Hitting a hog in the kill zone your GOING to hit the from leg and have to blow thru it. ALL hogs i have shot with a bow have been in the top of the front leg OR right behind the ear/neck. Both will shut a hog down pretty quick.... sometimes instantly - other times within a reasonable distance.
Draw weight.... depends on the hog. here in east texas we have eating hogs of under 140 pounds, hunting hogs of 140 to 300# and monsters of 300 pound plus..... I have seen very few over 400 and none over 550 pounds. If your trophy hunting and want a big hog with big cutters - bring a bow with as much draw weight you can accurately shoot at 30 yards quickly - id recommend 50 to 60 pounds. Make your arrows heavy - 10gpp with SHARP broad heads.
If your hunting public lands - your NOT going to be allowed a sidearm or gun in most cases. If your guided hunting - it will depend on your guide and area. If your private land hunting - someone needs to carry a gun OR have a catch dog with a few kerr dogs (if your going for a LARGE hog)
Hogs out here are very well known for taking a shot and not dying fast, the wound seems to seal itself and the hog will run and die elsewhere. In january it is not hot so the hogs will be able to run fast and far before having to stop (they don't sweat and will not overheat in winter). Big boars will tend to fight if shot - don't matter if its vital or not.
The stories of javalina's DO NOT apply in feral hogs - they do not gang up on you, if fact they will run away from you if shot at or spooked. I have seen two hog turn to fight - one after being shot, the other after being spooked. Both were large boars. Sows will run over their own young to flee.
The good news is this however.... a large 300+ boar with cutters will be very hard pressed to cut you as the cutters are large and turned in, not saying he can't cut ya, but he will be hard pressed to do it - they do bite however!. The killer hog boars are the 150 to about 250 pounders that have small cutters that are turned out and those suckers will head swipe you and cut you deep, bite and run you over if they get the mind to - its very rare however.....
During the spring we dog hunt hogs and after the catch dog shuts them down we go in with hands and drag the hog out by the rear legs, so they are really not all that scary as long as you have them shut down and stay away from the head - a hog can not turn its head and bite you, they have to turn the body to face you, they can spin on a dime however, but again will flee over fighting.
Just carry a 50+ pound bow, SHARP SHARP SHARP broadheads and take your time on the shot.... Honestly getting within a bow shot of one is the hard part.
Dave
Small eatter hog taken with a shop built R/D laminate bow of about 40#... shot twice at 35 yards as it came across my back yard one morning.
Topic: hog huntin (Read 875 times)
