Did This Hog Drown?

thallub · May 26, 2017, 12:27 AM

Went hunting this evening. The place was flooded really bad. Ducks were swimming under the feeder and eating corn.

Two young buck deer passed within 20 yards of my blind. One was a yearling, the other a two year old. The yearling was born there last year. Eating corn surely has worked for him. His young antlers are much larger than those of the two year old.

Just before sunset a hog passed about 30 yards in front of my blind. Thought it was a boar. Shot hog with my .50 caliber muzzleloader using a patched round ball. The hog squealed, flopped around in the water for about 45 seconds and lay still. Dragged the fat sow about 50 yards to dry ground and brought the truck around. Hog weighed 160-175 pounds.

I hate dealing with hogs after dark.

FrankenMauser · May 26, 2017, 01:02 AM

Drowned in its own blood, maybe. Looks like likely lung damage.

Your necropsy should have told the tale, but I'd say it probably didn't die due to water drowning.

Old Stony · May 26, 2017, 05:26 AM

I hate the after dark business myself. It's been a long time since I have had a regular sleeping pattern since I started dealing with hogs.

thallub · May 26, 2017, 06:47 AM

Quote:

I hate the after dark business myself.

It takes 20-25 minutes to get the hams and backstraps in daylight. Took twice as long last night with a spotlight. i need a floodlight for the truck.

Doyle · May 26, 2017, 08:49 AM

I find that a headlamp helps significantly when dressing game after dark.

Kreyzhorse · May 26, 2017, 10:14 AM

Looks like lung to me. If he drowned, it was in blood.

Double Naught Spy · May 26, 2017, 06:27 PM

From what is evident by the shot, you made a low boilerroom shot. It would have been fatal. Water may or may not have sped up the process. I would not worry about it.

You did good.

thallub · May 26, 2017, 07:47 PM

That's the only title i could think of at 12:30 in the am. Shot was from a low elevated blind. The entry wound was 3-4" higher.

Hogs continue to root around in the water there.

T. O'Heir · May 27, 2017, 11:14 AM

It's not unusual for any fatally shot beastie to keep moving for 45 seconds or more. Even with a solid heart/lung shot.

Saltydog235 · May 27, 2017, 05:11 PM

What matters is the nasty vermin is dead, how it got that way is moot.

May 26, 2017, 12:27 AM	#1
thallub Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2007 Location: South Western OK Posts: 3,112	Did This Hog Drown? Went hunting this evening. The place was flooded really bad. Ducks were swimming under the feeder and eating corn. Two young buck deer passed within 20 yards of my blind. One was a yearling, the other a two year old. The yearling was born there last year. Eating corn surely has worked for him. His young antlers are much larger than those of the two year old. Just before sunset a hog passed about 30 yards in front of my blind. Thought it was a boar. Shot hog with my .50 caliber muzzleloader using a patched round ball. The hog squealed, flopped around in the water for about 45 seconds and lay still. Dragged the fat sow about 50 yards to dry ground and brought the truck around. Hog weighed 160-175 pounds. I hate dealing with hogs after dark.

May 26, 2017, 01:02 AM	#2
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Drowned in its own blood, maybe. Looks like likely lung damage. Your necropsy should have told the tale, but I'd say it probably didn't die due to water drowning. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

May 26, 2017, 10:14 AM	#6
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	Looks like lung to me. If he drowned, it was in blood. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

May 26, 2017, 06:27 PM	#7
Double Naught Spy Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2001 Location: Forestburg, Montague Cnty, TX Posts: 12,717	From what is evident by the shot, you made a low boilerroom shot. It would have been fatal. Water may or may not have sped up the process. I would not worry about it. You did good. __________________ "If you look through your scope and see your shoe, aim higher." -- said to me by my 11 year old daughter before going out for hogs 8/13/2011 My Hunting Videos https://www.youtube.com/user/HornHillRange

May 27, 2017, 11:14 AM	#9
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	It's not unusual for any fatally shot beastie to keep moving for 45 seconds or more. Even with a solid heart/lung shot. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

May 26, 2017, 05:26 AM	#3
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	I hate the after dark business myself. It's been a long time since I have had a regular sleeping pattern since I started dealing with hogs.

May 26, 2017, 08:49 AM	#5
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	I find that a headlamp helps significantly when dressing game after dark.

May 26, 2017, 07:47 PM	#8
thallub Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2007 Location: South Western OK Posts: 3,112	That's the only title i could think of at 12:30 in the am. Shot was from a low elevated blind. The entry wound was 3-4" higher. Hogs continue to root around in the water there.

May 27, 2017, 05:11 PM	#10
Saltydog235 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2010 Location: Pawleys Island Posts: 1,563	What matters is the nasty vermin is dead, how it got that way is moot.