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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: robin on February 18, 2015, 08:40:00 AM

Title: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: robin on February 18, 2015, 08:40:00 AM
One month ago I hit a boar with a 3 blade BH, penetration to the chest area was only about 6 inches as I could still see a big part of the shaft sticking out as it ran away.

Tracked approx 30 yards with miserable blood trial and did not manage to recover.

Last week, I managed to hit another boar approx 60lbs at close range at just 5 yards quartering away with a 2 blade BH, this shot had passed thru and shaft broken as it ran off.    :confused:   initially, the blood trail was decent, but after 40 yards, it became poor. At 60 yards, I could not see any trial at all.

Any advise, suggestion much appreciated.
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: Etter on February 18, 2015, 08:50:00 AM
I think they die just as easily as anything else but they leave poor blood trails and that shield can really hinder penetration.  It sure sounds like the second one should have died somewhere close by.  Is there a lot of water where you hunt?  That can be a big problem.
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: wingnut on February 18, 2015, 08:54:00 AM
Robin,

Wild boars are not that hard to kill if the shot is placed correctly. (see the thread at the top of powwow for shot placement)  The lungs are relativity small and placed forward of most game animals.  So it's easy to shoot back to far.
 
Even when properly placed they are hard to recover if the hole is not big enough.  IMHO a three blade head is much better on hogs if you can get an exit hole.  If not, you have to go with a two blade.

What bow, arrow and broadhead are you using?

Mike
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: ChuckC on February 18, 2015, 08:57:00 AM
Lots of things can help / hinder a bowhunter when it comes to being able to cleanly and quickly kill a prey animal.  

Some ideas right off the top of my head.

Make certain your broadheads are as sharp as you can get them. .  whatever that means to you.  Do not believe that any head right out of the package is sharp enough. Make certain your arrow / broadhead combo are up to the task (heavy and strong enough) and fly well ( spine etc are good for your bow).

Make certain that you know the physiology of that sort of critter.  Many folks think the good innards are further back than they really. are.  Many a liver shot (or worse) are initially called "good hits" by folk that don't know.

Learn, learn, learn how to track.  The better you get, the more chance of finding critters, especially in those areas that are just full of thick undergrowth.

Practice to make sure your shooting is up to snuff and take the shortest shots you can arrange (within reason) at good targets (don't take bad shots "because that was the only shot he gave me".

ChuckC
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: robin on February 18, 2015, 09:00:00 AM
Bear 52 recurve 50lbs at 24.   weasel woodmen and, Magnus, zicky ....(not sure the spelling though)

Carbon and Easton 2018 xx75
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: robin on February 18, 2015, 09:06:00 AM
Etter, no there is no water where I hunt........matter a fact I lost the hog at a high ridge area....far away from any water
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: Jerry Jeffer on February 18, 2015, 09:22:00 AM
Blades must be razor sharp. Also maybe study up on tracking. If  you are making a good hit, you should be able to recover it.
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: Orion on February 18, 2015, 09:30:00 AM
How long did you look for the critters? Did you do a grid search after losing blood?
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: KentuckyTJ on February 18, 2015, 09:30:00 AM
take out both lungs and you will find them.
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: R. W. Mackey on February 18, 2015, 09:57:00 AM
If you ever skin one out you will know why they are hard to kill. That shield, everyone talks about is why. It's solid gristle,
You can hardly cut through it with a sharp knife. It also contains a lot of fat, which has a tendency to clog the entry and exit wounds.
  Like someone suggested, look at the hog shot placement
Pics on here. The very best shot placement on a hog is broadside, straight up the leg and low, you can't shoot a hog too low.
  With your set up, two blade broadheads are the he only way to go. Last, if you got a fatal hit, don't giveup on the search, get down on your hands and knees if need be. There is sign there, you just have to find it.
RW
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: wingnut on February 18, 2015, 10:39:00 AM
Yep with a short draw length and a lower performance bow, you will need to stick to two blade BH.  

Then it is all about shot placement and getting an exit.

Mike
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: Etter on February 18, 2015, 11:29:00 AM
Try tree sharks and you will have blood.
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: Bladepeek on February 18, 2015, 11:39:00 AM
Go to United Blood Trackers web site. They have state maps which you can select and find all the guys who are registered with tracking dogs in your state. Call one near you and ask him if he will be willing to track your next hog. Most of them will not charge, or charge just gas money. Be honest with him about when and where you shot the pig so he can be fair with his dog. And don't wait days until you call.

