Recovery rate on pigs

[RiverRat1]

The other thread got me thinking. Even when a shot looks really good a lot of the time pigs just keep running and can't be found. So...

What is your personal recovery rate on pigs you have shot with a bow?

Mine overall the last 20+ years sucks Maybe 40% if I'm lucky. Once I figured it out after year 5 (not a lot of chances to shoot them at first) I may be up to 60-65%

[Hills of Texas]

Straight broadside they can usually run a bit. I always shoot hard quartering away. Behind the near shoulder so it exits in front of the off shoulder. They usually don't go far. If rifle hunting I shoot right in the middle of the neck and they drop.

[sqiggy]

So far, mine’s been pretty good. The last 3 I shot were heart shots and they don’t go far at all. It’s been several years since I shot one and never recovered it. I think it was when you and Bill came up. I shot one that evening and left a good blood trail. Bill shot one too so we tracked his first and found it. Then went back for mine and I ended up jumping it so I backed out and waited till morning. Found him the next morning and I figured he was dead. He jumped up and took off, never to be seen again.

[Bisch]

Pigs do seem to have an extra will to survive that a lot of other critters don’t possess! I’m not sure what my overall recovery rate is, but I can tell you that that rate has gone up substantially since I switched to full time compound from trad bows.

Bisch

[glen]

If I want to find them and don’t mind loosing an arrow I can recover over 95%. Hard quartered away run in behind back ribs and try to exit somewhere opposite front of shoulder. Most times arrow is broken.

if I’m just shooting a hog I back up and shoot them in big part and arrow is stuck in ground on other side. I recover zero of those

[Quackerbox]

Our recovery rate it pretty good this year. 6.5G and .223 to the dome works. The buzzards were happy the first few weeks. We shot enough the first couple weeks the swine got scarce. This has been my take on shooting them. Bow down, guns up

https://youtube.com/shorts/bVmYX5t8Eys?si=QGWe0rte-EnIWqTT

[tminc]

I agree,they r tough suckers,I try to only shoot sows,unless there is a trophy boar with the bunch.My recovery rate is about 50%,they always go to the thickest,thorniest,no fun at all to track through stuff on our place.The buzzards and coyotes have to eat too!

[axisbuck]

The other thread got me thinking. Even when a shot looks really good a lot of the time pigs just keep running and can't be found. So...

What is your personal recovery rate on pigs you have shot with a bow?

Mine overall the last 20+ years sucks Maybe 40% if I'm lucky. Once I figured it out after year 5 (not a lot of chances to shoot them at first) I may be up to 60-65%

What did you figure out after year 5 to have the better recovery %. Im with Quackerbox bow down guns up and recovery is great with behind the ear shots

[tpack]

I quit shooting them between the eyes after shooting a big boar at my feeder. He was easily 200+ and it was muddy and no way I could drag him off with mud on his feet. Had to get the truck and drag him off. Shoulder shot or behind is my go-to now. They all run off and if I can't` find them in 2-3 minutes I quit looking. They`ve ran far enough not to be a problem near my feeder.

[Walker]

I quit shooting them between the eyes after shooting a big boar at my feeder. He was easily 200+ and it was muddy and no way I could drag him off with mud on his feet. Had to get the truck and drag him off. Shoulder shot or behind is my go-to now. They all run off and if I can't` find them in 2-3 minutes I quit looking. They`ve ran far enough not to be a problem near my feeder.

That's me. I don't even look for them unless they have big cutters. Then only for the skull.

[Gumbo Man]

I think I’ve shot 4 maybe 5 with my bow this year with zero recovery. I’m confident that they all died after reviewing video and finding good blood on veins and on the ground. Where I hunt those pig trails are only accessible on hands and knees so I’ll pass on that thank you very much. Probably earholed ( or close to it) 6 or 7 with the 6.5 Creed that were DRT. I like shooting pigs. It makes me squeal with laughter.

[7sdad]

Zero recovery because I don't look for them, I just want them to go away.

[cehorn]

Our recovery rate it pretty good this year. 6.5G and .223 to the dome works. The buzzards were happy the first few weeks. We shot enough the first couple weeks the swine got scarce. This has been my take on shooting them. Bow down, guns up

https://youtube.com/shorts/bVmYX5t8E...We0rte-EnIWqTT

This is where I'm at as well. Great recovery rate. I got to the point where I would rather waste the $2 on a bullet than the $20+ on an arrow that either gets lost or at a minimum broken. I'm cheap but I hate pigs.

[Paycheck]

Guess I am about 50%. Don't look very long if not a good blood trail or nasty area.

[brokeno]

Zero recovery, I hope