Hog question

[drube75]

Has anyone ever shot a sow, and when you went to pull the meat there were basically zero backstraps? What about the back legs feeling really squishy, kind of like a sack of jello? I am a bit concerned about the condition of it. Thoughts?

[Christianhuff]

Sounds like you got a hog with some health issues, I wouldn't risk it!

[TXHUNT3R]

To me, when it comes to hogs, because I can kill as many as I want, I am picky and will toss it if anything seems weird.

Just me though.

[CastAndBlast]

Sounds like a sow that has been nursing and is worn down. If she had saggy teats and looked skinny, I wouldn't worry about it. If not, I would chunk it. No reason to risk your health or your families.

[Hardcortex]

I have seen the same thing with backstrap on young nursing sows, maybe 1st/2nd litter young. It seems like the nursing stresses them, and overall condition is poor. Never have seen on older sows.

The squishy hams would concern me however. Just too many prime ones running around to take a chance.

[TX Outlaw]

To me, when it comes to hogs, because I can kill as many as I want, I am picky and will toss it if anything seems weird.

Just me though.

X2 I have done the same .

[drube75]

Well, I left her out there for coyote chow, however this was an invitation hunt so I want the guy who owns the ranch to be aware if people in west Texas are noticing this kind of thing. The stressed young sow seems like it really fits this bill with this particular pig.

[Colton]

I'd throw the meat out. It's not worth the risk in my opinion

[Lynn21]

Trash it

[gonehuntin68]

Pretty much every sow I've shot and cleaned that has piglets or is about to have piglets will have very thin backstraps and I've killed and cleaned a lot of them. Not only are the backstraps thin, the hams and shoulders are too as they just get worn down from the piglets as mentioned above. This is why if I want a pig to eat, I always will go after a big boar. Unlike a lot of people, I think the big boars are the best eating because they tend to have a lot of fat on them and that adds a lot of flavor and I've never had a bad one. The only negative I've seen from big older boars is the meat can be tough but if you age it long enough it breaks it down and won't be near as tough. Now as far as a squishy ham, I would have to see it in person to comment on that.

[8pointer]

You made the right call leaving it for the coyotes. Just not worth it.

[SwampRabbit]

Has anyone ever shot a sow, and when you went to pull the meat there were basically zero backstraps? What about the back legs feeling really squishy, kind of like a sack of jello? I am a bit concerned about the condition of it. Thoughts?

I see you threw it away... but just curious how many pigs have you killed for your comparison. I've killed a pig that was just a little more fatty and so the meat felt squishy, but not mushy... but what "squishy" means to you may be different for me.

. Now as far as a squishy ham, I would have to see it in person to comment on that.

Yep... this.

Also meat that has cooled feels a lot different than meat that is still warm. Lots of variables.

[drube75]

I see you threw it away... but just curious how many pigs have you killed for your comparison. I've killed a pig that was just a little more fatty and so the meat felt squishy, but not mushy... but what "squishy" means to you may be different for me.



Yep... this.

Also meat that has cooled feels a lot different than meat that is still warm. Lots of variables.

This was my first pig but I was with a fella whose got plenty of notches on his rifle. I dropped her in her tracks with a spine shot exiting the front of her skull. She wasn't fat all, that was the weird part. You could see her ribs, and her spine. Just seemed like she was sick, but malnourished also looks like it fits the bill.

[Patton]

Sounds like a sow that has been nursing and is worn down. If she had saggy teats and looked skinny, I wouldn't worry about it. If not, I would chunk it. No reason to risk your health or your families.

I killed a 50lb sow that had 11 piglets in tow, this was the case.

[dustoffer]

Sounds like a sow that has been nursing and is worn down. If she had saggy teats and looked skinny, I wouldn't worry about it. If not, I would chunk it. No reason to risk your health or your families.

I'd bet this is it--did she have any shoats with her?