Pig on the loose

[GunnyGene]

Spotted a porker running loose about 1/2 mile from my place around 0830 today on my way to get a paper. Looked like a domestic that got out, about 100lbs or more from the looks of it. The problem with that is it might turn feral or join up with a existing sounder if it isn't retrieved. Already feral hogs along the river/streams nearby, and I don't want to see them on my property. If they show up here I'll have to start carrying something bigger than a 9mm around my place. Wild hogs can get very aggressive. Shotgun or my .41mag NMBH would be called for.

[Sir Henry]

We use to clip an ear so you could tell they were not feral if they got out.

[JEBar]

hog populations have gotten out of hand in many parts of the country ... I'd sure like to have the opportunity to help thin one of the herds

[cooperhawk]

hog populations have gotten out of hand in many parts of the country ... I'd sure like to have the opportunity to help thin one of the herds

Oh, but for a small price you can. The Ranchers and Farmers have found a new revenue stream and it ain't cheap.

[JEBar]

The Ranchers and Farmers have found a new revenue stream and it ain't cheap.

I've never checked into it but am sure the "it ain't cheap" would kick in and go over the top rather quickly ..

[cooperhawk]

I haven't done it but I have friends that have. It's like a safari and costs quite a bit.

[cooperhawk]

When I lived in Virginia the groundhogs were so thick that farmers would actually pay
for our ammo to clean them out. Those were happy days for my best friend and I.
We literally shot thousands of them over a period of ten years or more.
Maybe the hogs will become that big a nuisance as well.

[Sir Henry]

I’ve shot groundhogs in Montana and most farmers will give you permission for free.

[BigAl52]

BACON. Ya all these farmers and ranchers bitch about the hogs. If there that bad why is the price so high to go shoot them. Id love to go to but Im not paying what they want to do them a favor. Ill just shoot steel. Its not that expensive.

[GunnyGene]

BACON. Ya all these farmers and ranchers bitch about the hogs. If there that bad why is the price so high to go shoot them. Id love to go to but Im not paying what they want to do them a favor. Ill just shoot steel. Its not that expensive.

Different States have different rules about hogs. In MS they're a nuisance critter, and the objective is to eradicate the things - pig genocide is encouraged. This is best accomplished with properly set up traps by people who know what they're doing, not casual hunters out for bacon and a little fun hunting. You set up a trap to catch an entire sounder - 10 or 20 at a time - and kill them in the trap. It ain't hunting, it's just plain killin'. You'll never control them with just hunting. They breed way too fast for that. A single sow can produce up to 20 piglets per year, and the females will be ready to mate within 6 to 12 months after birth.

In my case, I just don't want to deal with them because of the danger some big tusker poses to me or my wife, or the things tearing up my veggie garden.

[GunnyGene]

BACON. Ya all these farmers and ranchers bitch about the hogs. If there that bad why is the price so high to go shoot them. Id love to go to but Im not paying what they want to do them a favor. Ill just shoot steel. Its not that expensive.

Different States have different rules about hogs. In MS they're a nuisance critter, and the objective is to eradicate the things - pig genocide is encouraged. No weapon restrictions - if you've got a full auto you can use that. However, this is best accomplished with properly set up traps by people who know what they're doing, not casual hunters out for bacon and a little fun hunting. You set up a trap to catch an entire sounder - 10 or 20 at a time - and kill them in the trap. It ain't hunting, it's just plain killin'. You'll never control them with just hunting. They breed way too fast for that. A single sow can produce up to 20 piglets per year, and the females will be ready to mate within 6 to 12 months after birth.

In my case, I just don't want to deal with them because of the danger some big tusker poses to me or my wife, or the things tearing up my veggie garden.

[BigAl52]

My comment wasnt pointed at you Gene. If you took it that way Im sorry.

[GunnyGene]

My comment wasnt pointed at you Gene. If you took it that way Im sorry.

