Hogs TV show

[Freds]

I happened to catch several episodes of a show about wild hogs last night. Wild On Hogs or something like that, on Discovery. It was a reality show, featuring three outfits in different states, TX, FLA and HI, traveling to people's ranches and homes to capture the feral hogs that were terrorizing them. Just in a couple instances were the hogs dispatched right then and there, but I'm pretty sure they were all eventually being taken to be processed for families in need. Pretty entertaining show if you aren't a member of PETA, lol.

Anyway, the thing that kept bugging me is why don't they just shoot all the hogs then and there? It seemed painstakingly slow, capturing one or a few hogs at a time, often standing inside penned traps, or hog tying them while the dogs helped hold them down, so they could eventually be carried to the back of a PU truck. I think one show might have had the guy shoot one with a bow, and one show had a couple hogs getting knifed, which I know is a method of sport hunting, but for an actual business of eliminating hogs from people's properties, don't they have the means to use more drastic measures? Are they supposed to abide by state hunting laws? This is where you folks come in Or was this all done for the sake of entertainment?
Hogs have been sighted nearby and I'd like to know what protocol is. Why can't there huge numbers be eliminated like what happened with the wolf, since hogs really serve no purpose (unlike the wolf)?

 

[Bird]

I don't know about all states, but I do know that Texas and many other states consider feral hogs as nuisance animals; not game animals. So there are no restrictions on how, when, or where they can be captured and/or killed. There are many people who hunt them for sport, but they are also good eating, so many folks set the traps, sometimes keep them penned and fed for some time before taking them to a slaughter house. Others may shoot them and leave them where they fell for the coyotes and vultures to clean up. Several years ago, the Corps of Engineers hired a company with a small helicopter to fly around over Navarro Mills Lake property and shoot feral hogs from the air with a 12 gauge shotgun. Those hogs were to be left where they fell. If I remember right, I think they shot about 125 in 3 days and most folks in the area said that was like a drop in a bucket.

 

[Western]

Hogs Gone Wild is the name. Good show and interesting.

I have seen the Texas Wildlife officers doing the air hunting in South Texas, no shortage of targets.

I think there are a couple of reasons why they just don't shoot them on the show. The first would be they are kept alive to be delivered to a slaughter house then donated for food. Second, at least the one in Florida, It appeared that they where in a housing or subdivision so firearms are likely unlawful.

I think the problem will get worse, at least here in Texas, because many landowners charge up to $500+ for a weekend of hunting for hogs and we really don't have much in the way of public lands here.

 

[smstonypoint]

There are many people who hunt them for sport, but they are also good eating, so many folks set the traps, sometimes keep them penned and fed for some time before taking them to a slaughter house.

Just curious. Have any of you folks eaten wild hog that was not pen fed? If so, how does it compare to store-bought pork?


Steve

 

[dmccarty]

Just curious. Have any of you folks eaten wild hog that was not pen fed? If so, how does it compare to store-bought pork?


Steve

In FLA, hogs are considered live stock and can be taken at any time by the landowner. I think this is true in NC.

The wild pig I have had has been pretty good. A tad bit gamey sometimes but I think that was from poor processing. Finding pig hair on your meat is a clue.

Still tasted good, the meat that is. :laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[Western]

Just curious. Have any of you folks eaten wild hog that was not pen fed? If so, how does it compare to store-bought pork?


Steve

I can't speak personally, but A friend and I shot 3 hogs in the 50# range, he fillet the back strap and had a cook out with his work buddies. The consensus was it was tough and gam'e. My elk burger though was superb

I have a few other friends that love wild hog. The little farts under 25# supposed to be the best, but agian I have no personal experience.

 

[Freds]

Yeah! Hogs Gone Wild... that's it, lol. Wild on hogs... sheesh. Stinks getting old...

I figured they were nuisance animals and there wouldn't be any restrictions, so maybe you're right Western, that they will stay "fresh" longer keeping them alive. It just seemed for the risk involved and the 'drop in a bucket' of harvesting just one at a time, depending on how many were trapped, there had to be a better way. So why not use it?

Good show nonetheless. I had no idea that feral hogs were ultimately blamed for that E Coli thing with the spinach a while back.

 

[Bird]

Just curious. Have any of you folks eaten wild hog that was not pen fed? If so, how does it compare to store-bought pork?


Steve

I have not, but one member of Tractorbynet, EddieWalker, has posted pictures in the past of ones he shot on his land near Tyler, TX, and has eaten them. At one time, one of the most expensive restaurants in Dallas had feral pork on the menu, according the news media, but it may have been some that were penned and fed awhile before slaughtering.

 

[jonyyuma]

The smaller ones {piggies} at about 25 lbs are just fine... I have eaten bigger black hogs from ARK.By no means do you need to waste the meat...Of course I eat venison and it really varies from each animal too....Elk or Deer..

 

[RTII]

Just curious. Have any of you folks eaten wild hog that was not pen fed? If so, how does it compare to store-bought pork?


