Hi all, well as the title suggests I've never hunted before and me a buddy just booked our first hog hunt. It's guided and the rifles are supplied however I have a 870 rem tactical I could bring, a ruger alaskan .44 and a .45 sig p220. What do I need for this trip and what should I expect? Any and all advice is welcome as I'm looking to get more into the sport of hunting. Thanks

Water, sharp knife, mosquito repellant, first aid kit, rubber gloves,cooler with ice for meat, hunting license, I always take toilet paper with me, snacks, and lots of patience.

Got it, can I hunt with the shotgun with slugs or should I just use the rifle provided?

Use the rifle provided. Shot-gun does not really have a long range like a rifle. All shots will not be close to you.

Sounds good, thanks. What can I expect from a spot and stalk? What does this even mean? I'm assuming walking and finding the hogs.

"Spot and stalk" means you'll find your game first, you'll see it with either your naked eye or optics and then try and sneak up on it until you can get a shot. Expect to spend time glassing, and you'll have to pay attention to the wind and be as quiet as possible while you stalk.

"Still hunting" is when you move slowly through an area, hopefully with the wind in your favor trying to see game before the game sees you. You can expect to move very slowly, and take long pauses to look and listen for game.

Have you taken a Hunter Safety course? If not i suggest you do, not only to be legal, but you can ask all of these questions there.

Go rifle as your guides have experience and want you to take a hog and if it makes your feel comfortable take the .44 as side. Just in case

All other suggestions are dead on. Be safe and have fun. Enjoy it since you are new to it.

How realistic is it to be charged by a hog? I've seen tons of videos of it happening but what are the chances? Will regular jacketed soft points be enough for insurance purposes in the .44?

Realistic? I have not been charged but when the perfect storm happens, I have my blackhawk .357 ready. It is rare but like I said, you never know.

You should be fine with the .44.

Welcome and good luck

I would use the rifle supplied for your 1st time. I would carry your pistol just in case. I always carry my 45 loaded with hollow points when on my lease and so does my wife. I've also seen those videos of guys getting charged by a hog hasn't happened to me. Good luck with your 1st hunt and welcome to the forum!

Don't be afraid to ask the guide questions you think are stupid. Plus make sure to wear some boots (snakes) and most important don't shoot anyone!

It's never happened to me, I think one was messing with us once from the brush, but ditto, always have my .40 with me.

Oh and don't show up smelling like a metrosexual wearing cologne, downy, old spice, colgate, and axe spray.

If they "charge" you it is only because after the first shot they scatter like maniacs and they don't really know where the shot came from. I have had some "charge" me after I stalked one in a group and shot it, but as soon as they got close enough to see me they went the other way quick. Still, it was a bit uncomfortable having them run full blast right at me.

Be prepared to get hooked and then spend lots of money and spare time pursuing this hobby. I hope you don't golf because then you will have two expensive hobbies.

man if they charge at u put every bullet in untill they go down amigo!!!!u dont want them tools hurting u amigo or just jump ontop a tall tree jaja

Like most wild animals, they are typically more afraid of you than not. Yes, they will protect their offspring and sometimes attack when they feel it's life or death (which it usually is, but they tend to not think that way). Usually they'll just run away from you. You can usually use this to your advantage if you're a quick enough shot. Pop one, then as they run, pop the lead pig and they'll turn back around more often than not, giving you time to pick off a third and fourth one.

It's sadistically fun.

Thanks for the great advice guys, and yeah I gave up on golf a long ago. Really looking to get into the sport so me and my boys will have something to do no matter how old they get. Got a 4 year old and a newborn and I figure by the time their ready to hunt with me I'll be decent enough to not look like a complete fool in front of them. Thanks for the advice on the cologne, I guess I should show up in full field problem gear : boots, camo and field stench LOL.

I have been charged a few times, so it does happen, however if I hadn't been doing something really stupid and ill-advised(but really fun) it would have never happened. when I was younger me and my buddies would go out in the woods with burlap bags and wait around till we saw a group of hogs with a bunch of baby pigs then run in and grab as many of the baby's as we could get in the bag before momma came to the rescue, then run like hell, but some times momma would hear the sequels and come hard and fast. Moral of the story is unless your jacking with them they normally wont bother you. In normal rifle hunting situations I have never been charged no matter how close to the hogs I have been.

Wow, so what is the age limit on that piglet snatch and grab because that sounds real fun!

well we just grabbed whatever we could get but they don't last too long if they are under about 2 months old I guess unless you want to bottle feed the little buggers but they are cute at that age. A good sized sow can do as much damage as a boar when she's mad and protecting her babies. If your going to try it I hope your in good shape lol

I'd love to see a video of that

Hey JiPP,
Just remember there is no dumb question. Ask as many as you want. The guide is full of knowledge. Oh and dont forget scent block, and no metrosexual stuff, AKA, axe, cologne, smelly deoderant and smell good soaps. They will give you away everytime.

Are you my long lost Twin!!! We think just a like!

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