I know. And I didn't take it that way. We're good. I meant it as a general observation and explanation of how hogs are handled here (and in a couple other primarily Southern States). Folks up north that don't have a serious infestation look at it very differently, and many treat them as any other seasonal game animal that requires a hunting license, etc. Some folks on other sites get very upset with what has to be done to control them - they just don't understand it, or the problems large wild populations can cause. I've know a couple people here who have hit medium size hogs with their car. A 250lb hog will just about demolish everything in front of the firewall, and they are much harder to see at night than deer. There's somewhere in neighborhood of 6 million of them in at least 39 States, but the vast majority are along the Southern tier - TX has about 2 million of them, around 450,000 in MS last I heard.

Here's account of one from 2013 in MS - this one weighed about 700lbs and was about 4' tall at the shoulder. These things are monsters, not y'er friendly little house pet. Pictures included below.

https://www.farmprogress.com/blog/giant ... pi-farmers

[BrokenolMarine]

A lot of farmers, from what I had read, would rather pay the pros to eradicate the piggies, than charge the amateurs. I've watched video of these guys. Night vision, suppressed rifles, thermal sights as well. They drop fifty to a hundred piggies and coyotes in a night, and start with the sows and boars. The meat is collected and donated. They rarely miss, and the set up lets them see the cattle, horses, and the like clearly. They can also shoot into groups with the suppressed weapons, and take down numerous porkers. The group might run, but they don't always go far.

[GunnyGene]

A lot of farmers, from what I had read, would rather pay the pros to eradicate the piggies, than charge the amateurs. I've watched video of these guys. Night vision, suppressed rifles, thermal sights as well. They drop fifty to a hundred piggies and coyotes in a night, and start with the sows and boars. The meat is collected and donated. They rarely miss, and the set up lets them see the cattle, horses, and the like clearly. They can also shoot into groups with the suppressed weapons, and take down numerous porkers. The group might run, but they don't always go far.

OK isn't far behind TX in hog population. One of my neighbors has a couple thousand acres in OK, and goes out every year hog shooting. .308 with the set up you mentioned.

Here's the OK info & rules:

https://www.wildlifedepartment.com/hunt ... hogs/learn

[GunnyGene]

Here's a series of videos about feral swine by the USDA. The first one is of MS:

Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG2OOlkriW8&t=7s

[BrokenolMarine]

There are follow on videos too. Chapter 2 is OK, Chapter 3 is TX.
You see the whiny babies crying in the comments on youtube about the hogs being shot when pro hunters post the night shoot vids. "They can't eat that much!".

Actually, they can, and then add the cost to repair the damage their rooting does. They can devastate a farmer's field. Plus, they are dangerous.

[fortyshooter]

Wow that was one huge beast of a hog! .45-70 lead as a starting point or just move right to the mini gun!

[GunnyGene]

Wow that was one huge beast of a hog! .45-70 lead as a starting point or just move right to the mini gun!

RPG would be my choice. They grow 'em pretty big in the delta. And they're armed and armored. Also fast, smart, and mean as hell.

[GunnyGene]

There are follow on videos too. Chapter 2 is OK, Chapter 3 is TX.
You see the whiny babies crying in the comments on youtube about the hogs being shot when pro hunters post the night shoot vids. "They can't eat that much!".

Actually, they can, and then add the cost to repair the damage their rooting does. They can devastate a farmer's field. Plus, they are dangerous.

Like the man in TX said: "We ain't gonna BBQ our way out of this". Those commenters on YT are examples of people who just refuse to understand this is a war, and the hogs are winning.

USDA just started making these this past summer. From what I understand they will be doing more on a State by State basis.

Here's their Feral Swine website, includes distribution maps (interactive on the site) and other info. Keep in mind that it takes USDA at least a year to acquire the info, but the hogs don't stop breeding or spreading. The 2019 map below is from data collected in 2018 .

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfoc ... eral-swine