I think you're going to do just fine with hog hunting. You've got the tools. You just need experience now. Any more questions, don't hesitate to ask. I'm not the know all, end all for pig hunting. But I've spent a fair amount of time in the woods going after them. And if you haven't read the "Feral Hog Control" thread started by Flintknapper at the top of the page, you should. Lots of knowledge about habits, activity, firearms, baits, traps, etc. It's a long read. But informative and entertaining. Flintknapper knows his stuff.
Hog 101
- Thread starter AStone
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AStone
Member
I'm reading Flint's thread from both ends .. slowly. Not as much time as I'd like for another few weeks. Then, I'll go faster. Great stuff there. I posted to it a few days ago complementing the thread. I respect any thread that last years. Click on '30' in my sig line for one example.
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I've spent my post work day watching videos about how to field dress and skin a hog.
Then, I found this masterpiece about how to butcher one.
I'm mostly beyond words, in awe about how this man navigates a carcass with a knife with such ease.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xwcHNIZUbI
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I've spent my post work day watching videos about how to field dress and skin a hog.
Then, I found this masterpiece about how to butcher one.
I'm mostly beyond words, in awe about how this man navigates a carcass with a knife with such ease.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xwcHNIZUbI
alsaqr
Member
Some of the hog field dressing/skinning videos are good, others not so good.
We shoot and trap a lot of wild hogs: Every hog is given to folks who need the meat.
Field dress and skin the hog while warm. This is the technique we use:
Skinning:
1. Hang the hog by the rear legs with a gambrel.
2. Wearing protective gloves, cut off the head and front feet.
3. Skin out the front shanks.
4. Slit the skin down the entire front and middle of the back.
5. Skin out the rear legs and hams. Remove the testicles, if present.
6. Using big skinning pliers pull the skin off the hog, using a knife as required.
Field dressing:
1. Cut the poop chute loose from under the tail.
2. Slit the carcass down the front all the way through the ribs.
3. Remove the bladder: Do not burst the bladder.
4. Remove the poop chute.
5. Using a knife as required remove all internal organs,
letting them hang down in front.
6. Cut out the lungs and heart and remove all internal organs.
7. Remove the breathing passage and and throat (goozle).
8. Wash out the carcass as required.
Takes me about 25 minutes to skin and field dress a hog.
Gummi Bear
Member
Over the years I've given up on completely butchering feral hogs
I lay them out on their belly on the tailgate of my truck, or in the tractor bucket, and make an incision from behind the ears to the tail along the spine, then another across the shoulders and another across the back legs.
Remove backstraps, then remove the hams.
I use a retractable razor knife to do all this work. I don't open them up anymore. I'm just not that excited about the ribs, hat I want to mess with it.
I am not speedy, and do not hurry this process. Takes me 45 min to an hour to get everything I want, working by myself. I toss the rest of the carcass, and it becomes coyote bait.
Gloves are a great idea. I wear some long dishwashing gloves. I still have good dexterity and they are cheap and plentiful.
I lay them out on their belly on the tailgate of my truck, or in the tractor bucket, and make an incision from behind the ears to the tail along the spine, then another across the shoulders and another across the back legs.
Remove backstraps, then remove the hams.
I use a retractable razor knife to do all this work. I don't open them up anymore. I'm just not that excited about the ribs, hat I want to mess with it.
I am not speedy, and do not hurry this process. Takes me 45 min to an hour to get everything I want, working by myself. I toss the rest of the carcass, and it becomes coyote bait.
Gloves are a great idea. I wear some long dishwashing gloves. I still have good dexterity and they are cheap and plentiful.
der Teufel
Member
Different technique, but same idea. I hang 'em up and skin 'em, but only take the leg quarters and back straps. For skinning, I use a plastic gut hook with a disposal box-cutter blade. I cut the skin into strips and then pull them off. If they're recalcitrant, I grab the strip with a pair of locking pliers (like vise-grips) and yank on 'em. I prefer the gut hook technique because it's much cleaner. It cuts from the inside to the outside, and doesn't force hair and dirt onto the meat.
For gloves, I just use disposal nitrile gloves that I get from Harbor Freight.
AStone
Member
Thanks much to ^ the three of you ^ for those tips. I've more to add, and a few questions, but will wait a bit -- another busy day here ..
AStone
Member
Since for now, at least, my Marlin 336 is going to be my hog (and deer) gun, I'm once again exploring optics for it. It wears a set of XS ghost rings, which I like, but I'm feeling a need/desire for some optics. XS GR's work OK for me to 50 m, but for longer (and realistically, even shorter) shots, I like optics.
