I shot these five hogs in the FMNF last week. I couldn’t believe it when I shot the first one and then the others didn’t run. I believe I may have killed the sow first and the young ones didn’t know what to do. I did learn some valuable lessons though so thought I would share.
I have been hunting hardwood bottoms the past year and a half. I tried “Sow in Estrous” scents and even bought a FoxPro game caller. I’m not saying those things won’t work, but they didn’t do anything for me. The day I shot these, I basically got frustrated and said to myself “I’m just going to loop back to the truck and go home”. That loop took me through more hardwood bottoms and into the typical planted pine forest of the FMNF. Now don’t get me wrong, those hardwood bottoms were FULL of hog signs but no actual live hogs. I was stopped in the pines checking Google Earth to see which way I needed to head to get back to the truck when I heard the bushes rustle no more than 20 yards from me. There was a lot of knee-high scrub brush so I couldn’t even see them clearly until I stood up on a stump. I do believe the wind was in my favor because they never knew I was there and I was really close to them. So the point is, the hogs aren’t always down in the swampy lowland areas. From now on, I will probably stalk rather than wait on them to pass by me. If I hadn’t taken the exact path I did, I never would have even seen them. They were almost on top of me. I wasn’t being particularly quiet either, so that makes me think both their vision and hearing is not that superb.
I ran out of ammo in my rifle magazine and could still hear one of them grunting. Hearing a wild pig grunting in brush less than 20 yards from you when you are out of ammo gets the heart pounding. I fumbled around in my pack, got some more ammo, reloaded and shot the last one. It was surreal. Every one of them fell in their tracks from a single neck shot from a 30-06 using 150 grain Winchester ammo. I was probably 400 yards from my truck where I shot them. Dragging those th
Yeah, I’m guessing I’m in for about $400 in processing costs. Christmas presents! That’s a once in a lifetime event I believe too. Won’t ever forget it. Definitely worth the cost.
That had to be tough dragging 5 of those rascals out! I’ve done my share of dragging dead deer long enough to know what a workout that is.
Congrats, man…that’s a lot of BBQ!
Pork is cheap, pigs eating pine cones are nasty. Shoot them and pile them in a ditch, buzzards and vermin got to eat too. Those little pigs aren’t worth the effort anyway.
BTW, (**() fine blood-letting, dead pigs are good pigs.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
Salty is right, those things are nasty… Just leave them in the cooler and I will deal with them - and could you pick up some cider vinegar and red pepper for me too?
Pork is cheap, pigs eating pine cones are nasty. Shoot them and pile them in a ditch, buzzards and vermin got to eat too. Those little pigs aren’t worth the effort
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I’ll have to disagree with ya. I think the small ones and sows eat better than domestic as long as they don’t come from salt marsh land. We skin quarter and put as much as will fit on the grill. What ever is left over goes in the freezer Have to be a little careful not to over cook as they are much leaner than domestic.
As to a rank boar, I believe we both feel the same way. Buzzard food.
Nice shooting. Interesting to me the perception of wild hogs around here. In Europe they’re a delicacy…course they probably live a life eating hazelnuts as opposed trash.
I’d like to shoot one and make sausage out of it, and cure some whole cuts.
The ones that I’ve had that were fed a steady diet of corn from feeders and crops were fine unless they were bigger. The ones that I’ve eaten taken in pine plantations that don’t have a supplemental diet and live off forage, pine cones, offal and carrion tasted like turpentine. Hence the statement on dragging them out of the FM. To each their own though. I’m just glad he laid waste to the vermin.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
I’ll be sure to report on the taste good or bad. I’m getting four different flavors of Cordrays sausage. Hopefully the whole hog roast will go well too.
I’ll be sure to report on the taste good or bad. I’m getting four different flavors of Cordrays sausage. Hopefully the whole hog roast will go well too.
Hope it all works out for you. Now, go back in there and kill a bunch more.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne