I haven’t done an edition of the Porcine Press in a while, and today just seems like a good time to get back into the flow. So here goes…
First of all, we’ll head over to Arkansas where the Log Cabin Democrat has an article about the hogs’ spread through the state that’s nicknamed for wild boar (the Razorbacks). Apparently the feral hogs have spread across the state, to all 75 counties, and there’s a little bit of confusion over which State department is in charge of managing them… the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission (agriculture) or the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. For what it’s worth, however, the AGFC does have some basic rules regarding hunting the hogs.
In the AGFC’s words, here are the condensed rules for feral hogs:
“On private land, feral hogs may be killed or trapped year-round, day or night, by a landowner or anyone with the landowner’s permission (except anyone who has had his or her hunting license revoked). All general regulations for hunting safety should be observed.
“The AGFC encourages hunters to shoot all feral hogs they see on WMAs. Hunters may kill feral hogs on WMAs during daylight hours during any open hunting season as long as they are using a weapon legal for that season. Only permit holders may hunt feral hogs during special permit hunts. Feral hogs killed on WMAs can be taken for processing or left where they were shot. Hunters may not use dogs, bait or traps to hunt feral hogs on WMAs and may not hunt at night.
“The following WMAs have particularly high hog numbers — Cut-Off Creek WMA, Gulf Mountain WMA, Petit Jean River WMA, Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois d’Arc WMA, Gene Rush WMA, Harold E. Alexander Spring River WMA, Sulphur River WMA and Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA.”
Yeah, you saw that… hunters can recover shot hogs, or leave them where they fell. Later in the article, the author talks about eating wild hog but I think he really missed the boat. Instead of talking about the excellent table fare, he short-shrifts the meat and warns about all the possible diseases, and ends up offering the worst advice ever… to cook the meat well done! Well done is the ruin of any wild game! Don’t do it!
For a better take on wild hogs as table fare, check out this bit in the Naples News online edition. Author Doris Reynolds runs a column called, “Let’s Talk Food,” and while she’s pretty obviously not going to become a big-time hunter, she certainly seemed to enjoy sharing the experience of her friend on this trip.
I must confess that I have never hunted and can barely stomach the killing of any living critter. However when Jennifer brought down a wild boar I experienced a rush of excitement and pride in her marksmanship and skill. And a great deal of anticipation for consuming tasty ribs, roasts and chops.
The recipe at the end of the article was probably written for domestic pork, but it looks like it would work great with some wild boar instead!
Finally, here’s one from Manteca, CA (fun note to those who don’t already know, but “manteca” is Spanish for “lard”) in which the author mangles a few basic facts, but I’m excusing him for his exuberance over getting into hog hunting and killing his first hog.
Getting afflicted worse and worse with boar fever, I began to carry my old 7 millimeter Mauser carbine with me.
I missed a running shot at a huge boar about 400 yards away. I didn’t feel too bad about missing, because that’s a long shot even for a good rifleman. Then, a month later, I missed a couple uphill shots at forty yards that any idiot should have made.
It’s really embarrassing when your son says “Gee Dad, next time you should take a little more time and aim more carefully”.
This pig hunting can sure be humiliating.
Finally, on Memorial Day Weekend, I spotted a nice pig standing broadside at about 50 yards. This time I did everything right and actually shot my very first wild pig.
For the record, it wasn’t William R. Hearst who brought Eurasian wild boar to CA, although he may have been one of the first to openly complain about their destructive tendencies. George Gordon Moore brought these animals from his farm on Hooper’s Bald, NC in the 1920s. However, feral hogs had already been roaming CA (and much of the country) for almost 300 years prior to Mr. Moore’s experiment. Hogs were brought overland by the Spanish explorers, and were likewise deposited on the shores by early shipping interests to provide an easily managed source of meat. As animals escaped or were abandoned, they established small, self-sustaining populations wherever they weren’t wiped out by the natives or by other predators.
That’s enough for this edition of the Porcine Press. Stay tuned, as we keep our ears to the ground for more wild hog news!
Hey, great set of facts! The “gee Dad” quotation is great, and that man should take some time one day and seriously contemplate both his shooting prowess and the ethical question of shooting at a running pig at 400 yards.