Well, it’s good to know some of you folks are getting out there and killing pigs. Someone’s gotta do it, and I seem to be really falling down on the job!
Got this email and video link from a fairly new Hog Blog reader, Rich Mellott. Looks like Rich got down near Paso Robles with outfitter Craig Cavalletto for some serious hog action! From the video, I’d say the hogs were plentiful, and Rich ended up with a really nice old sow! Check it out:
Nice job, Rich!
Bill Koury
Congrats to Rich! I enjoyed the video.
I’m told that the best size for eating (I guess to be tender) is 150 to 200 LBS. Is that right?
Dave W.
Nice Hog Rich!!!!
Getting me pumped for Nov.
J
Nice! what was the guide cost?
Saw the piglets and it brought up a question– if you get a sow with young, do you also try to get the piglets too? I assume depending on their age they’d eventually die with her not around, right? Or do they get “adopted”?
Bill, I think I did a post or two about this somewhere, but I won’t make you go back to the search feature to find it.
In my personal experience, I’ve found that size isn’t always the best determinant for how they’ll eat. I’ve had huge hogs that were extremely toothsome, and a small hog that was one of the worst I’ve ever had.
If I were purely meat hunting, I’d probably focus on hogs in the 80-150lb range. These are usually young and still fairly tender. However, I have to say that one of my favorite things is to get one of the really small ones (15-20lbs) and slow cook it whole. There’s not a lot of meat there, but it’s a heck of a feast for a family or small party. I don’t think I’d shoot something like that on a paid hunt, by the way… it just doesn’t seem very economical.
J, most places in CA will discourage shooting wet sows (sows with babies). It does happen though, either through carelessness or by accident. I don’t know a lot of hunters who’d have the heart to kill the babies, but from a practical perspective there’s nothing wrong with it. They’ll be very tasty… even the really small ones. And in some places where there’s an extreme prejudice against pigs (e.g. Texas), the landowner will often want you to kill every pig, big or small.
Odds are that if they haven’t started weaning yet, they will die without the sow. Predators are quick to capitalize on the squeals of orphaned youngsters. I’ve heard from some reliable sources that orphaned piglets will sometimes be “adopted” by another wet sow, so if you’re not going to kill them, I’d recommend getting out of the area as quickly as possible so the rest of the herd can return.
The guide costs started out at $300 for a one day hunt (morning and evening), and went up to $650 for a 3 day hunt. It included meals, lodging, and skinning/dressing of the beast. We then transported it to Ben’s Custom Meats in Atascadero, where I set it up for sausage, loins, ribs, and a ham.
She was a mighty nice size, but a little older, and dry. When we checked her, she wasn’t pregnant, either, so we are assuming she was a little over the hill. When we got her she was alone, so Craig and I thought she was a boar at first, judging from her size.
I wouldn’t have taken a sow with piglets, although I have to admit I did shoot at one, then decided not to really pursue it. It’s all about being an overexcited newbie, faced with so many choices. Saw over 50 pigs in three days, so it was a regular carnicopia. I’ll be going back…soon.
Dave W.
Sounds like you have a blast Rich!!!! That is a pretty good deal for 3 days with lodging ex. And now your HOOKED welcome to the club brother!!!!!!!
J
Thanks Phillip and Rich. I’m moving out to CA and looking forward to try my hand at hog hunting. Done javelina with some success in NM, it will be interesting to compare pigs’ behavior, hunts, and… flavor!
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I've spent my lifetime outdoors, hunting, fishing, diving, horseback riding, and pretty much anything else I could find to occupy ...
It’s always nice when someone is successful! And another reader, well that’s just a heck of a good thing!
Best regards,
Albert
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