Texas Hog Hunt

[J-Rod]

I have a chance to go on a hunting trip for hog in Texas. Any suggestions on times and rounds.

[ArkansasHunter]

Time: Anytime. Rounds: 30-30, 35 Rem. and bigger. Good Luck and have a great time.
Bring back pictures and a story...A.H

[J-Rod]

Thanks A.H.

[Midas]

As suggested before, anytime of the year is ok, but I prefer to hunt them in the Spring, before it gets too hot. Pretty much any cartridge you would use for deer hunting, you can use on hogs (.270, .308, 30-06, etc.)

[elmer fudd]

what about a .243? we are thinking about going down there too

[Windwalker]

The .243 is capable of killing a hog. Its all about bullet placement. Hunting from a stand it would be fine but if you are going to be on the ground I would prefer a .35 or a 45-70.

[elmer fudd]

they arnt that much tuffer than a deer are they?

[Midas]

Originally Posted by elmer fudd

they arnt that much tuffer than a deer are they?

It's not that they are "tougher", they are just a whole lot meaner if you are unfortunate enough to wound one. When I hog hunt, I prefer heavier cartridges (.338 Win Mag, .45-70 are two fine examples) because to me, they add a little more insurance. Chasing a pissed off boar that weighs 400+ lbs is not a fun experience.

[elmer fudd]

ok

[Rattle'em up]

Right now is a good time and I would try and find a place that feeds them corn. For rifle selection it just depends on what you want to do with the pig. I like to slow cook the whole pig with the skin left on, but a .30 caliber bullet in the side of the pig would not do the meat any favors. All of the skin must be left intact so it doesn't dry out when cooked. I like head shots with small calibers...... .22mags and 60lb hogs.

[elmer fudd]

what about a .22 LR?

[billy]

i would like to use my 454casull on a pig hunt.

[Brother Bob]

.30-.30 would be ideal for shots at 50-75 yards. Aim for the head. They drop like lightning hit them. Never been hog hunting, but I suspect that after killing about 500 hogs at a butcher shop, they aren't that hard to kill in the field, either. Hogs are smart and have a head full of brain. A .22 at 50 ft. will drop one, but I recommend a bigger caliber for the feral hogs. A 12 gauge with buckshot will do the job, too. My 2 cents.

[toolman]

True feral hogs are a lot tougher than deer and domestic hogs because they spend a lot of time fighting and foraging, rather than laying dormant like a domestic pig. I've put 'em down with one shot from a 7.62x39 and I've had 'em run off after being hit with a 7.62x54R. The first one I ever shot took three 196 grain s.p.'s to finally kill at a range of about 50 ft.

[J-Rod]

I'll probably use my remington .243 or maybe even a remington slug gun

[Texan]

Have hunted feral hogs and Javelina hogs all my life and I'll tell ya one thing to not forget, a pistol especially with Javelina's. And I'm not talking a .22, I'm talking 9mm at the least. Wounded hogs are sometimes hard to deal with in especially in wooded/bush areas where you can't get the barrel of a rifle up for a clear shot.

Javelina's run in packs most of the time and will come to defend a wounded buddy. AND they can be pretty mean...so the pistol is a great idea. I've seen 'em nearly take down a tree trying to get to a fellow. You want to run across a mean bitch get around a female with little ones.. OMG!!!! They hissss just like a snake.

Feral's are not near as mean.....

o~\o

[Rattle'em up]

Originally Posted by elmer fudd

what about a .22 LR?

A .22mag is what I use at 15yrds sitting in a stand. My Ruger has a cheap Bushnell 4X scope attached to it. I only kill young hogs for the meat and 60lbs is enough for 30-40 people. Where I go the hogs are fed corn so the meat isn't half bad. This is a once a year hunt for me unless I have friends come down.

[fishnfool1991]

i just went wild ferrel pig hunting last week shot a 278 pounder skinned em and slow cooked him on a grill very good shot him with a .243 with ballistic tip you have to shoot em right behing the ear or between the eyes and one shot will do it. I normally sit in a box in a tree and there is a feeder 100 yards down the field and they come out right before dark on the days that its going to rain that night but i fouind out that at night is when most of them come out also they are like deer the smaller ones come out then the bigger ones
garrett

[Widux]

Wife uses a 270- i use 45/70 or 44 amg or 50 cal traditional muzzlegun--I like BIg cal for those buggers--esp when hunting on a stalk not over bait--tough critters

[Rambo]

I use a .223 in the ear and then there's no chasing it. Here's some head shots from Feb this year.