Humane dispatch
Large boars can be very difficult to dispatch, due to the thick hide protecting their shoulder called a shield. This can be up to 100 millimetres thick and is extremely tough. The vital area of the chest and organ placement is also lower and more forward than most other game species.
Pigs can be humanely dispatched by the following methods:
The hold stick method
A specialised knife called a pig sticker is designed to penetrate the chest cavity and pierce the heart, veins and arteries. The blade should be razor-sharp, single-sided, at least 170 millimetres in length and feature a non-slip handle.
The knife is aimed at the heart and enters the chest cavity either through the armpit or through the front of the chest, just above the sternum. A swift single stab into the heart is all that’s required to ensure a quick and humane death.
Using a firearm
This method is mostly used when a pig is bailed up and standing its ground. The dogs should remain a safe distance from the pig, allowing the hunter to make a clean, close range shot to the head vital zone.
A firearm may be the preferred method if the pig is being held, and there is a risk of injury to the dogs, the hunter or the pig itself.
The hunter must exercise every caution when using a firearm at close range.
Before taking the shot, a hunter must be aware of the:
- location of other hunters
- location of the dog(s)
- muzzle blast from the firearm
- ricochet from the projectile
- safe backstop should the projectile exit the pig.
