My First Hog Hunt

[BullyDawg19]

okay guys - ive been invited to participate on a hog hunt next week in georgia. the only problem is you have to hunt with weapons of the current hunting season which is small game and requires .22 rimfire. i believe blackpowder is an option and also shotguns with 3.5" and #2 or smaller. will 22 wmr do the job or should i just bring out the 50 cal and be done with it? forgive me if this is a stupid question - i dont have much experience with hogs or 22 wmr for that matter.

[STUMPJMPR]

The muzzleloader would porbably be more suited to the job.  Although i have killed hogs with the 22mag and the muzzleloader....I would prefer to be in a stand if i was using either.

[Graybeard]

Here in Bama the same applies when hunting WMAs you must use a gun legal for whatever game is in season and squirrel season is the longest so folks who hunt WMAs usually use their squirrel guns. Yes that most often means rimfires or shotguns.

I think the semiauto .22LR is most common and if you get a good close up shot and can place it in the head it's fine. Otherwise they try to put as many solids not HPs as they can into the lungs and hope they can find them after they die. Some use shotguns of course but having to use birdshot not slugs or buckshot really reduces the effectiveness and range so that it's really not much if any more effective.

If it's legal I'd use the .22 Magnum and likely would use solids not JHPs and 40 or 50 grain in weight. Try your best to make a head or neck shot at least on the first shot and keep shooting as long as it's up and moving and in range.

[alsaqr]

"I think the semiauto .22LR is most common and if you get a good close up shot and can place it in the head it's fine"

I often hunt on a military reservation where a shotgun or .22 is mandatory, so i hunt with my Ruger 10/.22.  Will not take a shot over 50 yards and limit myself to head shots only.   Most shots required to kill a hog was 7.   If you hit a hog between the eyes or near the ear he will almost always go down:  If he is not dead just keep shooting.       

[kauaihunta]

I have shot many hogs with a 22mag you have to hit them right below the ear and they will drop like a bag of rocks.  I wouldn't recommend shooting them any where else.  Good luck.

[gstewart44]

I routinely hunt hogs with a 54 cal Hawkin and my Ruger Mk II pistol.    With either a shot just below the ear will put them down.   With the 22 I only aim for the head/ear.   

I usually shoot the 54 first  and then wait.   Often smaller pigs may return to the area after a few minutes and then I try for a clean head shot with the Ruger.   

Stay away from birdshot on porkers though unless you are at touching distance.   I doubt that the small shot would kill immediately or leave a blood trail for you to follow.   

Keep it in their ears.

[Questor]

Those blackpowder double rifles seem more attractive all the time. I didn't realize there were so many people constrained to hunt hogs with a 22. 

Interesting to note that here in Minnesota small game like rabbits and squirrels can't be hunted with 22 magnum. 22LR is specified by the DNR.