get over yourself c dade. peoole who hunt are conserving so we won't get overrun with hogs. north america is way too populated with hogs not to shoot them. suffering is a part of life. if you ever go hunting you will understand the thrill of getting your own food. i'm not for trophy hunting but i am into the adrenaline rush and the meat that i get out of my kill.

tandi, roanoke, tx, usa

the hog is a fake

dylan, lakeland Fl, usa Fl

all of you are talking about the animal suffering and stuff. i hunt alot and alot of the big hogs i shoot dont just drop and i hunt them with a 30-06 rifle.. so you all that are criticizing this young boy needs to get off his back

Shon, Lufkin, Texas

a normal animal shot in the head with a 50cal pistol would have droped. maybe the father didnt see how big it was. but if it suffered for 3 hours that aint right

c, dade city, u.s. fl

Aside from the insults being bandied about, one fact remains, an animal suffered because a father wanted his son to kill it with an inappropriate weapon.

Shamefully the father stood by with a rifle with which he could have ended the animals suffering rather then prolonging it for three hours.

What sort of message does this send out to the son, "it's alright for animals to suffer in the name of the sport"?

I hunt and ensure to the best of my ability that my quarry is dispatched with the minimum of suffering, I'm ashamed to be associated with these people.

Robert, Helston, UK

Congrats...Good Job. I am a grown woman and I would have been out of my skin just to see such a huge thing. A young man with your guts and confidence is great.

Janet Beaty, Lexington, MO

i also agree with the two people above me. An animal of that size should not have been taken down by a pistol. The rifles would have been a beter choice, 1 clean shot to take down the animal. Shooting it eight times and chasing it was inhumane and cruel

josh, rockaway, new jersey

the boy shot the hog in someones pen on someones farm

me, bwk, ga

I used to bow hunt in the eastern United States. I chose bow because it requires much more skill and much closer proximity to the prey than rifles and other firearms. In short, I thought it was much more sporting than blasting away at some hapless dear from a 1/4 or 1/2 mile away.
But I also spent hours practicing until I was a good enough shot to bring down the animal quickly and humanely.

In the US, most hunting fees go directly to the wildlife management. So hunters are actually giving more money to wildlife programs than people who are not hunters.

I would have to agree that hunting with a pistol--and shooting at an animal that requires several shots to bring down is irresponsible at best.
If you look at the photo, there is a wound about 2/3 of the way down the animal's side. This is not a vital area, but typical of the kind of accuracy you can expect from an 11 year old firing a .50 caliber pistol.
The guides should not have let him fire a pistol on an animal that size

Russell, Denver, CO

I approve of hunting, but I think using a pistol (.50 or not) on an animal this size, compounded with the amount of time and shots required to finally finish it off was idiotic, reckless and unnecessarily cruel - especially considering there were others there with rifles that could have killed the animal far more swiftly.

Craig, Scotland, UK

To respond to those worries about the gun issues in America. If you take guns away from citizens, then only the criminals will have guns. Criminals will always find a way to get a gun on the black market. It is our constitutional right to own firearms and in the cities that allow open carrying of guns, you will statistically see that the crime rate is actually lower due to the fact that criminals know you have a gun and will defend yourself.
As far as the story of this 11 year old boy shooting this pig, I have a couple opinions. 1) anyone who has shot a .50 calibur gun knows the recoil is tremendous even for a man. An 11 year old to shoot it multiple times is highly unlikely. 2) Although I do not hunt for personal reasons, many people do. As long as it is done in a manner that allows animals to possibly escape, the hunter only shoots what he needs/wants, and if the animal is being used for food and not just a trophy to be mounted on the wall, I feel it is ok to hunt. True? Maybe.

