Well, it’s not news that hogs are invading the U.S. I’ve been writing about it for quite some time now, and I’m hardly the first to bring it up. They’re here, and they’re spreading out fast. Anyway, what is newsworthy is that many states are encouraging hunters to step in and help with the reduction by killing wild hogs on sight.
I wrote a while back about Michigan’s efforts to get hunters to help out with hog eradication. Well, my friend John Martin over at the Western Wanderer blog dropped me a heads-up about a press release from Ohio’s Department of Natural Resources, asking deer hunters in the Buckeye State to try to take wild hogs if they find them. There are no seasons or limits, as the State will be treating them as “pest animals”. One important note if you’re planning to chase Ohio hogs during the upcoming deer season is that you can only use a weapon that is legal during that specific deer season (archery, muzzleloader, shotgun, or rifle). You can read the press release in its entirety over on the Buckmaster’s website. It’s also making wide rounds across the outdoors press.
New Hampshire is another state that I wouldn’t normally associate with hogs. This article in the Union Ledger proves me wrong, though. The animals have apparently established a foothold there, and are expanding their range. I couldn’t find any information about the regulations around hunting these hogs, though…or if it’s even permitted.
It’s definitely not news that Florida has a burgeoning hog problem. The Sunshine State appears to be stepping up efforts to give hunters an opportunity to help thin the herd a bit, though. The article here is only one example of many hog control projects going on down there.
Finally, here’s one that really IS newsworthy.
Doing my normal Google search on hogs and hog hunting, I found this article from the Paly, the student newspaper for Palo Alto High School. First, I was pretty blown away that a student paper in the San Francisco Bay Area (Palo Alto is south of SF and just above San Jose) would even publish an article about hog hunting. I was even more surprised and pleasantly shocked when I read the well-written piece and never found any negative bias. I mean, sure, the writer doesn’t know anything about hunting or firearms, but that’s acceptable as long as there’s no editorial prejudice based on misinformation or ignorance. I applaud the Paly and the author of the piece.
That article in the student newspaper was very cool. It’s good to see that young people can get a postive view of hunting.