Packing for a Pig Hunt: How many guns??

[Chuck R.]

Because 2 is 1, and 1 is none, apparently the number is 8.

Packing for our annual pig hunt with a good friend of mine on his lease in OK. Besides the normal hunting "stuff".

Rem M7 in .350RM (main pig gun from stands)
Rem 7600 in .358Win (pig gun IF we still hunt them or 2 man drives and I haven't had a chance to kill anything with it yet)
Rem M700 XCR "Tactical" in .223 because we might chase coyotes once the pigs are done.
Ruger 77 22LR because If we finish on pigs, and the coyotes don't cooperate, squirrels are open)
Benelli SBE 12GA because IF the squirrels don't cooperate, the coyotes don't come we're going crow hunting.
Browning GTI 12GA Because now we're going to get a round of sporting clays in on the days we don't hunt the above.
Colt King Cobra .22LR Because while we're not doing any of the above we're going to plink in his back yard.
HKP2000 in 357SIG, because now I have to travel armed to protect all of the above.

The "real" number is 2; primary and back-up, but since we're both retired army guys, every plan has multiple courses of action, branches and sequels. At one point I was a Support Platoon Leader and my friend Will was a Bn supply officer, so we both subscribe to the "If you don't know what you're doing, more is better" (as long as you're not humping it or swimming with it) mantra, we tend to over pack. It's the reason Crewcabs and 6.5' beds exist.

I'm actually thankful their quail season closed last week..

 

[Armored farmer]

8 or 10 sounds about right!?
Best of luck

 

[drobs]

I think you need to bring a couple more handguns. A pocket pistol as a backup to your main carry pistol. And then don't you have a 10mm that you want to try out on those pigs?

I'm going to Florida in April and might get a Hog Hunt in. I still want to kill one with a Federal Fusion 223rd but... will probably just bring my Ruger SFAR 308 and 2 carry guns. I like the option of pocket carry in shorts.

 

[illinoisburt]

Not sure if there actually is a question here. Hunting is fun, and taking lots of gear to try out is fun too.

Beyond that, are you asking how many guns are needed for an out of state hunt, or are you asking if the items listed are reasonable for such a trip?

As for the first question, that's completely up to you. You could fly in and just use the hosts' gun and likely come home with meat if that's the only criteria.

For the second, that's so subjective. Personally I really don't see anything bolt action or single shot as optimal for hogs. The first carefully timed and aimed shot can be made with any gun, shooting the runners is the real challenge and fast repeating arms are the answer. During daylight at shorter range, a good shotgun with buckshot can be the answer. Otherwise an AR or similar semiauto with an intermediate cartridge with fast recoil recovery time to get back on target seems to be the way to go. But if the challenge of working the bolt and getting off aimed shots is your goal, then should be an awesome time afield with the listed battery.

 

[Chuck R.]

So the hunts done.. we were successful with:

A nice hog with my 7600 in .358:

Successful with a big boar that's now resting in an unmarked grave:

Could have shot more pigs, but our freezers are full.

Got a couple crows, shot a round of sporting clays, struck out on coyotes. Also bagged a:

Which is a lesson learned.

1. Arrive early to your hunting site, no matter what patterns the pigs have demonstrated on cameras they might show up early and catch you completely flat footed.

2. When first getting to your blind, load your gear quickly and get the hell in due to above.

3. IF the pigs do show up early while you're still getting your gear into the blind, do not grab your short barreled carbine and shoot at one while using the blind as a rest.

4. When using a blind as a rest, BE CAREFUL, there's a chance that blind will sag, and you then won't notice an issue with optic and barrel offset.

5. IF that happens and you do shoot, the muzzle blast will tear the blind roof to shreds.

6. There's also a good possibility (in my case a certainty) that you will hit a support pole, thereby deflecting the bullet just enough to miss a 40yd pig while destroying the blind frame.

7. Odds are you'll end up replacing a blind with one of much higher quality ($$) cause that's all that's left in stock at any of the local stores.

In addition to all of the above we did come to an agreement to put together a plains game trip next year for South Afrika where at least ground blinds are not commonly used.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Well, at least the blast didn't set the blind on fire too Chuck...

 

[Chuck R.]

Well, at least the blast didn't set the blind on fire too Chuck...

It would have been a blessing.. my friend Will is thinking of having the blind "mounted" as a reminder. The guy he has the co-lease with suggested they move me around because some more of their blinds need to be replaced..

 

[rabid wombat]

The guy he has the co-lease with suggested they move me around because some more of their blinds need to be replaced..

Everyone has a purpose in life, some are examples…

Great hunt and write up!

 

[Bazoo]

Nice hunt. A round of clays sounds like a heck of a lot of fun, glad you thought to bring a scattergun. Guess nothing wrong with bringing half the safe worth. I've been wanting to get a pig with my Winchester 92 44 Mag, not sure when or where yet though.

 

[Armored farmer]

That was a great write up. I had a good laugh about mounting the blind. You should get a roll of duct tape to patch up future bullet holes in your gear. I bagged a mirror mount on my combine that way once.
Did you not butcher your stinky boar? I have a good recipe for boar meat.

 

[jmorris]

Could have shot more pigs, but our freezers are full.

Thats no reason to stop killing pigs.

 

[Chuck R.]

That was a great write up. I had a good laugh about mounting the blind. You should get a roll of duct tape to patch up future bullet holes in your gear. I bagged a mirror mount on my combine that way once.
Did you not butcher your stinky boar? I have a good recipe for boar meat.