Brian, Small Town, Indiana

Let's get this straight - all Europeans are tree-hugging wimps, all Americans are gun-toting psychopaths, right?
We're talking wide extremes here. The only issue in my mind is to the period of time it took for the animal to die. Not being a hunter, my outside opinion does suggest that the time between the first and final shots would undoubtedly have made the animal suffer more than is reasonable.
Travelling to the US regularly, I find lots of things objectionable, but then I do in Europe too. Some may find the thought of an 11 year old boy hunting and killing an animal that could easily kill him strange, but in assuming the best of people, you would think that his family are in a culture of such for the right reasons.
Cultural and religious differences divide the foolish. Most posters on here should learn to be a little more accepting, unless you purely get on these things for the 'sport'.

Hawk, Bucks, UK

Hunting in America is a way of life, and some of these rather opiniated individuals, have chosen to judge this boy without knowing anything about him. I myself would have no desire to hunt but I am fully aware each time I consume meat, that it did not start out in that air tight saran-wrap covered package. That animals fate in a slaughter house would of been absolutely horrific yet many of those judging this young man still eat meat. Some seem to have no problem with the process if they can remain blissfully distant. I don't believe that based on his excitement for his sport, this boys family has any need for concern, unless of course it's for his cholesterol levels.....some people should get a grip.

southern by the grace of god, chesapeake, VA

I think that it is disgusting that someone of such a young age could believe that killing this inocent animal is something to be proud of.....It doesn't exactly help the problems in America of the bad reputation of gun crimes and here we are seeing a boy of 11 bragging he used a gun to shoot a perfectly innocent animal! His mother should be worried!

Gemma, Salisbury, UK

I can't believe how some people can wish for a 11 year old kid to burn in hell for killing a stupid pig. I guess there are some folks who like sauage but hate the process, then there are others who rather use all eat leaves and grass.

David Th, Birmingham, Alabama

I am of the opinion (and everyone is entitled to the own) that the pig is much safer now dead than what it is running around in the forest. Pigs are interesting animals to observe out in the wild, but they are truly destructive. Everyone spare a thought to the damage that occurs in the agricultural economy that pigs cause in cropping and in livestock applications. Picture a cow giving birth to a calf will feral pig/s feeding on them during birth, ok that is extreme, but still I have heard of it happening.
I am an Australian firearms licence holder and a strong believer of humane killing of pests and ferals. The use of a rifle would have being a much more humane choice of firearm to kill this size pig given that rifles have 2 – 3 times more power in the same calibre as compared to a pistol.
For other people out there please don’t knock the “father and son” hunting trip it is the way that many of us has bonded even closer to our sons and fathers.

Toby, Mudgee / Grenfell, Australia, NSW

'We know how to use guns', 'teach kids young', 'not act like children and cower at things of which they are ignorant.'

Ok you love your guns, well done, so don't do the bleeding heart thing when one of these well balanced, gun loving kids enters a university campus and puts his skills to use on others who are similarly familiar with an item that was solely intended to do the job he put it to. He showed excellent gun skills, is he to be applauded. You flinch whilst you read but this is why us 'Soft europeans' invented the the things.

Don't give us the Euro trash business and try play the big man chanting USA... We played with our guns twice in the first half of the last century and memories are long and painful and make Uni campus masacres look like a minor toy town incident. You were 3500 miles away and safe.

And before you start with the 'We saved Europe' rubbish please read the history books. Hollywood is not a credible source for your information

SC, Bradford, UK

I don't find it right that the boy killed the poor pig. Though I just don't like hunting period. The pig was just minding it's own business, then a boy just sees it and shoots it, chases it, shoots it some more, then it dies.

Charly, Denham Springs, Louisiana

Man, sour grapes abound.

This whole story is cool. A giant hog? Madness, and neat.
Giant hog taken down by an 11-yo with a .50-cal. revolver? Impressive.
I agree that 8 shots over 3 hours may have been excessive, but that's a massive animal. If 7 .50-cal shots didn't take it down, logic says the hog was mighty and powerful, not stumbling along with a broken leg.
Bow and arrow? Get real. The kid's 11, not a Sioux prodigy.
And yes, an 11-yo with a gun. The reason why that is not a bad thing? Because people of all ages should know how to safely handle and operate firearms, not act like children and cower at things of which they are ignorant.
And the family is clearly going to use the animal for food, not like the body will go to waste.
Jeez. Unclench and let people enjoy the trappings of outdoor life for five minutes.
Nice job, Jamison Stone. Honor that animal's life by respecting it in death.

