Feral Hogs & Wild Boars

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

Someone doesn't know the skeletal structure of a Feral Hog, where did that EXTRA bone come from in the rear leg/pelvis?

LOL not the greatest drawing but it's pretty sufficient on the shootin side. I'll see if I can find a better more precise illustration.

 

[95XL883]

MC, FF, thanks for the info. It has been a long time since I hunted anything. As I prepare to hunt again, I'm reading everything I can. I want to put the animal down in as few shots as possible because a.) it's the decent thing to do b.) I will, but don't want to, chase a wounded animal and c.) I'm cheap and at a $+, the 357 supermags from Reed's Ammo are a little pricy to just shoot and hope.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Someone doesn't know the skeletal structure of a Feral Hog, where did that EXTRA bone come from in the rear leg/pelvis?

The drawing is pretty bad, as noted. I think you are referring to what would be the sacrum's side view. The sacrum is drawn out of proportion. The right half of the pelvis shown is the wrong shape as well. Not only that, but the pig has 2 humeri in his right front leg. You have the upper humerus that attaches to the scapula and the below that you have the lower humerus (in place of the radius and ulna) between the upper humerus and some sort of odd foot bones. On the hind leg, the tibia is bizzarely portrayed and no fibula is shown. The label for "Neck Vertebrae" actually points to the thoracic vertebrae which are not neck vertebrae. The scapula is the wrong shape. Also, the "main vein" is incorrectly depicted as well.

So I have no doubt given all this errors that the depictions of the organs are 100% accurate.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

In looking further at the errant image, I am fairly certain that the organ placement is misrepresented as well.

I think most folks get it from here...
http://hunting.about.com/od/deerbiggame/a/wheretoshoothog.htm
...and the notion of the organs being well forward seems derived from here as well.



The author notes...

Many of the folks running around the woods after hogs are primarily deer hunters, and don't really know just where to shoot a hog to get its vitals. Where are its vitals? We're about to answer that question.

...and goes on to say that the lungs are well forward compared to that of a deer and the image shows the lung just barely extending beyond the scapula toward the rear. I think many folks extrapolate from this statement and the image that the heart is well forward as well and the image seems to indicate this because the heart extends forward beyond the humerus.

The heart really isn't differently located from where it is in the deer. In a standing position with the front feet directly under the pig (neither leg extened as when walking), the heart is located posterior to the humerus, just like in a deer.
http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/418779/enlarge
http://www.biographixmedia.com/veterinary/sow-pig-anatomy.html
http://connect.in.com/female-pig/photos-anatomy-of-the-female-pig-1448796755889.html

The lungs also extend further rearward than the strange drawing indicates. The pig's lungs are slightly differently shaped as seen from the side, but not really located further forward.
http://www.edersbow.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1764

So I find it interesting that the author is trying to help out hunters who apparently don't know anatomy and yet the image used to indicate the hog's anatomy has so many errors....and it is a really simplified drawing!

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

DNS, if you google "Wild Hog shot placement" or Wild Hog anatomy" that is one of the most popular "drawings" out there. I didn't draw it and my skills on a computer pretty much stop at logging in . I do know out of the many many many hogs that I have field dressed, the heart lung area, in comparison to a deer, is of course much smaller and in perspective comparison to the position of it between the 2, a hogs is quite a bit further forward than on a deer. If you picture both of the animals together, you can see what most of us mean when we say "shoot further forward than you would on a deer". The next hog you drop, if you do not plan on keeping it, open it up from the side peeling back everything till you can get a clear view of the innards. you will see that the liver is right at the shoulder/scapula and the lungs travel in more of an upward angle than those of a deer. Where a perfect broadside shot would be on a deer would end up being a liver and stomach shot on a hog. I consider a perfect broadside shot on a deer to be right behind the shoulder dead centerline of the body. On a deer, that would center the lungs, on a hog, it would center the liver. I've bow hunted too many hogs to not know this. When you bow hunt, you have to learn these little quirks or you are going to end up tracking a wounded hog and possibly be testing your tree climbing skills. NOT fun!

 

[finnwolf64]

The term wild boar can be used to describe any adult wild male pig. European wild boar have a distinctive look, but are no harder to kill than your average razorback, or other wild hog. A mate of mine is currently working on a mining exploration drilling rig in Slovakia & has sent me photos of the European wild boar he has hunted over there. Although different hunting techniques are used in Europe, he says the European wild boar is similar to stop as a wild hog back home.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

DNS, if you google "Wild Hog shot placement" or Wild Hog anatomy" that is one of the most popular "drawings" out there.

And isn't it a shame that such a popular drawing purporting to be for teaching people anatomy would have so much wrong with it? It may be a popular drawing, but it is really screwed up.

Where a perfect broadside shot would be on a deer would end up being a liver and stomach shot on a hog. I consider a perfect broadside shot on a deer to be right behind the shoulder dead centerline of the body. On a deer, that would center the lungs, on a hog, it would center the liver.

LOL, even with the errant drawing, putting a shot right behind the shoulder blade as you described would still be a fine lung shot.

I have taken apart hogs and I have taken apart deer. I never considered the slight differences to be at all critical for shot placement. I am leaning more toward going with the notion that deer hunters trying to explain away poor shots by blaming the hog's anatomy versus their hunting prowess.

 

[nathan]

If opportunity is there to put down using a headshot , the better. Meat is intact but blood and guts should be removed well.

 

[alsaqr]

This is a better representation of the internal workings of a hog:

http://www.texasboars.com/anatomy.html

 

[Flintknapper]

I use this one:



I keep it posted in my Daughter's Deer/Hog stand as a "reminder" of where to shoot. But...it really doesn't matter to her (where the internals are located), she hasn't shot a hog anywhere other than in the head or neck EVER.

In eleven years...she has never missed a shot or had one take the first step afterward. She is picky about her shots and understands the need to wait for the right opportunity.

 

[788Ham]

dprice3844444,

How, in regards to your ex wife? The long snout, or the coarse hair? Sorry, I couldn't help myself.