Wild Boar Hits?

[S.B.]

Where on the body of a boar should the shot be placed and why?

[STexhunter]

i would recommend shooting them from the front shoulder forward, in the neck head area.  I shot one too far back once, I mean I centered punched 'em with a 30/06.  Had to track him 150 yds. in the thick south Tx. brush, no fun.  At least he was dead when I found him.  Heart lung area lies  lower and a bit forward on hogs.  I have known people to shoot them thru the shoulder or behind the shoulder an kill them.  And then again I've known them to run a ways with that shot.  Have a friend that shot one with a 223 WSSM behind the ear at 260 yds and it was DRT.   Try for a neck head shot if you can get it and you shouldn't go wrong. 

[Land_Owner]

If you are using a steady rest, know where your rifle "prints" on paper, are confident you can hold to that "print" on game, and within your comfort range with that rifle, then shoot them in the head or neck.  If a frontal shot is offered to you then the target should be the "X" between the ears and eyes as the brain is just below the skull there.  If broadside, then just below the ears.

Here is a link to the broader area where a hit is fatal...but you might have to chase the "dead hog walking" following the shot...http://www.texasboars.com/anatomy.html

[S.B.]

Thanks, I already have a link to this site, was wanting (actual) practical experiences? Guess I should of stated that?
Steve

[jmayton]

I agree with the head or neck placement...usually drops them the quickest.  I've seen them run a good ways and get into cover with a heart/lung from a .270.  I've missed a few when aiming for the head and hit the snout...doesn't kill them, but stops them cold for a follow-up shot. 

[Ironwood]

What you will usually do is take the killing shot that is presented to you.  For a head on shot you will need to put the bullet in the center of the head just above the eyes.  A side head shot, would be in the ear hole.  Another side shot would be the middle of the neck.  Of course all of these shots have to be precise.  Done properly these shots are "bang flops".  However, a couple inch miss is a horror story.

The surest shot is a broadside lung shot.  Right behind the front leg about 1/3 way up the body.  The lungs are fairly big and the shot doesn't have to be so precise.  You need to be aware that the hog will probably run, but you are "Ivory Soap" sure he's dead.  Sows don't have shields like boars so there is no worry about good penetration on a lung shot.  If it's a big boar and I have a good side shot I like to wait until the hog steps forward with the leg on my side of his body.  I put the bullet high up in his "arm pit".  There's no shield there and not a lot of fat. That's where the heart is.    

Good luck   
       

[Dictator]

Maybe these can help

[S.B.]

Dictator, thanks, yes they do.
Steve

[gstewart44]

I used to use the mid shoulder, heart/lung shot.  It killed them well and left a great blood trail but destroys a lot of meat.   I shot one just behind the shoulder and it passed through but left no blood trail.   Found it in thick scrub 40 yards away and the only blood was out the nostrils. 

Now I use the head/ear/neck shot only.   I am too old to chase hogs around through thick stuff any more.   I have not lost one to a head/neck/ear shot.   Bang Flop.........go get the pickup truck and back to camp. 

[rickt300]

I shoot a bunch of hogs, 10-15 yearly and my favorite aiming point broadside is just in front of the shoulder middle of the neck. If he's facing away then a high shoulder hit intended for the spine works very well. If for some reason I want to take a broadside heart lung shot (rare) I would shoot for the foreleg above the "elbow".  You can almost guarantee the chest hit will allow the pig to take off running. The other hits may not be immediately fatal but you can easily walk up behind them and shoot them in the back of the head. I hunt at night and instant drops are what I need as I am not going into the wild plum thickets after them in the dark. If you hit the neck solidly the pig will drop even if the spine is not hit, move in quickly from behind and take the head shot. I feel the finishing shot is a necessity when i am hunting at night by myself and reccomend doing so to all involved.

[captdp]

I used to do the eye/ear shot. On a single pig it's a fairly reliable hit although only about the size of a tennis ball.. The problem is when there are several feeding under the feeder. feeding pigs are constantly scooting, both forward and backward. In that case I go for the frontal shoulder crease. On the picture it's right in front of the 'elbow.'  Although I can't prove it, we never found the pigs, I believe several eye/ear shots were non-fatal hits in the meaty part on the neck. I had two and my buddies had a few also. At the shot the pigs fell as if pole axed. They appeared to do the Curley dust death dance. After a few seconds they jumped up and ran off, leaving no blood. I made the decission to aim at the front shoulder crease  most of the time.It's  a target about the size of a legal sheet of paper. occasionaly I'll bloody a shoulder, but the pigs have not run, yet.  capt david

Picture, sorry it's in Sweedish?   http://bogjagt.dk/picview.asp?pid=2912&pictype=b