41 replies to this topic

[Cliffy]

Texas can lay claim to the largest infestation of Feral Hogs to date, yet those porkers are expanding their territories rapidly. Whether considered varmints-exotics-predators-vermin-game no one wants them in most environments, yet here they come. Eating acorns through deer fawn and everything else encountered, they are a blight heading our way. Omnivious in every respect, pigs are more dangerous and deadly than any other predator thus far encountered. Fortunately, they are delicious buttered and rotisserized. Unfortunately, they will attack and eat young children with relish. Eat or be eaten represents the world of the pig. Prepare for human dominance among the on-slaught of savage pigs by loading up your .243 Winchester with 100 grain Speer Grand Slam bullets, merely my favorite selection. Swift Scirocco II 90 grainers will subdue piggies well out there. Never shoot behind the shoulder on a pig, since the vitals are well-protected via a tough shoulder shield. Cliffy, with more to come regarding FERAL HOGS.

[knapper]

I have heard that they are into OK. and moving north.

[tjc1230]

Heck we had pigs pop up here in up state NY. The DEC asked all hunters to shoot all the pigs we see this past season. So far several pigs have been taken and no more have been seen I just hope the hunt was sucessfull in eradicating them. I have hunted many places where they are a nusance and saw how destructive they really are.

[Rem22-250]

Got plenty here in Tennessee. Have two categories according to state laws. Feral hogs can be hunted year round on private property......"Feral hogs" are classified as Wild boar on certain wma's and have a hunting season just like deer. All the same animal in my opinion!!! Destructive pests!

[FLTaxidermist]

We have so many hogs here in FL. You can hunt them year round. I heard somewhere that Florida has the second highest population of hogs after Texas. They are not easy to hunt though, in my experience. On my first hog hunt ever, I saw this huge old boar not 50 yards in front of our blind, and he was just standing there staring, but as soon as I put my eye to the scope, he was gone! I didn't get any hogs on that trip but I really saw firsthand the kind of damage they can do to the environment.

[joemac]

I've never heard of any here in MD but I think they have them across the river in VA, so it only seems like it's a matter of time.

[bar-d]

Some wildlife biologists estimate the feral hog population here in Texas somewhere around two million. I read an article recently that said if you had a population of 100 hogs on your place, you would have to kill approximately 70 to 75 yearly to maintain that population at 100. Unfortunately, I am unable to kill that many and as a result the population keeps growing. I kill as many as I can but I think it is a losing battle. They tear up my farmland, fences and pastures and pretty much ran off my deer population last season. They tore up, or down, 8 deer feeders in about a month. Lord help us. I have taken several hogs with my .270 WSM but have also taken some with my trusty old .222. Shot placement is critical with smaller caliber rifles. Try for the eye or ear if you are comfortable with your accuracy.

[Cliffy]

I feel for Texas farmers and ranchers; for I know Feral Hogs are a blight upon our land. Telling you that these piggies are invading the northern part of America, gives Texans small solace. I plan to "visit" Texas soon, rifle-in-hand, so to speak. I will gladly hunt any wild pigs for free, so long as I still have time to fish in Laguna Madre afterward. My custom .243 Winchester loads will tear through Tough Boars, yet we can share in the bounty of 60 to 100 pound baby back ribs. Cliffy

[TexAgBQ81]

have been there and done that in trying to control the population. agree shot placement is crucial with smaller calibers and have harvested a few with 222 but was not as satisfied with it as i was with the 223. i got in the habbit, if i had a 7mm08 or my 30.06, of trying to harvest more than one with one shot. succedded 7 times in one year on doubles and 1 tripple(with a 22 mag--all weighed 10 lbs after dressing). you have to wait for your shot, i looked for the ---body, body, head---(pass thru) shot. bear in mind i was in almost the same situation as bar-d, but in newton county, in east texas. i was not interested in harvesting all of them for the meat but just harvesting them for control. calibers bigger that 223 do, do a better job but, you use what you have at hand.---placement, placement, placement and know your gun's (and bullet's) limitations.

[Helmet_S]

We have feral hogs in southern Missouri. So far no sightings north of the Missouri River.

[clw499]

I go down to Oklahoma every year and hunt them, but so far never seen any in Southern KS.

[LilBill]

two years ago was the first time we took in any local pigs to mount.this past year we had them in our duck field ,here in mid -tn.it is just a hunch, but i believe local populations that are popping up everywhere ,may have something to do with outdoor shows on the t.v. .they were always in east tn ,as the settlers released them,but just until recently they show up here.why not the 150 year since they were eradicated.i know they can swim . i just dont see how they could cross the sip or the missouri.that water moves and it is wide.hell i couldnt swim across it.just seems fishy to me.