Nope, I shot one a couple years ago, and it was bad.. all bad. The landowner wants them gone, doesn't want the carcasses on the property, but none of us wanted to mess with it. So we dug a hole and in he went.

IF you will, please PM me your recipe and we'll try it!

Thats no reason to stop killing pigs.

Agreed, but the logistics of getting rid of them, just aren't in place for tis short trip. They're still hunting them, so some more will be removed.

 

[jmorris]

Agreed, but the logistics of getting rid of them, just aren't in place for tis short trip. They're still hunting them, so some more will be removed.

Use the tractor and don't waste your time digging holes with it. Even if they have killed off all of their 4 legged scavengers there are still starving buzzards out there.

I generally get the part I want and then let them enjoy the rest.



They are all gone by the next weekend. Then again, its our land and we want them gone more than anything else.

 

[Armored farmer]

IF you will, please PM me your recipe and we'll try it!

Oh, let's share it with everyone....
Hang a boar loin on a barbed wire fence, wait for a buzzard to arrive. Shoot the buzzard and marinate with a bottle of bourbon on a cedar plank. Toss out the buzzard, drink the marinade, and eat the plank.
Enjoy!

 

[Chuck R.]

Oh, let's share it with everyone....
Hang a boar loin on a barbed wire fence, wait for a buzzard to arrive. Shoot the buzzard and marinate with a bottle of bourbon on a cedar plank. Toss out the buzzard, drink the marinade, and eat the plank.
Enjoy!

We did the same with divers, but cooked them with a brick, then ate that..

 

[drobs]

We did the same with divers, but cooked them with a brick, then ate that..

Sounds like my carp recipe.

I do however, love Spicy Hog Breakfast Sausage via biscuits and gravy.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I remember a similar recipe for plank roasted Coot as well.

But that B+G above looks yummy...

 

[Chuck R.]

Sounds like my carp recipe.

I do however, love Spicy Hog Breakfast Sausage via biscuits and gravy.
View attachment 1196705

Ya know I'm originally from the NE (R.I) and I never heard of the B&G stuff until I moved here. While in the army, back when there were messhalls, vs DFACs (Dining facility Administration Centers) we had SoS.. similar.

The guys I bird hunt with are huge fans of B&G and I ate it every day for 5 days in JAN when we went out. Not my favorite, but neither is going hungry.. next time I'm bringing some Cheerios..

 

[drobs]

Ya know I'm originally from the NE (R.I) and I never heard of the B&G stuff until I moved here. While in the army, back when there were messhalls, vs DFACs (Dining facility Administration Centers) we had SoS.. similar.

The guys I bird hunt with are huge fans of B&G and I ate it every day for 5 days in JAN when we went out. Not my favorite, but neither is going hungry.. next time I'm bringing some Cheerios..

5 days might be a little much. I usually eat our batch till it's gone which is maybe 3 days. I've had some really good home made biscuits and really bad ones - tasteless. The canned biscuits work good too.

I was one those odd kids that loved mess hall food served to me in Army Basic Training & AIT. Growing up, Mom loved to cook, but she was horrible at it. Too many weird ingredients.

DFAC food overseas is still good but made for skinny athletes. I put on some weight eating it as a civilian contractor.

 

[OS/N]

I like a 45 handgun and a rifle 30-30.

You can take as many as you want but carry two. It depends on the country also - thick cover, no cover, surounding area. You may not want a 300winmag if close to others but if in open country it wouldn't matter what you use.

 

[Roverguy]

Sounds like you have it covered.

 

[der Teufel]

Here's what you do with the large boars …

 

[dobedo]

Because 2 is 1, and 1 is none, apparently the number is 8.

Packing for our annual pig hunt with a good friend of mine on his lease in OK. Besides the normal hunting "stuff".

Rem M7 in .350RM (main pig gun from stands)
Rem 7600 in .358Win (pig gun IF we still hunt them or 2 man drives and I haven't had a chance to kill anything with it yet)
Rem M700 XCR "Tactical" in .223 because we might chase coyotes once the pigs are done.
Ruger 77 22LR because If we finish on pigs, and the coyotes don't cooperate, squirrels are open)
Benelli SBE 12GA because IF the squirrels don't cooperate, the coyotes don't come we're going crow hunting.
Browning GTI 12GA Because now we're going to get a round of sporting clays in on the days we don't hunt the above.
Colt King Cobra .22LR Because while we're not doing any of the above we're going to plink in his back yard.
HKP2000 in 357SIG, because now I have to travel armed to protect all of the above.

The "real" number is 2; primary and back-up, but since we're both retired army guys, every plan has multiple courses of action, branches and sequels. At one point I was a Support Platoon Leader and my friend Will was a Bn supply officer, so we both subscribe to the "If you don't know what you're doing, more is better" (as long as you're not humping it or swimming with it) mantra, we tend to over pack. It's the reason Crewcabs and 6.5' beds exist.

I'm actually thankful their quail season closed last week..

My two for a pig hunt are a .500 S&W magnum BFR Revolver and a BHA Model 89 .500 S&W magnum. I hunt squirrels with a 22 and always get my load.

 

[marksman13]

I don’t care if a wild pig weighs 5 lbs or 500 lbs. They are buzzard food in my mind. I can’t eat them in sausage either. I just can’t stand the smell of them. I can’t stand to skin them. I don’t really even like to touch them. But, I LOVE to shoot them.

 

[OS/N]

Cut young male pigs are fine to eat when grown but boar meat is not domestic or wild. I smell alot of it in grocery sausage lately and have to toss it out and change brands when that happens. My outside dogs wont even eat it sometimes - not a good sign.