It is important to understand a few things about the wild hog’s anatomy in order to consistently kill him, regardless of the weapon. Through the years, I’ve lost more hogs from shots that were too far behind the shoulder or too high into the shoulders than any other shot placement. Hogs carry their vitals a bit farther forward and lower in the chest cavity than deer. A hog’s heart is very low in his chest.

New to hog hunting? Check out our basic checklist of the steps you should take to prepare for your hunt, and the equipment you should never leave behind.

Louisiana’s out-of-control feral hog population is wreaking havoc on the state, leading to a decline in the deer population and causing an upwards of $74 million in damages in 2013 alone.

Lawmakers in North Carolina and Pennsylvania are fighting for the state to allow Sunday hunting in an attempt to eradicate centuries-old laws which they say hinder economic growth and impede on basic homeowner rights.

Hog hunting is becoming increasingly popular in the southern Gulf States, where the feral hog population is growing at an alarming rate. A non-native species, feral hogs are aggressive animals that breed quickly and threaten the safety of native wildlife and crop. The current estimated feral hog population in the United States is in the millions; Texas alone currently has a population of almost 2.6 million. With the hog’s current breeding rate, about 70 percent of the population needs to be eradicated annually to prevent further growth.