Behind-the-Ear Shots and Caliber Choice

Lesson 25 of 35 · Module 6, lesson 3

Assumes the Hunting Primer. New here? Start there first.

Your objective

By the end, you'll be able to decide when the behind-the-ear shot is appropriate and choose a caliber or broadhead that provides enough penetration to reliably defeat hog bone and shield.

Judgment ~9 min

Hogs are piling up in the trap. You trigger the gate and need to dispatch three animals cleanly, quickly, at 10 yards with a clear broadside angle. Or you’re at a bait site and a big boar turns to face the feeder, giving you a dead-on-broadside look at the base of his ear. This is the behind-the-ear shot’s moment — instant anchor, no tracking. But use it wrong and you have a wounded, dangerous animal at close range.

Quick recall

From Hog Anatomy and the Shield — why are direct frontal headshots on a big boar risky?

The sloped skull can deflect even rifle rounds at marginal angles The brain is too small to reliably hit with any rifle There is no real risk — headshots always anchor hogs

Show answer

Correct: The sloped skull can deflect even rifle rounds at marginal angles — Right. The hog's angled skull face can skip a bullet rather than allowing penetration — a documented risk. The behind-the-ear shot from true broadside bypasses that slope entirely.
Not quite: The brain is too small to reliably hit with any rifle — Brain size is a challenge, but the primary danger with frontal shots is skull deflection. The behind-the-ear approach is reliable because it targets the brain from a perpendicular angle that avoids the deflection problem.
Not quite: There is no real risk — headshots always anchor hogs — This is the overconfident answer that gets hunters hurt. Frontal skull deflection is real. Always use the behind-the-ear angle from true broadside, and only from a stable platform.

The behind-the-ear shot: when and how

The behind-the-ear shot aims for the base of the ear on a broadside hog. From this angle, the shot enters the skull at a near-perpendicular angle and drives directly into the brain. The hog drops instantly — no tracking, no blood trail, no escape into the brush.

When it applies:

Hog is broadside (or very close to it) with the head visible and still
You have a stable shooting rest — a tree, blind rail, trap corral, or bipod
Range is close — ideally within 30 yards for a firearm, closer for archery
No people, dogs, or other animals are in the line of fire or behind the target

When it does NOT apply:

Moving hog — the brain is the size of a golf ball; a moving target means a moving aim point, and a miss means a wounded animal at close range
Uncertain angle — any rotation toward or away from you changes the skull geometry; the brain shifts out of the line from the ear base
Dogs in contact — if catch dogs are on the hog, a headshot with dogs present risks hitting a dog. Dispatch must wait until dogs are clear.

Finding the aim point

The aim point for the behind-the-ear shot is the base of the ear on the near (near-side) skull — just at the junction where the ear attaches to the head. From a true broadside position, this aim point puts the shot directly into the brain through the softer temporal bone on the side of the skull.

Do not aim at the ear canal opening itself. Aim at the base where the ear meets the skull — the junction. From 10–20 yards on a still hog, this is a precise, reliable aim point.

Edge case What about trap dispatch at close range?

Dispatching hogs in a trap presents some of the safest conditions for the behind-the-ear shot: range is known, animals are contained, and the shooter controls the timing. Use the same rules: stable rest, broadside angle, clear backstop (the ground behind a downed hog in a trap is reliable), and no dogs or people in the immediate area. A .22 LR at very close range (under 5 yards, muzzle nearly at the skull) is commonly used for in-trap dispatch, but requires the same precision about angle. A .22 Magnum or .22 LR into the ear base at contact-to-2-yard range is reliable for dispatch — at distance, use a centerfire round. Verify any methods against current SCDNR regulations and local laws before dispatching trapped animals.

Caliber and projectile: defeat the shield and bone

The gristle shield on a mature boar and the density of the shoulder bone are not obstacles the right shot angle simply ignores — they must be met with a projectile that has enough mass, velocity, and construction to penetrate and still reach the vitals.