[Cliffy]

Aside from the southerly influx of hogs into Michigan, many local hogs have escaped from "hunting preserves" and "pig farms" where these beasties are purchased from down south and brought in on purpose. Wherever they originate from, they are not welcome in the wilds of Michigan. Michigan is a pig-farming state, so outside diseases are not welcome. Thus far a small game license is all Michigan requires to hunt these delicious porkers. Domestic pigs go feral as soon as they escape, and they are true survivors afield. Cliffy

[wilded]

The vitals are shielded may apply to big old grizzled boars but is nonsense on any feral hog under 200 pounds. A shot behind the shoulder with a .223 and up is more than sufficient to put them on the ground. An ear shot is great if you can place it there but be off a little and you will wound the animal. I have tracked many a jaw or throat shot pig for clients. I have shot literally hundreds of them with an AR-15 platform rifle working in protecting food plots and crops for some ranches and farms. The .223 does its part as long as I do mine. Be sure and get them dressed and on ice quickly if you plan to eat the meat. I also recommend that you wear latex or rubber gloves when dressing feral hogs as they can carry some diseases that humans can catch. I also recommend cooking to well done since it is wild pork. I have found one trick for skinning them is to use a retractable blade box cutter type knife and set the blade at the skin thickness. Make all you cuts just like you were going to skin a deer with the addition of one cut from the neck down the center of the back to the top of the tail. This allows you to peel of the hide in two strips and speeds up the process. On larger hogs you may even want to divide the skin into more strips as they can be difficult to peel. I leave the meat in a cooler for 3 days packed in ice and salt. As the ice melts I leave the drain on the cooler open so that the meat is never soaking in water. Add ice as needed and make sure the cooler is in a shaded place and tilted towards the drain end so the meat can drain properly. This process provides much taster and cleaner meat as all the blood is removed from the pork. JMHO

[wilded]

Cliffy said:

I feel for Texas farmers and ranchers; for I know Feral Hogs are a blight upon our land. Telling you that these piggies are invading the northern part of America, gives Texans small solace. I plan to "visit" Texas soon, rifle-in-hand, so to speak. I will gladly hunt any wild pigs for free, so long as I still have time to fish in Laguna Madre afterward. My custom .243 Winchester loads will tear through Tough Boars, yet we can share in the bounty of 60 to 100 pound baby back ribs. Cliffy

Cliffy you might like to read my blog article about the feral hog problem in Texas and landowners that say they have a problem.
Wild Ed's Texas Outdoors: Is Texas Feral Hog Problem Real?

[bar-d]

Ed, I read your blog entry and agree with not using state funds for hog eradication and most of the rest of it. However, speaking as a rancher/farmer I would like to say that not everyone charges outrageous fees for hunting hogs. When we have deer hunters out, by invitation and not charged, and very few at that because we don't have a huge deer population, we tell them if you see a hog shoot it. Shoot all you see, coyotes too. Me and a neighbor of mine have discussed opening up for hog hunts for $50 a day. However, the hogs around here are so transient, we would not be able to say with any confidence where they might find success. Therefore we did not want to advertise hog hunts and have guys come out and feel cheated because they did not see any hogs. Whether a guy pays $50 or $250, I feel he deserves a reasonable chance at success. We also don't want to just tell anybody to come on out and help get rid of these things because unfortunately, a lot of people have no respect for other people's property. I have cattle, horses, donkeys, etc in my pastures and some guys flat don't know the difference between cow eyes and hog eyes. If I know and trust a guy, I have no problem with letting them hunt on my land but I have worked too long and too hard for what I have to turn any Tom, [Excuse my language.... I have a limited vocabulary] or Harry loose on my property. All this being said, I am a pretty good judge of people and any time you want to come to my ranch and go hog hunting, come on.

[wilded]

Danny I would love to come some time and bring the AR-15s for you to try out. I understand about who you let on your place or not. I guided for years and my family has been in the ranching and farming business all my life. I could keep you up all night telling stories about some of the people I had to take hunting as clients.

[bar-d]

Ed, me and you seem to be on the same page about most things. A lot of people don't understand but you obviously do. Thanks padnah.

[autumnrider]

mississippi has a ton of the problem also. we spotted 9 in a corn field behind a friends house. got 5 before they got some yunder. they eat good. i also took one on the devide section wma in tishomingo co. about 5 yrs ago. dont hunt them but if the oppertunity accures, i will take as many as possible.

[Cliffy]

I'm not as cheap as I sound, and paying to hunt hogs helps ranchers during drought-striken times. I, for one, do realize the irritation incurred by shooting a domestic animal, and the cost encountered. Unfortunately, some "hunters" are uncaring slobs and so ruin hunting for many of us serious hunters. When I am turned down by a rancher, I believe he or she has been previously visited by a careless hunter. How can I prove that I care, when some few don't? I believe that most hunters are ethical and honest, yet I'd be leary as a hard-working rancher trying to make ends meet. Cliffy