Sow or Boar

[Willies270]

I'm having a Luau this weekend and I've had my eye on a nice sow with some smaller 20-30lbers running together. So I'm going out to try to get her and do the pig in the ground roast and maybe 2 smaller ones to put on the rotisserie. So I was just looking for everyone's opinion on which taste better. Boars or Sows? I prefer a healthy sow...but, What's your opinion on taste. Do you think there's any difference? Thanks !:wavin-yellow:

 

[ruger_mac]

I dont have alot a wild game eating expeirence but the people I know who have, tell me hands down a female of any spieces is the best tasting. Of course if it isn't cooked right then it doesn't matter what you cook.

good luck

 

[Shmave23]

Doesnt matter the sex of the pig. Just make sure it around 150-160lbs on the hoof and will be tasting perfect.

-Dave

 

[myfriendis410]

We ONLY shoot boars. (Except by accident) We've had exactly ONE that was "off". That one went in the garbage. The dogs wouldn't touch that meat. The pork from all of the hogs, even that big boy that went 262 lbs. gutted, were just fine. I think it's a myth that sows are better. Many years ago when I didn't know any better a "hunter" tried to tell me that his favorite pork was from a lactating sow. What nonsense. If that was the case you'd be buying pork at the butcher shop certified from a "lactating sow". In his case those were the only hogs he could find, much less try to hunt a boar that wasn't forced to be out at 3 in the afternoon.

 

[oakey]

I would half to say take the sow she should taste better exspecially if she has 20lbs little ones good luck and have a great weekend

 

[catchdog]

I think age has more to do with it than sex. But I have been around some big boars that I would'nt waste my time even trying to butcher. Just getting close to them was about enough to make you puke. I would say eat the 20 pound pigglets they will be real tender.

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

I'll chime in..I don't thing sex has a "ton" to do with it. A nice 80-150lb pound pig is "ideal" for quality meat. Granted my last pig I shot in May/2011 was 225 on the hoof and she was AWESOME. In my experience, the heavier you get the chance you take for some rank meat. We have shot some decent size boars and have had some really stinky bastards!!!!

 

[Richmellott]

I've gotten three pigs this year, and it was my first year hunting them. Two Sows and one Boar. The Boar was actually the smallest of the three, and I've had more problems with my cooking, than with the meat. Gender doesn't make a difference, if you have good recipes, and are handy around the kitchen/grill. Since the meat can be tough, if not prepared well, I'd say that under 200# will be ideal for meat--only a year or two old, and no time to get any tougher. Even so, my first pig was a sow that might have been older, and she had good cutters, but still we've enjoyed the meat.
My advice? Get some good recipes, like Oso Buco, Pulled Pork with Green Chili's, and a good sausage spice mix. This is dynamite meat, rather expensive but worth it for the combination of adventure and cleanliness, and a real crowd pleaser.

 

[lmjpsl]

From the hogs I've gotten, it appears that they taste better in the spring rather than fall. I would say that it has something to do with diet instead of sex. It appears that just like some foods affect our bodies in terms of how they make our urine smell, for example, the effect of asparagus, I would assume that diet affects the way a hog tastes. I can only wonder about the way we must taste based on our diet.

Also, I prefer hogs, as stated by others, not over about 150 pounds.

 

[Farmerdoug]

Willies270...Trust me....I raise hogs.........A sow will always taste better than an un-cut male. If the boar was cut, I would tell you to get the boar. If it's got balls and you're doing the Luau thing, opt for the sow....By the way, a 20lb pig will only feed about 4-5 people once all the crap is removed. What you want is a good 80-100lb-er to throw in the pit.

 

[hunterdoug]

I have to agree with farmerdoug. I never had a bad sow. I have had some good boar but I've also had stinky boars even at 120 lbs. and yes diet has alot to do with it. but as said a good recipe can affect smell and taste.

