I've had a bit of a hog problem on my property for months now. We've managed to whittle their numbers down from 35 to 6, but last night I got some new pics and a 300+ pound boar showed up. Common sense tells me I should just get the .308 out and pop him in the cranium, but I'm dead set on killing him with a bow, and not my Hoyt with training wheels.
I'm confident I could hit him lethally at 20 yards and under, and I'm confident I can get that close. The problem is that I lack the traditional gear. That said, I'm back in the black thanks to my job, so I'm in the market for a new longbow.
What poundage do I need at a minimum to take on such an animal? (I'm going to see Big Jim in two weeks at the Appling Archers Bow Festival -- thinking about getting a Thunderchild.) What arrows and what broadhead?
And if you were looking to find such a beast, what areas would you start looking in (I live in Southeast Georgia)? We've yet to see him during daylight hours. The hogs have only been seen at night since all the hunting pressure on them increased, but they've got to be laying up somewhere. What areas do hogs like to hide out in during daylight hours? We've got thick pine forests, oak flats, and swamps on about 250 acres. What do I need to do to take this sucker on the ground, or should I bait him and sit in a tree? Based on his size, the tree really feels like the best course of action for me to take. This sucker is intimidating. Finally, these 6 or 7 hogs are pretty darn smart. They've been hunted day and night with rifles, trapped, and ran with catch dogs, and these remaining few are pretty dang slick. My goal is to get this boar before he can breed the last mature sow or any of the female shoats.
It's warm, so he'll be near water a lot. If you know where he is at night, you may want to think about hunting him at night (if legal) with a light on your bow. You can probably bait him up with some soured corn. Just make sure the wind is right, hogs will smell you quicker than a deer will.
Well I'd shoot him with a .308 but...
I shot right through a hog possibly larger than the one you describe with a 63# recurve bow and 525 grain snuffer tipped arrow.
I'd try to stay above 50 lbs if you can shoot it well and over 500 grains for arrow with a good 2 blade broadhead
Hahaha! I knew you'd chime in, Michael! Everyone in my family is voting for the .308, too.
Everything above is solid advice, warmer it gets the more he will key on water for sure. Any good sharp broadhead will get the job done if placed properly. The problem I have run across is tracking. As I'm sure you know hogs are tough. Even if you get a complete pass through blood trails can be minimal to non existent. The wound will close up very quickly especially with a two blade broadhead or at least the zwickeys I use as this is the only broadhead I have use on a hog. Coupled with the fact big boars will stick close to extremely thick cover I would suggest a string tracker.
I'm hoping you some of the true hog gurus of Tradgang will post. :notworthy:
Me too, Michael. Thanks CRM and Julian on the water advice. I have been thinking about getting a string tracker since my land is so thick with brush anyway. I will look into getting one.
I located a thick couple of acres of brush with some low holes punched out in the brush low to the ground. No way I was crawling in there. It smelled god awful in that area. The brush butts up to a canal, but there was no sign of a wallow in the canal. But I think the canal extends further in behind the brush. I'm thinking that is where the gang is hiding out. I can't see how I'll get in there unless I low crawl in or just bust brush into there. I shot a few shoats last month and that was where they were heading until I finished them off. That must be the spot. I'd much rather draw them out than go in there, but going in there may be the only way I get a shot in daylight hours.
Low crawling in thick brush and coming face to face with a giant boar is the stuff my nightmares are made of, but probably what Terry Green and RC dream of at night.
No advice here! I spook off the big ones and pile up the small/medium ones!! :goldtooth:
Im joking, sort of. If i were you id look for replies by RC, Terry Green, and Jerry Russell. Over the years i've seen their hero shots with some monsters.
Good luck!
I shot a 400# boar with my thunderchild. 53# at just a little over 29" draw. I was using Beman MFX classic shafts with 75 grain inserts and 175 grain Simmons Tigershark broadheads. Total arrow weight was probably just under 600 grains. Just barely got enough penetration to kill him, but he was a beast. I personally would not carry a less energetic setup for a large boar, even if it can be done. I consider myself fortunate.