Minimum standard for firearms

There is no single official minimum, but the field consensus is clear:

.243 Winchester or equivalent (90+ grain, bonded or controlled-expansion bullet) is the practical minimum for a broadside chest shot on a typical hog. It will pass through the pocket on a boar up to roughly 200 lbs with proper shot placement.
A .30-caliber cartridge (.308 Win, .30-06, or equivalent) is strongly preferred for large, mature boars. Heavier bullets hold velocity and expand more reliably through thick tissue and cartilage.
.223 Rem / 5.56 NATO can be effective on smaller hogs with precise placement (62-grain or heavier, bonded bullet, through the pocket), but offers less margin against the shield and should be considered a minimum for large boars. Lighter varmint .223 loads with thin-jacketed bullets are poor choices.
Pistol calibers (9mm, .40, .45 ACP) are marginal unless used at very close range, from stable platform, into the ear base or pocket. They are not recommended for general hog hunting — use them for dispatch only.

Bullet construction matters

A ball (FMJ / full metal jacket) round does not expand. It may sail through a hog without delivering full energy to the vitals. For hunting:

Bonded soft-point or controlled-expansion bullets — the jacket and core are bonded together so the bullet retains weight while expanding. Examples: Nosler Partition, Federal Trophy Bonded, Hornady InterLock.
Monolithic copper bullets (Barnes TTSX, Hornady GMX) — no jacket to separate, deep penetration, good for heavy bone. Excellent choice on big boars.
Avoid thin-jacketed varmint bullets on hogs — they fragment before reaching the vitals through the shield.

Deep dive Do I need a specialty 'hog hunting' bullet?

Marketing aside, no. Any quality bonded hunting bullet in .30 caliber or larger will work. The “hog” designation on some boxes is a marketing decision, not a fundamentally different design. What actually matters: weight retention (bonded or mono), enough weight/caliber for the job (at least .243 on smaller hogs, .30-cal preferred for large boars), and correct shot placement. The bullet is the last piece — the pocket or ear angle is the first.

For archery: penetration over speed

The gristle shield is where many bowhunters learn a hard lesson. A fast, light arrow with a mechanical broadhead may not breach a 2-inch shield on a mature boar and still reach the lungs. The archery standard for mature hogs is:

Draw weight: 60 lbs minimum; 70+ is preferred for boars over 150 lbs
Arrow weight: 400 grains or heavier total arrow weight (heavier = more momentum = better penetration through cartilage)
Broadhead: tough, fixed-blade heads designed for penetration — 2-blade or compact 3-blade styles. Expandables (mechanical) are generally less reliable through the shield because the blades open on impact and the arrow loses energy before fully penetrating. Fixed-blade heads maintain their cutting geometry through the cartilage.
Shot angle: quartering-away is the archer’s friend on hogs — the shot enters the soft flank tissue and angles forward through the lung cavity, largely avoiding the shield entirely.

Edge case Can an expandable broadhead work on a hog?

Yes, with the right conditions. A high-energy setup (70+ lb bow, heavy arrow, high-FOC) shooting a quality expandable into the quartering-away flank — where the shield is thinnest or absent — can be effective. The problem is the chest broadside shot into the center of the shield with a marginal setup: the blades deploy in the cartilage and the arrow stops. If you use mechanicals, keep the shot angle quartering-away and the setup heavy. When in doubt, fixed-blade.

The decision: ear shot or pocket shot?

Decision

A mature boar (estimated 200 lbs) has been at a bait feeder for 2 minutes. He's standing broadside, head turned slightly toward the feeder, perfectly still. You're in a tripod stand 20 yards away with a .308 Win rifle and a solid rail rest. You can see the base of his near ear clearly. What's your call?

Take the behind-the-ear shot — conditions are ideal

All four conditions met: stable platform, known close range, broadside angle, confirmed backstop. Ear-base aim, clean trigger pull. He drops instantly. This is the ear shot's moment.

Take the pocket shot — go with the reliable chest hit

Also a correct answer. The pocket shot is never wrong when conditions are good. Both shots are appropriate here; the ear shot simply drops him without any run distance. Either approach works — what matters is not forcing a bad version of either.

