Im sure a lot of you are familiar with our plight here in Texas (as well as many other states) to eradicate or to at least keep the feral pig populations in check.  While they do tear up a lot of farm and pasture land and are an economic burden, they do at least offer the opportunity to test your hand loads, practice the running or long distance shot, are useful for training kids how to shoot game, and afford the opportunity to try new weaponry…Oh, and they can be tasty too. 

Back 20-30 years ago the feral pig populations here weren’t nearly as bad as they are today.  Back then we used to hunt them with dogs and once the dogs caught the old piggy we would stick them with the trusty knife–there wasn’t much gun play in those days, unless it was in an emergency.  That was some of the most primeval and exciting hunting I have ever done, just you, the dogs, and the errant hog.  It was exciting for sure and some of the better hunting stories come up from time to time when we hunt these days.  Since that time land parcels around here have been bought and sold, have been divided, and new folks moved to the country from the city who didnt quite understand why you were traipsing around on “their” land.  Dogs dont recognize property lines and it became harder and harder to hunt with them over the years unless you knew, or were friends with, some of the larger landowners in the area–and were willing to take the chance that the neighbor might file against you if caught trespassing or they might shoot your dogs.     

Ive been fortunate to have several places where we can run my buddies dogs and chase a few pigs–the neighbors are also more than happy to let us hunt on their places because those pigs have a good size range.  Most weekends we hunt the old piggies out of a blind or from behind some brush overlooking a baited area (mostly corn feeders). Pigs are smart animals and they pick up on when those feeders go off.  A free meal isnt going to go unnoticed for too long before they recognize when that free meal is coming, making their movements predictable to a degree and making the pickings easier. 

I couldn’t begin to count how many pigs Ive taken with my Winchesters and the hand loads I have developed.  A number of them have been taken with my old 1894 carbine.  The beauty of that 38-55 cartridge on pigs is that if you can line a few up in a row you will at least get the first one and many times that bullet will pass through and get the second one in the line.  If your lucky you may even get that third one before that bullet stops.  A lot of it depends on how big the pigs are but I have been impressed with the bullet penetration, even on those 250-300 lb.+ boars.  Ive also had the opportunity to take a few pigs with my 1892 in 38-40 with good results.  In the photo below my daughter was the lucky hunter using my 92.  The 180 grain lead bullet went through and through that old pigs shoulder.  As for effectiveness, the 38-40 can likely be used for more game than its given credit–a few weekends ago I put a friends cow out of her misery (it was sick of course).  I shot her through the shoulder, she jumped, ran about 25 yards and keeled over dead to give you an idea of how effective it can be.    

The old Winchesters work well on pigs and other games so long as your shot placement is good.  The only drawback is that you can normally only get off one good shot and maybe two rushed follow up shots before the pigs are gone into the brush. The AR15 works good too but unless you catch them in an open field, they are a little more effective but not by much–unless maybe you have a Class 3 firearm–but that could be another story.

I recently purchased a Model 12 in 20 gauge with a full choke for really fair price considering what folks are asking for them these days.  Its the first Model 12 Ive owned and had the opportunity to use it last month dove hunting–its a sweet little gun.  My father-in-law is a rice farmer out in east Texas and an avid fan of the Model 12 for just about any kind of hunting.  Hearing stories of how effective that buckshot was on the hog population out there prompted me to pick up a box of buckshot for my 20 gauge.  Over the weekend I had the chance to get out in the field to try the Model 12 on some pigs.  I was sitting behind some brush about 45-50 yards from the feeder when about 9-10 pigs came out to feed.  I had been seeing as many as 20 on the trail cameras and waited till I couldn’t hear any more busting through the brush to get to the feeder.  I waited until they were spread fairly evenly offering the largest possible target and commenced firing.  I bagged two that were about 100 pounds each, a few others straggled off in the brush.  The following evening I two more out of a group of 11 that weighted between 40-60 pounds. 

What is not know is how many ran off and died but as the saying around here goes “A good pig is a dead pig”. As a hunter its hard to think of the ones that got away and died somewhere down the trail but you have to keep in mind that a sow comes of breeding age by 5 months, can have up to 2.5 litters per year, with an average mortality rate of 4-6 piglets per litter, and half of them being gilts that will be of breeding age in 5 months–it doesn’t take long before they are out of control.  I read an article not too long ago that stated that in order to keep the feral pig population in check at least 75% of those extant had to be harvested. 

Ive since removed the plug so I can hold one round in the chamber and five in the magazine.  In terms of lethality, that Model 12 with buckshot has become my new choice of firepower and may just be the equalizer needed for controlling our pig population.    

Cant wait for next weekend….