I've been looking at (and lusting for) a Leupold VX Hog for a couple of weeks. But today, I remembered that a few years ago, I planned to put a Leupold FX-II Scout Scope on it with an XS scout scope mount.
Will appreciate reading what you think is the better option for hogs.
PS: I am cross-eye dominant.
I've been looking at (and lusting for) a Leupold VX Hog for a couple of weeks. But today, I remembered that a few years ago, I planned to put a Leupold FX-II Scout Scope on it with an XS scout scope mount.
Will appreciate reading what you think is the better option for hogs.
PS: I am cross-eye dominant.
I think if you're going to put a scope on the rifle like the FX, you probably won't ever use the GS sight. We have a tendency to use things that make our lives easier, like scopes. There is also less chance of a mediocre shot with a scope than with GR sights. The ole "aim small, miss small" mentality. Crosshairs just allows is to "aim smaller".
AStone
Member
Only as back up if the scope is damaged beyond use.
AStone
Member
Noted.
AStone
Member
AStone
Member
Into chapter 2 now. This is really an excellent read. Very well-written and informative.
Along with Flintknapper's thread, really good for a newbie.
Along with Flintknapper's thread, really good for a newbie.
AStone
Member
I've been away from here for almost a month. Complicated coast to coast move.
I'm on the east coast now. Feels better over here ... mostly.
But I had a ... disquieting conversation today with a FL hog hunter.
He's the guy recommended by a friend to guide our first hunt.
Late 20's, wore sunglasses for too much of the conversation.
Trying to be too cool, nonchalant, bravado.
He talked incessantly; had to break in with questions.
Claimed to take hogs with a knife.
(Drops out of trees on them.)
When guns, it's with 12 slugs.
Claims the best way to hunt is wading deep in the swamp
(shoulders deep, willing to step into a "gator hole")
or walking through head high grass where hogs make tunnels.
I asked, "Ok, so let me see if I understand this.
You walk in high grass with potentially dangerous game?
How do you keep from being injured?"
His response: "Listen closely. They make noise as they get close. Then, pop them."
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Umm. Not my game. I'll try a stand for the first few hunts, just to study their biology.
I plan to shoot my first hog at 40 yds rather than 4.
I'm on the east coast now. Feels better over here ... mostly.
But I had a ... disquieting conversation today with a FL hog hunter.
He's the guy recommended by a friend to guide our first hunt.
Late 20's, wore sunglasses for too much of the conversation.
Trying to be too cool, nonchalant, bravado.
He talked incessantly; had to break in with questions.
Claimed to take hogs with a knife.
(Drops out of trees on them.)
When guns, it's with 12 slugs.
Claims the best way to hunt is wading deep in the swamp
(shoulders deep, willing to step into a "gator hole")
or walking through head high grass where hogs make tunnels.
I asked, "Ok, so let me see if I understand this.
You walk in high grass with potentially dangerous game?
How do you keep from being injured?"
His response: "Listen closely. They make noise as they get close. Then, pop them."
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Umm. Not my game. I'll try a stand for the first few hunts, just to study their biology.
I plan to shoot my first hog at 40 yds rather than 4.
Ok......
So that guy is either a liar, or an idiot. My guess is both. I would much rather go with a guide who is older and "country" than a hotshot who tries to display his masculinity through BS. Jumping over a hog is WAY different than jumping on one. You do that to a good sized boar around here and you probably won't make it to the hospital before you bleed out.
So that guy is either a liar, or an idiot. My guess is both. I would much rather go with a guide who is older and "country" than a hotshot who tries to display his masculinity through BS. Jumping over a hog is WAY different than jumping on one. You do that to a good sized boar around here and you probably won't make it to the hospital before you bleed out.
AStone
Member
That's my gut feeling, BB. Thanks for confirming.
I've never read/heard about anyone doing that before.
I've never read/heard about anyone doing that before.
Oh I've heard of it. Just not ever from anyone credible. Just for grins I called my buddy that I told you about earlier in this thread that has stomped charging hogs noses in the ground to flip them forward and catch their back legs. Asked him if he'd ever jump out of a tree onto an adult boar hog. I can't repeat the answer. But the answer, minus explicatives, was no. So I told him about what that "guide" claimed to do. Chest deep gator swamp, jumping out of trees on hogs, etc. Again, can't repeat his exact answer. But, minus explicatives again, the guy was aggressively fornicating full of male bovine excrement.
AStone
Member
<uncontrollable laugher>
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