j.e.s., philadelphia, pa

I am fascinated by the personal attacks on this young boy.
he is fat, he is a murderer, he should burn in hell. He is a young child. If he was gay, an illegal alien, a crack head or a cripple he would be treated with respect. You socialist better slow down, The boy is well armed and he appears ready and able to defend himself. Much more than the loser euro trash who can neither support of defend themselves without a "village" good job kid. You do not need the government to house or feed you. You are well
ahead of the curve.

r.e. hicks, steeleville, usa, il

I think the kid should get a medal for his valor in hunting the monster.

Sam, Providence, RI

God bless you all from a father, hunter, lover, and current active duty U.S. soldier. I'm wiping the tears from my eyes in laughter. First time reading a post like this, I love it. How the phone and television was introduced is beyond me. Whether the kid shot a forced fed hog, wild or caged, safely or on the dangerous side with father... congrats! Wish it was me at 11. The Smithsonian could easily get measurements and post a model just as trophy hunter/fisherman can do... dead or alive. Everything is destructive in it's own way, it's called the balance of life. Enjoy it while you can. Do you think the kid will share some sauage?

Jerry, Ft Campbell, KY

I agree with our friends from across the pond....an anomaly like this shouldn't just be shot and bragged about. I live very close to the town in which this happened and was absolutely sickened when I saw it on the front page of our local newspaper.
I've grown up in the SE U.S. and will never be able to understand why people here have such a penchant for killing things. What ever happened to enjoying nature for what it is? It doesn't have to be mounted on a wall to be appreciated.

Kevin, Columbus, Georgia

I think they shouldnt have killed him. If he is so amazing and one of the biggest animals then why kill it? Why not just take pictures and write down his characteristics, traits and behavior. They should have did whatever they could to get proof and record this large boar/pig without killing it. I could understand the boys train of thought but i dont beleive killing the animal was right and the boy should not be rewarded. Anyway Now that hes dead, scientist should really look into this case. Ive seen the pictures and theres no way i can really not beleive this story.

Simeon, Queens, New York

How typically *American* to kill and be so irresponsible.....

Steve, London,

They say he shot it point-blank on the last shot...I don't think the kid could have gotten that close to him without being attacked. But I still believe that he killed it and he may rightfully do that. This is a free country unlike some of our friends across the sea. I hope he hangs his trophy on the wall and show it off for years to come.

Calvin, Fort Worth, Texas

Too bad they didn't donate the carcass to the Smithsonian - I think people would be shocked beyond belief if they saw this thing. Makes you wonder - what did this thing eat to get this big? I don't think it was acorns...

JCC, New York, New York, USA

Hurray for the kid! If you grow up with guns, you know how to treat them. As for the hog, if you ever farmed or owned rural land you would want them all DEAD as pigletts.

Sidney Smith, Talbotton, USA, Georgia

Wild animal? Sport? What sport is there in shooting in animal that's fenced into a 2500 acre hunting preserve that it can't possibly escape anyway? The hog had probably been caged and overfed for years so that a father could take pride in the fact that his 11 year old son could take down such a 'beast'. Pathetic...

Jessica, Philadelphia, PA

Dustin
great Scotsmen

mmm
Alexander Graham Bell was Scottish (yes he was in Canada when he invented the telephone)
John Logie Baird (invented Television)
Alexander Flemming (discovered penicillin)

theres 3 to br going on with
or buy this book
http://www.amazon.com/How-Scots-Invented-Modern-World/dp/0609606352

kevin, Los Angeles, USA

*ahem* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Zworykin

TV, Westminster, CA,

"The teeth we have in our skulls were not put there for chewing on soya curd." Ha, yes, they were 'put there' for the purpose of ripping through hide and fur, tearing off chunks of raw meat, and crunching through bone. What a terribly inane and uninformed statement. Guess us vegetarians just don't know how to use our jaws properly.