Something to keep in mind. 2 different 300# hogs can be very different in how thick the shield is. A fat 300# hmay be easier to get penetration on than a heavy shielded 200# hog. The pic of this hog doesn't do it justice. My dog weighed 95-100# at the time this pic was taken
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/2012-04-07050723.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/2012-04-07065917.jpg)
For example, both of these hogs are around 250#, but the fat one would much easier to penetrate the shield.
(http://i.imgur.com/l9LzNrN.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/zeIyumD.png)
That's a big one!
Whoa! That looks about the same size or a little bigger than ours. Nice job!
That same bow took this nice sow. It was a steeply quartering away shot, but this is a reference of the penetrate I got. It got the job done, but one hole and a sparse blood trail.
(http://i.imgur.com/SmX0YGh.jpg)
I did get 2 holes on this guy.
(http://i.imgur.com/YSHxoeP.jpg)
But I have generally had better blood trails using my Silvertip recurve that is around 60# at my draw and using Simmons heads or bow 3 blades.
(http://i.imgur.com/iWk5uRE.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/pitRUZq.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/yl88Xfa.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ExGfM0p.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/h1vp9hA.jpg)
Better hog hunters than me, like RC, get it done with less, but I am just sharing experience. If you are able to shoot a more energetic setup accurately at your hunting distance, I would go with that. Most of the guys that shoot less weight will be strong advocates of using heavy arrows and 2 blades rather than 3.
I didn't put this beast on a scale, but estimate him to be around 300#. Sounds like you are looking at something similar?
(http://i.imgur.com/zcNFTZ2.jpg)
Although my Stickflinger that is just under 60# at my draw is doing a good job on them now. Got this guy a couple weeks ago. Probably 225# before being field dressed.
(http://i.imgur.com/lktuSDg.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/z9Nw5iq.jpg)
Aim for the ear, it will drop him in his tracks. I know, I know people say aim for the heart. but I have witnessed 4 or 5 different hogs shot this way and they did not go anywhere. Of course practice the shot. l personally have not tried it yet, but I do practice the shot on my hog target. Just saying, it is an option if you are confident in your shot.
No offense to Danny, but I would recommend against shooting a hog in the ear. That is a very very small target, much smaller than aiming for the vitals. I have finished hogs off with a pistol and if you are off by 2 inches you do nothing but piss them off. And I say this as someone not opposed to a frontal shot on a deer under the right circumstances.
Regarding tactics for highly pressured hogs, send me a pm. I have some methods that can be effective, if you are willing to go through the trouble. Jerry Russell is a good guy to contact for hunting big pressured hogs for sure, and a nice guy to boot.
It's better to ere on the heavy side . Both arrows and bow
I prefer a 2 blade over 3 on big hogs for obvious reasons. Although my biggest hog was with a 3 blade. If I had of had a 2 blade with me it would have been that givin the option.
Ps.. Pat knows what he's talking about!
I had zero penetration issues on this #22.5 brute! Went through him like hot butter!!!
(http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o795/wadebinkley/Hog%20Hunt%20with%20Randy/D317E751-27E3-4938-B60A-60F79301B7C9_zpslnoacq6m.jpg) (http://s1343.photobucket.com/user/wadebinkley/media/Hog%20Hunt%20with%20Randy/D317E751-27E3-4938-B60A-60F79301B7C9_zpslnoacq6m.jpg.html)
That is some fine eating there, Daniel!
I was thinking of getting some Atrow Dynamics Hammerhead Traditionals or Black Eagle Instincts, building up the FOC, and using a Zwickey No Mercy.
FOC is great, but I really haven't found much benefit in soft tissue with a well tuned arrow. No matter what shaft you chose, tuning is key. A straight flying arrow will out penetrate a poorly flying arrow almost no matter what FOC or total weight that you shoot. That is probably more important if you you intend on hitting bone.
Really liking those Black Eagle shafts.