It's really a shame to lose a well hit animal.
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: suburbanirma on February 18, 2015, 12:01:00 PM
Do any of you veteran hog hunters use a string tracker? I won't take a shot at more than 15 yards. I will use a recurve at 56# @ my draw length and arrows @ 650g tipped with either a 200g three blade or 200g two blade broadhead.
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: ChuckC on February 18, 2015, 12:03:00 PM
It appears that Robin is in Malaysia.  That's gonna be a far drive for someone from UBT,  maybe not.  I don't know.
ChuckC
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: Terry Green on February 18, 2015, 12:52:00 PM
Arrow Flight, sharp head, shot placement.  If all is so, they go down no harder than deer shot in the right place.

I 30 yards is a normal average for a double lung with the 3 above.  Not so sharp head will add yardage even if the other two above are met....

If the other two are not met...or getting close to not getting met...its down hill from there.

But NO, they are not hard to kill if you do your part...and YES they are if you don't.

To be real honest, its best to have them closer than deer for the average size hog...cause the vitals are screwy.  Large hogs same range as deer.
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: Mint on February 18, 2015, 01:23:00 PM
My guess is you shot them like a deer and hit them too far back to hit the vitals on a hog. Every time I hit them where I should they have gone down pretty fast even when I thought the penetration was poor.
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: tarponnut on February 18, 2015, 02:28:00 PM
I agree with all of the above.
Personally, I like to shoot them quartering away, it allows for a greater margin for error. If you double lung them, you generally will watch them fall(depending on cover, of course)
I'd be willing to wager that a lot of "perfectly" hit hogs live to root another day.
Some guys laugh when they see how close we put our stands to the feeders. We like slam dunk shots:)
(if there is such a thing)
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: Bladepeek on February 18, 2015, 04:24:00 PM
That'll teach me to read the whole post (including who posted it   :knothead:
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: ChuckC on February 18, 2015, 04:38:00 PM
:goldtooth:  
I do the same thing all the time.  We all do.
ChuckC
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: shankspony on February 18, 2015, 05:25:00 PM
I own a property with good numbers of wild pig. We would kill about 60-70 per year.
By far the most common mistake I see with any weapon is hitting them too high. Their vitals are pushed down low and forward. The whole top half of a pigs chest should be considered a no go zone. Just bone and muscle. You will be surprised how low you can hit a pig and have it expire quickly.
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: robin on February 18, 2015, 05:55:00 PM
Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions guys. Agree, the real answer is placement and with that accuracy. I truly believe in quartering away shots. Last year, I manage to bring down 2 huge hogs around 140 and 120lbs hogs with quartering shots.

Penetrating was only 6 to 8 inches but they went down around max 45 yards.

Yes, agree, in order for quick, good blood trial and for them to go down fast, need to shoot low and very much forward.    :clapper:
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: beachbowhunter on February 18, 2015, 07:54:00 PM
Ok, now that you got that taken care of...how about some pictures of your hunting grounds and some hogs?  We would all be interested in seeing some of the sights of Malaysia!
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: JamesV on February 19, 2015, 01:24:00 AM
Pigs are nasty animals and the dirt and mud along with the course hair can dull a broadhead making it less effective.

James
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: RC on February 19, 2015, 10:34:00 AM
last rib forward is my favorite shot. Hard to mess it up.RC
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: sticksnstones on February 19, 2015, 12:45:00 PM
If you only got 6" of penetration on the two you killed and the mature one that you lost, I'd say it's time to revisit the tackle.

That should be plenty of bow for this sized game, that leaves the arrow. A few things I'd be asking myself:
- Have you confirmed arrow tune with a bare shaft or paper? You can loose a lot of power to bad tune.
- How many total grains is the arrow? More is more.
- Being really honest, how sharp is the broadhead? It took me a few years to really understand how sharp these things could get.

I'd focus completely on any weaknesses in my gear before I'd worry about how tough my intended prey is.

There is my two cents, aside from agreeing with a ton of good stuff up above.
Thom
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: smokin joe on February 19, 2015, 02:04:00 PM
As said above, confirming good arrow tune is a good idea. An arrow flying straight takes full advantage of a shaving-sharp broadhead. A poorly flying arrow won't give you much penetration.

Confirming the arrow flight with a bare shaft is a really good idea. Remember that adding the feathers to the rear of the shaft tends to stiffen the shaft up a bit. Your bare shafts should be ever so slightly weak so that they end up perfect when fletched.
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: Terry Green on February 19, 2015, 06:41:00 PM
Also...if you study the shot placement thread you will see there is a lot of area forward that is vitals that doesn't involve bone on a broadside shot...more room forward than a deer. No reason to pass on broadside shots.

Best of luck to you !!!

    :campfire:
Title: Re: Why are wild boars so hard to kill
Post by: beaunaro on February 19, 2015, 08:13:00 PM
Seen a lot of "good hit" hogs run forever.

It just spreads a lot of scent when you track them a long ways. Makes it tough, if not impossible, to hunt the same area the next day.

I couldn't add anything that hasn't already been said.

Great advice above.