Author Topic: Dead hog Walking! (Read 3815 times)

Oldshooter · « **on:** March 20, 2010, 11:10:22 AM »

I wanted to post this so as to share an experience some may have not witnessed or experienced, it was a first for me.

We were in a deer stand 7 feet off the ground last Wednesday night. Using some led lights designed for night hunting hogs specifically. Out of the window to the right, there is a pig pipe, now we had no light on it. A sow, a boar and some footballs show up just after dark and start working around the pipe. I'm shooting my Rem 6 mm varmit special, which has always been extremely accurate and dependable. Plus it has a good lupy scope on it that works well in low light.

I take aim and shoot the boar in the head, right behind the ear, and lower. He drops like a rock DRT and the sow and footballs scatter like shot cats! Now he dont even kick or wiggle.
We turn to the pipeline R O W to look for more targets of opportunity that may come to the lights. FIFTEEN minutes later my buddy says"there's another hog to the right" I wheel around in my chair and look thru the glasses, cause its very dark, and see to my utter astonishment that its "MY" hog and he is staggering off into the woods. Now i cant repeat what I said then, here.

Now it was low light and i am not infallible, surprising huh?

But I did not miss that porker, We gave him time to die and went out with weapons to see what was up. We found blood, not a lot, but plenty, We found meat and a trail that lasted 25 yards, then nothing . My friend went out the next day and found nothing. I accused him of feeding them Kevlar and steroids. Its his woods.

Al I can say is I'm glad we did not go out immediately and try and pick him up. I intend to double tap all future head shot pigs from now on! I may even rethink head shots in the future. I also will retire the 6 mm for pig hunting. I'll use the 308 from now on, for more damage for not so clean hits.

Silvertp · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2010, 02:39:17 PM »

There is a lot of "non vital" area in a pigs head (any big game for that matter). Even a well aimed shot that hits the skull at an angle and doesn't penetrate could knock a pig down and out, but not be a killing shot. My guess is you hit him hard enough to rattle his cage, but the bullet did not hit vitals.

I had a friend that had the same experience with a bull elk while making a "head shot"...found out later he had hit it in the base of the horn and knocked it cold. Proud as always he was shocked to see it jump up and run as he approached.

If you ever figure out what happened let us know.

Silvertp

Land_Owner · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2010, 03:17:35 PM »

I shot one with a 270 like that and was astonished to have to shoot it a total of 3 times before anchoring it. It weighed more than me by 200 pounds and I am no Light Weight.

Perhaps your varmant bullet let you down or the range was short and the bullet was not where the reticle was placed. Either could account for your situation.

ironglow · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2010, 03:22:06 PM »

Never saw that with a hog..but I have with a possum; more than once.

STUMPJMPR · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2010, 03:38:47 PM »

They are tough animals. I shout one recently with a 12ga slug. It went in at the base of the skull and came out the shoulder. It couldn't get up and bled a gallon of blood. I had to finish him off with a .22 pistol when I got home 45 minutes later. My uncle has shot a few in the head with a 20 ga #6 at close range and they tend to get up and wander off if you don't cut them.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2010, 04:48:31 PM »

I was using a 100 grain sp bullet at 85 yards. shudda been on the money, I dunno! its obvious that i didn't kill him with it, but he was out for a while. and he left meat and blood, but no pig! Now he wasn't dancing when he left.
A bigger bullet and a boiler room shot may be my new method of pork chop harvesting, but a second bullet in the head will be certain! Ive seen em wiggle and kick and get up but never had one stay down that long and get up and walk off.

I do hope to find his body to see the poi, cause its bugging me!

Land_Owner · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2010, 04:08:38 AM »

Tough situation, particularly when you believe you had "enough gun". For sure, we're not out there as "Shoot and Release" hog hunters.

rockbilly · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2010, 01:15:37 PM »

I popped one last fall with my Contender shooting a 35 gr .22 Jet, it was a head shot from about 25 yards. A big sow, she went down like a ton of bricks and never moved. By the same token, I shot another one about 60-65 yards with a 165 gr 7mm Mag, he didn’t even stop to say hello. Its kinda like shooting deer, some go down on the spot, others may have to be trailed to recover the meat.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2010, 01:22:06 PM »

We had a couple of things that hindered stalking, 1. Wounded board hog in heavy brush and woods. 2. Blood trail ended after 30 yards and it was at night. Did I mention wounded boar hog in heavy brush!

I would have liked to find him!

gstewart44 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 26, 2010, 06:48:35 AM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on March 21, 2010, 01:22:06 PM

We had a couple of things that hindered stalking, 1. Wounded board hog in heavy brush and woods. 2. Blood trail ended after 30 yards and it was at night. Did I mention wounded boar hog in heavy brush!

I would have liked to find him!

I know that experience well. Last summer I went out one morning to check one of my food plots and top off the feeder with some corn, and right in front of the feeder was a huge black boar. he was as tall at the shoulder as my atv and looked as big. he was just scavenging up the corn on the ground (the feeder had gone off minutes before). since I only had a 410 singleshot with me I decided not to tempt fate. I eased back out and waited for the evening feeding.

