Wild Pigs with 20 guage slugs?

eljay · 09-07-2005, 09:40 AM

I have a small place in the Texas Hill Country, and we raise goats. According to reports, wild pigs are moving into the area. I hear that they destroy fences, and will kill goats. I've been shooting varmints ever since we moved out here, but nothing this large. I don't own, or want to buy, a large calibre rifle. I do own a 20 guage pump shotgun. I've gotten three opinions on shooting wild pigs with slugs in this gun, two saying yes, it'll do it, one saying no, it won't. All shots would have to be 50 to 70 yards, no more. I wouldn't really be going hunting for these critters, just protecting my property and animals. If driving around my place in my '72 Chevy pickup with its rather loud dual glasspacks would cause them to run off, then I'd do that. I know I can't eliminate the problem, I only want to keep it off of my place, and away from my fences and my goats. I would appreciate any and all comments and input on this. Thanks,
eljay

rebel727 · 09-07-2005, 10:19 AM

A 20 g. slug will kill them but a wild hog is tough and aggressive to begin with and wounded they're even meaner. They will come after you and those tusks are sharp and will rip you up if they get to you. They're not grizzly bears tho and some people hunt them with bows(from a tree stand) Just be overly cautious if you do use a 20.

eljay · 09-07-2005, 12:12 PM

My plan is to have my wife drive around the place in the pickup. I will have installed a brace in the bed against which I can support myself and, if the headlights or the spotlight pick up a target, shoot at it from the bed. The old truck might take some dents, if a hog is angry enough, but it's taken worse in it's 33 year life. How does this sound, from a safety standpoint? And thanks very much for the input!
eljay

rebel727 · 09-07-2005, 12:47 PM

Safe enough. Never seen a wild hog out in the open tho so don't know how it would work.

burd1959 · 09-07-2005, 02:13 PM

hunt deer with 20 gauge put scope on it and practice 75 yards or less no problem chest or head they will die dont forget the barbeque grill

burd1959 · 09-07-2005, 02:15 PM

ooh if overwelmed send email ill help love a good hunt

rebel727 · 09-07-2005, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burd1959

dont forget the barbeque grill

They're better cooked in the ground.

eljay · 09-07-2005, 03:22 PM

Thanks for all the inputs! My shotgun has a good quality red dot sight on it, and am going to sight it in for slugs at 50 yards. I hope that'll get it done. But I don't know how to slaughter them, or cook them, so don't know about that. ;-) again, thanks!
eljay

eljay · 09-07-2005, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebel727

Safe enough. Never seen a wild hog out in the open tho so don't know how it would work.

I don't have any real woods on my land, only some stands of live oak. Not a lot of cover for wild animals. Did lose our first ever kid goat yesterday, while we were gone to town, to coyotes, I think. Found it in one of the oak tree stands I mentioned. Our guardian animal, a burro, was with the nannys in another pasture, as we had recently weaned off the kids. Big mistake leaving them alone, I guess.
Anyway, if that's not enough cover for a wild pig, then it won't be on my place, and I won't be worried about it. Neighbors on three sides have lots of land, and lots of woods. Maybe the hogs will stay on their places. I can hope, anyway. They have horses and cattle, but no goats or sheep. I guess I'll see what happens. Again, thanks for the help.
eljay

Mick · 09-07-2005, 03:36 PM

when in the open pigs tend to run in a straight line, and they don't stop for a spotlight like most animals, and they can run like !!!! for quite a distance, but with a pump gun, standing in the back of the truck and running them down and shooting them works like a charm.

Johnny_Revolver · 09-07-2005, 07:15 PM

Mick ever noticed that if you chase pigs on foot, like with a rifle / shot gun and no dogs, the bludgers look back over their shoulder at you?? When you tire and cut back to a walk, they idle back, I mean when they have 60 or 70 yards on you, and when you break back into a run, they speed up too... I have seen this too many times. Goats are stupid, if you stop and stand still so do they!

eljay · 09-07-2005, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny_Revolver

Mick ever noticed that if you chase pigs on foot, like with a rifle / shot gun and no dogs, the bludgers look back over their shoulder at you?? When you tire and cut back to a walk, they idle back, I mean when they have 60 or 70 yards on you, and when you break back into a run, they speed up too... I have seen this too many times. Goats are stupid, if you stop and stand still so do they!

