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> Medium and large game hunting
> Which to shoot?
Which to shoot?
@ 10:41 am (GMT) |
Andrew MurrayWhen taking shots at feral pigs and other pests that tend to congregate in numbers... Which target should be selected from a pest control point of view?For example, would it be better to shoot at a sow or a boar in a mob of pigs? I am assuming only one shot as the mob will run once the first shot is fired, and I am assuming most of us here aren't using semi-autos. Love to know your thoughts. |
Replies
@ 12:36 am (GMT) |
Lane SalvatoRe: Which to shoot?Andrew,I'm not sure which country you hail from, but in the southern United States, there is a huge problem with feral pigs. They are a cross between domestic pigs that escaped farms, and Russian Boar. They tear up crops, drive up costs for farmers and ranchers, and in some cases have contaminated food supplies. They are not clean, and carry several different diseases. Under this type of circumstance, I'm shooting the largest sow in the group in the hopes of killing her, her unborn piglets, and any really young piglets that need to nurse. If you can legally hunt with an AR-15 and have a good vantage point you may be able to get the first sow and one or two other pigs as well. That's how I'd tackle it in Texas but my specific goal is to eliminate a nuisance. |
@ 04:48 am (GMT) |
Warwick MarflittRe: Which to shoot?Hey Andrew. You want to bowl (shoot) the big matriarch Sow first. If you watch the mob you should be able to make out who is the brains of the mob. Eliminate that animal and then pick off the other Sows. Have the wind in your face. Three or four good shooters hitting the mob at once gets the job done. Make sure you plan your ambush and that the shooters are safe and alert ? A good heading dog to turn the mob back towards you for a second cracker can be used too. |
@ 06:07 am (GMT) |
Thomas KitchenRe: Which to shoot?Warwick summed it up.get yourself a couple of good heading dogs and teach them to keep a mob bailed. constant pressure will always control a pest, big culls have there place but its constant pressure that keeps numbers low. our pig numbers are low in my opinion and that's just from constant hunting pressure, kaingaroa forest in the central north island which is the largest production forest in the southern hemisphere from my understanding,has had pig numbers drop partly because of gps tracking gear on dogs and the fact that somewhere around 5 thousand permits get issued a year for it. |
@ 02:01 pm (GMT) |
mark korteRe: Which to shoot?I'd shoot the one I most wanted to eat. |
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@ 06:47 pm (GMT) |
Warwick MarflittRe: Which to shoot?Mark pest control is not the same as hunting for your dinner plate. Your going to have more Pork on your fork, roasts, chops and Bacon than you can handle after a successful pest reduction operation. I have given it away to families who struggle to afford good meat. A freezer full of meat is a great feeling for mum and dad's with hungry kid's. I always inspect the heart ,liver, lungs and carcass of any animals for disease and parasites if they're going to be eaten. Don't forget the apple sauce! |
@ 07:28 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: Which to shoot?The older I get, the less I like culling. Environmentalists love it- as long as they don't have to pull the trigger or dispense the poison. Steve Irwin's daughter Bindi had some honest things to say about plague populations, but the people hated her for it.When culling, look for the matriarch. Pigs are fully matriarchal, deer and feral goats are much the same outside of the rut. The matriarch will also be the sentinel. Most members of a mob are related to her, sisters, sons and daughters. This is step one. Step two is to observe the animals direction of escape. If possible, drop the matriarch at the direction of escape as it can cause animals to pause and or change escape routes. These two factors can sometimes create a chaotic state for several seconds, allowing multiple kills. When you start out, you feel like you are saving the planet. After a few thousand kills, you realize you are just some asshole with a rifle. |
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@ 07:49 pm (GMT) |
Andrew MurrayRe: Which to shoot?Cheers guys,I realise that in the big scheme of things, I'm not going to do much damage to pig populations. I'm in Australia Lane, so no AR15s for me on my license categories. You can get them here but must be a contract shooter or primary producer (farmer). I am not either of those. I'm sure you've got some idea of how AUS gun laws work. I'm more than happy however to take the shot that is going to do the most damage to pig populations when I get the chance to do so. I'd love to know more on your position Nathan, regarding culls. Shooting is considered the most humane method for culling, but that assumes good shot placement. |
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@ 07:53 pm (GMT) |
mark korteRe: Which to shoot?I don't know how you guys do it. I'm not dissing it (especially since I have no idea if it even makes a real difference overall with things like feral pigs) I just know how I'd feel about it and Nathan already summed that up. I remember as a kid we tried to do the same thing with non-native english sparrows and european starlings that were real pests to humans and competed aggressively with native birds. We killed thousands of them in some very imaginative ways and there were always new victims and as far as I know we didn't make a dent. I look back on that now and just shake my head. And though I love to eat pork I'm glad I don't feel like I have to do it. But hey - if it really makes a difference..... |
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