This little piggy... got dead

[mtdawg169]

I was asked to go hog hunting last week, its something I have never done. I'm in the greater Tampa bay area and was wondering what wild hogs are good to eat?

Little ones!

[mtdawg169]

I agree props for handling a charging pig well. That'd ruin a day if he closed on you.

As to the bow hunting. I can't speak for Steyr but to me bow is a different beast. I feel confident when I shoot a deer with my bow it will die. It might run a bit but probably not far 95% of the time. A 9mm vs any largish animal doesn't have that same odds. Had the hog decided to run away instead you've got a injured animal that has months of suck-itude ahead. Kind of like jack offs that gut shot cats with 22lrs for fun.

In case you missed it, the first shot was a double lung shot with complete penetration through to the far side shoulder. He wasn't going far or for very long.

[SteyrAUG]

I suspect we weren't raised that differently. Respecting the animal & fair chase are sacred rules. Let me be clear, I didn't go hunting with a 9mm handgun. I used what was expedient & within reason for the circumstances to dispatch a nuisance animal. And I did so with as little suffering as possible.

And I guess the only real difference is I personally would have waited until I had something more suitable. It seems that otherwise you know what I am talking about and we were told the same things.

[SteyrAUG]

I guess that means that you wouldn't consider bowhunting then. I've shot multiple deer with my bow and everysingle one of them ran at least 20 yards. More along the lines of at least 50 yards. All of my shots were place in the heart/lungs and were killing shots.

For me personally, no. But I understand the challenge of the bow hunt and won't criticize. While there is more suffering, there is also more leveling of the playing field.

[SteyrAUG]

Ive never met a hunter who said they can kill a deer or other medium+ size game 100% of the time with one shot and a drop. I think thats wildly unrealistic, and the vast majority of hunters would say, even with a clean hit, the animal will run a short distance.

The ones I've seen aren't "light switch" kills, but they also don't run a couple hundred yards. I've seen plenty of hunters take first shot hits where the animal drops or gets no further than 15 yards. I've also seen the same hunters pass up possible shots when they weren't confident of being able to do the same.

Wouldn't be the first time somebody suggested I was a PETA hunter, but that is how I was raised I guess. As the OP stated, he didn't have the best tool for the job, and really that is the only comment I am making.

[Odie Dozer]

Cant pass up a 20 yard shot just because you have a 9mm. Of course that is the minimum caliber I would use. I don't think it was an unethical choice at all. Congrats.

[Grizzly16]

In case you missed it, the first shot was a double lung shot with complete penetration through to the far side shoulder. He wasn't going far or for very long.

Nope, I saw that. But to me 9mm isn't an ethical hog gun. Same as a 22lr isn't an ethical deer gun. But I know lots of guys with meat in the freezer from a 22lr deer kill.

It is a personal preference. I doubt you'll change my mind any faster than I'll change yours on this. In the end a hog is dead and that is a win in my book.

[Grizzly16]

Little ones!

Mmmmmm bacon...

[mtdawg169]

The ones I've seen aren't "light switch" kills, but they also don't run a couple hundred yards. I've seen plenty of hunters take first shot hits where the animal drops or gets no further than 15 yards. I've also seen the same hunters pass up possible shots when they weren't confident of being able to do the same.

Wouldn't be the first time somebody suggested I was a PETA hunter, but that is how I was raised I guess. As the OP stated, he didn't have the best tool for the job, and really that is the only comment I am making.

Steyr, you keep saying the ones you've "seen". Have you actually taken an animal or more than one and had to make that judgement call yourself? What I'm having a hard time with is your use of words like "needless suffering" because I shot an animal more than once, even though it only ran a few yards before expiring. Then you say a large game animal being shot with a rifle & running a short distance is OK. How is one "needless suffering" & the other OK? It seems that the only distinction is what weapon was used. Considering the results and the particular circumstances involved, I would do the same thing if the opportunity presented itself again.

[DJK]

I was asked to go hog hunting last week, its something I have never done. I'm in the greater Tampa bay area and was wondering what wild hogs are good to eat?

The rule of thumb that we always use is if you can lift it up by it's back legs and hold it straight out, keep it for eating.