https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feral_pig#North_America
As of 2013, the estimated population of six million feral pigs causes billions of dollars in property damage every year in the United States, both in wild and agricultural lands.
Texas has the largest estimated population of 2.6 million feral pigs existing in 253 of its 254 counties.
Harvesting 66% of the total population per year is required to keep the Texas feral pig populations stable.
The reality of this is that the % is really much higher. I’ve been out nights where we’ve killed 20 hogs with 4 guys in the back of a truck mowing them down with AR’s. That’s not even nearly enough. I’ve killed one that came in at over 400 pounds and I know people who have killed much larger than that. They cause millions if not aproaching billions in property damage and destroy native habitat.
doesnt refute the question over whether or not you need semi auto guns, just the fact that people need guns. rally's point about how difficult rabbits can be is a much better argument
I get what you’re saying, but you really don’t understand the hog issue. They’re low to the ground(harder to hit) like underbrush, extremely tough, spook easy, and often times extremely aggressive. You’re also often hunting at night. Depending on where you hit them you’ll take 2 shots to knock big ones down even with .308 or 6.7 Black cat if you don’t hit them in the right place. I’ve shot hogs with bolt action during the day, but take this into consideration: people literally hire people in helicopters to try and wipe them out and its only marginally effective.
Tl;Dr: the animal being hunted has large numbers, is hard to bring down and dangerous. You don’t want to have a bolt action if a pig is charging at you