Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Idaho Boar Hunt



 Idaho European Boar Hunt


European Boar Skull
Pig Skull
Wild Boar Tusks
Pig Tusks












My first post on my blog is going to be about a hunt I went on last spring in Southeast Idaho near Twin Falls in a town called Shoshone. The hunt was for a European Boar on a hunting ranch of 440 acres. I had gone on this hunt one time before nearly 6 years ago, but this time I was lucky to have my wife, my dad, my youngest brother, and 3 more of my relatives tag along with me and participate on the hunt.


Idaho european Boar Hunt
My First Pig 6 years ago
We arrived a day before our hunt so that we could get familiar with the area and maybe size up a few pigs. We entered the gate and drove over the first little hill just in time to see our first pig of our adventure. It was a large European boar that weighed about 200 pounds and he was fighting with another big boar down by the creek bed. The two boars were grunting and squealing trying to get each other with their tusks. When they noticed us, the bigger of the two looked at us for a few moments, his mouth dripping with foamy slobber, then let out a loud snort and turned and ran away. That set the tone for the trip and we knew we were going to have a blast no matter what the outcome of our adventure. This was all foreign to us Idahoans because we do not have wild boars roaming free like they do down south, and it was even better to be chasing them with our bow. After getting familiar with the ranch we called it a night and decided to hit it early the next morning.

The next morning we hopped on the 4 wheelers and took off the creek bed where we saw the two boars fighting the night before. Sure enough the two boars were back and fighting again. The only problem we had was the 80 yards of open country surrounding the two pigs, not to mention the 20 other pigs surrounding the two big boars. We attempted a stalk but didn't even get close before the pigs spotted us and took off. We tried to spot and stalk a few pigs but failed to get a clear shot or decided to wait to find a bigger pig. My wife and I split off from the group and spotted two great big sows that were about 250-300 pounds and had a litter of piglets following them around. I was very tempted to take one of these pigs because all I saw was a freezer full of bacon, ham, and sausage walking past me. By the time I decided I wanted to shoot one of these sows, I was trailing them in the sage brush from about 50 yards away and the sage brush kept getting taller and taller until we lost sight of them and had to go find another pig.


We walked back down to the creek bed where we started and decided to take a quick break. While we were sitting there we noticed the sage brush on the top of the hill was moving and we could hear grunts coming our way. We took cover the best we could and I got an arrow on my string. A few pigs came down to the creek to get water in the middle of the day. The pigs were okay in size but not what I was really after. We were about ready to take off to another spot when a bigger pig stepped out into the clearing. These pigs don't like sitting still so I sat patiently waiting for a clear shot. When the pig I was after would present me with a shot another pig would step in front of it or behind it. When I finally got a shot, my pig was 40 yards away quartering away from me on a slow walk. I took the shot and hit it a little further back than I wanted. I didn't compensate for the pig walking away from me. Even with the shot a little far back, my pig ran about 30 yards and then lied down. Knowing from the first two pigs we saw fighting I knew I didn't want to get to close to this pig but I also knew I should get another arrow in it. We snuck up to it and finished it off with one last shot through the vitals.


Idaho Wild Boar kill
Me and my pig

Shoshone Idaho European Boar Kill
My little Brother with his 2 pigs
My little brother ended up taking a huge boar only a few yards away from where I took my pig. My dad who had pretty much taken to role of guide finally decided he would take the next shot he had on a pig no matter what size it was. Luckily enough we had the camera out when he took his pig so you can see his sweet shot on a moving target! Our party ended up taking 5 pigs home that day and filled our freezers full. We had a blast chasing these pigs around and will definitely be back to do it again sometime... all we have to do now is save up for it and enjoy all the great tasting pork. I would recommend this hunt to anyone who is in this area and can do it.  The video below the picture may not be the best quality, but it was with a cell phone so please excuse the quality and I hope you enjoy it.  The voice in the video is my little brother who was pretty excited on a sweet shot my dad put on this pig running full speed. It may be easier to view the video in youtube instead of on my blog.

Shoshone Idaho European Boar Hunt
Our Party With all of Our Pigs!









10 comments:

  1. Great post Bro. Wish I could have been there with you guys but I'll get out there soon! Those were some big pigs that's for sure.

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  2. Yeah you need to get over there and get you a pig! I'll go and be the guide for you and my wife!

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  3. Way to bring home the bacon! Great hunt, man. Stumbled across your blog via OBN and now following.

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  4. Kevin, You have a great blog here, and I really like the hog story in Idaho. The video of your dad shooting that boar on the run was awesome! Thanks for letting me know about your blog. Check mine out sometime. It is www.HuntWildPig.com

    I could use some views from an avid Idaho outdoorsman.

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    1. Thanks Greg, I appreciate that. I'll be sure to check out your blog!

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  5. I was just thinking bout this, wondered if the Pigs here were as much fun as the ones in Oklahoma. I tried looking where people hunt here and i was pretty disappointed that there are none running wild really.
    I'm guessing the ones in Oklahoma are more like trouble and game is better managed up here, I mean, it really seems like they are everywhere down there and people just want them gone, in some places, you get paid to take them!. Then I found your blog here! All is not lost. seems a little spendy really to me but the prize is amazing for sure, those pigs look really nice comparatively. I might have to gather up my Bro In law and make the trip down to this place. Looks like you guys had a GREAT TRIP. Made me want to check into this further. I just watched your video on U tube. Really Cool! I think I will bring a reg Vid Cam and get some of those awesome shots myself.

    You should maybe make a place for people to post a shot of their pig on your blog. I'd like to keep coming back to see the pics of other hunts.

    375 a pig. I think I can swing that for 1 year. I am sure that ones I get that in my blood I will want to go back though. LOL Thanks for this Blog, GREAT JOB.

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    1. Thanks Mike, Yeah Idaho is blessed not to have hogs running around destroying property like some places down south, but they sure would be fun to hunt if they were running wild around here. This was definitely a wonderful time, let me know if you decide to go I'd love to hear how you like it.

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    1. I forgot that you did this hunt. I need to save up and kill some pigs! What an awesome thing to be doing in the spring.

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