Jhonn, Denver, CO

There is just to many negative people in this world.... Maybe we should have an open season with them and their attitudes, that would make the world a nicer place to live.

STEVE, TEXAS, USA

I would like to bring Mr Garners attention to the small totally un-important invention of the the telephone by A.G.Bell, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Graham_Bell, The invention of the black box that seems to eat an enormouse amopunt of peoples time the television was also invented by a scots man (John Logi Bard) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Logie_Baird and at worst im sure you have heard of Shaun Connery...

Im not pro scotland but please think before you post!!!

Jon, Birmingham, England

What a shame. im no great fan of pigs and i know pigs can be very destructive, nevertheless, am i the only one to look upon this animal specimen with great respect??? How did it get so large?? Are there any more??
Surely if sighted, such an animal should not have been killed (least of all by an 11 year old CHILD) but tracked, studied and safely contained.
How typically human to kill and be so irresponsible.

Rasheed Speede, london, england

Dustin, I'd say your comment reflects more on you than the contribution of Scottish people over the years. If you've ever watched television or used a telephone, you've benefited from an invention designed by a Scot. Try reading something beyond the latest John Grisham and you may stumble across a few great Scottish poets and writers. Ignorance must be bliss.

Robin, Melbourne, Australia

Lets get into.
Lets compare United States to Scotland.
I have never heard of any great Scottish person ever.

Dustin, Garner, USA

I know how destructive pigs can be, they root up the ground, I've seen it. But that doesn't mean I think 11-year olds should run around waving guns.

I think his father was very irresponsible. The "safety" rifle would not have made any difference, since if the pig had attacked the boy, the momentum of the hog would have killed him, whether the dad had shot it or not.

starling, Lancaster,

I would have rather seen the pig alive. Eight shots in three hours to me is not somthing to brag about. What about "One shot, One kill".

Ed, muncie, In

I think Todd from Sarasota is being a bit harsh on the Europeans-wimps Todd, c`mon!!! I take the comment as tongue in cheek, but, consider our gun laws, for starters. You have no idea of your firearms liberties in the `Land of the Free`, compared to your global neighbours. That said, your weekly national body count is also significantly higher per capita, so I guess it is a question of proportion and balance, eh !!

A 11 year old boy having access to a .50 cal pistol is unreal in itself, let alone the lad having the strength, nerves to get up close and personal to a hog that size.

I personally, am working hard on getting my god children in to shooting of all disciplines, and look forward to getting them out hunting in the field asap. However, it is a question of opportunity vs our current laws. Believe me when I say that we are not all liberal `bunny-huggers`. The teeth we have in our skulls were not put there for chewing on soya curd. Keep the faith, Todd, some of us are trying.

Neil Gatward, Basingstoke, United Kindom

Todd Adams ... a man of contradictions.

starling, Lancaster,

Feral pigs are destructive and not even native to the U.S. people eat pork all the time. these people are going to make sausage out of the Hog. I don't see the problem. They should have made it a cleaner kill though.

Greg., DL, ND

Only in America....I'm proud we have such a diversity of great kids like this...not like the wimps they want to breed in Europe. Perhaps western civilization still has a chance? LOL

Oh and to our "civilized" European "friends", no I'm not a fundamentalist.


Happy Memorial Day to freedom loving peoples everywhere.

Todd Adams, Sarasota, Florida

Yea and if it wasn't for europe you wouldn't have had radars. Fairs fair no? America gave the world very little and tries to take everything. You don't wanna get into it, believe me.

Dale, arbroath,

I read this story while on the plane and had to laugh as just in front taking up 3 seats was a very fat USA pig, at least 400 lb. I wonder who will help the world by gunning this one down and stopping his destruction in the Urban environment?

No one is more destructive to the environment than us humans so do not use this as an excuse for killing this wild animal, the hunters are just thrill seekers and should be honest about it.

Joseph Kellie, Edinburgh, Scotland

Wild hogs are enormously destructive of the natural environment. By stopping such a tremendously disruptive animal, this boy did a very good deed for the indigenous plants and animals of the neighborhood.

