35 Whelen wrote:
O.K. so I'll play devil's advocate and agree a hogs skull is thin. Why does this dictate that "head shots on feral hogs are the PREFERRED & BEST way to take a hog out."?
Hi 35, I will try to address your questions as best I can, but understand...it is my opinion only and may not apply to others (with respect to circumstance).
In response to your question above...neither the thickness or thinness (take your pick) of the skull "dictates" a head shot on a Feral Hog. Similarly, it is my opinion that it should not be the "preferred" shot except in a limited number of circumstances.
Preferred by whom? The best in whose opinion?
An excellent question Sir! Generally speaking...those using smaller calibers and lighter bullets are responsible for the popularity (if we can call it that) of the "head shot" on Feral Hogs. The intent...of course, is to score a "CNS" (Central Nervous System) hit, thereby dropping the animal instantly.
The problem is: With Feral Hogs...the "head" is the one anatomical region most prone to movement (bested only by the tail). This can be problematic in some cases. I know someone is going to jump in here and cite the many instances in which they successfully shot a hog in the head...and that's great IF you are a good marksman and carefully pick your shots.
Personally, I recommend two things:
1. Use enough gun (with a properly designed bullet for the task at hand)
2. NECK SHOOT! Anywhere from the Occipital Joint at the base of the skull to just forward of the shoulder. Next "best shot" in my opinion is a high shoulder shot (not as high as on a deer).
The ONLY I time I ever hit a hog in the skull nearly resulted in a failure. I hit a boar at about 25 yds. with a Hornady .375", 220 gr. SP with a MV of right at 2200 fps. The bullet struck him just under the left eye, travelled under his brain into his right jowl where it came to rest just under the hide. The boar was nowhere near dead and I dispatched him with a shot through the lungs. To me that's a testament of the toughness of a hogs head.
I have heard a few similar accounts when the bullet path travels to the mandible (lower jaw). The lower jaw is indeed quite thick and tough (on mature animals) and the presence of large molars there also contribute to the likelihood a bullet will be stopped or have its path significantly changed.
However, it is probably "inconclusive" at best....to point to ONE such incident in order to support the position.... the entirety of a hogs skull is thick and tough.
So, if you want to shoot hogs in the head, that's your business, but you'll never convince me that's a good idea.
I am with you here. As previously stated, except for certain circumstances (hogs in a trap), hunter is marginally armed (small, light caliber)
and the hunter is supremely confident of his/her ability, I would recommend other shots be considered first.
Personally I think most head shots are stunts because as I said before, I see no really reason to shoot at something as small as an animals brain when a lung shot will kill them just as dead.
A "lung shot" (especially a Bilateral Pneumothorax) will most certainly result in a dead hog. Not necessarily "right there"....but dead at some point. I can think of places in South Texas, Deep East Texas and parts of Florida or Georgia...where it would be less than desirable to have to track a hog any distance.
But I am in agreement...that in most cases it is best to take the higher percentage shot offered by the neck/shoulder area. Hogs should NOT be shot behind the shoulder (unless quartering away). Far too many people shoot hogs as they would a deer. The placement of a hogs vitals (read heart, lungs) is somewhat forward of that of a deer. Lots of hogs run off and are never recovered as a result of this shot placement. Yes, some drop too.
Caveat: My post is in no way an admonishment to those who "head shoot" hogs, that is your business. I have done it myself....and will do it again (under certain circumstances), but I do not generally promote the idea for the reasons cited above.
Flint.