My first Pig Hunt coming !!

[OPAH]

OK finally First Pig Hunt coming, now I am not an Idiot but I know there is a ton I don't know about Wild pigs and pig hunting. I do have a great guide that is very familiar with the terrain and pig habits in the area, but I don't want to get out there and be totally at a loss.
I can track, Not quite sure what pig shit looks like but My father would to tell me all the time I was deep in it. I would think they would field dress and debone much like a Deer or Bear, but do not know if there are scent glands to avoid.
I have also heard that their hides (skin ) in very tough and a blade does not go very far on them?
Looking at picking up a Havalon Knife? Scalpel

So you see I have limited knowledge here, could I get some info, words of wisdom, Don't do this and such !

 

[AllDayBD]

Love my havalon knife. Just get a few replacement blades to go along with it. Works great for skinning and I sometimes use it during the butchering process as well.

 

[Bigbadboar]

My advice would be to not take it too seriously. If you want to become a trophy boar hunter than you should consider hunting Europe and if that is not an option than basically just do what guide says, don't miss your shot, and get a lot of sausage made from pig. Also, try and make a lot of jokes about pigs and pig hunting, there are plenty of routes you can take there. Here is an example that isn't very degrading to ex wives/women and fornication: Wild pigs are nocturnal because they're so f'n ugly they don't want to see themselves. Good luck!

 

[OPAH]

Thank you 3B, it should be a great three days, Planning on taking a couple Tags. Now I was thinking about what you said about not Missing? I am sighted at a 100 Zero instead of a 200 zero, just could not find the distance last year all BLM shooting authorized areas are being systematically shut down. Back to my concern, so I am good to 300 Yards that should be fine correct?

 

[Stevehazard]

Didn't you go a year or so ago but you had to retreat because of rain and mud? That it was super dicey getting out of the area?

 

[TheGDog]

I remember BubbleHide explained that when skinning them... you want to cut sort of a wide football-shaped area of caution starting a little above the genitalia and going all around it. That there was a musk gland somehwere around that region on both side of it and that if ya hit it, it's nasty and stanky.

 

[Bigbadboar]

I won't answer whether your 100 yard zero should be good or not for multiple reasons and the main one being blaming me if you miss. You should have some jokes by now but just in case you aren't prepared here is one I just heard. I'll put the answer in pig Latin just in case kids are reading...
What is long, green, slimy, and smells like pork? Ermitkay the rogfay's ingerfay

 

[Brnsvllyjohn]

Field dressing is similar to deer and you should not have a problem. I would say the problem areas are easy to spot but if I say that and you do something wrong you will say it is my fault. I am not a big fan of making lots of sausage but you should do whatever you like. I haven't taken nearly as many pigs as I have deer but I have killed a few and so have a lot of guys I hunt with. I prefer lots of pork roasts. Slow cooked until it is fork tender. Made pork sandwiches all week for lunch. I was once told to just walk away from a 250 pound boar I shot on opening weekend of A zone deer season. 1 mile from camp and you know the temperatures in August. I got it cleaned and transported to cold clear water and never had an issue with it being strong or gamey. I have never had a "bad tasting" wild boar. I know they exist, I have just been lucky. Now most were killed in the cooler months and that helps. On another boar that was around 200 pounds and had a really thick shield I about wrecked a $150 knife ( Gerber ATS 34) I received as a present. It was supposedly about the hardest steel available at the time. I had to get it sharpened by a pro, I couldn't get the edge back. That knife will do a ton of deer but I got too brave on the boar. I think the replaceable blades would be great. However no need to cut the shield just to try the knife like I did.

 

[Brnsvllyjohn]

As far as distance for your shot that is up to you. The furthest shot I have seen made on a pig was about 300 yards but who knows where the pigs will be. Personally I have never shot a pig further than about 225 yards but that was just where they were. I bet your guide has taken pigs a lot further than 225. Use caution when approaching a downed pig. They don't like to get shot and they can and will charge. The only one that ever charged me was 150 pound sow. I thought I had hit her good enough with a 7mm-08. I had to cross a canyon to get to her and when I got there she wasn't where I thought she should be. She had made it to a brush pile. When I got close she came out a lot faster than I expected. A 7-08 round to the head stopped her but it was an exciting 2 seconds.

