Feral Hogs (and Sows)

[ninemm]

OK, I am from the city, never been around a farm much and don't hunt. My wife and I are shopping for 18-20 acres in East Texas. Last week, we walked several properties and ran across what I understand was evidence that hogs had been rooting around (it looked like someone had run a Mantis tiller in about a 10' x 10' spot). Since I haven't received my CHL yet ("Processing" began only last week) I wasn't carrying my 9mm. I hear that some of these feral hogs can weigh upwards of 800 pounds. Would a 9mm merely agitate one more? Would this be an argument for carrying a .45 in such situations?

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Feral hogs are a mean bunch.

They would be a good reason to carry an AR-15 with an SKS BUG!

[tfrazier]

IMO, If you're just looking to protect yourself in case you stumble into a bunch of piglets and a sow charges, a .357 revolver would be a good choice. That new Ruger sp101 in .327 magnum might be the perfect item for it as well. Lots of high impact penetration.

9 mm is going to do one of two things, scare it off or make it mad...you don't want the second occurring.

Ultimately, the best defense against a charging hog is a twelve gauge riot gun with alternating rounds of slug and buck, but that's a lot of weapon to tote around the farm all day.

However, having said all that, pigs are extremely smart and it's not likely you're going to stumble into one by accident, unless it is blind, deaf, and has lost it's sense of smell. They don't see perfectly, but they make up for it with hearing and smell. They will almost always know you're blundering along and be long gone before you get close to them.

My choice for pig HUNTING is .223 rifle and .45 for close brush work...but that's because those are what I own and they are adequate...if money were no object I'd probably be using something entirely different.

[LaserTex]

Please let me add one thing - a steardy tree is a great help here too. Because if you just happen to make a headshot, with anything less than a bazoka, you will need that tree. I happen to know that a .223 (Mini-14) round with scalp the pig and make it really, REALLY mad at the same time.

Doug

[tfrazier]

... if you just happen to make a headshot, with anything less than a bazoka, you will need that tree. I happen to know that a .223 (Mini-14) round with scalp the pig and make it really, REALLY mad at the same time.

Doug

[Aggie_engr]

Most of the hogs I have seen shot with .223 were disabled. Not DOI but pretty much down for the count needing only a clean follow up shot to finish the job. I can also attest that 12ga buckshot works wonders! I have watched pops many a time just sweep them up with his old winchester pump. Heck, about 3 weeks ago just before dark he had a herd move in on him out at the farm and took the whole herd out, reloading as he was shooting. That herd consisted of 11 hogs to which he called out the usual posse to come out and claim some good meat, along with my classmate and I. But as stated, a shotgun can be a pain to pack around all day and also the chances that you will stumble upon one and have it charge is pretty slim. I believe a couple shots from any firearm that has a good crack to it would ward off any hogs that you might happen to stumble upon.

[Aggie_engr]

I must have skipped the part that said you were from the city. Hogs are down at the bottom of my list of animals to beware of.
I would say after growing and working on the rice farm the animals you need most watch out for are probably snakes and bees. These are the most encountered, very dangerous, and most of the time stay hidden unless you roust them out. Just watch where you're walking and where you stick your hands.
Snakes and bees like to hide out under stuff such as old piles of tree limbs, whatever has been sitting in one place for a long time.
That is the best advice I can give to someone from the city.

[flintknapper]

edit: delete

[xpur3l0g1cx]

Once you see a 300+ hog you will wish you had a rifle or shotgun. I had them coming into my yard and tearing everything up. I had my dog outside and it started to go crazy so i grabbed my shotgun and went outside and its pitch black outside. I live in a rural area. All I could see was his legs and a HUGE black blob darker than the dark outside. She saw me and froze. It could have easily made a mess of my night. I took a shot bc by then it had uprooted my water well piping 2 days earlier that I had to get fixed. Once I shot it took off. I couldnt even see my bead on the gun so I pointed it at it and shot and of course missed. It then proceeded to go after the neighbors yard the next day and had 5 piglets with it. It then ran behind my house in the woods and I went back in. I went to grab a Dr.Pepper at the store and some guy had parked his truck on the side of the woods and was trying to poach it on my land. I havent seen it since. Moral of the story you probly wont have to shoot them. A pistol will just make it mad, and they are huge. This hog I was dealing with going off the neighbors said it must have been 400 pounds. My boxer paled in comparison

[SC1903A3]

If you buy a piece of property that has pigs on it I'll be happy to take care of the problem for you. Heck, I won't even charge you.

[flintknapper]

edit: delete

[RECIT]

They are big, nasty and usually only aggressive when the momma has little ones. A male will usually walk the other way. They are not on the food chain in Texas so they do not have any natural predators to be afraid of. I have seen plenty that don't want to be around you, but are not scared of you at the same time. The only thing that will stop them cold is a well placed head shot-the caliber is not that important...I have popped 150lbs males with a .22LR if you hit them in the ear. Or a shotgun with an aggressive load or a slug. You can hit them in the flank all day long and it will get them running but it won't drop them. Like other have said...be aware keep you eyes peeled, keep a side arm on you if it makes you feel safer. Hunters carry a side arm for a reason. Don't be afraid of whats on your own property, just understand a potential threat and be prepared.

[Hunter11]

We hunt with some friends that own a farm Southwest of Palestine. If we are deer hunting I usually carry my 7mm Mag and if strictly hog hunting my 30-30 but always carry my .45 auto as a side arm. We have walked up on hogs going to and from the blinds, some will run some won't. I have a 9mm but I prefer something larger in case we walk up on hogs. As Flintknapper said, we have hunted them hard and run them off for a while but they always come back.

[LaserTex]

Count me in on the hunt....eeerrrrr...free assistance. I can already smell the BBQ fest!

Doug

[SC1903A3]

Anywhere hogs are firmly established....you will NEVER eradicate them. Scare them off, yes. Make them smarter, you bet, but "take care of the problem".

But what's really important is my freezer will be happy.