My son and I want to go wild boar hunting. We found a place not too far from where we live here in Pa. My question is what is the difference between "carolina hogs" and "russian & european wild boars"? Which one is the better eating of the two? What size hog should we go for better quality meat (in lbs.)?

I would opt for a sow 200lbs or less. A boar over 300 can be a mess if not cleaned properly and even at that it is sausage material. I have found that cleaning the pig is the most important part--- assure you get the scent glands and be careful with the bladder rinse the meat well and pack in ice ASAP--allow the water to drain and add ice every day for 3-5 day untill the drained water is clear. Then process the meat.

As for hog type I like a ferrel hog best -- or what we call a woods hog. This is a domestic strain that has been wild for one or two generations they have the meat eater bloodline but just a bit of a wild taste.

This is about what you should look for--
http://www.handgunhunt.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=1056&ppuser=2724

http://www.handgunhunt.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=1084&ppuser=2724

This is What they look like after a 45 cal 250 XTP hits them

http://www.handgunhunt.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=850&ppuser=2724

For eating, I would opt for a sow also. 150-200 pounds max. The large boars are not the best table fair. Feral hogs seem to be more tastey, the russian strain have a stronger gamey flavor. (IMHO) But with any wild game it depends on how it is cleaned and cooked.

I took a wild boar male in the 250lbs class at a hunting ranch in PA in 2008. Very good eating! So sows are not the only alternative.

I have shot European wild boar aswell as lots of U.S. feral hogs, and they are both lean and low on fat. Sows usually make better table fare and they tend to be fattier. Large boars can stink, but so can a smaller one that you've chased with dogs or disturbed in some other manner. What they eat can determine how good or bad they taste and I have rarely come accross one that I can truly say was gamey. If they stink, I don't evenbother making sausage out of them. JMHO.

Can't say on the Euro's, all I 've killed have been feral hogs. If it weighs over 150#, I use it for coyote bait.

Wild feral hogs are treated as vermin here. Most are shot & left where they fall. They are a huge problem for the farmers & ranchers. Here we would like to see them erradicated. They are hunted from airplanes, helocopters, 4 wheelers, etc. A few people eat them but usually only the smaller ones. I have eaten meat from those around 100 lbs that were slow cooked (for a long time). It is OK. However, my neighbor raises show pigs & gives me one every year that is ready for slaughter. The wild pork that I have eaten cannot hold a candle to a "good" one. Just my opinion.

You can smell the pig and tell how it is going to eat... The 400lbs+ boar I shot ate REALLY good! He didn't stink at all. But one of that size is an exception and not the rule.

Out west all we have around my place are the russian buggers, arnery critters... Dropped a 250lb male that was great tasting, to our suprise. But they eat acors and good stuff out in the hills...

It seems like everyone does agree on one thing. Get a boar in the 200-300 lb. range for good eating. My boy and I will probally go for the carolina type hog. The name of the place is The Wilderness in Bedford co. Pa.;near the town of Everett. This is not too far from where we deer hunt on opening day of rifle season. Thanks for your input guys. We really appreciate it.

Russian boar are true strain and usually are regulated by game laws, the ferals that are "inbreed pigs" are usually vermin..I have shot many "boar" in Germany, and Belgium, all were excellent eating and as most said immediate opening and icing is imperative..Germany we hung for a week or so after cooling..ElDee

The one boar I've handgunned was a 250lb. boar shot a the Wilderness Ranch in PA. Excellent eating, at least most of it. So I wouldn't discourage anyone to try one.