Any place is a good place, but the best place is in my opion is right here.



I have dropped many a big boar with the .223 shot right there.

Keep in mind that the vitals of a hog tend to be lower and farther forward than you would think if you are comparing to a deer. If you are going for typical "behind the shoulder" shot you would for a deer, as you can see you may be farther back than you think and in an area that will probably kill it, but it may run a long way first.

looks great

Thanks for the info

This does work good!

I'd bet that the number of unrecovered hogs due to poor shot location has a lot of zero's behind it. Great information there Yellowhammer.


Chupa

Good info Yellowhammer. I think many of the unrecovered Coyoted are from the same reason. Shooting too far behind. Thanks for the pics.

Shoot many of these beasts. If I can't get a ear shot its vitals, and through A shoulder. If you hit a shoulder he aint going bar.

With a bow on the other hand, which I hunt with most, things change. Vitals right behind that shoulder blade. If its a good size hog, you have the bone plus almost 2 inches of armor. Quartering away shots are best. Burry the arrow a tad behind the blade into the vitals. Shot one pig in the head, I don't suggest it but [beeep] those g5 t3s do work. And one in the neck,(missed the vitals) and dropped her.

I take "ear shots" whenever I can. As the diagram above shows. If you need a "shoulder" shot, aim just above the top of the front leg.

If you are not steady with your aim, go for the heart lung. SHooting in the neck is great, but if you dick the shot up , they run and eventually will bleed out. I always advise to shoot straight up the front leg middle thickness of the body.

I dicked up a shot last night. It was 10 yds and I did not shoot high to compensate for my zero. Shot low into the meat part of the neck. He had no wind, but ran for a bit. The video was great up to that point, then bang, I messed up the first shot on a group of 10 pigs. They ran into the corn.

I had used my Ninja stealth to get that close and then only got 3 kills in the corn which were not easily seen in the video. Got to have a video.

It was 30 min later they came back out and I ended up with 5 total kills out of that group before I decided to move on to the next field. The following shots were made from 50-80 yds and shot them right where you pointed out in your post. D.O.G., Dead on ground.

Deidera took this hog with a head shot at 170 yards with her 6.8 and D740 1/4 moon

Good info!

Vultures and coyotes have to eat, too. But neck shots are the only way to go for a quick kill. All you M.O.A. guys should have no problem with that unless the hog moves his head.

Behind the EAR........Only way to go.

Great info

I had a guide in texas show me the same site in the first pic. I have not had a hog take a step when I do my part and shoot in that location.

In fact, I have printed that pic and hand it out to anyone who is willing to take it.

I am completely jealous....I just wish we had some hogs here in Pennsylvania to shoot. I'd shoot em in the toe nails just so I'd keep havin em to shoot at. I swear I'm gonna make a trip to Texas or one of the other hog enriched southern states before I croak.

I saw my first dead hog as a little kid. I had wanted to shoot a hog more than anything, every chance I had to go to my uncles land in texas I went in hopes to shoot a hog but at the time there were not many. I finally saw one, dead, in the middle of the dirt camp road (obviously not road kill). We got out and inspected it, it was in a puddle of blood, I asked my uncle if there were tresspassers, he took a long pull from his 24 ounce beer and said something I will never ever ever forget "He probably did the central texas thing, saw it, shot it in the gut, let it run over to someone elses ranch to die and not worry about it"

Im a bit of a bragger myself so I like to shoot them DRT for photo opps to rub it in my friends faces that Im currently hunting and they are not.

to answer your question, I always go for the the head, if out of range, get in range, helps me hone my skills, or lack there of. Also I have killed them using almost every form of weaponry and unconventional tactic you could ever think of, sometimes on purpose and usually on accident. I may or may not KNOW A GUY that filled a small coffee can with washers and tannerite, removed the feeder after it dispatched the corn and set up a lonnnnng ways off.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane bud.