I do not intend to hit the shoulder, but plan for the worst and hope for the best. I don't want to be 15 yards away from a poorly shot boar that size.
I might try an electronic call with piglets in distress sounds. When I killed some shoats last month my dad saw the boar and he said he was running towards where I shot them. I ran out of ammo and vacated the area immediately. Good thing I did, but that might be the way to pull him out of thick into the open.
Anything that you do to make the boar alert will make it that much more unlikely for you to get a good shot off, IMHO, but I have never tried that tactic.
I wish tannerite arrows were a thing.
Ha!
While I'm certainly far from being an expert. I did harvest a 250lb hog with a 52# Blacktail Sitka, 2117 shafts with a Zwickey 160gr " no mercy " head. This setup appeared to be more than adequate.
Pat has given you a lot of great info. I would add that old pressured boars should be considered as a different species than just average hogs.
I have chased them for over 40 years and this is what my experience tells me. Do not shoot monster boars with any conical broad head. A broad head that will pinch right through a 175 piggy will often fail terribly on an old shielded boar. A 2" thick shield will severely decrease penetration on many 3 and 4 blade heads. A 2 blade head will cut through a shield without any issues. Shoot a heavy arrow and get as close to 50 pounds on the bow if you can. Penetration is critical when you are shooting an animal that is 24"+ thick if you are going to cause multi system failure. This is important because the blood trail will likely be sparse at best and nonexistent from a tree stand.
Get a string tracker. Let me repeat that... Get a string tracker.
Hunting giant hogs (300 pounds plus) is a totally different game than "shooting pigs". Put pressure on him and he will be gone for weeks. A 5+ year old boar is the smartest animal on this planet. NOTHING gets me more fired up more than hunting a ghost boar.
If this boar has been night hunted before I would recommend a light system that is NOT bow mounted. Where legal, a stationary light controlled with a dimmer switch is the way to go. I have tried every color and I always come back to red on the big old boars.
Putting the sneak on a giant boar in most conditions that he will choose to bed may well be impossible. I can tell you that if you bust him out of his security area, he will likely be gone forever. I personally would find his preferred exit and or travel routes. Think of it this way... someone tries to rob you on the way to the store vs someone trying to rob you inside your home- which would have the most adverse impact on your future actions?
If you have not read this story, give it a read. There are some good lessons included that will help you understand what you are up against.
Good luck.
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=142916;p=1
All my hogs were killed with 60-70# bows AND 3 and 4 blade heads.....with pass throughs.....with a 585 grain arrow.
Not sure what you can handle...but you need to be accurate 1st...period. What weight are you comfortable shooting accurately and at what draw length?
And lets remember the shield...you have to get plenty of penetration passed it...and if he has a 1.5 inch shield if you hunt him from above or make a quartering away shot his shield will be thicker from that angle....more like 2 inches.
Lots of variables ....give us some more info.
And I'm sure you have checked out the HOG SHOT PLACEMENT thread?
Thanks for responding, Jerry, and sharing the story of Kong. It really puts things into perspective for me and reinforces why I decided to hunt with traditional bows. I hope to be fortunate enough to have a similar experience in my life.
As for this boar, he is extemely wary. I only have pictures of him from one night and it took him a full hour to travel 40 yards once in range of the camera to the opening of the baited trap. Every good ol boy within a 20 mile radius has hunted these hogs day and night with rifles, thermal scopes, dogs, and traps. This boar has only been seen a handful of times by anyone that I know who has been hunting hogs in our area. I believe he is holding up in a swamp that is located near our land but it is impossible to get to it quietly. I will use some of your approaches this weekend to see if I can get a fix on his travel routes.
I will look into getting all the gear you recommend and I may be able to rig a light up to get him but I am not hopeful. I may have to wait for the next full moon.
