Deer Stalking… reliable word of mouth recommendation from someone you know has undertaken such stalking being offered by a specific syndicate is best. Like other walks of life, stalking has its scammers. E.G., make sure there is deer, of the species sought, on the land being made available; that appropriate insurance is in place; that there is recourse for recompense if it all goes wrong. In addition, obtain and understand terms and conditions; consider the implications of allowing a syndicate leader to be a FAC mentor; make sure ‘coaches’ are suitably qualified; consider the quality of deer management, the construction & execution of a shooting plan and safety; determine if the land is over-shot.
"This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!"
Adolph Hitler – 1933
As far as shotguns....I would go with either a double barrel coach gun (if legal) or an auto loading shotgun with a slug barrel (smoothbore or rifled) and good sights, in either 12 or 20 gauge (20 gauge would give you fast recovery time, but the 12 gives a lot of punch and a heavier slug)
My best advice is with anything you use aim for the head.
If you hit the hog right it'll drop like a bag of bricks on the first shot.
I use a Schmidt Rubin K31. Easy to reload, 30 cal cast bullets and I don't whince and worry about it when dragging it through scrub and crap.
My mate alternates between a marlin lever action in 45-70 (hard to source I believe) it has a muzzle break and a anti-recoil button pad and is intended for boar, as sold in the US. His other is an old Baikal single barrel shotgun with which he uses solid slug.
side by side rifle, two quick shots and its wild boar sausages for breakfast...
.......Calibre europeans like something like a 9.3 x 74r soft recoil and good on boar, bigger deer and i have some friends in Africa that use it on plains game.
...Being a Brit personally not to sure to can beat tradition with a heavy hitting .375hh (if your shoulder can take it)
It's all a matter of where you hit 'em and how hard. By preference I'd use a controlled expansion bullet such as Nosler Partition, RWS TiG/TuG etc. The other major influence is whether or not the adrenaline is up, a calm piggy is much easier to stop than one with the steam up.
I'd have thought that .444 Marlin/.45-70 would be ideal with good bullets at close range, just as other old-timers such as 10.3x60R are quite popular.
I've also seem 7mm RemMag and .300 WinMag used to good effect with heavy bullets. All that said the venerable 8x57mmJS still has a huge following.
7x64 and the longest runner I've had is about 20 -30 yds ,most don't get very far ! But as said above is about point of aim . I've seen some of the continental driven shooters and Anywhere on the body or legs is all that counts ! Not my kind of shooters I'm afraid ! But must say is not all , some very good shooter as well
Precision under 50 feet .22 long rifle, behind the ear. Beyond that whatever your carrying that day, if you have the cojoni's to stand your ground. Adult (100-200+ lb.s) frontal shots should be with enough gun and bullet to knock it off its feet 30/06-180gr. minimal. I have a buddy that swears by the 45/70 for any size any shot. Personal best 29 hogs one morning with a .22 mag/45gr.solids at farthest 60 yards, behind the ear, all dropped where they stood and yes all meat went to charity.