I recently read an article on shot placement and caliber by a well known gun writer. WHAT AN IDIOT! it's obvious he hasn't shot near enough hogs and even more obvious that he has to have a guide holding his hand to find one at a feeder. To be fair I've met the guy so I know for sure he's an idiot!

That said I've taken lots of hunters on hog hunts both experienced and inexperienced. I usually suggest the shoulder. Bigger target,vitals and running gear taken away. However I prefer a head neck shot.

Over the years we have lost far more wounded hogs to body shots and far less wounded hogs to head shots.

No matter where you shoot them or what you shoot them with you are going to lose a few if you shoot at enough of them.

that's why we call them Hog Zombies!

In my experience, it is all about shot placement and if I do my part it does NOT matter if I am using a 5.56 or a 7.62.

Truth!!!


Chupa

this is good info we are starting to see an increase of these a couple miles from the house im afraid soon they will be here also

totally agree with post #1 ... behind ear /neck area DRT!

see video ... 270 lbs hog subsonic 300 blk. 1050 fps 220 grain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJYckvdFbbU

I'm 100% with the head shots. Usually about 20 yrds to the feeder. 22mag does a fine job of dropping them like a hammer. Fairly quiet too.

Yup,ear Pork chops R saved We up here can not eat the stinky boars,o the fat is strong.I usually try the young sows How do you folks do it,r are the old boars left.

unless they got good teefers the boars are left to ROT. tried once to eat the Back strap out of one, stunk the house up . head shot if i want it or thru the lung if it just need to go away.

Good info here. I think I'll try for more neck/ear shots next time.

Here is a good example.

Quick question on this topic - since I've never taken hogs with a bow...

Would you recommend the same placement with an arrow as you would a bullet?

I'm not sure you would get the same result of a broken neck/shock. I usually try to go behind the shoulder quartering forward it possible.

I have shot several hogs perfectly and still not recovered them. Mostly because you often don't get good blood trails on hogs due to the fat that seems to seal up the wound.

I did should one hog like that once and it cut the juggler and I got a good blood trail and found it in about 30 yards.

If quartering towards me I could try and get in front of the shoulder. I big boar is tough to get good penetration with a bow but angling it in behind the shield into the vitals is best.

shot two hogs with bow 50lb wish Id have had a 70lb, never found either one, blood trailed one for over 1/2 mile and even went back with the dog and gave up when she was jumping other hogs.

anymore if it doesn't leave the muzzle at 3000fps or weight over 400grs I do nothing but head shots. shot one the other night with a308 168gr 200 yards right in the shoulder, you can see the dirt fly on impact in the video, still ran off into waist high poison ivy.

killed my first 10 hogs with a 22 mag shooting between the eye and ear, never lost one till I went to a bigger gun and for the shoulder

it is all about placement no mater what you shoot

Impactzone, are those the only 2 hogs you've shot with a bow?

Both of my hunting bows are 70lbs (73 & 74lbs), and my lightest arrows were 393grn with 100grn points, but I'm running 125grn points in everything these days. So those "short cut" shafts are 418grn with the 125's, and my "turkey arrows" which are long enough to give me about 1/2" shaft past my riser run about 445grns (I forget the exact number, not as much of a turkey hunter as deer hunter). I get 323fps out of my Bowtech with the 418grn arrows and 293fps with the 445's. 95 and 85ft.lbs. respectively.

I've been running Rage 125grn Chisel points for deer, but I suppose with that much armor and gristle, a 1pc or welded steel point would be a better choice. Maybe a NAP Bloodrunner? (I own 2 sets of Bloodrunners in 100 and 125grns.

I would assume that if I HIT the spine, my arrows would break it, as I've cut the spine and broken shoulders on deer even with the Rage's (100% FUBAR's the Rage's), but it'd be a matter of ensuring I cut the windpipe/arteries to kill quickly, AND severed the spine. Not knowing the anatomy in their neck well enough, I'm assuming that's not likely?

