Did anyone see this show on the discovery channel? Apparently, there are so many wild pigs roaming thru our country. Some are hundreds of pounds and they are supposed to be very dangerous and destructive. People and pets have been attacked. Crops have been destroyed. I don't know anything about these animals, but they looked pretty scary. Some had huge tusks. There were attacks caught on video. Is anyone familiar with this problem? I'm not much of an outdoors man. And as far as I know, there are no wild pigs near me. But if this story is true, these animals are posing a big threat.

 

the Topoc marshes on the Colorado River in Mohave Valley has feral pigs in it, I never went hunting them but a friend used to hunt ducks in there. they would load the first shell a 3 1/2" magnum slug than 2 duck loads in their shot guns just in case! they killed one that stretched out to 7 or 8 feet long.
when I called Game and Fish about hunting them they wouldn't say yes or no if it was legal to hunt them, they are "wild" but they are domestic pigs that have turned wild so they are under their jurisdiction but they are "not" under their jurisdiction!

 

As far as I can find out, hunting wild pig is legal all year long. They are a menis for those exact reasons. At one time ranchers paid people to hunt them, but I understand that has been stopped.
I used to hunt wild bore years ago, so when the opportunity to go down in to Arkasas and hunt wild pig came up, I jumped at the chance. I managed to kill one that was just under 250lbs. I used my Colt 45 with a 8-3/8" barrel. i had my 30-30 with me, but hogs will turn and charge you, so it is best to have a big pistol with you for those times, and luckly I had mine too,
The story goes, there was a hog farm down there, and the owner died the farm went into ruins and the hogs escaped into the woods and after many years of wild breeding they became feriland over populated.

 

I got mine in California ... Way back in the day ... He took 4 rounds of .308 to the brain pan ... My partners .458 winchester magnum did it in tho ... Dang near lost my hearing from that too ...

 

yes I watched it also and here in Livermore,ca we have pigs all around. I`m down at the only local meat market helping out my butcher buddy (retired school teacher) and pigs are always brought in. Most are smaller, about 125lbs or so but are a popular target here for hunters. I wont eat them myself because I dont care for the taste. I buy pigs every year from FFA at the fair.

 

We have thousands of them roaming around these parts. They're clever...moreso than deer. They use their noses for scenting danger and can detect you long before you even realize they're close-by.

I have trapped and shot several, some well over 400 LBS, but most in the 150 to 200 LB range. They are not the aggressive-type animals make them out to be - ie - they won't charge you just because you crossed their path. A sow with piglets might run at you, but like any other wild animal, that's to be expected.

Firearms used can be anything from a .22 to a .50 cal, but shot placement is key. Their vital organs are lower than large game animals and, at adulthood, grow a thick mass of tissue called a "breastplate" that deter a 30.30 catridge if not well placed. It has been said that the breastplate is cartlidge, but it's not - it's a large scar from fighting and it gets thicker and tougher with age. I have used a .357 Mag handgun in close quarters up to a .300 WinMag for long shots.

A sow can have litters from 8 to 10 with a gestation period of 115 days - so one sow, in optimum conditions, can give birth to 20 piglets per year. After 8 months, those piglets can begin their own "pig bomb". The standard male:female birth ratio is 1:1.

Even though wild hogs love plant matter, they will and often do, eat meat...even their own young. Some have been seen attacking fawn and calves. In times of drought, when food is scarce, I personally wouldn't take a nap in an area known for populations of hogs. Even though human scent puts them in automatic flight mode, there are exceptions to that rule...and I don't want to be a statistic applied.

I have built several types of hog traps over the years and have found that the "Root Door" type (door hinged at top) is the best trap. There are several websites that display and sell that sort of trap.

Here are some pics.

Shot with my AK (young tender meat):
<a href="http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a112/bigorn/?action=view&current=pig05-31-09.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a112/bigorn/pig05-31-09.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Here's one in a trap:
<a href="http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a112/bigorn/?action=view&current=hogstrap2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a112/bigorn/hogstrap2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Here's a couple we shot while filling our deer feeders:
<a href="http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a112/bigorn/?action=view&current=hogntruck1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a112/bigorn/hogntruck1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

In times of drought, when food is scarce, I personally wouldn't take a nap in an area known for populations of hogs. Even though human scent puts them in automatic flight mode, there are exceptions to that rule...and I don't want to be a statistic applied.

That is one scary thought,imagine awaking to a few pigs munching away on you
Thanks Big Orn for the visual

 

Just remember there's a difference between these wild/feral pigs and Razorbacks.

 

aren't the razorbacks tossing footballs?? lol

 

Oh yeah!!! But there was wild hogs that are known as Razorbacks...they were never domesticated then "set free" like these feral pigs are/were. Also razorbacks have a pronounced hump on their backs just behind front shoulder.

 

Do you eat a razorback?

 

I thought this was a thread about dropping pigs on terrorists. Now I'm gonna have nightmares about pigs eating me.

 

You can, though I've heard it's real gamey.Now that's funny

 

> I thought this was a thread about dropping pigs on terrorists

I thought we developed a new weapon too.

 

I thought we developed a new weapon too.

^^^maybe we should drop em in for a visit!!