 

[Susscrofa]

I have shot only 3 wild pigs this twelve month period and I don't eat a lot of meat. Except wild boar meat, which I am addicted to like the true human predator that I confess myself to be. In late October 2010 I stalked and ambushed a 165# young boar who was great as sausage and tender loins, but I wish I had butchered him out myself. I will not ever have another wild boar processed again as sausage unless he is rally rank. I shared this sausage around my exteded family and friends as a Christmas treat, and everyone remarked that he was delicious and he achieved legendary status,

In Februaary I shot a 185# sow who had piglets to birth ( it was early morning in winter and she did not show signs of prenancy). I was sad and and angry with myself for this kill, since it was worse than finishing a piggy sow. The rancher who was kind enough to let me on his place and take me to the spot was ecstatic. He was thrilled because he counted the 6 fetal pigs as I field dressed the fatty black sow, and tossed the amniotic birth sac and the unborn pigslits around the oak grove area to feed the coyotes who were waiting, patient as the vultures who were circling down to the feeding area, too. Just like the young boar, I had to share the plump sow and her goodies with the other hunters since that was the only boar we got.

I packed the critter in ice and brought her at your request

But in May I got a chance to hunt with Nolan Twisselman (Twisselman Oufitters, whose family has ranched in the north end of the Carizzo Plains National Monument which is the last remote area that is just close enough and just far away enough from everything to make it a wonderful adventrure spot. I got about a 60# weaner pig here and he was delicious and tender even though he had been up and down the Temblot Mountains precipices and game trails for days.

Nolan is generally renowned for his guiding for Tule Elk hunts. He has a beautiful rnanch of over 95,000 acres, but he is not afraid to work hard to get hunters into the game of their choice. He is one of a kind; and I hope his sons learn and follow in his path. I am signing off now and hope you all read this and absorb this incedible area that is the Los Padres National Forest.

Bottom line--both boars and sows are great; fresh and young is better than old and stinky but even so thec hefs have a way of handling the goods no matter whayt the age,--Bon Appetit!!!

Good liuck, good hunting and stay safe out there; thanks for listening to an old crippled up old Fart.

Go gpit amd get them!!!

Pigman, AKA Susscrofa.

 

[Willies270]

That sow was delicious!!! What a party pleaser, they couldn't believe I shot it on Vandenberg. I decided not to get the piglets, with the price of tags I will save it for another good size sow. For the most part everyone here thinks a sow taste better, as do I, over a boar, so Thanks alot for the input.

 

[RIFLEMAN]

In my experience, the most important factor influencing the taste of the meat is not the sex of the hog, but what it had eaten in the weeks prior to being taken. As a general rule of thumb, hogs taken in agriculture or in the wetter times of the year are more likely to taste better than those taken during the drier times of year when hog food is sparse and they are eating things (dead cows, worms in cow patties, etc) that don't contribute to very palatable meat.

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

In my experience, the most important factor influencing the taste of the meat is not the sex of the hog, but what it had eaten in the weeks prior to being taken. As a general rule of thumb, hogs taken in agriculture or in the wetter times of the year are more likely to taste better than those taken during the drier times of year when hog food is sparse and they are eating things (dead cows, worms in cow patties, etc) that don't contribute to very palatable meat.

+1 Very True

 

[Richmellott]

Just checking in!


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=34.144965,-118.233566
- Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[richracer1]

I haven't heard from Alan to the contrary, but I believe I still hold the VAFB record for the largest hog taken at 288 lbs gutted in June 2007. He was good eating despite what everyone said about the huge boars tasting like crap.

 

[myfriendis410]

I haven't heard from Alan to the contrary, but I believe I still hold the VAFB record for the largest hog taken at 288 lbs gutted in June 2007. He was good eating despite what everyone said about the huge boars tasting like crap.

Nothing as big has come in yet, and I don't believe one will. That was a huge hog. As you well know; it doesn't seem to matter as long as the hog was handled correctly after the shot. The one big hog we had to dispose of sat out all night before recovery. It was incredibly foul. My experience with big hogs; the only difference being there's more meat.