I went out just before the 7pm feeding time with my 3006 and sneaked down the path to the feeder. at about 80 yds away I put the scope on a big black blob right under the feeder. It was the big pig from earlier just laying there waiting for the timer to go off and eat dinner. I aimed just below and behind the ear where I normally shoot hogs and let one fly. the big guy lurched forward about 3 ft and did his death wiggle then lay still. seeing lots of blood I figured he was gone. i lowered my rifle and walked toward him. at about 25 yards he jumped up and took off running through thick brush bleeding all the way. I figured he would go a few yards and pile up. a half mile later with sunlight fading and brush so thick that visiblity was only about 3 feet I finally realised what a foolish thing I was doing. the hog had headed into a nasty swamp so he probably became gator bait . It sure surprised me to see him jump up and run like that with blood all over the place.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #10 on:** March 26, 2010, 08:16:48 AM »

Well that was a first for me, usually when I "dead" em they stay dead ! but go figger! If I was desperate for meat I wudda went on, but since i wasn't I thought discretion the better part of valor.

A lot of things can happen with a wounded boar hog in heavy brush and most of ems bad!

Daman · « **Reply #11 on:** April 03, 2010, 05:33:35 AM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on March 21, 2010, 01:22:06 PM

We had a couple of things that hindered stalking, 1. Wounded board hog in heavy brush and woods. 2. Blood trail ended after 30 yards and it was at night. Did I mention wounded boar hog in heavy brush!

I would have liked to find him!

Doesn't matter man up get the shotguns and some good magnum buckshot and go get what you wounded. On our club land if you left an animal with those excuses you would turn in your keys to the gates. Now if a decent effort is made to recover a lost animal so be it, but any animal you shoot at least deserves to be tracked down and finished off.

Daman

Oldshooter · « **Reply #12 on:** April 03, 2010, 05:59:59 AM »

Quote

On our club land if you left an animal with those excuses you would turn in your keys to the gates.

That's a little naive and accusatory(look that up) ! ya recon.

You ever hunt wild pigs boy? We aint in no club? We own the land and we prolly have killed more hogs than most have seen. And if you wudda have ever hunted hogs IN East Texas Big thicket you woudn't be so uppity and brave! We had big handguns and big rifles and the blood trail ended. It was 22:00 and There was a wounded boar hog walking in the Thicket. There are plenty of em and there was no reason to risk life and limb in the woods at night, when we didn't even know where to look. Now if those EXCUSES dont suit you you can stay your young Alabama ass outta my thread! When you get about 45 years older and a lil more experience under your belt get back with me and we'll talk again.

gstewart44 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 03, 2010, 07:01:18 AM »

I have to agree with Oldshooter when it comes to tracking a wounded big boar hog in dense brush or swamp, little or no light. I know at our camp we all try to put the game down as quickly as possible but sometimes, especially with these really big hogs it doesn't turn out that way. We have chased a wounded boar with dogs for 5 hours through a swamp with tracking dogs only to hear the dogs get mauled when they cornered the porker in an oak hammock. by the time we reached the dogs, all four were cut open and one was ripped from belly to shoulder. She lived but it cost us over $2000 at the vet. Oh yeah - the hog got away

I would ask that you just imagine those razor tusks slashing at your thigh while you were doing the right thing and trying to finish him off with your shotgun. If you have ever had your femoral artery cut ( and I have twice) it hurts like hell, you bleed like hell and if you dont have immediate medical attention you will die rather quickly.

jpred1 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 03, 2010, 07:23:59 AM »

I agree, a reasonable effort must be made in attempt of any wounded game. But when its your life on the line, human life is way important than any game. Sure its aweful to lose any wounded animal, Ive done it a few times. Ive also looked for a downed dove for a while, while others were busting the crap out them, frustrating non the less but a 100% effort must be made. Now on the hog, its dangerous enough if the hog isnt wounded sometimes, I was once tree'd like a squirrel once ( without my gun) by a mama sow with lil ones for 2 hours.Sometimes you need to pull off the trail is what Im gettin at.Tell the club to kiss your whittey.

Daman · « **Reply #15 on:** April 03, 2010, 12:59:51 PM »

Agreed. Maybe I should not express such strong opinions about some subjects. My apologies Oldshooter.

daman

Land_Owner · « **Reply #16 on:** April 03, 2010, 02:36:31 PM »

jpred1...I believe your dead deer is winking!

jpred1 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 03, 2010, 03:07:02 PM »

Yep, he tricked me for for a while so I guess he has the right for a sneaky little wink. The old doe can got em though, I had one last trick up my sleeve. Heres a pic before he started falling for the does , about a month before I got em. Bad part is he broke a brow tine during that month,woulda like to see what he was fighting with.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #18 on:** April 03, 2010, 06:00:59 PM »

Quote from: Daman on April 03, 2010, 12:59:51 PM

Agreed. Maybe I should not express such strong opinions about some subjects. My apologies Oldshooter.