Thanks for replying, Terry. I have looked over the shot placement thread several times. I currently have a Red Wing Hunter recurve at 50# that I draw to 26". I shoot that very easily and can drill a tennis ball out to 15 and a pie plate out to 25. I think I could easily move up to 55 and maybe 60 or even 65. I am in good shape and my form is getting better every day since I switched to the Hill-style method. I work on shooting every day with a light poundage bow but I am concerned about the Red Wing not having enough power for this particular hog.
Ok, I will be honest with you guys in a way I will not be with my wife: I want a new bow and I want it to be a longbow, preferably with a lot of power. This hog is just really a good reason to get it. Do not tell her I said that.
I want something short, maneuverable, and powerful. Even with a gun, I rarely ever have shot over ten yards on my land. It is just thick and I hunt from the ground almost exclusively. Pat put my mind at ease about worrying about a boar charging me. I am ready to go after him.
I appreciate all the information you and anyone else on this forum is willing to take the time to share.
Oh, Jerry, I live in Georgia so short of shooting from a vehicle, I can do practically anything I want to kill hogs. That was stated again for us at the last city council meeting by our chief of police.
With that in mind, let me know what you think might work. Thanks again.
Oh, Jerry, I live in Georgia so short of shooting from a vehicle, I can do practically anything I want to kill hogs. That was stated again for us at the last city council meeting by our chief of police.
With that in mind, let me know what you think might work. Thanks again.
I've killed a few big hogs. Most with my 52#@26" Recurve
A couple with my 47@26" Longbow. I only shoot 2 blade heads and 10-11gpp arrows.
Like said it's better to shoot a lighter weight bow that you are very accurate with than to shoot a heavy bow that your not accurate with.
Good luck!
I have to admit I cringed a bit when you said that you can hit consistently at 25 yards but you want to go up a lot in bow weight. If you can do it and maintain that accuracy, do it but chances are that won't happen. I think the magic minimum number in bow weight for large game is 50 IF your arrow weight is heavy enough and you shoot the right head.
I shoot a 50 pound bow and have taken animals pushing 2000 pounds. That bow of yours is more than enough medicine for any hog.
Now, if you are just looking for an excuse to buy a new bow, that is perfectly reasonable, lol.
Thanks, Basin and Jerry. I will take your advice. For the new bow, I think 55# at 28" will be a good fit for my needs and a manageable step up in poundage for me. I will probably end up like most guys on here with several bows before it is all said and done, so plenty of time to get into the 60-70# bows, if I decide to go that route.
What arrows and broadheads do you recommend for the Bob Lee (45# at 26")? Pat recommended Simmons broadheads and Beman or Easton arrows. My main problem here is that our pro shop only caters to compound shooters. They look at me crazy every time I go there and ask for traditional gear. So I have to order from 3 rivers. I have target arrows now that are too light for hunting. I might be better off just sticking with the Bob Lee and investing in arrow building equipment than getting a new bow.
Jerry, if you do not mind, I will email you a pic of the hog to get your opinion of him.
I agree with you head choice you are considering....Z No Mercy type diamentions. Get it sharp and leave it pointy...no need to waste energy at impact from tenting....you have to get through that thick hide and shield.
I wish you the best of luck!
I'd love to see a pic as well to see if he's flat sided or barreled and how pronounced his 'saddle bags' are.
https://imgur.com/gallery/kNE3K
Link to image of the boar and a sounder above.
I saw pics of his boar earlier. Not a crazy shield, and really seems to drop off in the crease for a quartering away shot. I think he could get it done. I think he is probably around 45#@26". I agree that accuracy is paramount, but if I was gonna target large boars, I would work my way up some. Personal preference. I think a 55# bow would be around 50# at his draw. I would feel alot more comfortable with that.
(http://i.imgur.com/27LRztp.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/XnpUyID.jpg)
I agree.....saddle bags not that pronounced...and not overly barreled.
And his hair line is pointing right to the middle if his vitals making for an easy spot to focus on.....can ya see it?
A little more bow wouldn't hurt IF accuracy isn't jeoardized.