That's because goats are not "flight" animals. I didn't know, but I guess wild pigs are. We raise goats, though, and I don't think they're stupid. Of course, everything is relative, I guess. I'm getting ready for the wild pigs, in case they show up on my place. From what I've read here, if they do, it'll be because they're after my goats since, as I mentioned, I don't have any real woods on my place. Time will tell, I guess.
eljay

auspighunter · 09-08-2005, 04:28 AM

we just got back from our hunting trip we got few goats couple pigs maybe 40 or 50 rabbits 4 foxes good ol time

got the 22-250 shooting really good groups and tested it out on the goats

me and my dad saw a big mob of goats and got to lie 40 ms of them but didnt shoot them

we wanted couple kids for meat so we went back and got my brothere who came home for a holiday to give him a shot

we stalkedd them for a bout 2kms and evetually got to about 150yds and we just opened fire constantly 22-250 2 308s and a 222 we couldnt hear for ages but we got a few
at about 150 i got 1 or 2 the 1 im sure of hit it in the lungs wif the 55gr PMC soft point cheapo and it just dropped bang straight down

really powerful 22 normally with the 222 we never got any exiting but it was small in small exit out on roos and goats

the highlight of the trip was shooting a crow with the 22lr from 120 into a big mob of them

auspighunter · 09-08-2005, 04:28 AM

u can KILL A PIG WITH A 22 its all about shot placement

if u hit it in the right spot it will die

practical · 09-08-2005, 05:22 AM

If you need help with the pigs, let me know. I'll bring enough firepower for both of us. Seriously.

rebel727 · 09-08-2005, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auspighunter

u can KILL A PIG WITH A 22 its all about shot placement

if u hit it in the right spot it will die

Oh but brother if you don't.

eljay · 09-08-2005, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by practical

If you need help with the pigs, let me know. I'll bring enough firepower for both of us. Seriously.

I appreciate the offer, and I will not forget it. I'm going in to town today, see if I can learn if there are any local folks organizing hunts. I heard (unconfirmed story, by the way) that there were government hunters in this county, hunting and trapping wild boar and coyotes, who got crossways with a county judge and left, saying that within a year no one in this county would be able to keep stock and fences, for the coyotes and wild boars. I wish I had a real good feel for just how serious this problem is, and what can or will be done about it. It may be coincidence but, as I mentioned, we lost our first kid goat to what I believe to have been coyotes just day before yesterday. And I know that just a few weeks ago, a neighboring land owner brought in several goats, most of which were killed by coyotes within a week. However, he's non-resident, and did not have a guard animal. We have the burro, a jenny, who has been raised from a very early age with the goats, and my son has seen a burro like ours attack a dog that got into the pasture with her goats. Said she was vicious, and that's what I've been told by others. Hope they're right. Again, thanks for the offer, I won't forget it.
eljay

eljay · 09-08-2005, 10:44 AM

Practical,

Hope you were in Casper, and not Baton Rouge, when the storm hit.
eljay

eljay · 09-09-2005, 11:01 AM

I've learned the wild pigs are much closer to me than I thought. They're on a ranch that's only one ranch removed from me. The one between me and them is probably a thousand acres or so, with lots of woods, and stock ponds. Then there's a county road to cross, then our place. I hope two things, one that we keep our pastures mowed and have no tall grass, and two, we have no woods a such, will make our place unatractive to them. At least, that's what I hope.
eljay

Mick · 09-09-2005, 03:38 PM

Yeah but pigs will walk a long way to feed and then back into thick brush during the day to camp, slashed grass is ideal for them because they can dig around in it plus you have baby goats, man if I was a pig you couldn't keep me away. Have you thought about trapping them, if they start coming onto you place it will be easy enough to find the path they are using, then start feeding them grain in the trap with the door wired open for a week or so, and then set the door. You will get more that way than trying to shoot them. Once they are in the trap you can shoot 'em with yer 20ga

09-07-2005, 09:40 AM	#1
eljay Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 58 Trader Rating: (0)	Wild Pigs with 20 guage slugs? I have a small place in the Texas Hill Country, and we raise goats. According to reports, wild pigs are moving into the area. I hear that they destroy fences, and will kill goats. I've been shooting varmints ever since we moved out here, but nothing this large. I don't own, or want to buy, a large calibre rifle. I do own a 20 guage pump shotgun. I've gotten three opinions on shooting wild pigs with slugs in this gun, two saying yes, it'll do it, one saying no, it won't. All shots would have to be 50 to 70 yards, no more. I wouldn't really be going hunting for these critters, just protecting my property and animals. If driving around my place in my '72 Chevy pickup with its rather loud dual glasspacks would cause them to run off, then I'd do that. I know I can't eliminate the problem, I only want to keep it off of my place, and away from my fences and my goats. I would appreciate any and all comments and input on this. Thanks, eljay

09-07-2005, 10:19 AM	#2
rebel727 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Heidelberg, Mississippi Posts: 1,512 Trader Rating: (0)	A 20 g. slug will kill them but a wild hog is tough and aggressive to begin with and wounded they're even meaner. They will come after you and those tusks are sharp and will rip you up if they get to you. They're not grizzly bears tho and some people hunt them with bows(from a tree stand) Just be overly cautious if you do use a 20. __________________ North-1 South-0 HALFTIME!

