Feral Hog and Turkey hunting in S.GA

[Josh45]

So I read alot of post here for hunting and am very excited about the idea of going hunting. Yes, I know its sad, I never been hunting....There is a no limit and no close season for feral hog and turkey opens up in march.
They also allow you to hunt Feral Hogs at night on private land. Otherwise not permitted

My question is this, I have a Mossberg 500 AT 12 gauge pump 26 inch. Would this be ok for the Feral Hogs? Im sure its good enough for the Turkey.

What type of shell would you recommend for the feral hog? and for the turkey?
For Turkey it has to No2 or smaller. For the feral hog it says any deer, bear, turkey or small game firearm. I also have a .45 acp to take as a back up just in case.

I also have the improved modified choke on as well. Is this a good setup for both the hogs and turkey?

And like before what shell would you use?

 

[memphisjim]

http://www.dixieslugs.com/products.html
the tri-ball outta kill a hog

 

[Josh45]

Those look like thy can do the job. As far as I know there are no laws against using slugs. Can my stock barrel be used with these?

 

[memphisjim]

sure the foster type are meant for smooth bores
you could also get a rifle choke and extend your range

 

[Josh45]

Gonna have to look into that. Im not crazy about getting to close to a 100-200 lbs pig that can easily take me down

 

[41]

I would use slugs on the hogs, and try a few different #4's or 5's to see which one patterns the best for the turkeys.

I would try to find a full or extra full choke for the turkeys though.

Good luck.

 

[Josh45]

How about these slugs?

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=91133

And these for the turkeys?

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=108189

They have to be number #2 or lower it said and I think it said less then 9 pellets

This is just basically an idea of the rounds that i should use? I man there kinda expnsive, Would cheaper ones do just as well?

 

[memphisjim]

uhh those slugs will certainly do it maybe overkill
almost any 12gauge slug will be plenty id focus more on which one is most accurate out of your gun hopefully you get lucky and the cheap remington sluggers or something similar pattern well for you

 

[Josh45]

Lol, Wanted to make sure. Well, I definetly want it for the meat so overkill may not be an option. I have used Remington game loads for clay shooting. They seem to do just fine for clay shooting. My timing just sucked. Thats just to give an idea. I wouldnt use that for boar and I understand that this is a whole new level.

So, I keep looking around. Mmmm tasty bacon

 

[41]

For Turkey it has to No2 or smaller

I'm not sure about where you are hunting, but in most states that would mean that the pellets would have to be smaller than #2, which would mean the number would be higher. That may not be correct for your area though, so you should check up on that.

 

[Birdmang]

You don't need any special slugs for hogs. You need one that likes your barrel and one that hits where you put the crosshairs. Try some different brands and whichever one groups the best, use that one. If you hit em in the right spot, they will die. It makes a big hole, no need for expensive designer ammo, although it looks awesome.

 

[JTH]

If it's a big Boar Hog, it better be in a pen trap, if you plan on shooting with a shotgun. If you in the open you better have an escape route planned out. You may wound him and just get him P.O'd as he chases you down. If he catches you he'll open you up like a can opener with those large tusk
JT

 

[natman]

Brenneke slugs.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=712244

I've had excellent results with these from my Mossberg 500 with the factory XFULL turkey choke:

http://www.winchester.com/Products/shotshell-ammunition/supreme/turkey-loads/Pages/X123MXCT4.aspx

 

[Josh45]

Thanks for the info guys. I will re check on the No 2 thing.

 

[Josh45]

I talked to one of the locals here and verified it is open season all year long on the hogs. She also mentioned 300 lbs + was kinda common. So now im thinking....Maybe I should go with a rifle. I was impressed with FlintKnappers thread with is 7mm-08 and the .458 Socom. So, Im thinking about the 7mm-08. How about the 30-30 lever or would the .308 or .300 WSM be more than enough. Which one would you go with? What type of round.

Rifle price range would be about $800.

 

[W.E.G.]

Any of those calibers will HAMMER a hog.

But that's not the question.

The question is: How long can you hunt, and how many can dead ones can you haul out of there?

 

[Josh45]

Not sure, Dont have all the info because I would still need to speak to a landowner about that and I would like to haul off 2-3 pigs.

 

[Josh45]

I'm not sure about where you are hunting, but in most states that would mean that the pellets would have to be smaller than #2, which would mean the number would be higher. That may not be correct for your area though, so you should check up on that.

TURKEY FIREARMS: Shotguns with No. 2 or
smaller shot and any muzzleloading firearm.

Thats what the it says...

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

lol, Josh, the larger the number on shot pellets the SMALLER the pellets. I.E. Number 2 pellets are much LARGER than number 4 and the number 4 will have about twice the number of pellets in the shell. It matters not what "area" you are in. That is a standard sizing. I have found that #4 and #5 shot will put the smack down on turkey quite well. The key is to get a good choke and pattern your shotgun so that you know where you will get the most dense amount of shot for each particular range.

Now, as far as the hogs go, any slug will do as long as you put it where it needs to go and do NOT try to reach out further than your ability with that shotgun. If you are sticking with smoothbore and a foster type slug then you really don't want to try beyond 50 yards. If you go with a rifle then yes a 30/30 is fine hog medicine. Killed a many with one. The 7mm.08 (my favorite hog-deer cartridge of all time) is about the best you will ever find. Hogs are not invincible but when you get into the larger ones they can be and usually are very tough. If you plan on eating them, don't go for the big ones over 150 pounds as they taste pretty much like crap. Not very much you can do with them other than make sausage (and you better have a large amount of sage to make it good even then).

 

[JimKirk]

http://www.eregulations.com/georgia/hunting/pageflip/

May want to read these regulations before you head out.

 

[T Bran]

3 inch oo buck also does a fine job insiide 40 yds or so and you also get the benefit of some overlap if they are in a pack but stick to the meat hogs 100 lbs or less eat the best and are way easier to drag out.

 

[Josh45]

Thanks for the update. As far as the number two thing gos, That's what the guide I looked up for S.GA WMA. I also called and told me that as long as I hunt private land then any type of round can be used but if it is on WMA then I CANNOT use slugs...

 

[JimKirk]

if it is on WMA then I CANNOT use slugs...

Or shot bigger than #2

 

[GooseGestapo]

But you CAN use a muzzleloader. When hunting on WMA's, I use a .50 m/l with a sabot and a .45cal 200gr SWC over 80-120gr of Pyrodex or 777. It takes hogs cleanly, as well as turkeys if placed in the base of the neck.. You'll loose a lot of meat on a brest shot turkey..... I've only taken one turkey with this load. Shot too low, too close to the brest......

Unless you use a s/s or o/u muzzleloader, you'll only get one shot. (unless you can reload really, really fast. I've tried using a .22mag, but unless the shot is extreamly close, and you're using the Winchester FMJ load, -good luck! After loosing the first 5 pigs I shot with a .22mag, I gave up. (#6 and #7 were killed, but weighed about 10lbs each). Momma weighed about 150lbs and ran off with a terrible headache from a Federal .22wrm 50gr GoldDot......

When hunting areas/times open to deer hunting, you can use any centerfire .22cal or larger. On those occasions I prefer either the .338MX, .35Rem, .30/30, or .45/70 lever-actions, it that order. Cast bullets work really well too. Especially with the .338 and .45/70.