You just need to get in range pardner. :readit:
I see exactly what you are talking about, Terry. But Jerry's story about Kong and talking with Pat today have made me realize getting in range of this guy is gonna be a task. But you see why I wanted some more horsepower in a bow. I don't want to get into a Jaws situation: "Gonna need a bigger bow!"
Yes sir ....getting in range is our task ;)
I shoot around 50 lbs at 27 and arrows around 600 grains. I shoot sharks for most every thing but for a big hog I would have a Grizzly or a no mercy head on the string. I have been bow hunting a long time and I would not shoot at that pig at 25 yards. 15 or less would be my limit.
Jerry hit the nail on the head. A pig with some age on him and one that has felt some pressure is a mighty sharp pig and will be very tough to kill in the day light. RC
Thanks, RC. Pat gave me some great advice about how to go about getting a shot at him at night. I have a good idea where he is laying up when on my property, but it will likely take a long while to pattern him good enough to put a daylight stalk on him, if ever. I may be ready to go on the next full moon for a night hunt.
15 yards and under is my rule. I will check out the grizzlies and no mercys.
Any advice on getting an arrow up to 600 grains? Thinking about going with brass inserts and aquarium tubing to bring up the weight.
I use 100gr brass inserts to get my arrow weight up. I tried weight tubes but they changed the spine of my arrow and made it fly awful. So I stick with weight up front.
I will try to address your charging concerns this evening
Thanks, Basin. I've heard the weight tubes can change the spine. Instead, I was thinking of getting brass inserts, steel broadhead adapters, and glue on broadheads to get the weight up. Since I have a short draw length (26"), my concern is that carbons weighing 7-8 gpi cut to 27" will put me in the 5 gpp range with just the arrow. I was thinking of putting my weight up front with the adapters and broadhead components to give me an extra 300 or so grains, putting me at around 500 grains total for a 45# bow, getting me around 11 gpp. I was planning on getting a field point test kit for bare shaft tuning with the brass inserts to see what size broadhead adapter and broadhead weights I will need.
Thanks, Terry. Pat put my mind at ease about being charged yesterday, but I welcome your advice on the matter, and I'm sure others would too.
Brian,
You said early on that there was a canal that ran along the thick stuff. Can you do some exploring from a canoe, kayak or small boat?
Selfbow,
Not that big of a canal. It probably comes up to chest height at its deepest point and is about 3-4 feet wide. We have a road that runs along it from North to South across our property that parallels several water oak flats. They were sticking to that road but all the water oak acorns are gone now. They've been rooting up pine roots now, and it looks like the sounder of sows and shoats has moved into some thick pines on my cousin's side where no one hunts. I thought they'd be using the canal for a wallow, but now I think they are using the canal on my cousin's side, plus there is another flat of water oaks over there. I'm sure I can get on the sounder and get a good shot, but the boar is another matter.
I think he is holding up on the north end of our property at the end of the canal that drains into a swamp just off our property. It is some thick brush surrounding the entire swamp. I've been in there once coon hunting and it was a chore to break brush and get in there. No way I can slip in from my property and get to where I think he is hanging his hat. I may be able to go up the road and come in from someone else's property, but I think they're chasing him too, so chances are not good I will get permission. I may just walk/crawl up the canal since the water is low and see if I can get in that way.
He has not come back to our baited traps yet, and I don't suspect he will anytime soon.
QuoteOriginally posted by ahab78:
Thanks, Basin. I've heard the weight tubes can change the spine. Instead, I was thinking of getting brass inserts, steel broadhead adapters, and glue on broadheads to get the weight up. Since I have a short draw length (26"), my concern is that carbons weighing 7-8 gpi cut to 27" will put me in the 5 gpp range with just the arrow. I was thinking of putting my weight up front with the adapters and broadhead components to give me an extra 300 or so grains, putting me at around 500 grains total for a 45# bow, getting me around 11 gpp. I was planning on getting a field point test kit for bare shaft tuning with the brass inserts to see what size broadhead adapter and broadhead weights I will need.