Laura, Boston, USA

Not sure about the US, but pigs are an imported feral in Australia, and literally millions of them go unseen, competing with the native species for habitat and survival. Urban animal libbers would do well to learn more about the destruction pigs do in an introduced species context. Well done Kid...big boars are a challenging quarry, equipped to evade humans.

GJJ, Adelaide, Australia

Hahahahahah, Euro man had to borrow guns from the US in WWII and now they talk so smart about them...you'd think those ladies would have learned by now.

bob, bobtown, USA/New York

What a real MAN!......Is that what hunting is supposed to be? or is it just another form of of adrenaline junkie!....Why doesn't that father teach the boy to go out with a Bow and try and take that pig down.
Yes....what bravery, I am sure they will sing songs of them long after they are gone.

TJ, Danville, IL,

I think that its extremely sad that people cannot leave animals to go about their lives in peace.
Not only has this animal been needlessly killed but everybody else has been denied the chance to see such a magnificent animal alive.
It is very wrong to bring up children to think that shooting something big is a good achievement. However big the animal its hardly an acomplishment to kill something that is unarmed.
I would be far more impressed if the poor thing had been left alone.

Charles, Bath, UK

It seems a shame that the main reaction to seeing such a remarkable creature is to brutally kill it. I also find it disturbing that a boy as young as 11 is being encouraged to take part in such a savage sport and that the killing of this animal is referred to as an "accomplishment".

James Brown, Birmingham, United Kingdom

Wait 'til the anti-hunting groups get hold of this. There will be no more pig hunting allowed any where in the South.

Russ Johnson, Gresham, Oregon

Shot eight times and chased for three hours, what a terrific time all the dumb animals must have had.

Mark Sharman, Bournemouth, UK

GJ,

It wasn't as if the kid shot the animal just to kill it and then leave it. According to the story above, the hog is going to be made into sausages.
At least this hog had a chance to live in the wilderness for a few years, unlike the pigs who are raised on farms and overfed for the sole purpose of going to the slaughter house.

MM, San Diego, California

An 11-year old with a gun! How ... lovely?

starling, Lancaster,

As a keen hunter myself, I was disturbed to read that this creature was shot eight times over a three hour period. This kill goes against the most important rule of game shooting; namely that quarry should be dispatched as quickly and humanely as possible. Hunting is as much about respect for the animal from both a safety and suffering perspective. Perhaps the so-called "Guides" and the boys Father should have stepped in from the moment the boys first or second shot failed to have the desired effect!?

D Boucher, Okehampton, Devon

Let the Wild roam free!,
I suppose no one would have believed it if he had shot it with a camera,
Whats next Daniel - Big Foot!

I.S., Yorkshire, UK

Nice to see a 11 year old kid being able to handle such a powerful firearm properly after all the bad press about gun laws in the USA,and the usual European and UK anti gun commentaries.

Sean, Limerick, Ireland

What a pleasant story. That pig has roamed for years in the forest and some fat kid goes and blows his brains out. His Father must be so proud!

GJ, London, UK

This kid may not realize it, but he's probably already done the most famous thing he'll ever do in this life. He is to be commended for the accomplishment.

Jim Haeberle, Chubbuck, Idaho

There is nothing natural about killing an animal with a shotgun - If you must hunt then hunt on equal terms and then you can "brag" about the adrenalin rush.
Wild animals have a right to a life too.

Not so many years ago people were excited about killing Elephants,Tigers etc and look at the wildlife catastrophe that has left us with.

Lynn Willoughby, Teesside, UK

Killing it is one thing, but to use a pistol, taking three hours, is disgraceful! especially when the they are quoted as saying that they had "high powered rifles" available.

Frank H., London,

Sir,
I have just returned from a Hog hunt in Florida and I can tell you it is an adrenalin rush from beginning to end, All of our young men should experience hunting, it is a natural instinct being followed and should be maintained.

John Taylor, Liverpool,