Is there is a real hog problem in Texas? I know that there is but you be the judge...
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Hog problem in Texas?
- Thread starter hemibee
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Hairee
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Ha! Blimey mate, it was like a Western Queensland mouse plague (well not quite!)
The only shooting I've done was at paintball.
Oh well, I did go 'roo shooting once, but couldn't bring myself to shoot the national emblem!
I left that to the farmer I was with; after all it was his wheat they were eating!
I was impressed by the hit rate from a moving helicopter, but when I visited Texas many years ago, all the firearms on open display made me nervous!
To answer your question, I guess it's a "Yes", but what about Harley-type hogs?
Or is that just too un-American a question to consider, even if this is a Triumph forum? 
The only shooting I've done was at paintball.
Oh well, I did go 'roo shooting once, but couldn't bring myself to shoot the national emblem!
I left that to the farmer I was with; after all it was his wheat they were eating!
I was impressed by the hit rate from a moving helicopter, but when I visited Texas many years ago, all the firearms on open display made me nervous!
To answer your question, I guess it's a "Yes", but what about Harley-type hogs?
Or is that just too un-American a question to consider, even if this is a Triumph forum?
Ha! Blimey mate, it was like a Western Queensland mouse plague (well not quite!)
The only shooting I've done was at paintball.
Oh well, I did go 'roo shooting once, but couldn't bring myself to shoot the national emblem!
I left that to the farmer I was with; after all it was his wheat they were eating!
I was impressed by the hit rate from a moving helicopter, but when I visited Texas many years ago, all the firearms on open display made me nervous!
To answer your question, I guess it's a "Yes", but what about Harley-type hogs?
The open display of firearms is almost unnoticed around here. Now in downtown Houston or Dallas it might raise a few eyebrows.
The only Harley type problem we have is with the posers, 40+ year olds that are going thru their midlife crisis thinking they are big bad bikers.
That is definitely the way to hunt hogs. 
good shooting tex ! thats the way to go hunting
Holy shamoley !!!!!! Now THATS hoggin' ! Do they go back and pick them up and spread the meat around to thier family and friends or do they just let them become fertilizer? Theres enough there to feed a 3rd world country. Wow...
Believe or not most "Feed the Needy" type groups will not accept the meat for their families, it's not from a commercial, guberment inspected facility. Note I said "most" not all. A lot of church based groups will gladly take the meat, they know what they are getting, meat as God intended, not hormone injected feedlot semi-meat products.
For this group, I don't know what they do with the meat, I'll look around to see what I can find out but as far as I'm concerned they can let the buzzards have the boars. I'll take the piglets and some of the smaller sows.
For this group, I don't know what they do with the meat, I'll look around to see what I can find out but as far as I'm concerned they can let the buzzards have the boars. I'll take the piglets and some of the smaller sows.
What damage do these animals do?
Instead of answering with just what I've seen I thought this might be best if I quote some of the experts in wild hog damage. I've seen the damage first hand and I will say that most of the write ups I've read on the subject don't come close to painting the actual picture of what wild hogs can really do.
From Mississippi State University...
Livestock
Wild hogs may occasionally prey on livestock, especially newborn lambs, goats or calves; when this happens, they are usually attracted to birthing grounds by the scent of afterbirth or fetal tissue.
Crop Damage
Feral pigs can damage agricultural crops by eating or trampling them.
They can also damage crops while rooting and wallowing which damages plant roots creates holes and ruts that can damage farm equipment and endanger operators
Damage to Forests
Mast
Acorns, hickory nuts, beechnuts, and other hard mast are a major food source for wild boars, leaving very few to grow into new trees in areas with high pig populations.
Seedlings
In the coastal plain region of the southeastern United States, pigs uproot longleaf pine seedlings and consume the soft roots which are rich in carbohydrates.
Saplings and Mature Trees
Wild pigs use saplings and even mature trees of both pines and hardwoods as scratching and scent marking posts.
The intense rubbing can damage bark layers, leaving the tree susceptible to harmful insects and pathogens.
Threats to Native Wildlife
Competition
Wild pigs compete for food and space with native wildlife species, especially game animals such as deer, turkey, and quail.
Predation
Wild pigs can be significant predators of eggs and newly hatched young of ground-nesting birds and sea turtles, small mammals, salamanders, frogs, crabs, mussels, and snakes. Though not considered a significant predator of white-tailed deer fawns, wild pigs do sometimes kill and eat newborns.
Native Plant Communities
Wild boar rooting, wallowing, and trampling damage native plant communities that provide habitat and food sources for native wildlife species.
Damage to the Environment
Soil
Rooting, wallowing, and trampling activities compact soils, which in turn disrupts water infiltration and nutrient cycling. Also, these soil disturbances contribute to the spread of invasive plant species, which typically favor disturbed areas and colonize them more quickly than many native plants.
Water Quality
Wild pig activity in streams reduces water quality by increasing turbidity (excessive silt and particle suspension) and bacterial contamination. In time, turbidity and added contaminants affect a variety of native aquatic life, most notably fish, freshwater mussels, amphibians, and insect larvae.