What I did was go to a stiffer spined arrow and cut t it to 29" so it would handle more weight up front even though my draw length is only 26".
I went to Magnus Stingers because I could get them in 150gr in 2 blade, with a 100gr brass insert that's 250gr up front.
If you go with 500 spine gold tips they are 8.6gpi, cut to 29" they weight about 250gr plus the 250 up front will put you at 500 total. You might have to play with the length to get them tuned to your bow.
Thanks, Basin. I will look at that option, but right now I am also looking at Beman Bowhunters at 500 with 100 grain brass inserts, 125 grain steel adapters, and 160 grain ace Standards to get me closer to the 600 grains mark like RC suggested.
QuoteOriginally posted by ahab78:
Thanks, Basin. I will look at that option, but right now I am also looking at Beman Bowhunters at 500 with 100 grain brass inserts, 125 grain steel adapters, and 160 grain ace Standards to get me closer to the 600 grains mark like RC suggested.
600gr out the 45# bow?
Around 550 is my goal. I will probably end up getting lighter adapters and broadheads after I bareshaft tune with field points and brass inserts. Have to see what the Red Wing likes and I can shoot well with. But 600 grain arrows of doom would be awesome if they flew good! I am hoping to get a 55# bow in a few weeks so 600 would certainly be fine then.
Check out the super duper threat I just bumped up
Thanks, Terry.
Make sure you read page 10 about how big boars use water as a barrier.
I also have stories about that
I shoot gold tip trads with a 100 grain brass insert , 100 grain steel broad head adapter and 135 grain Simmons Tiger sharks. I keep the same arrow with a 140 grain grizzly in my quiver for a big pig. I honestly would rather kill a smaller pig for eating. I have two mounted and don`t care for another to mount. The really big boars are not the best to eat in my opinion.
I guess I am lucky. I have killed well over 200 hogs with a stickbow and have never been charged. RC
I hear your Robert ... you been lucky but I guess I've been lucky ......
I've been charged 4 times killed three of them and sidestepped the other one.
ahah78
As far as big boars and eating the ones I've killed yielded a ton of sausage it was absolutely delicious done by a local processor here where I live. That's about the best way to do a big boar if they are rank, otherwise you just have to trash them but you don't know until you kill them.
Personal preferences aside for eating, which I like smaller pigs as well, there is a great challenge of killing a huge boar hog.... it's a challenge of wits that is rivaled beyond a lot of other popular big game animals that can give you a huge confidence level for many future hunts.
Finding, hunting, and taking a giant boar hog such as what you are after is a huge accomplishment regardless.... make no mistake.
Thanks, RC. I like the idea of having a good arrow setup but with two different broadheads in the quiver for different size hogs. I will try that. I've heard a lot of good reviews on the Grizzlies and Simmons.
Thanks, Terry. We have a couple of hog killers around here and they recommend splitting the hog and putting him in a cooler and topping him with ice. Leave the drain on the cooler open and keep putting ice on him for two days. The ice/water combination apparently take the "game" out of the meat. I've only killed smaller hogs, but if I kill a larger one, I will definitely try that. Also, hogs have 6 or 8 glands in their fat throughout their body that need to be removed in cleaning them to keep from spoiling the meat when cooking.
As far as being charged goes, based on what everyone has told me, the threat is there but really unlikely, so I'm not going to let that bother me. Like I told Dendy yesterday, my brother and I were chased by a wild boar at my grandmother's house when we were kids, and that really scared us, so going out hunting for a large boar, that is always in the back of my mind, but this is also really a way for me to put that fear to bed. Besides, the challenge of taking such an animal is also in and of itself a huge accomplishment, especially with a traditional bow.
I had more information on charging ....situational issues... and I'm certainly not trying to scare you or deter you and anyway ...just trying to make you aware of certain things and scenarios. Again good luck
I appreciate it, Terry. You always need to know what you are up against. If 99% of encounters with boars don't result in any charging, there is still that 1% chance of it happening, and knowing my luck. Well....