Hunting Boar in thick cover

Butch523

Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2021
Messages
7
Location
Knoxville, TN 37932
I have read and appreciate the posts. My hunting is in thick woods in the mountains here around Knoxville, TN. I hunt wild boar. Only use BP front loaders. Out-of-state hunting is in VA, GA and North FL., but overwhelming the majority is in TN.

In E. TN mountains abound. While other game here, Whitetail, coyote, Elk and sometimes Black Bear and others often present long-range shots across open fields, across valleys and the like, hunting boar is close-in. Most of the boar I've killed were in the 10ft. - 100ft. feet, not yards range.

In these later years, I have come to appreciate the smaller, younger hogs in the 90-125 pound range. Easy to drag out of the woods and are considerably better eating. I shoot them when they come along.

However, in the hunting conditions here, when you head into the woods for boar, you must be prepared to kill whatever size boar you encounter. They can weigh up to 600 pounds. No experienced hunter or guide will ever say "these are the woods where only small boars are found." Hunting from a stand is allowed, but you usually wind up in the woods anyway.

Boar, as you all know I am sure, are dangerous big game that hard to kill quickly. Sometimes you must kill one quick. They attack hunters and their tempers incline them that way. The substantial boar tusks are at work for hours a day in eating, digging and "rooting". Being worked daily keeps the edges of their tusks sharp and they can rip flesh open and kill.

In getting "loaded for boar" I want my gun to be adequate to the task that I may encounter. Developed strong loads in a .50 cal. are, to me here in TN, a minimum and I usually elect to carry my .58 Pedersoli Kodiak double loaded up to where I begin to fear loosing teeth or breaking a jaw; and, of course I can still place my shots.

For back-up I advise, and carry, the 20 gauge double Howdah with balls topped by three .24 buckshot propelled by 60 grains of BP. It's a little awkward in the holster/sling I've rigged up, but I think it worth the bother in a pinch.

I wanted to introduce myself and a little about the sort of narrow focus hunting and shooting I do. Butch
 
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Welcome.
I've never seen a true wild hog over 375lbs, never mind 600lbs. Those that get to that size are usually somewhat domesticated, barred, or have been injected. Ive hunted on the ground for over 15 years chasing hogs, I have never been charged and I am out 2-3 times a week. I have had some run my direction but out of terror or fear. I would not label that a charge. Quick kills are not difficult if you study shot placement and using the right caliber for the right hunting conditions.
Look forward to your contribution.
 
Welcome.
I've never seen a true wild hog over 375lbs, never mind 600lbs. Those that get to that size are usually somewhat domesticated, barred, or have been injected. Ive hunted on the ground for over 15 years chasing hogs, I have never been charged and I am out 2-3 times a week. I have had some run my direction but out of terror or fear. I would not label that a charge. Quick kills are not difficult if you study shot placement and using the right caliber for the right hunting conditions.
Look forward to your contribution.
Dear Zen Archery, Thanks for your comment on proportionality of the run of Boars in field and woods. I am happy to hear from another experienced Boar hunter. The 600+lbs are rare. My largest kill was weighed at 325 +- lbs. The plus or minus indicates what that hog weighed after being drug and hauled to the butcher. As old and tough as the boar was, it still yielded some good sausage and hams, legs, and ribs slow cooked in a good-sized crock pot with herb, onions and garlic in a recipe provided by old friend and fellow boar hunter.

If you are inclined, I'd love to hear from you about your experiences and what you like in equipment and guns and loads you have come to choose for your pursuit of porkers.

One reason I write is offer my experience in the more up-close and close-in hunting I purse, largely because that's what I want and it is available close to home. These hunting conditions vary widely, by contrast, to large amount of writing about the hog hunting in (very large in volume) places like Texas and other similar states. Those hunters tend have a lot of long range hunting of distant hogs with a lot of specialized equipment and using mainly weapons more suited to long ranges. In that type hunting calibers like the .223/5.56 x 45 and up are used and reported as very effective. What is appropriate in those settings and hunting experience is different from my, and many fellow hunter's, experience in mountains, hills and thickets. Butch
 
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