Wait for him to move to a better position

You already have ideal conditions. Waiting for 'better' risks him moving to a worse angle, becoming alert, or leaving. Take the shot.

Decision

A boar walks slowly past you at 15 yards, quartering away. He stops for a moment but his head is moving — looking around, ears turning. You're on the ground with a shooting stick. Do you take the ear shot?

Yes — he's close and it's a quick shot

He moves as you fire. The shot hits the jaw. He screams and charges toward your position. An injured, enraged boar at 15 yards on the ground is the scenario you never want. The ear shot requires a still hog.

No — switch to the pocket, he's quartering away and the flank is open

He stops for two seconds as he checks the wind. You hold on the pocket — forward, into the off-side shoulder as he quarters away — and the shot drives through both lungs. Clean recovery. The moving ear was a pass; the quartering-away pocket was the shot.

Pass everything and wait for a true broadside stop

Correct patience. He takes three more steps and stops broadside to check a sound. You take the pocket shot cleanly. Nothing wrong with passing a marginal angle for a better one.

Make the call

Knowledge check

You have a big boar in a corral trap at 8 yards, broadside, still. Your .22 Magnum pistol is in hand. Is the behind-the-ear shot appropriate?

Yes — close range, stable, broadside, clear backstop (the ground) No — too close, pistol, risky No — always use a centerfire rifle for any hog shot

Show answer

Correct: Yes — close range, stable, broadside, clear backstop (the ground) — Correct. Trap dispatch at near-contact range with a stable, still, broadside animal is one of the cleaner applications of the ear shot. The .22 Mag is marginal but adequate at contact distance when aimed precisely at the ear base. Verify your method is legal under current SCDNR regulations.
Not quite: No — too close, pistol, risky — Close range is actually an advantage for the ear shot — precision is easier, energy retained. The concerns are angle, stability, and stillness — all met here. A .22 Magnum at near-contact range into the ear base is a documented reliable dispatch method.
Not quite: No — always use a centerfire rifle for any hog shot — A centerfire rifle is preferred for field hunting, but in-trap dispatch at contact range is a different situation. A .22 Magnum or even .22 LR into the ear base at close range is an accepted dispatch method. The shot placement rules still apply.

Knowledge check

For bowhunting a mature boar (200 lbs with full shield development), which setup gives you the best chance of lethal penetration through the shield?

70-lb draw, 420-grain arrow, fixed-blade broadhead, quartering-away shot 55-lb draw, 330-grain arrow, mechanical expandable, broadside chest shot Any draw weight, as long as you hit the pocket exactly

Show answer

Correct: 70-lb draw, 420-grain arrow, fixed-blade broadhead, quartering-away shot — Right on all counts. High draw weight, heavy arrow for momentum, fixed-blade for consistent penetration through cartilage, and the quartering-away angle skirts the heaviest part of the shield entirely. This is the standard for bowhunting mature boars.
Not quite: 55-lb draw, 330-grain arrow, mechanical expandable, broadside chest shot — Three problems: low draw weight gives marginal momentum, light arrow further reduces kinetic energy, and a mechanical blade can deploy in the shield and stop the arrow before reaching the lungs. Upgrade the setup and angle the shot quartering-away.
Not quite: Any draw weight, as long as you hit the pocket exactly — Shot placement is first, but equipment is second — not irrelevant. A 50-lb bow driving a light arrow directly into the face of a 2-inch gristle shield may not penetrate. The pocket shot + adequate penetration is the standard, not placement alone.

Knowledge check

A .223 Rem with a thin-jacketed 55-grain varmint bullet: appropriate for a 200-lb boar at 50 yards?

