While some here still doubt the very existence of the "shield" on older boars, here is one from last night. It is about the thickest I have encountered and measured just over 1.25" in a section taken from the area of one of the shoulders.

This cartilage has the consistency of very hard rubber and will test the mettle of an inappropriate bullet in a hurry. It's not friend of archers, either, as a shield this thick will certainly limit penetration of the broadhead and shaft. Of course, it's always thickest in the area of the shoulder, thus protecting the vitals.

This particular boar was a bruiser and weighed 223 pounds.

Bobby, that is a dandy chunk of pork! I recognize the bullet too, gotta get me some of them to try in my encore!

Good to see that you are still making life tough on the hogs that trespass on your place!!

My wife shot a nice 200lb boar Saturday night at our ranch in Cisco. Shield looked about like yours. The 9.3x62 went through both sides of the chest and left a nice blood trail to follow.

What bullet are you running in the 9.3x62? A friend of mine has been shooting one for years and uses nothing else. He even uses it when calling coyotes. I remember him telling me about a coyote he shot a couple years ago. It was on the move, and his lead wasn't quite sufficient, catching the 'yote mid-body. The coyote made about 80 yards into the some thick brush before expiring, but he said it was the easiest retrieval ever. He joked that it did not leave a blood trail but that it left "chunks" of coyote organs and tissue along the way.

I'm jealous---my hog season ends when deer season begins----but only 2 months left until it opens again.

Remember that trap I bought from you Bobby? It is in a buddy's shop for door work---those hogs are destructive critters---but they will pay!

I remember when you came out here for that trap. I'm guessing it's held quite a bit of pork since then ha ha! I'm sure you'll make up for lost time as soon as deer season ends. I'll be waiting for pictures and posts...

Excellent report, Congratulations.