Where To Shoot A Wild Boar Part 1

By Author: Razvan Jr
Total Articles: 36
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There are many hunters out there each year hunting down wild boars, mostly because they want to stay in practice when the deer season is closed or because they simply like hunting this type of game. In addition, hogs can be a real nuisance in some areas and eliminating some of them might ease the pressure. Due to the reason that most of the hunters that pursue hogs are in fact deer hunters, they do not know where to shoot a wild boar to get its vitals. In this article, we will try to explain where the best shots are.

The best shot would be in the shoulder area, preferably lower. However, you must pay attention not to aim so low because you might hit under the swine. If the hog is quartering away or towards you, you will want to place the shot so that the bullet will end up in the vitals, right between the shoulders. Of course, this means that the bullet must penetrate well.

There have been many discussions among hunters about shooting a hog in the head. Indeed, it is deadly efficient, but only if you hit the animal in the brain. The downside is that the wild boar has a small brain and this means that the likelihood ...
... of making a deadly shot is much reduced. In addition, its brain is very well protected by a thick skull, which means that you will need a tough bullet in order to penetrate.

Probably the most debated topic is of the old “behind-the-ear-with-a-22” story, although not many have practiced it. This works great, but only if the shooter is next to the boar, but it isn’t very efficient nor should it be tried at bigger distances. The bullets used in rimfire cartridges, especially in the 22 long rifles, are in most cases quite soft, and do not have enough power in order to penetrate very well. In this case, the bullet will most likely flatten out on the bone of the boar’s skull, meaning that it won’t get the job done as you had hoped.

A broken shoulder will certainly put a wild boar down on the spot, just as it will do with basically any other type of game. This can prove to be of great help, as you will be able to do a follow-up shot, if it is necessary. The best case scenario would be to kill it quickly and efficiently, avoiding trailing the animal. In the case of a mature hog, you certainly don’t want him to approach you with its sharp tusks.

The question is: how much gun do we need to take down a hog? The answer is not that simple as it depends upon the boar and the placement of the bullet. A general rule says that first-time boar hunters should start with any of the cartridges in the .30-30 Winchester as they offer enough power for most of these animals, especially with the 170-grain bullets of proper construction. Lesser cartridges can be used for smaller hogs.

Join us in the second part of the article where we will discuss about choosing the appropriate ammo for taking down a wild boar.

About Author: Learn more about feral hog hunting at www.wildboarhuntinginfo.com - your primary source for information regarding hog hunting dogs.