting feral pigs without the feeder Sarge mentioned. As others have noted, pigs are tough. A 12 gauge slug puts a hole through them that looks like you shoved a broom handle all the way through. The only time I've lost one with an '06 was when using 180 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. Apparently the fast expanding bullet only penetrated through the shoulder enough to take out one lung. Pig wounds seem to clot very fast and it can be difficult following their blood trail. Take the .270.
Sarge, it could be what they eat affects the taste. The one you shot probably tasted sweeter because of that corn suppliment to it's diet. Those I hunt forage totally in the forest and I can tell they are not as sweet as domestic when eaten side-by-side.
A short story on their smell. My wife was with me last year when I killed one 50-lb boar. She's a retired nurse with a very strong stomach but she lost her cookies when I opened that boar up while gutting it. She said it smelled worse than anything she encountered even while working with the homeless at the free clinic!
I'll be at one of the local WMA's this weekend for a special pig hunt. The plan is to spend some time watching the wallows since it will be warm. My arms will be a Finnish Mosin Nagant with 180 grain SP's and a Ruger Vaquero with 250 grain XTP handloads.
Good advice above. I prefer a heavy bullet because they are usually in thick brush. You can get a good big bullet in a .270. A 12 gauge with a slug will stop a 350 pound charging boar in its tracks; I've seen it happen. A .270 might lodge in his breast plate... it has happened before. No scope is better if you are on foot so you can get on target quickly if they charge. You are usually pretty close.
Use a 25-06 or a .270.
i hunt them different down here in florida we drive through orange groves that are between 200 and 400 yards long and when we see one we get out of the truck and pop them. or we just walk through woods.
i use a .243 or a .270... my .243 dropped a 250+ hog were he stood in one shot. i have killed a 250 pounder a 150 pounder and 2 185 pounders.
Post an Answer