Need a good hog arrow!

Covey · November 10, 2012, 11:06:00 PM

Shot a hog last night at last light and made a good hit on it. Blood trailed it for probably a good 2 and a half hours and just completely ran out of blood. Walked circles, done everything we could do to find it with no luck. Found my arrow, probably got about ten inches of penetration. I need an arrow set up that hits a little harder. My bow is 54# at 28", I draw about 30". I shoot full length 2117 's with a 125 grn Muzzy phantom. I think it weighs in at about the 660 grn area. What would you guys recommend for a good hog arrow? Them suckers are a blast to hunt, but hard to kill!

All help is appreciated!

Thanks,
Jason

joe ashton · November 10, 2012, 11:52:00 PM

your set up is just fine. Your luck was in need of a 180 degree turn. Next time... good luck.

Bjorn · November 11, 2012, 12:00:00 AM

I agree with Joe your set up is great; penetration is more about shot placement and less about power or equipment. Hogs don't leave a lot of playroom-have a look at the pics up top.

Thare1774 · November 11, 2012, 12:04:00 AM

You could try a slimmer diameter arrow. Ive started shooting Victory VAP's out of my trad stuff with amazing results. Its easy to get the weight too, they have 92 gr steel inserts you can get for em. I have no issues fletching up with three 5" feather right helical. I shoot em full length and they fly like lazer beams, penetraition is fantastic

jlowrey75 · November 11, 2012, 01:31:00 AM

Got to agree with Joe also. Better luck next time

November 11, 2012, 10:20:00 AM

I'm also gonna agree with Joe!

Shot placement is everything on pigs....the bigger the pig, the more crucial it is. If you hit one in the shield you stand a good chance of not finding it. Keep your shot low and tight.

Bisch

Covey · November 11, 2012, 02:21:00 PM

I put in there about 4" behind the right front shoulder and about mid pig. I am gonna try to shoot a heavier head. Might try a Simmons tiger shark...175 grn up front wouldn't hurt. I'll try the low and tight next time. Thanks for the input fella's!

Thanks,
Jason

Wudstix · November 11, 2012, 02:26:00 PM

Hit them in the pocket behind the front leg about 4-5 inches up. Kinda like your armpit. Pass thru almost garunteed. Have not lost one yet, 75 and counting.

frassettor · November 11, 2012, 02:38:00 PM

Your setup will work fine, just bad luck, that's all. Keep after it,

Guru · November 11, 2012, 02:44:00 PM

Not the arrow bud.....a "perfect shot" that we think of on deer, just doesn't cut it for quick kills on hogs.

Your arrow is more than enough, 10" of penetration is more than enough....it comes down to where you hit it, and how long you waited to trail it.

Hopefully the next one will turn out better

Possum Head · November 11, 2012, 04:14:00 PM

Yep, tough critters to say the least. If I were to hunt hogs exclusively I would use the cheapest wood shaft I could find provided they were true. There has many a carbon arra gone on a trip never to return. You've got the right stuff just hang in there.

JamesKerr · November 11, 2012, 05:24:00 PM

Your set up sounds more than capable of taking a hog, just bad luck.

SAM E. STEPHENS · November 11, 2012, 05:35:00 PM

As said above good heavy arrow and shot placement will do it everytime , good luck on the next one. For the big pigs I shoot, I like an arrow 650gr or over ( my current ones are 740gr , and my bow is 60# @30 ) with a good sharp 2 blade head and they will crush a hog right through his shield , I have done it many times , keep at em brother , good luck.........
,,Sam,,

STEVE R. · November 11, 2012, 05:41:00 PM

I've lost more than I've recovered. They have an ability to plug up the hole so the blood trail stops. Then you can't find them.I was looking at some pictures of arrowed hogs and all of them have the holes pluged up with their innereds or intestines. I recently switched to three blade heads to see if it helps.

The Vanilla Gorilla · November 11, 2012, 06:00:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Covey:
I put in there about 4" behind the right front shoulder and about mid pig.

That's too far back. Getting into the liver and plumbing that way. I try to centerpunch the lower 1/3 of the shoulder, no further than the elbow. Your setup sounds, fine..most the pigs I've taken was with 48# with a 500gr arrow.

T Lail · November 11, 2012, 06:06:00 PM

your set up is fine....sounds like you shot a little far back and a little high.....got to aim /hit lower than on a deer......shot many pigs,lost some due to exactly the same hit....pigs can be tough to recover even with great hits......better luck next time.....

Covey · November 11, 2012, 06:33:00 PM

Thanks for the input fella's! Curt, we waited probably an hour before we started to trail it, just run out of blood. We have a lot of these critters in our area and they are an absolute blast to hunt. Next time I get a crack at one, I'll try to tuck it in behind the elbow.

Thanks again guy's

Jason