daman

Think nothing of it. Its forgotten, As far as I'm concerned. I would not think much of someone that didn't make a genuine effort to finish a game animal that was wounded. Such was not the case here. We did look for almost two hours in the area just trying to get back on the blood trail.

rickt300 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 04, 2010, 06:54:37 AM »

It is foolish to follow a hog into thick brush, especially in the dark. I had a "dead" hog play possum on me and try to get me with his tusks as I got near him. Luckily he jumped the gun a bit and gave me enough time to head shoot him with my 30-06. I have an over the hill Blue tick hound that will follow and bay at a hog from a relatively safe distance but even then it might not be the wounded hog. It is fun chasing her though. I generally don't take my eyes off an animal I have shot and wait a bit for signs of life. If the animal is down keep your eyes on it and check it out quickly.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #20 on:** April 04, 2010, 04:17:51 PM »

Right, rickt300. Never had one get up and walk that way, especially after being down for 15 or 20 minutes. I mean that hog didn't wiggle kick or squeal when i hit him, he dropprd like a rock. I have decided to double tap head shot animals from now on, and like you said never take my eyes off em !

I just keep thinking what would have happened if we had gone to pick him up and he wudda "come to".

Spanky · « **Reply #21 on:** April 04, 2010, 05:03:35 PM »

I wouldn't chase a wounded boar into the thick stuff at night. I had one of our domestic boars tear into me when he was about 200# and it wasn't fun.

A wild injured boar could make someone dead. No doubt in my mind.
You did the right thing by backing out.

Spanky

charles p · « **Reply #22 on:** April 05, 2010, 02:38:57 PM »

About 40 years ago a friend shot a small buck and hit it at the base of the antler. The bullet passed through about 2" of skull. The deer stopped DRT. We loaded it in my International Scout SUV with the back seat folded down. About ten minutes later I looked in the rear view mirror to discover the deer was standing on all four feet and facing forward. Fortunately it died and did not require shooting again, but it surely came back to life once.

Probably died of a bad headache or whiplash.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #23 on:** April 05, 2010, 03:55:36 PM »

Quote

I looked in the rear view mirror to discover the deer was standing on all four feet and facing forward.

Whoa! I wudda unclimbed that SUV fer sure!

Land_Owner · « **Reply #24 on:** April 06, 2010, 12:17:18 PM »

Hunting partner tells of pulling a trailer...pop-up camper type, passed a doe that decided the immediate rear end of the truck was just the time to jump the road. Towed camper whacked the doe good.

They stopped and stuffed the "dead deer" in the camper and drove another hour to the house. When the camper door was reopened, the now bled out doe had literally trashed the inside of the camper having awakened and attempted to get out. One huge mess he said.

tacotime · « **Reply #25 on:** October 08, 2010, 09:06:19 AM »

Had a friend who shot a boar maybe 250 lbs with a 7mm magnum and thought he was dead. Walked up, saw some movement, pulled out a 44 magnum, hammer dropped with a snap, as he discovered he must have had a broken firing pin. The snap woke the hog who charged him, struck him (the guy is about 260), knocked him back nearly 10 feet and gave him a leg gash that required the emergency room. He did get the rifle and fired one or two more to finish the hog. He lost a lot of blood.

In another forum, a guy reported shooting one with a 300 Wby Mag that he later found had blown out most of the heart, but the hog ran a great distance before falling.

jmayton · « **Reply #26 on:** October 08, 2010, 11:41:54 AM »

See, the problem here is, everyone is telling stories about these hogs getting up after they've been shot with these big 'ol bullets. Nothing bigger than .224 in diameter and no heavier than 62grs and you'll be fine

Had a buddy shoot one with a 44mag out of his Marlin 336. Hog dropped immediately and stayed down. We took off after some others and came back to find no hog, no blood, nothing.

gstewart44 · « **Reply #27 on:** October 08, 2010, 11:52:05 AM »

Quote from: jmayton on October 08, 2010, 11:41:54 AM

Had a buddy shoot one with a 44mag out of his Marlin 336.

Now thats something I would like to see

That big old .44 slug going through the .30 or .35 caliber barrel!!! Just kidding - I thought Marlin only made the 44 in their 1894 model.

jmayton · « **Reply #28 on:** October 08, 2010, 12:00:56 PM »

Quote from: gstewart44 on October 08, 2010, 11:52:05 AM

Quote from: jmayton on October 08, 2010, 11:41:54 AM
Had a buddy shoot one with a 44mag out of his Marlin 336.
Now thats something I would like to see That big old .44 slug going through the .30 or .35 caliber barrel!!! Just kidding - I thought Marlin only made the 44 in their 1894 model.

See, that was the problem, by the time that .44 slug got squeezed down to .308, it was going pretty slow, so it just bounced off and stunned the hog.

Seriously, I stand corrected.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #29 on:** October 17, 2010, 02:42:25 PM »

Marlin did make a 336 in the 44 mag before they made the 1894 in that caliber. Didn't last long, rumors of feeding problems, never had issues with mine other than it had been pretty abused before I got it. DP