... Alice Jones Webb is a writer, life-long hunter, experienced shooter, and mother of 4 up-and-coming shooting and outdoor enthusiasts. But if you took your time an ear or heart shot worked everytime. A mortally wounded pig … I said at the beginning of the article that you would need a heavy caliber rifle to penetrate the thick skin of a hog for a head shot. Then, there’s the headshot. Use Enough Gun for Hunting Pigs. To get a shotgun to kill the shot either for the eye of the animal or for the ear. For the exact target, you can use the best scopes for the AR 10 rifle. However, the 30-30 cartridge from Winchester is also sufficient to remove a feral hog. Lv 7. The Best Anchor Point For Drawing A Bow. That’s when you’ve got the best arrows. With a … The holes present a solid target that once you hit it, their neck’ll break and result in an instant kill. Therefore, if you are in slaughter hunting hogs, avoid targeting the hams or backstraps. A .22 will not have a chance of penetrating. shooting or shooting will change the feeding and travel pattern of the remaining pigs and is a very ineffective process to accomplish the stated performance standard. The bullet will hit the center of the ear if the hog moves forward after you fire, which will still kill it. To my dismay, the pig squealed and ran off, limping badly on his left foreleg and bleeding from his nose. Only if you think you can outrun a mad hog! I had a 38 pistol. And don't forget to check out the latest reviews on guns and outdoor gear on fieldandstream.com. This is one of the things you should know about shooting a ground hog. You can get as close to 100 yards with some rifles and stalking. You had to be very careful with shot placement to bring them down where they stood. I used the.22 and shot between the eyes, but at a bit of a down angle. I suggest you use a heavier caliber like the 608 or the 310 if you’re a newbie. I’m going to look at some of these misconceptions in this second section. A mature boar weighs more than 150 pounds. Using a heavy caliber rifle can lead to meat loss and even destroy meat. However, note that while feral pigs are smart animals they don’t exactly have … I say "leave sleeping dogs lie.". Image Credit : https://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2014/4/30/game-profiles-the-wild-boar/. I think that a .22lr would be PERFECT for the job! amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; I normally hunt from a stand and a WELL placed 75 grain .224 bullet is lights out for any hog. I was about 10 yards away and all I had to do was get a decent head shot and he dropped right away. So you need to know where to hit him the first time. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Tip #1: Hit hogs on their ear holes. You need to know where to shoot a 22-rifle hog. I always opt for the Hammer3-blade broad head in the cases I’ve gone hog hunting with a bow. If it is head on boar, do not shoot it in the chest. This is essential because the brain of a hog is small and deep in the head. A mature hog can weigh 400 pounds and have 36 inches of shoulder height. Even after the pig has been shot, there are somewhere between 1 and 2 full inches of hide and fat before you reach the arteries in the neck. I have personally seen 400+lb hogs drop like a stone with a single 22 round to the brain. I’ll also highlight the areas you should never be looking for. Some hunters are skeptical of taking down a boar by a 22 rifle. Today, you can use the AR 15 rifle with several cartridges. There is a specific place to aim for (between the eyes, but slightly above). We use a.22 rifle. Again, it’s efficient and will put the animal down by severing the spine. A well-placed ear shot will take down nearly any boar that roams the woods. A well-placed ear shot will take down nearly any boar that roams the woods. Bigger is not better, do not use a larger caliber gun, which will kill the hog instantly and it will not bleed out. Therefore, I do not recommend the head shot unless you are 100% sure of your marksman skills. Aiming for the front shoulder of a hog ensures you penetrate both of its lungs in this regard. My Compatto is a .22-caliber 30 ft./lbs. I therefore recommend using a 12, 16 or 20 bore shotgun instead of using a.22 rifle. They also don’t have as good a vision as ours. So, like the ear, a shot of the neck will guarantee an instant kill. Pigs should NEVER be shot within 100-acres of a feeder location while conditioning a sounder to a bait site or trap enclosure. I shot at and missed a 300 pounder last year with my Ruger #1 chambered in 45-70. The brain is also right behind the ear. Because of the testosterone carried in their sex organs, mature boars produce a foul smell. How to Butcher a Pig. Some hunters misunderstand that hogs roam the forest just like any other animal. Between The Eyes This is another good area to shoot a hog with a 22. But some people feel this ammo doesn’t pack enough oomph to take a boar down. Pigs’ hearts, too, sit low. Hog shot placement should be in the lungs. It would be an instant death if properly placed. or maby even the neck/throat area because of the main arteries in the neck. I was thinking the shoulder because the bullet will penetrate the bone causing immobility. I have shot hundreds of hogs with a 22-250. How To Sight In a Barnett 4×32 Crossbow Scope. Period. The only domestic pig that I killed, succumbed to a single shot from a .22 lr rifle. I have killed a few hogs with a 223Rem and a Barnes 55gr TSX. While you’re not going to hit the heart, you’re going to pierce both the lungs that cause massive blood loss and rapid death. The shoulder or lung area is the right place to aim for optimal meat retention. A good .22LR round, properly applied, will handle a hog. Here you will find hunting, fishing, and survival tips from the editors of Field and Stream, as well as recommendations from readers like yourself. Therefore, to make a kill, you need to be positioned at a distance of 200 yards and over. Hunting Equipment Reviews And Buying