No — the bullet will fragment before penetrating the shield; use a bonded .243 or larger Yes — any .223 is powerful enough for hogs Yes — high velocity compensates for bullet weight

Show answer

Correct: No — the bullet will fragment before penetrating the shield; use a bonded .243 or larger — Correct. Thin varmint bullets are designed to fragment explosively on impact with light tissue — that fragmentation stops penetration before the shot reaches the lungs on a heavy-shielded boar. Use at minimum a bonded 62-grain .223 load, and a .243 or .30-caliber for larger animals.
Not quite: Yes — any .223 is powerful enough for hogs — The caliber can be adequate but the bullet is the problem. A 55-grain varmint hollow-point will fragment in the shield. Bonded or controlled-expansion bullets in .223 (62-grain+) can work on smaller hogs, but for a 200-lb boar with full shield, a heavier caliber and tougher bullet is the better choice.
Not quite: Yes — high velocity compensates for bullet weight — Velocity alone doesn't defeat the shield — bullet construction does. A fast, fragile bullet breaks apart in cartilage. A slower but bonded or monolithic bullet retains weight and keeps driving. Construction first, velocity second.

Take it to the woods

Pre-hunt: confirm your setup meets the penetration standard

0/6

Safety Rifle hunters: confirm caliber is .243 or larger with a bonded or controlled-expansion bullet. .30-caliber preferred for mature boars.
Safety Archery hunters: confirm draw weight is 60 lbs minimum (70+ for large boars).
Safety Archery hunters: confirm total arrow weight is 400 grains or heavier.
Archery hunters: use a fixed-blade broadhead for boars with full shield development. Quartering-away angle also reduces shield exposure.
Safety Know the four conditions for the ear shot: stable rest, broadside angle, still hog, confirmed backstop.
Safety Verify current SCDNR regulations for methods, night hunting, and dispatch before your hunt. Regulations change yearly — always check dnr.sc.gov.

Sources

Outdoor Life — “Where to Shoot a Hog”: https://www.outdoorlife.com/hunting/where-to-shoot-a-hog/
Bass Pro Shops / 1Source — “Hog Hunting Shot Placement: Don’t Make This Common Deer Hunters’ Mistake”: https://1source.basspro.com/news-tips/wild-hogs-boar/7770/hog-hunting-shot-placement-dont-make-common-deer-hunters-mistake
Sightmark — “Hog Hunting 411: Shot Placement”: https://www.sightmark.com/blogs/news/hog-hunting-411-shot-placement
Switchgrass Outfitters — “Bowhunting Wild Hogs: A Guide to a Clean Shot”: https://www.switchgrassoutfitters.com/blog/2025/bowhunting-wild-hogs-guide-to-a-clean-shot.html
Extension — “Shoulder Shields in Feral Hogs” (Texas A&M AgriLife / eXtension cooperative): https://articles.extension.org/pages/63586/shoulder-shields-in-feral-hogs
SCDNR regulations (verify current rules before hunting): https://www.dnr.sc.gov

If you remember nothing else

The behind-the-ear shot is an instant-anchor shot — but only from a stable, broadside or near-broadside position at close range.
Never attempt the ear shot on a moving hog, at an uncertain angle, or when dogs or people are anywhere near the animal.
For firearms, use at minimum a .243 Winchester or equivalent; a .30-caliber or larger is preferred for big boars.
For archery, use a bow drawing at least 60 lbs, heavy arrows (400+ grains), and tough fixed-blade broadheads with a cutting diameter wide enough to breach the shield.
No caliber or broadhead choice replaces shot placement — penetration only matters if you aim correctly first.

How ready do you feel?

How ready are you to decide whether the behind-the-ear shot is appropriate for a given situation, and confirm your gear meets the penetration standard for a mature boar?

Before you go — a quick look back

Distributed practice: one fast recall from an earlier lesson keeps it from fading.

Quick recall

From The Broadside Pocket Shot — what posture of the front leg makes the pocket most accessible, and what does a pulled-back leg tell you?

Show me the answer

Show answer

Correct: Show me the answer — Leg extended forward opens the pocket — the shoulder clears and the aim triangle is fully exposed. Leg pulled back closes the shoulder, partly blocking the pocket. Correct response is to wait for the leg to step forward before shooting, not force a shot into bone.

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