Yup Varminterror only two hogs and only two deer, but a ton of fish with a bow several gar over 6'

I can see why a lot of guys go with 70# bows and know of a few guys that shoot the big bows on fish to get down deep in clear water

You shooting them with a Barrett?

I would like to see the wound channel...

I think he was referring to 3000fps rifles and 400grn arrows, independently. I caught that earlier today and thought, FML, I have some d@mn heavy hitters in my safe and none of them can get THAT HOT!! Lol!!

Opps... That make sence

key word is muzzel

I generally go for the EAR/HEAD SHOT but sometimes when the EAR area is not very clear,I go for the SHOULDER SHOT.

Here in north Florida we have plenty of hogs and to save a lot of work we've found that the best place to shoot them is near the road...

An old man once told me that trying to drag a dead hog is like trying to drag a bowling ball... I've found that to be true except the hog is harder... LOL

$bob$

HERE PIG GET SOME OF THE GOOD OLD 223.LOL

Anyone know of a inexpensive place to hog hunt in Oklahoma? A newbie to hog hunting and would love to go. What is best time of year to go? New to PM Ras well and would appreciate any info. Thanks

Wish we had hogs here in Idaho, I would love to go on some hog hunts!!

Hogs seem to be most reliable in late summer and late winter to early spring. That is when they are most likely to hit feeders.

Once acorns start falling, and deer season rolls around they turn extremely nocturnal and almost seem to disappear.

Trust me, you don't.

Your probably rite Kizmo they probably do more damage then its worth to have them around to hunt, I'm considering saving up some money to go on an out of state hog hunt though..

Texas or California on private property!

Yea I wish I knew someone in either of those states, I'd jump on that in a heartbeat!!

Think Hogs will ever make it to Indiana? haha

They already are in Indiana now from what I've read in the past.

Heres my latest dispatched texas hog. I took this one last week during my last days of leave. Single boar, normally i run into sounders of a minimum of low 20s.

Since im no longer able to hunt my spot since being stationed elsewhere when i came back i saw around 20-30acres of hog devastation. It seems i missed the group while away and they moved on for a bit. Before i was stationed here the neighboring property had trapped 76.

So i know theyll be back as we typically always have high numbers of hogs and deer activity.

This one was dispatched with my newest rifle which may become my primary chambered in 6.5 creedmoor.

How about where to stick em with a pocket knife?

Right between the eyes with a .308 Dennis Quackenbush airgun works pretty good too at 40 yards. Granted it is a lot of work to get that close but man what a thrill! He flopped for a food 5 minutes going nowhere....

Hogs.would be rough on those alfalfa fields.

It is easier if you go for the shoulder shot because you have a higher chance of killing the hog with out it running away, I usually go for a head shot though because it is a cleaner kill but it depends on how experienced and how far away you are. I have shot some big hogs from time to time, and most of them have been head shots. I use a Tikka T3 22-250, with grey tip bullets for head shooting, but if you are aiming for the lungs or heart I would recommend hollow points just to be safe.

A Texas answer to eating boars. In my neck of the woods the good ole boys use dogs and horses or atv's to catch them, castrate, we call them barred, and turn them loose. That way you hunt the same hog twice. Lots of dogs cut up and killed doing this. Catching boar hogs with big teeth in thickets and old tree tops will get your blood flowing and.draining if.you aint.careful.

I'm taking my son hog hunting next year. Neither of us have ever done it. I absolutely cannot wait till then. Especially after reading this thread. thanks all of you. What are you guys shooting for ammo out of the .223 and .308?

I am shooting 60vmax and 68 grain hollow points in my .223s

I've had them walk from a high shoulder shot with a 300wm and had them DRT from m855 2 inches lower. Shot placement is everything with pigs.

Well that is pretty convincing, maybe i should start hog hunting sometime.

Behind the ear almost drops them every time with my .308

How many did you shoot behind the ear with a .308 that ran off?

I don't think Hogzilla could stand very many of those!

I swear that said "almost every time" when I posted.

I'm pretty sure it did too.