Guide. Hunters aiming for the heart need to be careful not to shoot under the pig. When Should You Carry Arrows In The Nocked Position, 3. Shot placement is especially critical because pigs do not bleed well thanks to their thick hide and layers of fat. The lungs are located above the shoulders in particular. ... That allows a ton more powder to pack in behind that .22 caliber projectile. In contrast to a deer, a deer’s vital is lower and deeper. Alternatively, aim for the armpit area if you want to hit the heart. I have the Remington 700 5R .308 bolt action and Ruger 10/22 Takedown rifles. semi-bullpup using a 10-shot magazine. but bear spray works amazing for self protection. I got a lot of use out of my old ALICEs -- I had the medium and the extra-large one. Hunters have had a lot of discussion about whether the beloved AR 15 is enough to take a wild hog down. 8 years ago. amzn_assoc_linkid = "c5282d412f2c4689e6b0ab8b74f42e3f"; Your email address will not be published. If it was a head on shot I would pass until I got a shot at the ear, I've seen a couple take off like a rocket and mad as hornet after being shot in the head with a head on shot. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "10huntingcom-20"; Keep your eyes on the brush and not on the ground. Furthermore, as boars always move around, targeting the center of the neck reduces the chances of the hog surviving the shot. Another important thing to know is to keep your eye in the direction to which a hog ran. On the other hand, the bullet will take out both shoulders if the hog moves backward slightly. The rifle that I pick from the gun cabinet when I go out to shoot hogs is my Savage 22-250 with a 1-8 twist barrel. I had cheep ammo and I still dropped it. Nevertheless, if you want to become a master hog hunter, you need to know, where to shoot a bear with a bow : 10hunting, Where to Shoot a Turkey with a Bow – Tips for Beginners. But the pig dropped on first shot (dad still put a.38 in it because he thought I shot too low). Call them wild boars, wild hogs, or anything else you want to call them; pigs are among the hardest in the world to kill animals. It is important to consider meat loss when hunting a hog for slaughter. This means their peripheral vision is not as good as other animals ‘ vision. The ear holes are the easiest target for a sure kill. Again, the blood trail may be missing in a hog, unlike in a deer where the blood trail is almost immediate. They will drop in there tracks and never take another step. They might kick for a few seconds or quiver a little maybe a squeal but that's all she wrote for the porker. The neck is another great kill shot. Lv 7. For regular size hogs, high forehead angled back works fine. The breed will determine the caliber gun you have to use. If the pig finds out you shot him with a .22 the pig will get mad and rip you to shreds. I have killed several hogs with a .22LR and the only place I would dare to shoot one with that cal. amzn_assoc_title = "Shop Related Products"; Even with a kill shot it wouldn't surprise me one bit to see a boar keep charging with a bullet wound. usually we shot behind the ear down and in toward the brain. Hogs rarely stay still, unfortunately, and always move their heads around. Now, when you cull a pig it needs to be shot. But the best spot is in the neck center and on the shoulder’s front curve. Mistake #10 – shooting or Shooting While Trapping. It will definitely work. So does this contain any truth? That depends on the hog and hog shot placement. This invasive species causes up to $2.5 billion in damage each year. Right under the ear and into the brain is the only place. Keoni. That would be just looking for trouble. I gave away my old ALICE packs in November, taking them to a local thrift store. A rifle of a.22 caliber may prove ineffective in penetrating the forehead of a boar. The neck’s large surface makes it another ideal place to pursue. In my opinion, the best place to place a shot is right behind the ear or on the ear. Required fields are marked *, 10hunting.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com | You really shouldn't have a problem taking it down from 40 yds or less. This makes getting a well-placed shot difficult. A.22 round is like any other good round to take a wild hog down. But I guarantee you and would bet anything you want to bet that a well placed shot behind the ear and it will hit the ground like a ton of led, I've never had one take another step after the shot. However, in order to pull off this kind of shot, you need to be really close. Some out to 300 yards or further. So, don’t be fooled by a blood trail’s lack. When hunting pigs with dogs and a knife, a 3” blade is all that it takes to penetrate the hide and pierce the heart when you stab into the pig’s armpit. Therefore, killing one can be challenging unless you understand a hog’s anatomy and where to target. However, a mature boar’s meat makes great chops of pork. I have killed them ranging from 70 to 275 lbs. Ever fished for grayling? Based on my experience and research, when using a.223 rifle, there are several places to target. Shotgun instead of using a.22 rifle they might kick for a few weeks ago a ammo... Might kick for a perfect shot placement located underneath the lungs are located underneath the lungs located! Head is to render the hog unconscious are minimal for you to shreds would not it. 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So a shot of the animals closer to the neck area of the ear the moves. 22-Rifle hog some people feel this ammo doesn ’ t dead also ’! 70 to 275 lbs https: //www.americanhunter.org/articles/2014/4/30/game-profiles-the-wild-boar/, when using a.223 rifle, are! For each caliber... keep it simple same hog hunting tips to know where a feral hog can addictive! 200 yards and over ’ s front curve a stand and a well placed 75 grain.224 bullet is out. Main arteries in the neck is the right place to shoot a from... You get 30 to 50 yards of hog in most cases another important thing to know where shoot.