Public hog hunting, but there's a catch

[MCgunner]

So, I'm out checking out a dove hunting area today near my home. Actually, I have been there before looking for and not finding dove. I walked all over it today and saw two. There's two tanks on the place. It slopes off into a marsh area where I've hunted teal and ducks before and there's a big snow goose roost and some decent goose hunting.

So, anyway, I talked to another fellow there at the information bulletin board the state has there and he says he's scouting for hog hunting. I didn't know that was allowed there, but I walked the perimeter of the dove hunting area and found some hog sign and I know the marsh is full of 'em. Other side of the river, there's HUGE concentrations of hogs, so I suspect this area has similar. I'm going to go back and scout the margin, the slope between the marsh and upland area for game trails and hog sign from 'em coming up out of the marsh to bed down. Ambushing 'em there, I'm thinking, is a best bet.

Okay, the catch. First, hunting is February and March only. No biggy, something different to do than sit in my stand and watch my feeder. Okay, second big catch, after badmouthing buck shot's effectiveness on this very board, shotguns with buckshot only must be used. :banghead: I will have to get VERY close and make head shots. I'm thinking I should pattern 00 in my old side by side. It's choked full/mod. I'm not sure how 00 will pattern out of full choke, might be too tight for it. So, in that case, I'll use one of my repeaters, I guess. But, if the old SxS can toss a decent pattern, this will be something I can use it for since it's retired from bird hunting. OF COURSE, my number one choice might be to use my new 10 gauge I have on order which should be here this week. I have a modified choke coming for it and the gun comes with an extra full turkey choke. That's all H&R makes for it in chokes. Not sure if there's any other brand choke available for an H&R 10 gauge, but I ain't gonna hold my breath on that one.

I've got time to spend at the range before February, though. So, what is your opinion on weapon and choke? I know it all depends on the patterns I can shoot. You think buck shot would pattern tight through a full choke or would it be too tight as I suspect???? I don't have any 3" buck shot, all 2 3/4. Perhaps I'll try some 3" 12 00 and find out what I can get in 10 gauge.

I never liked the idea of buckshot, but in this case, it's mandated by rules. If they would allow slugs, I'd bet me that 12 gauge rifled slug barrel for the H&R and play with some of those sabots. It's only 85 bucks. But, they don't. I ain't real worried if I cripple a hog. Won't bother me NEAR as much as losing a deer. But, I hate to make anything suffer, even a hog, so I need to get inside 30 yards with a good tight pattern and get a head shot, I'm thinkin'.

 

[MCgunner]

Hmmmm.......

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=619376

 

[Jst1mr]

I would definitely try the full choke to see the pattern....recommend Federal buffered buck if you can get it...

 

[MCgunner]

Thanks. I've got some 2 3/4" buck around here I can test in the old double. Meanwhile, I think I'll order some of that 10 gauge stuff. Wow, 18 pellets, twice the pellet count of a 2 3/4" 12.

I'm not sure why the state would mandate buck only out there. Perhaps they just wanna make sure you're close enough to KNOW what you're shooting at. Hogs are normally a short range proposition, but sitting up on that blouff, I bet you could glass hogs off in the marsh. Spot and stalk down here, who'd a thunk it! That's why I wanna go out there. I have hogs up to my chin out at my place, but I have to feeder watch there. I really don't care if I get anything if I can spot and stalk and still hunt with reasonable expectation of possible success. The area is pretty remot, not a house for several miles from the most inland fence. It is down not too far from the Aransas NWR where the whoopers winter. Getting close will definitely be the challenge. Buckshot is NOT what would be my first choice on a big hog. If that 10 gauge will pattern tight, though, with that federal buck, that'll b e the ticket. Got plenty of time to play with it at the range, can't hunt 'til february.

I was coming out of there yesterday evening and there was a big flock of turkey on the road. Too bad they don't allow turkey hunting there. But, there's only a little over 10000 acres there and most of that is marsh. Guess that'd be a might small for public turkey hunting. I just hope the hog hunting ain't too crowded. I'll go mid week. Perhaps, just thinking about it, the buckshot rule isn't so stupid. Might be some color blind idiot out there that can't see the hunter orange.

 

[Greybeard]

Yep, the Federal "buffered buck" (tactical) held the tightest groups for years in testing I'd done with it - until a buddy got me to try the Winchester Low Recoil Ranger stuff. It was slightly tighter ...

Oddly enough, on some of most (state, not federal) public hunting lands in these parts, even "possession" of buck shot is prohibited - when slugs may be allowed ...

