First Hog

[ocm4]

This morning I killed my first Hog and my first kill with the Howa Mini Youth I picked up on the classifieds here from a3Silver. Honestly I was expecting this to be more of a deer scouting trip as our gun season is already in, and just wanted to take advantage of the cooler mornings in SC. After reading the threads here and watching DNS videos among others, I grabbed a box of the Federal TNT 90gr a while back and that?s what the rifle was sighted for. Left the usual deer rifle at home since it had not been sighted in yet, and grabbed the Mini which was shooting the TNT pretty good. Just hoped a big buck didn?t show up too far out since not comfortable with the bullet on deer yet.
Well didn?t see any deer but all of a sudden a pig was 30 yards on right, then another and so on. This one was about the 6th that came out, was closest, and had turned back towards woods giving me a broadside shot. Aimed for behind the ear/neck and she dropped in her tracks. Racked another round but the others were out of there fast!
She was still kicking so put another in high back. That was the end of that. Since the shot was so close and I?m new to pig hunting all I can say is the rifle and the bullet did the trick in this scenario. I have no doubt the first shot was fatal. No pass through and a buddy helped me do a gutless method for the lions and hams. He estimated pushing 300#. Thanks guys for all the info y?all provide. Oh and the Burris Fullfield 3-9x40 is a great little scope on this gun. On 3 power I had full view of pig and clear as could be. I have some pics if someone can help me get em posted!

[CJW]

That is exciting, happy for you.

[Ymountainman]

Congrats!

[Bigs28]

Congrats

[Double Naught Spy]

Congrats!!!!

When you shoot a hog and it goes down and starts kicking, the proverbial death dance or curly shuffle, the pig is experiencing disinhibition of the motor neurons. Basically, that means that the spinal column is continually sending out signals and it is the brain that controls these signals, only allowing them to be sent when the brain directs. When the brain goes offline, this control or inhibition no longer exists and you commonly get the kicking that you witnessed. Usually, the hog is dead or very close to death. Once in a while, the hog may still be alive (spinal shot) and breathing, just paralyzed from conscious control and so a follow-up shot is necessary. Still rarer, a shot will stun the system and the hog will go through the kicking process (brain temporarily offline) only to then recover, get up, and take off. This can happen quickly, but I have most commonly seen it happen after the hog has been kicking for a prolonged period of time, kicking strongly. The hogs that manage to get up may still be mortally wounded, but their deaths may still be minutes away.

I never discourage somebody from putting a 2nd or 3rd shot into a downed hog, so long as it is a safe shot to make. You made the right choice. On larger hogs, I sometimes do it administratively just to be certain the hog won't have the opportunity to get up.

On a particularly unfortunate group hunt, we had 10 or 11 hogs down on their sides and kicking. They were spread out over quite a distance and after checking the first three, we figured it would be more prudent to just go get the truck. That took 4 or 5 minutes. By the time we returned, TWO had gotten up and disappeared. We shot 4 more hogs that weekend and every one of them received multiple additional shots...just to be sure. ;-)

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To post a pic, click on the picture button (3rd from right, above where you put in your text replies).
Click on FROM COMPUTER
Then on BROWSE and that will allow you to get the file off your computer. Once you click on the file, that screen will disappear and you will be back to where you clicked on BROWSE
NOW Click on UPLOAD FILE (note that the file can't be larger than 1500x1500 in size)

And that should get it.

[Popeye212]

Congrats

[Redomen]

Great job!

[ocm4]

Thanks for the help! Just added some pics. Last year I shot a 10 point 170 yards out with my 6.5 Creedmoor (factory ELDX) almost direct facing slight quarter. Dropped straight down. Picked up the phone to start celebratory bragging only to watch him kick up and run into super thick timber. No blood trail at all. He was found 3 weeks later in a 4 foot deep ditch 100 yard away, as water started to recede, still almost completely submerged. Guess he ran in couldn’t escape and drowned. Bad shot (guessing liver and some gut) on my part. Regardless I wasn’t taking any chances on this big Sow even though she showed the signs you mention of fatal shot.

[s3silver]

Congrats ocm4! Glad you were finally able to bloody the lil grendel up. That is one fat sow for sure. Now you make me want to pick up another mini... Miss that lil green rifle.

[sundowner]

Congrats on your first hog , you will always remember this one .

[Michael-95037]

Congratulations. I'll bet it put a big smile on your face. Keep killing them.