 

[dthome]

Opah, before you buy a havalon, check out this video. The guy talks about the risks of using a havalon, and is worth consideration before buying. He argues that they're way sharper than ordinary knives, and people end up slicing themselves because of it. I happen to have two of them, and will continue to use them. But, I have cut myself with one for the very reasons he describes. There are stories on other forums where hunters have plunged the whole blade into their leg. Whatever you decide, take your time with sharp blades.

https://youtu.be/oRsZ2iV2cuA

 

[jackman]

I have field dressed many a pig with just a old wood handled kitchen knife. I wouldnt spend any more money than you have to. These pig hunts have got pretty pricey

 

[TheGDog]

OPAH... definitely definitely just remind yourself to SLOW DOWN!!! When using the Havalon. Also... when removing the muscles... ALWAYS be thinking about the path of that blade and where will it go once it exits that Tendon you're cutting on! making sure your other hand is NOT in what will be the path of that blade AFTER it cuts thru that stubborn Tendon and exits it! I shanked the back of the opposite index finger when doing my first deer. Thankfully there really isn't much important stuff on the backhand side of the fingers. I got lucky. I'd say it was maybe 2-3mm cut depth across almost the whole width of the finger.

With the Havalon ya gotta just keep reminding yourself it's a scalpel, so it's a finesse thing. It's not about force. It's about the saw motion and letting the blade do the work.

For the skinning, cutting thru hair dulls them real fast. So you only want to cut thru hair for that initial incision, then soon as you can get your blade underneath the surface of the skin thru that cut with the blade then pointing outward.

You're gonna want to make sure you have a standard blade knife to back you up. I end-up using the regular knive for cutting thru the ligaments at the joints because it seems to me that particular task... since it causes the blade to rub directly perpendicular against the underlying bone surfaces, shortens the lifespan of the scalpel blades sharpness also. And like... when cutting out the backstrap, I remind myself not to scrape the scalpel blade very hard against the bones.

I'm just bothering to mention this because everywhere I'd read up on it, some people even said they did multiple deer with one blade. But for my few experiences so far. I end up using 2 blades. The cutting lines thru the hide process lessens the sharpness just enough that I start to notice it once I get inside and have to cut thru tendons. It is then that putting in a new blade is a much safer move because since it will be sharper, it will more easily cut thru the tendons... thus... less heavy-handed force... thus... less shanking your own figure from having to push harder than you should need to.

 

[OPAH]

Didn't you go a year or so ago but you had to retreat because of rain and mud? That it was super dicey getting out of the area?

Yep I would not call that a Hunt, and adventure, heart pounding thrill ride but not a Hunt. Good Memory Steve !

 

[Captjgray]

Don't over think it, Its not that much different than deer hunting in the same zone.

I have shot a lot of pigs. Big and small, lean and fat, sow and boar. I have been on a lot more hunts putting people on pigs of the same variety. I remember 1 pig out of all of them that wasn't worth dog food because of the strong taste/odor...

the pig was shot with snow on the ground and never took a step after impact. it stunk so bad we used a scrub brush on it when we hung it before skinning it. stinkiest nastiest Boar I have ever seen...

every other pig has been great, I tend to make a good sized batch of sausage but agree that you should definitely do plenty of chops and a few roasts. My family enjoys the hell out of wild pig chorizo, breakfast, and italian sausage so I usually do those a 2 or 3 roasts and if theres enough left a couple packs of chops. The sausage goes quick! luckily I get requests from the wife and kids to keep the freezer stocked...

as far as the knife goes, My cousin uses a Havalon and I use whatever I remember to throw in my backpack. I quartered one out with a little gerber pocket knife because my good knife was in my truck....
I keep a small steel and a small Smith's knife sharpener in my pack. They come in handy. I like the Havalon but they are way sharp, i know this because my cousin cut me with his once...


again, don't over think it. just soak it all in, listen to your guide, and enjoy the experience.

Good Luck!

 

[TheGDog]

Hold up... so there's somebody near me in the Mighty HBizzle that goes pig huntin' on the regular? Oh snap!

Hit a brotha up Gray! Need some help packin' that animal out? "I'm your HuckleBerry"!

 

[OPAH]

I carry 3 knifes:
Gerber folding lock skinning blade w/gut hook
Shakespear 6" fillet
and a small curved finger knife to cut the windpipe and jugulars
The Havolon will be my 4th

All my knifes are sharp enough to Shave with, but I do understand caution with a scalpel !

 

[dthome]

Opah, if you carry 4 knives in the field, you are a glutton for punishment.

 

[OPAH]

The heaviest is the Gerber 3" skinner, these are small practical knifes to have a round, guess I could loss the Shakespeare Filet knife. and be back to the three.

 

[OPAH]

It is on Its way
comes with 5 spare blades and 2 gut hook blades !
Anyone know if the Black skinning blade comes off
like the other blade?

 

[Planetcat]

View attachment 90494 It is on Its way
comes with 5 spare blades and 2 gut hook blades !
Anyone know if the Black skinning blade comes off
like the other blade?

That will serve you well on your pig hunt. Just be VERY careful when replacing the blades. Read the instructions on how they come out and install, so you don't cut yourself! I've done it.