Deer season pig

[Turpentine21]

They are difficult to pattern. They may show three or four days in a row at a given time, then not show at all.

I tried to post a pic but it wouldn't go. The good thing or bad thing is that these hogs are less than a mile from the house. If the camera goes off I get up and go. But they are as wary as any group I've ever hunted.

 

[FirstBubba]

Just a couple from the group of about 20 im after now. 1st appearance in a week. Notice the timestamp. That's the only thing consistent about them.

They are difficult to pattern. They may show three or four days in a row at a given time, then not show at all.

I don't have a "long" history with feral hogs. I hunted and trapped feral hogs from 2005 until about 2015.

About the only "consistent" things I've noticed about feral hogs is that they are "IN-consistent"!
See a sounder out in daylight and shoot them up, they go nocturnal. Pressure them further and the whole group will move out!
...but nature hates a vacuum. Be patient, another sounder will move in! SOON!

Another feral hog consistency! They can destroy way more in one night than any normal person can conceive!

 

[alancthomas]

I am waiting for the day I can put crosshairs on a pig. We don't have any in Nevada (that I know of) and anywhere I look to go shoot them they want an arm and a leg to hunt them.
That pig you shot looks very edible. Good on you for putting delicious meat in the freezer!!!!

There are tons of russian boar in King city California and you can harvest 5 a day

 

[Turpentine21]

I don't have a "long" history with feral hogs. I hunted and trapped feral hogs from 2005 until about 2015.

About the only "consistent" things I've noticed about feral hogs is that they are "IN-consistent"!
See a sounder out in daylight and shoot them up, they go nocturnal. Pressure them further and the whole group will move out!
...but nature hates a vacuum. Be patient, another sounder will move in! SOON!

Another feral hog consistency! They can destroy way more in one night than any normal person can conceive!

Yes they can. I've never seen a hog with a worn out snout. They root constantly.
I have quite a history with hogs that goes back about 25 years.. I hunted them with my recurve or my longbow relentlessly. The hogs I was hunting then had not been pressured as much. A hog that's been around awhile will give any wary whitetail a run for its money in street smarts. These are truly like ghosts.

 

[Jack Beauregard]

Nice shot buddy, keep it up!

When the deer aren't feeding, a pig'll do!

 

[FirstBubba]

When the deer aren't feeding, a pig'll do!

My "problem" with feral hogs is that they carry so many diseases.
Brucellosis, pseudo rabies and a myriad of others I can't remember, but it's a pretty long list.
Brucellosis in this area is referred to as "Bangs disease". Bangs disease causes a pregnant cow to abort her fetus. USDA rules (in Oklahoma and Texas) that all cattle auctions do Bangs test on all cattle. If you have cattle with Bangs in Oklahoma, your entire herd is quarantined. Until your herd tests clean for Bangs, you can't (?*) sell them at auction. A "Banger" ain't worth much.

Feral hogs, or hogs in general, can store toxins from their omnivore diet in their muscle tissue. Anything over about 25 pounds on the hoof, I won't touch other than to drag to the bone yard.

I've slaughtered hogs that I caught in traps from about 250 pounds down to one that field dressed 5 pounds!
So it isn't realistic for me to say, "....feral hogs are bad to eat...".
Over the years, it's just an opinion I've formed by dealing with the nasty devils!
Eat 'em if ya want!
I choose not to!
....and I will say this!
If the situation arises that I either eat feral pork or starve, I WILL eat it!

* - no doubt, unscrupulous cattle raisers will sell whatever they have to whoever they can!
....regardless of Bangs testing!
P.S. - they're worse than used car dealers!

 

[FirstBubba]

Here's an article on brucellosis in meat animals.
It says that proper cooking techniques can make brucellosis tested animals safe to eat.
But also note, that further down in the article, it says brucellosis positive animals CAN pose a danger to slaughter house workers and consumers!
Just be cautious!

Contamination of Bovine, Sheep and Goat Meat with Brucella Spp - PMC

A study was conducted in order to evaluate the contamination by Brucella spp. of meat from animals slaughtered because they had resulted positive for brucellosis at some time during their life. After slaughter and before delivery to market outlets, ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[long450]

I was back at the deer lease this weekend and shot three more pigs. One 140 lb sow with a 308 and 175 SMK bullet at 100 yards, second was a 90 lb bore with the 308, and third was a 150 lb bore with thermal 6AR turbo 40 degree with Hammer Hunter bullet at 234 yards. No pictures because they all ran into the thick stickery brush. I waited for the buzzards to show me where they were.

Have a great Thanksgiving!