Good thread, here. Never shot a hog, but intend to do so, one of these days.

Hey, I want to go Hog hunting over on a Lease we own, But I'm limited to what weapons I have. I have a Marlin .22 Rifle. And 20 Gauge. what would you reccomend. Also I saw a Youtube video that said if you use a .22 killing range is within 45 Yds. And it said 'Shoot right behind the ear and they will go down in a heart beat', any tips would be great.
P.S. They are tearin up the place!

Never killed a hog myself..
A group of us including my son (8 years almost 9 old).. are doing a hog hunt in a couple months.. my son is deadly with his 22 rim fire but he gets a bit recoil/noise sensitive when I've up the caliber to 223...
I have a 22 hornet that he shoots well.. would it get the job done at relatively short range? 25 to 50 yards with a solid bullet??

This would be his first big game and I want it to be a positive experience..

I would personally recommend the 223. Let him practice with it and he should be fine. The 22 is just to small. If he is shy of the 223 that tells me he hasn't shot a lot. So shot placement during the heat of battle right behind the ear with all his adrenaline running would likely result in a miss or just wounding the animal. And nobody wants that.

I can understand about your son with the .223, I would recommend the .22, use a hollow point, BUT the get a lethal shot, I shoot right around the EYE area, also to get a close shot, us the Buck Bomb, called 'Fruit Punch' i have had excellent results on them coming in close. Can get it on Amazon...
But I do agree with Deltadawg

Guys I am shooting a 308 using 168gr Amax bullets. I am here to tell you 223 is way too small. In fact 300 Win mag is too small. I have been hunting a High Fence area to remove the Hogs and they want even the dead ones removed. Their Hogs are old and exceptionally large. My 308 just will not kill them with a shoulder shot. I have waited to get them quartering away and still had most of them run off. I hit some so hard it took them off their feet. I have hit several between the eyes to see them fall unconscious, only to lay a few minutes then get up and run off. The only shot is behind the ear or way up high in the middle of the back to break the spine. Put it in your mind when you pull the trigger that a follow up shot will be needed.

I've shot a few hogs with my 6.8 spc 90 gr Gold Dot Bullets. Have had great success with this bullet shooting the hogs behind the ear or behind the shoulder. They run about 40 yards with the shoulder shot but the ear shot typically drops them where they stand.

I'd never try to shoot a hog in the shoulder or head. I've killed about 400 of the stinking things on the farm with a 223 shooting 77gr SMKs. Then stepped up to a 6.8 and 120gr SSTs and killed about 450 more with it.

Here is the only one I killed with a bolt action in the last 6 years. 68gr PPU Match bullet in a savage 20".
Good example of where to hit them.
I've seen way too many run off from a head on headshot. Their skulls are pretty thick and a perfect angle to skip a round. Knocks them out for a minute [beeep].

(Photobucket sucks)

Behind the ear!

Photobucket sucks....

But draw a line from the ear to the shoulder point.. Put a bullet in there and they die.
This is the one i had linked from photobucket in the post above.
69gr PPU match bullet in a 223.

Neck shots all day long.

bit off the ear and lower, best place, room for error

We got tired of tracking hogs and started shooting them in the same spot.
Works every time. .204- .308

Look great man! Nice shot!

I have always been told that the ideal archery shot against hogs is a quartering away shot; that way you don't have to try shooting straight through the shoulder to hit the heart, you can just go behind the shoulder at an angle.

It really depends on what you're hunting with. When I bow hunt I try to send it right behind the shoulder and do my best to not hit the should plate. If I'm rifle hunting, I'll send it between the eyes or right through the front shoulder. This is a good read on Where to aim when hog hunting that kinda says same thing

Low and forward on a pig especially with archery equipment. Most guys shoot behind the shoulder, pig jumps forward when the bow goes off and you shoot them in the guts.

If you shoot a well built arrow, heavy weight and good components you shouldn't have to worry about the "plate". That's with a fixed head of course.