Hunting a trophy warthog
Hunting Warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus)
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Best recommended caliber to hunt |
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Warthog |
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270, 30-06, 308, 7mm (all), 300 (all), 338, 375 |
Hunting notes when hunting warthog:
Hunting warthog can be as frustrating as it can be rewarding. These hogs like to be in or on the edge of open fields specially towards the end of the day. They like to doze in the heat of the day and are at their happiest when halfway submerged in a grand mud pool. Taking a mud bath protects their skin from sun burn and nasty stinging and biting insects.
With a slight breeze in the favor of the hunter, the warthog can be approached to within a very short distance. However, this does not occur at regular intervals. Warthog have less than average eye sight but well above hearing- and smelling capabilities.
When feeding with their heads down in knee high grass, it is difficult to judge trophy quality so the hunter needs to be at the ready for until such time the warthog lifts it’s head. At that point and if the trophy is judged to be good enough, the hunter must not hesitate to take the shot.
The best recommended caliber for hunting warthog is 300 cal and up.
The average shooting distance when hunting warthog is between 20 – 100 yards.
Description:
To many this must be one of the more ugly animals, yet to others this epitomizes Africa. It is gray in color and has dark, brush-like body hair with a mane of long hair on the back. The long hair on the back can become erect when the animal is stressed. A distinguishing feature is the plumes of white facial hair on the sides of the face. These plumes can be confusing because they look like tusks. When I was a rookie hunter it happened on two occasions when hunting warthog that I misread the beard for tusks! Of course I paid for the mistakes and have since then fortunately not made the mistake again.
The snout is typical that of a hog, with two pairs of warts on the face of a boar (second pair slightly above the tusks), and only one pair on that of a sow. The tail is thin with a tuft of hair at the tip. The tail is held upright when the animal is running.
The tusks curve upward. The incisors are shorter and are constantly honed when the animal is feeding. These incisors are extremely sharp and are a superb defense mechanism.
When hunting warthogs, your quarry can either be uncommonly canny, or exceedingly stupid. With a slight breeze in the hunters favor, and a feeding warthog with its head down, the hunter can approach it slowly to within 10 – 20 yards.
Habitat:
Open savanna fields to sparsely wooded areas are preferred. As a general rule warthogs prefer not to be in extreme cold areas.
Reproduction:
Batches of up to eight piglets are born (average four to six) usually during September – December. The sow will give birth in a hole (usually aardvark hole) and after two weeks the piglets will come to the surface.
General:
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Gestation period |
About 170 days |
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Average shoulder height |
28” |
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Average weight |
Boars |
120 lbs – 200 lbs |
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Sows |
90 lbs – 110 lbs |
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Tusks |
Both the boars and sows have tusks. Apart from the obvious, boars have a second set of warts just above the tusks, between the tusks and the eyes. |
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