Wild Hogs / Boar are also a big
problem to livestock farmers. They carry diseases, and can pass
them on to the livestock. Be careful that you check your pig
thoroughly before eating any part of it. If you find and worms in
it, or if the pig just doesn't look healthy, then don't eat it! It
is better to be safe.
The rewards of successful hunt are a freeze full of pork, usually
a good set of tusks to mount, and of course the satisfaction of
knowing that you are helping rid our environment of these huge
pests.
Domestic pigs were introduced to America by the first settlers.
Hogs were used for food and were often allowed to roam free. In
the early centuries, settlers often kept them unpenned and because
the pig is an intelligent, adaptable animal. It quickly
established itself in the wild where they came to be a serious
pest. They eat and damage crops, damage fences. And will kill
animals as large as a sheep. But the greatest threat feral pigs
pose to agriculture is their potential to carry diseases likes
foot and mouth disease and triginosis. The largest populations
live in the Appalachians and in the South, where ever they can
find food and cover and always where there is good water supply.
They breed throughout the year under favorable conditions usually
producing two litters a year, with an average of six piglets in
each litter. There can be high mortality among piglets depending
on food supplies and weather conditions. Sows will aggressively
protect their young and are quite dangerous of they believe there
is any threat.. Piglets mature quickly and become sexually mature
when they are about six months old.
Wild Hogs are omnivores, which means that they will eat both
plant material and animals. Grass makes up the bulk of their diet
where available. Feral hogs will also eat fruit, roots, beetles,
young rabbits and other small animals as well as scavenge on
carrion.
The choice of rifle when hunting pigs depends mainly on the
terrain that you expect to be encountering the pigs in, and the
range that you expect to be shooting at. The rifle should be a
centerfire. The caliber of the depends on the size of pigs that
you expect to encounter, and the range that you expect your shots
to be taken within. A 30 caliber Winchester or a .44 Magnum are
good for close range work in dense scrub, and terrain where shots
would not exceed more than 150 yards. Such rifles as the Remington
7600 pump action, and the side by side
Chapeus rifles are also excellent because of there compactness and
their quick shots. But the main advantage is that they are made in
large rifle calibers. This makes them effective at close range,
and extends their effective range markedly. Their only drawback is
their relatively high prices (about $1,000 for the Remington, and
about $5,500 for the Chapuis)
Hunting out in the open is a different story. Here you need higher
velocity lighter projectiles, .30-06. Or a 7.6mm cartridge. The
increased velocity and lighter aerodynamic projectiles ensure
accuracy and velocity are conserved right out to your target
range.
A bolt action is best a t longer range. Use a rifle that is light
enough to carry in the field and that is also heavy enough to
absorb the recoil of a larger cartridge. Once again, this is a
matter of how far you expect to be carrying your rifle for; and
ultimately it comes down to a matter of personal choice.
Shotguns are also used to hunt wild boar. The have the advantage of
being able to shoot everything from quails, right through to pigs.
Hunting pigs with shotguns is invariably done with a 12 Gauge, and
takes on two forms: using shot and using slugs
Using pellets for hog hunting is restricted to close quarters.
They are the best weapon against pigs at close range. However they
are ineffective at longer range. This is where the rifled slugs
and sabot's come into their own. Being very heavy and made out of
either solid lead or copper alloy, these slug pack one heck of a
punch! The only pitfall is their accuracy, and using them in a
smoothbore, accuracy can be very poor indeed. There are bolt
action shotguns that have rifled barrels (Mossberg 695, Savage
210F, etc.), and these shotguns can group lead slugs and sabots
quite well. I would not recommend a single shot because they take
too long to reload.
Boar Hunting Tips
The best hunters are planners. Do it scientifically and don't rely
on your memory or instinct unless when you can have real data.
Scout your hunting area off season. Make a map showing deer
sightings and signs ..
Record your sightings and signs separately, if possible on a
topographical map. Look for patterns of movement. Try to track
migration by time. This will help you know where to set up our
stand during hunting season.
Put Lanocaine or Solarcaine in your hunting kit. They are
marvelous for poison ivy and mosquito bite itches. Since odors are
acid, use baking soda to neutralize your own and other odors.
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