Hog Hunting

[CB900F]

Fella's;

There's a decent possibility that I'll be going hog hunting later this year. The venue is as yet undetermined, but it'll undoubtedly be in the south. I'm in Montana, and have never hunted hogs before, so I'm looking for some comment on the firearms and other gear to take.

My first inclination is to go with my trusty .65 Swede for the rifle, and a large-bore handgun as the sidearm. As I can't use binoculars, perforce the Vortex mono will be the glass, unless somebody has a valid and overriding reason to go with something else. I'd think that any of several candidates for a belt knife would be suitable, and I've got: a Buck Vanguard, Vanguard with skinning hook, or a 110 folder, then there's a Cold Steel SRK, a Puma White Hunter, or a Puma Hunter, or a classic Western Bowie blade (my father's knife).

What's the best sort of goo to fight off all the noxious bugs, chiggers, skeeters, and other assorted blood-and-flesh-eating vermin?

900F

 

[alsaqr]

Pack up your 6.5 Swede, Buck folder and a few cans of Repel. Leave the sidearm at home.

 

[CB900F]

Alsaqr;

The reasoning behind that? Not even a .22lr?

900F

 

[alsaqr]

The reasoning behind that?

IMO: Not needed. Lots of folks do carry sidearms while hog hunting but its not for me.

For many years nearly all my hog hunting has been with a muzzleloader and i hunt light.

Put the bullet just behind the crook in the front leg. Make darn sure the hog is dead before making an approach.

Good luck on your hog hunt.

 

[Stony]

A 6.5 Swede would work just fine for hogs. The only time I really need a handgun is when i am hunting them at night and using nightvision. Following up on a shot hog i need something with night sights for up close. You can find a real challenge with knives. I normally just keep the hind legs and occasionally backstraps, but sometimes you're lucky to saw through one set of legs and get them skinned out before it's time to change knives. Sawing through the thick skin and hair on a big hog can be a real test for a knife, and I own some very good brands of knives. Two hogs this morning and i was working on the second knife before I was done.

 

[nathan]

If you see a boar and a sow, go for the sow first. They taste better...Yeah a handgun is not needed just adds weight. But if you intend to carry, pls do so.
Just aim for the head and brain , they fall down easily once CNS gets knocked out.

 

[41 Mag]

Depending on where you go and how they are set up bring both the 6.5 and the handgun. You don't need anything massive for a handgun anything from 41mag thru 45 Colt will work just fine. Use a good bullet though, not just a run of the mill white label JHP from Wallyworld.

As for the bugs, anything with Deet works. You might still get a few itches or crawlies but it will be minimized with the Deet factored in. If you can find it, there is a spray for your clothes called Sawyer Permethrin which is what I normally use. One application to your clothes a few days before you go and no worries about crawly critters. Sawyer Products

Knives, well I use this one, Lamb Skinner

The nice thing about it is that rounded nose. It lets you slide it up under the hide and along the outside of the meat without poking holes into things you don't want holes poked into. It will handle up to 5 or 6 hogs before needing to be resharpened, and then a dozen or so swipes on a good steel and away you go again. My good friend and I purchased knives from all widely available sources, name brands and no name brands and I just happened to root up one of my grandmothers old rabbit knives. It is almost identical to the above and works like a charm for getting under the hide and slicing from the inside out. That will keep the edge on your knife, not going the other way around. I like to gut mine first then I ring all legs just below the joint, and slice the hid down towards the middle of the belly. I then simply cut it off from there, folding it back as I go.

Most folks take the hams, and loins, and go on. When I get done with one the flies even won't hardly come around. I use a 18" set of limb pruners to run along the back bone after I remove the loin, and cut out both sides of the ribs. The shoulders are taken off and all the meat is trimmed off the neck and under the shoulder area for grinding. There is also a good amount up around the jaws and such but I usually leave that with the hide.

Lastly you might head over to this site and check out the tips section Texas Boars Hunting Section

The biggest thing most folks do is shoot hogs like they would a deer, and this is why they usually end up loosing or having to track them down. Hit them straight up the front leg about 3" up from their belly, not behind the shoulder in the paunch. The other good spot from the side is even with their eye, and just below the ear. This isn't to say that a shot behind the shoulder WON'T put one down, but it is usually not as quick. Study the anatomy in the pictures on that site and you will see why.

Good luck and hope that helps.

 

[Paul7]

IMHO the 6.5x55 is about the perfect hog gun, I've killed seven with mine, all DRT.

 

[Walkalong]

The 6.5X55 Swede can kill animals a lot larger than pigs. It will do just fine.

 

[49er]

I don't typically post but I have shot many hogs here in Texas and anyone that has the forum name CB900F has my attention!!!

I agree with everything 41 mag has said. Understand the anatomy or expect not to find a seemingly hard hit hog. Shots behind the shoulders like a deer do not leave good blood trails. They seem to dry up quickly. I shoot a 308 or a 264. My favorite way to hunt hogs is to stalk with my 45 long colt. I dont worry about camo or noise to much the wind is the key. Years ago i would butcher what I killed but the last few years I havnt. I just shoot yotes off of them. But if you are going to butcher what you kill I would suggest taking them to a pressure washer and wash them throughly. This helps with the critters but really knocks the dirt off which helps keep your knives sharp.

Non hunting related and assuming the cb900 refers to a bike: in 1981 I went to a honda dealer to buy a 1982 CB900F, Black with orange stripes, I think, but couldnt afford the 3000 so I paid cash for a 1981 CM400E that I still ride today.

Good luck on your hunt!!

 

[brainwake]

+1 on the Sawyers product. I try to keep a few sets of "woods" clothes treated with Sawyers and it does cut the tick count down.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I think you should take the pistol. I always hunt with a sidearm handy. It is easier to carry than a spare rifle. The 6.5 Swede will be absolutely fine.

The biggest thing most folks do is shoot hogs like they would a deer, and this is why they usually end up loosing or having to track them down. Hit them straight up the front leg about 3" up from their belly, not behind the shoulder in the paunch. The other good spot from the side is even with their eye, and just below the ear. This isn't to say that a shot behind the shoulder WON'T put one down, but it is usually not as quick. Study the anatomy in the pictures on that site and you will see why.

Sort of. The difference between a hog's slightly squished forward organs and those of a deer is just that, slight. People lose hogs not because they precisely placed a shot like on a deer behind the shoulder but because they made a crappy shot in general.

Also the use of 2D diagrams for organ placement only work as intended if you are making a perpendicular shot on a broadside hog. For example, you DO want to place the shot BEHIND the LED if the hog is quartered away to hit the intended organs.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

I'm going to go with my original intent of the Swede for the rifle. However, upon reading this thread and talking with other folks I know who have hunted hogs, I go believe that the sidearm need not be some flame-throwin' whupazz monster gun. Now I'm tending to a K-frame Smith in .357. First couple of cylinders filled with snake-shot & the rest with serious stuff.

900F