Where NOT to Shoot a Wild Hog

Feral hogs are tough animals. So much so that they have gotten the reputation for being bulletproof. It is common to hear stories from hunters making claims of bullets bouncing off hogs or failing to penetrate their armor The Myth of the Shield Mature male hogs have a thick layer of subcutaneous tissue, commonly referred to as the shield or shoulder plate, which serves as a protective barrier for boars fighting for breeding opportunities. The shield begins in the shoulder region and covers an area extending from the base of the neck back to the front portion of the hips. Older boars can have a shield as thick as 2 inches. Although the shield of a mature boar can be tough and very thick, even a. 22 rimfire will consistently penetrate through a 2 inch thick shield. The two most common mistakes hunters make when shooting pigs are: 1. Aiming behind the shoulder. A hog s vitals are lower and farther forward than a deer, therefore a shot behind the should