09-07-2005, 12:47 PM	#4
rebel727 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Heidelberg, Mississippi Posts: 1,512 Trader Rating: (0)	Safe enough. Never seen a wild hog out in the open tho so don't know how it would work. __________________ North-1 South-0 HALFTIME!

09-07-2005, 03:36 PM	#10
Mick Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Emerald CQLD AUST Posts: 977 Trader Rating: (0)	when in the open pigs tend to run in a straight line, and they don't stop for a spotlight like most animals, and they can run like !!!! for quite a distance, but with a pump gun, standing in the back of the truck and running them down and shooting them works like a charm. __________________ OzHunter Give me a six-pack and a red dirt open road (Adam Brand)

09-08-2005, 05:22 AM	#15
practical Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, LA/Casper, WY Posts: 736 Trader Rating: (0)	If you need help with the pigs, let me know. I'll bring enough firepower for both of us. Seriously. __________________ Eric "The secret to life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made"

09-07-2005, 12:12 PM	#3
eljay Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 58 Trader Rating: (0)	My plan is to have my wife drive around the place in the pickup. I will have installed a brace in the bed against which I can support myself and, if the headlights or the spotlight pick up a target, shoot at it from the bed. The old truck might take some dents, if a hog is angry enough, but it's taken worse in it's 33 year life. How does this sound, from a safety standpoint? And thanks very much for the input! eljay

09-07-2005, 02:13 PM	#5
burd1959 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: burton michigan Posts: 606 Trader Rating: (0)	hunt deer with 20 gauge put scope on it and practice 75 yards or less no problem chest or head they will die dont forget the barbeque grill

09-07-2005, 02:15 PM	#6
burd1959 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: burton michigan Posts: 606 Trader Rating: (0)	ooh if overwelmed send email ill help love a good hunt

09-07-2005, 03:22 PM	#8
eljay Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 58 Trader Rating: (0)	Thanks for all the inputs! My shotgun has a good quality red dot sight on it, and am going to sight it in for slugs at 50 yards. I hope that'll get it done. But I don't know how to slaughter them, or cook them, so don't know about that. ;-) again, thanks! eljay

09-07-2005, 07:15 PM	#11
Johnny_Revolver Gun Liker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,200 Trader Rating: (0)	Mick ever noticed that if you chase pigs on foot, like with a rifle / shot gun and no dogs, the bludgers look back over their shoulder at you?? When you tire and cut back to a walk, they idle back, I mean when they have 60 or 70 yards on you, and when you break back into a run, they speed up too... I have seen this too many times. Goats are stupid, if you stop and stand still so do they!

09-08-2005, 04:28 AM	#13
auspighunter Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 99 Trader Rating: (0)	we just got back from our hunting trip we got few goats couple pigs maybe 40 or 50 rabbits 4 foxes good ol time got the 22-250 shooting really good groups and tested it out on the goats me and my dad saw a big mob of goats and got to lie 40 ms of them but didnt shoot them we wanted couple kids for meat so we went back and got my brothere who came home for a holiday to give him a shot we stalkedd them for a bout 2kms and evetually got to about 150yds and we just opened fire constantly 22-250 2 308s and a 222 we couldnt hear for ages but we got a few at about 150 i got 1 or 2 the 1 im sure of hit it in the lungs wif the 55gr PMC soft point cheapo and it just dropped bang straight down really powerful 22 normally with the 222 we never got any exiting but it was small in small exit out on roos and goats the highlight of the trip was shooting a crow with the 22lr from 120 into a big mob of them

09-08-2005, 10:44 AM	#18
eljay Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 58 Trader Rating: (0)	location? Practical, Hope you were in Casper, and not Baton Rouge, when the storm hit. eljay

09-09-2005, 11:01 AM	#19
eljay Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 58 Trader Rating: (0)	Closer than I thought I've learned the wild pigs are much closer to me than I thought. They're on a ranch that's only one ranch removed from me. The one between me and them is probably a thousand acres or so, with lots of woods, and stock ponds. Then there's a county road to cross, then our place. I hope two things, one that we keep our pastures mowed and have no tall grass, and two, we have no woods a such, will make our place unatractive to them. At least, that's what I hope. eljay

09-09-2005, 03:38 PM	#20
Mick Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Emerald CQLD AUST Posts: 977 Trader Rating: (0)	Yeah but pigs will walk a long way to feed and then back into thick brush during the day to camp, slashed grass is ideal for them because they can dig around in it plus you have baby goats, man if I was a pig you couldn't keep me away. Have you thought about trapping them, if they start coming onto you place it will be easy enough to find the path they are using, then start feeding them grain in the trap with the door wired open for a week or so, and then set the door. You will get more that way than trying to shoot them. Once they are in the trap you can shoot 'em with yer 20ga __________________ OzHunter Give me a six-pack and a red dirt open road (Adam Brand)