 

[MCgunner]

Dixie tri ball looks promising. This stuff might even work for a shoulder shot. The problem will be finding the stuff.

 

[IndianaBoy]

I would recommend taking shoulder shots, not head shots... on hogs.

While a rifle will certainly pop their melon open, a lead buckshot pellet likely will not.

 

[Greybeard]

How about a good compromise of going for the neck and hopefully landing one of the 00 balls just behind and below an ear?

 

[MCgunner]

If a 00 can't pop the head, how's it going to make it through the shoulder of a 200 lb hog? I've popped a lot of hogs in the head point blank with a .22 pistol, though, so I figure a .33 cal round ball will do it.....maybe.

Okay, so I'm debating here. Go for 12 gauge dixie tri ball and shoot for the body, go for 54 count number 4 buck in 10 gauge and go for the head as in turkey hunting, or split the difference and hope for the best with 00. No great choices here as I see it. I'm leaning toward the tri ball. I have to order 5 boxes at 9 bucks a box from their site, minimum. Would like to test a few first. But, they show a nice 6" group at 40 yards with the stuff as typical from full choke and being as the stuff is 60 caliber round ball, it'd kinda be like firing 3 58 caliber round balls from a hawken at the boar at the same time. Something about that gives me goose bumps. Wish they offered the stuff in 10 gauge, be a little bigger, yet, and maybe a little faster. Or, they might fit 4 balls in that 3.5" hull.

How ever I go with this, I'm going to have to get real close. The tri ball might give me 50 yards of effectiveness, not sure until I do some patterning.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Hey MC;

I've shot a lot of buckshot, and by extension a few deer and hogs with it.

Try the 000-buck for 10 -.35" pellets have a bit more punch in the pattern than the 9 or 12 pellet 00-buck. (12ga.- the 10ga will be a bit better, more shot but not as much velocity).

I've also shot a couple of "pigs", not quite large enough to be called "hogs", rather about 150-200lbs (about average in east Georgia).

I've mostly used my 20ga SxS while hunting other "small" game. I load 10 .31" round balls for the .32cal BP revolvers (I cast them myself) over a RP20 wad with the fingers cut off even with the cushion. I buffer with a "proprietary" material that results in a 10" pattern at 25yds. Velocity is nominal for a buckshot load at ~1,200fps.

Results have been 2 pigs, and 3 deer from 6 shots. (My "first" SxS would double, hence the pig caught 18 #1 pellets. Ruined his day! about like shooting a squirrel with a load of #6's. The deer shot from 25-35yds have been "bang-flops" except for one that ran about 20yds and fell over before I could feed another buck-shot load into the chamber. (only had one loaded on "off side" barrel in case of a pig or deer, while taking a neighbors son squirrel hunting.)

Keep the range short (most pig hunting IS short), and the buckshot might just suprise you.

Also, I've found that with 00 and 000, usually a modified choke will give best patterns. Occasionally, an Improved Cyl will do better with the 000-buck. Once, I investigated a night hunting incident where two subjects shot a doe deer from the road, in a field, at about 50yds. (found the hair and blood trail). The deer made it about 100yds, just into the edge of the woods where it ran head-on into a pine tree before expiring. The load was a Federal High-Velocity 2-3/4" 8 pellet load fired from a Savage pump "police" shotgun w/18.5"bbl w/imp.cyl. choke; case found lying in the roadway near centerline. There were 5 pellets in vital areas in the deer found when I had the deer X-rayed at a local Vet's office. I still have the X-ray somewhere in my old files. Suprised a LOT of people, not the least me.

Try it, you might like it !

 

[MCgunner]

Thanks for the advice! Hmm, well, got to thinkin' about it last night wondering if a game warden would consider "tri ball" as buckshot. Might not meet the definition of the rules of the area. So, I kinda backed off the tri ball idea anyway. I think I'll try some 00 10 gauge. Yeah, getting close is normal for hog hunting, you're quite right, and especially when you're on foot still hunting. I've shot 'em at 10 feet, before, standing right beside 'em bedded up in brush and a flick of a tail is all that I could see to alert me to their presence. They can flat disappear in brush. I still think the rules are a little odd on this WMA as many of TP&Ws WMAs in the APH system forbid having buckshot on your person. But,it must have something to do with hunter safety, I'm thinking, making sure you have to get close to shoot and can't stand off 100 yards and just shoot at a brown spot in the brush. LOL

So, they make 000 in 10 gauge? All I've found is Federal 00 which might be better anyway since I'm stuck with a modified choke.

Very informative, Goose. Thanks again for posting.