Proper Hog Hunting Set Up

[APN]

Hey everyone!

I'll be hunting porkers fro the first time this year in California and wanted some advice on a reliable set up.

I'll be using a 55# recurve, with my draw (30") it'll be around 60#. I have Beaman Center Shot 340's full length (31.5") which fall in the 425gr area without a ti (using 75gr insert). The spine is good but I have a question on tips.

I was using 125gr for deer sand turkey and know that'll be too light. From what others have told me and I have researched, that shield can be a real obstacle. This  is coming from my compound buddies (I'm an anomaly amongst them) who say even their bows have a tough time. I've been practicing on a 3D out to 20 yards and am getting solid groups in the boiler room - although that's with 125gr field tips and Stingers. I wouldn't try to take one beyond that. Of course placement is everything, but should I hit the shield... well therein lies the conundrum.

I was thinking of getting 175gr single bevel Werewolf broadhead. Is that too much or too light? I definitely want to get the momentum up.

I really appreciate any advice y'all have?

[TxAg]

With that draw length and that poundage you'd be fine with 125 gr stingers.  Stepping up to 175 gr and a single bevel wouldn't hurt anything assuming your arrows still fly straight. Just make sure the arrows fly true and your heads are sharp.

Go have fun and share the pics when you kill one.

[tarponnut]

What TxAg said.
A good flying, heavy arrow, with a sharp broadhead will do the trick.
This topic has been covered on Trad Gang many times, but in my experience(and there are certainly guys here with more experience than me) hunting and guiding for hogs, I have yet to see a hog that was lost due to the shield. In fact, of the guys that have killed truly big hogs with us their arrows blew right through the shield. Again, that's not to say the shield never stops an arrow.
I think your set-up will be fine with either broadhead(to answer your question).

[RC]

I think more times than not its the shoulder and shield stopping the arrow on a shot thats to high anyway.Shoulder shots on deer stop most arrows. You`ll be fine with your set-up.RC

As TxAg said above, with your setup the 125gr head will be fine. If you hit one in the shield, you will most likely get enough penetration to kill just about any wild hog out there.

If you hit them in the shield, the blood trails get sparse a lot of times because the arrow breaks off and the hole is basically sealed. Even if you killed him, you may not find him.

Aim low and hit them in the pocket!

Bisch

[APN]

Thanks for all the advice guys, I really appreciate it. I'll get some 175gr field tips and just see what they do. I'm still partial to getting the single bevel heads after seeing the wound channels they produce.

I won't be showing this post to my wife. I've convinced her that if she wants fresh bacon, I NEED an new set up  

[katman]

With the 175 you do have some room to shorten the shaft a little.
I like your thinking, always looking for a reason for a new set up. Good luck with the wife.

[JDunlap]

I agree with katman, I think your arrow will be weak with 250gns up front. I say that because I have been going thru "tuning tribulation" with almost the exact same set up and draw length. I couldn't believe how much I had to cut off the 340 shaft to get 200 grain bh's and aluminum inserts to tune.

[Bjorn]

Don't change a thing. Shoot low and forward and bring a camera!
Study the hog shot placement pics up at the top of the threads here.    

[beendare]

I'm shooting 55# recurve at 29 1/2" with 31" Beman MFX's, the 75 gr insert and a 125g DRT head- tunes great. It probablty would be weak if I added another 50g.

 I think many of the reasons we hear, "poor performance" is due to poor arrow flight. Many compound guys just screw on a BH and hunt picking a BH because someone says it flys like FP's.

I think about 90% of the compound guys don't tune their bows or meticulously assemble their arrows [no wobble] Possibly they believed the ads, "screw them on and hunt!" Without good arrow flight,all bets are off! I've seen arrows tumble off of animals. A small wobble converts to a big problem with penetration on a big boar hog.

 Lots of compound shooters using short heads. I've seen a couple of the short BH's have a plowing effect and dull on contact with hogs and elk that were wallowing. That kind of thing doesn't happen with COC heads.

[APN]

Thanks again everyone - I'll stay put with my set up. I got caught up in higher FOC and more momentum deal. I'm already 17% (which ain't too shabby) but I think I wanted to really go nutty with it. Thanks for bringing back to earn guys!

[APN]

By earn I meant earth...