FL hog hunting newbie advice, please

[gehlsurf]

Hi guys, So I've been hunting for about 2 years, only dove and coyote, though.  Well this year I decided to hunt hog, with my RIA MS 10mm.  Finding them has gone good, taking a shot not so much....  I've tracked 2 down, but I keep trying to get close, for a head shot or lung shot, but they always seem to be behind brush, I've gotten up to 15 yds close, but then they hear me and run.  Thus morning I saw 2 in an open field, they saw me, I took a shot, about 100 yds, no lie-probably unethical, but I did tag one cause he dipped down, but got up and ran like hell.  I caught back up with him to finish the job, he was in a patch of palmettos, again, trying to get closer, heard me and hauled ass, never got him.

So, am I worrying too much about a perfect shot?  If you KNOW where one is behind some brush, do you take the shot?  I just worry about spoiling the meat with a gut shot

[blaster]

getting a good shot while stalking a hog can be a problem. so you have to take "your best shot" and it might not be that good. if you can put up a feeder and hang a stand, your chances will be a lot better. the hogs feeding will (hopefully) give you a clear and well aimed shot. the only good head shot on a hog is the ear hole. this is my favorite shot when using a rifle. they drop in their tracks. the skull has a lot of sloping bone that can easily deflect pistol bullets. unless you are a real good pistol shooter, I'd pass on the head shot. on a broadside shot I would aim at the elbow of the front leg. a hog's vitals are lower on the body than other animals.

[Rojo27]

Since you asked, I'd recommend avoiding shooting through brush.  Margin of error and chances of clean miss or deflection causing a non-incapacitating wound to animal go way, way up.  All the hunters reading this have been in the same predicament and I'm not trying to preach.  The odds of success become so remote when shooting through bushes or brush and the potential for negative consequences too great in my opinion.  It's a hunter ethics question. 

I'd counsel clear line of site to one or more of these spots on the animal for as quick and humane a kill as possible

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[Drgrenthum]

I don't shoot for the brain.  To small of a target , of course i don't worry to much about the meat here in Florida.  They come back every other night and tear crap up and can always take another.

If your down wind they are not that hard to sneak up on and position for a good shot, sounds like luck just hasn't been on your side though 15 yards is as close as Id want to go.  I undestand wanting to be ethical, but get them cockroaches