Steve

I've eaten it several times and in fact hope to harvest a few (and help eradicate many more) later this month. Very good eating IMO. Leaner than pen raised but just as tasty. We tend to eat the smaller ones, say less than 130 - 150 lns. Also there are ones that just have a rank smell to start with and we just leave 'em.

A note on helicopter hunting. I've heard that some farmers/ranchers here in Texas will get together and hire helicopter hunters to try and thin them out as much as possible, Typicaly take more than 100+ / day. The pigs do tremendous damage to land, crops, and newborn livestock. I've seen an area where they had rooted up over an acre of land in a night. One day nice pasture land, the next an area of just torn up ground.

 

[The Dougster]

I have not seen the program but am quite familiar with feral hogs. Anything less than 1590lbs is great to eat... as someone said, they are leaner. The fellow that leases our property to graze cattle is a government hunter and frequently uses a helocopter. He tells me that is it not uncommon to kill 60-80 hogs a day... I'm guessing many of the younger ones are taken alive so that they can be fed until they get bigger and then slaughtered for food. My son was given one and he tells me it was a major pain. Darn thing remained wild and mean. He was happy to finally butcher it.
For some reason, here in Lampasas County, Tx, I am surrounded by feral hogs but have never seen one on our property.... kind of a blessing but I do l;ove to hunt them.

 

[jayste]

Just curious. Have any of you folks eaten wild hog that was not pen fed? If so, how does it compare to store-bought pork?


Steve

I have as well. All of mine I've smoked. Leaner and have never had one with any kind of "gamey" taste. I just try, like all my meats, get it good and done (cooked well). Feral hogs are for sure a detriment to property and crops if left alone. They breed like rabbits, take over habitat and ruin farm land. My guess is that they have to be careful with the show due to the animal rights groups and smooth it over with the "feeding the poor" idea. There are plenty of videos out there showing how they are usually controlled with a gun, helicoptor and trap.

 

[jeffreythree]

I saw some of those shows also. One of the trappers in Hawaii said they could have up to 36 little ones a year. I have eaten them and try to get a small one each year to make my 60/40 venison pork sausage. I mostly end up smoking the meat :licking:. Mine come from a oak-hickory forest and they have never tasted gamey.

 

[20 20]

I don't know about all states, but I do know that Texas and many other states consider feral hogs as nuisance animals; not game animals. .

NY passed a law that said if ya see one shoot, I know I will, have NO use for the ____things.







I caught some of the "hogs Gone Wild" show, 5min was more then enough for me. Turned and looked at my wife and said, " I can't do stupid this evening!" IMO these reality dopes need to get a real life, to many shows like this on.

 

[20 20]

I have not seen the program but am quite familiar with feral hogs. Anything less than 1590lbs is great to eat.

I have to say that is ONE BIG HOG
I know you ment 15 to 90lbs but it still is funny

 

[RTII]

I have not seen the program but am quite familiar with feral hogs. Anything less than 1590lbs is great to eat... .

I have to say that is ONE BIG HOG
I know you ment 15 to 90lbs but it still is funny

I took him as being a bit sarcastic meaning he likes 'em no matter how much they weigh? I like 'em smaller simply becasue they are easier to handle/clean.

 

[AGGIE00]

Saw the show too and could only stand a little of it. They act like they have made a huge impact in the problem by catching one hog. Last fall we had over 100 hogs come through our 20 acres every night. I shot them with a 9mm first, but one night I was chasing after about 30 of them in my truck to shoot them and decided to instead use the truck. I got six in one pass and then ran down another sow headed to the creek. This had absolutely no impact on the population. Plus, one of the hogs they caught was on a large ranch about thirty miles from me and I can't understand why a rancher would pay a group to catch one hog when he can use his rifle to eliminate many. Just another silly show about how it is not done.

 

[charlz]

Somebody 'imported' feral hogs to this part of Idaho so we have some now. Fish and Game was all over it and are pretty sure they got most of them but are afraid at the rate they breed they will rapidly spread. Landowners can take them anytime, hunters need to have the basic hunting license but no tag.

 

[Freds]

NY passed a law that said if ya see one shoot, I know I will, have NO use for the ____things.







I caught some of the "hogs Gone Wild" show, 5min was more then enough for me. Turned and looked at my wife and said, " I can't do stupid this evening!" IMO these reality dopes need to get a real life, to many shows like this on.

That's good to hear. I know some hunters in PA spotted some not too far from me a couple years ago and the next thing I heard, within days, was the state game commission did NOT want you shooting them on sight until they studied the situation I've been meaning to find out what was decided on. That's really the last I heard of it.

 

[jayste]

Understand that what I'm going to say is coming from a guy who usually doesn't shoot more than what he and his family can eat....meaning It's my opinion. I'm an ethical hunter and practice it unless problems arise like feral hogs. Drastic situations calls for drastic measures and that's how you have to attack the feral hog problem. Like others have said killing one hog at a time will not even come close to eliminating the hog population. It sounds cruel but a good place to start is taking out the "wet" sows or the ones that are carrying or supporting the young ones. Boars next and then the rest. They breed like rabbits so you have to do something to disrupt that cycle. JMHO.