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Small wild hog--need time and method guidance

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Beaumonty
Beaumonty Posts: 198
in EggHead Forum
I have a small wild hog that weighed 22 pounds before skinning and removing the lower legs and head.  It is basically about 10-12 pounds and will fit on my large. I'm trying to figure out if I need to do anything more than some Byron's and cook it like I would cook a butt, or some ribs: low and slow at 225-250.  It is lean looking, so I am having a hard time accounting for how long it will take.  I'm estimating six-seven hours since I can cook thick baby backs in that time and the thickest portions aren't that much thicker.  The "hams" are quite small.  I am even a tad nervous about it drying out since I skinned it and there is not a significant fat cap. 

 I have read that young pigs have a lot more collagen in their muscle and will stay quite moist, but those recipes were for whole suckling pig. In any event, cooking a "whole" wild hog seems both tricky and simple.  I am interested if anyone has some do's and don'ts or can help on time estimates.

Thanks in advance.
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  • yzzi
    yzzi Posts: 1,843
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    If I were you, I'd wrap it in bacon, but I've never done one. Going on a hunt this weekend so maybe I'll be in your shoes. Hoping for a good 80-120 pounder.
    Dunedin, FL
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  • Beaumonty
    Beaumonty Posts: 198
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    I was actually thinking of the bacon too.  I think I'll buy some thick cut to keep the thinner parts from drying out and...bacon.
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  • Whaler
    Whaler Posts: 110
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    Spatchcocked...Came out great.
    Pensacola,FL
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  • yzzi
    yzzi Posts: 1,843
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    Whaler said:
    Spatchcocked...Came out great.
    I was thinking about trying to spatchcock one this weekend. What temp would you recommend, and I'm guessing I'll be cooking to 160?
    Dunedin, FL
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  • alfredo
    alfredo Posts: 10
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    Beaumonty, How did that hog come out? I just shot a hog and processed the hams ( both about 2.25#s ). I was curious did you process your hog and get hams? If so how did you cook them? Rub? Wood? And time? I have heard that wild feral hogs are leaner and may cook faster than conventional pork. Do you have an understanding of this?
    From da Lakefront brah!
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  • yzzi
    yzzi Posts: 1,843
    edited November 2013
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    I am just cooked the shoulders and loin/tenderloin this past weekend of a 60# hog. Tried doing shoulders turbo butt style, and a no go on falling apart since it lacked all the fat. They turned out pretty good though and were hammy. The loin I grilled direct raised till 165 and was fantastic. The legs I didn't do, froze them to turn into sausage later. I'd suggest just cooking to temp and I used the jack daniels oak chips for the first time and loved it, especially the left overs the next day.
    Dunedin, FL
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