In some streams, feces from wild pigs have increased fecal coliform concentrations to levels exceeding human health standards.
Public Health
Wild pigs are known carriers of at least 45 different parasites (external and internal) and diseases (bacterial and viral) that pose a threat to livestock, pets, wildlife, and in some cases, human health. The risk of being infected by one of these diseases is real: in 2007, health officials in Florida documented that 8 of 10 human cases of swine brucellosis were linked to wild pig hunting activities. Many of these diseases are transmitted through contact with bodily fluids and handling or ingestion of infected tissues. Diseases can also be transmitted indirectly through ticks or contaminated water sources.
Disease Prevention
Follow these simple measures to avoid infection when handling or field dressing wild pigs:
Wear latex or nitrile gloves; pathogens can enter the body through cuts on hands or torn cuticles.
Avoid splashing body fluids into your eyes or mouth.
Follow correct refrigeration, freezing, and cooking methods. Freezing to 0°F will render bacteria inactive but will not destroy them; once thawed, bacteria can again become active. You should not rely on home freezing to destroy Trichina and other parasites. Thorough cooking will destroy all parasites. Cook meat until internal juices run clear or until it has reached an internal temperature of 170°F.
Wash your hands thoroughly after field dressing and processing meat, even if you wear gloves.
Thoroughly clean and disinfect work areas and tools used to dress and butcher wild pigs.
Dispose of animal remains, used gloves, and other materials properly. Animal remains should not be left for scavengers, nor should they be fed to dogs. Depending upon your jurisdiction, several methods of appropriate disposal may be considered. Check with your local health department or state wildlife agency.
Not covered in the above information is the produce problem a year or so ago when fresh produce from California was contaminated with wild hog fecal matter which caused several illnesses and if I remember correctly several deaths. This was all caused by wild hogs that had broken thru the game fencing around the farm. I'll look it up to find more info on the events but for now I hope information this will answer your question.
Some damage photos...
Additional information...
Busting feral hog myths
Robert Burns, Texas AgriLife
Mar. 29, 2011 11:21am
Until recently, if anyone tried to tell you how many feral hogs there are in Texas, they were just blowing smoke, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service wildlife biologist.
"When it comes to feral hogs in Texas, separating fact from fiction is becoming a little easier as research reveals more about the pesky porcines," said Dr. Billy Higginbotham, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist. "There remains much we don’t know about this exotic that has inhabited our state for the past 450 years."
Highest ranking among the myths are estimates of the actual number of feral hogs in Texas, Higginbotham said. A common number that has been bandied about for years is 1 to 4 million. But there was just no data to support this estimate.
That is, not until Dr. Roel Lopez, associate director of the Texas A&M University Institute for Renewable Natural Resources, recently used geographic information system procedures to turn the guesstimates into reliable estimates, said Higginbotham, who collaborated with Lopez on the study.
The term "geographic information systems," usually simply called GIS, refers to a procedure that involves diverse data gathering means, from on-the-ground GPS referenced data to satellite to historical records, and organizes it geographically.
"A simpler way to put it is that it’s just an electronic map," Lopez said.
Using GIS techniques, Lopez was able to quantify first the extent of the feral hog habitat in Texas. He estimates that "approximately 134 million acres, or 79 percent of the state’s 170 million acres, represents feral hog habitat," said Higginbotham.
By knowing the range of feral hog habitat and the species population density in various types of Texas environments, Lopez also came up with a population estimate that has some meat to it, Higginbotham said. Lopez estimates that the actual number could range from a low of 1.9 million to a high of 3.4 million.
Exaggerated claims of feral hog population-growth rates are a related myth. Many of the population guesstimates are based on a purely arbitrary number of hogs in Texas being set at 1 million in the 1970s. This number, which also had no research basis, is then often extrapolated on using another bit of misinformation: That because of feral hogs' high birth rates, their population is doubling every year.
So what are the facts?
A 2011 consolidation of past studies done by graduate student, Janell Mellish, the average litter size in Texas and the Southeast is 5.6 pigs, Lopez said.
It is also known, that on average, a sow is about 13 months old when she has her first litter, and also on average, mature sows have 1.5 litters per year. This means there is a significant population growth rate, but a far cry from the doubling-yearly myth, Lopez said.
"We estimated the population growth of feral hogs in Texas averages between 18 percent to 20 percent annually," Lopez said. "This means it would take almost five years for a population to double in size if left unchecked."
The study, which was conducted by Lopez and Mellish, used three methods to estimate feral pig population growth in Texas: the statewide number of aerial permits issued for shooting feral hogs; the number of pigs processed in commercial processing facilities; and feral hog control data made available from U.S. Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services.
Another common myth is that recreational hunting alone can control feral hog populations, Higginbotham said.
"Of the dozen studies conducted across the nation, hunting removes between 8 percent and 50 percent of a population, with an average of 24 percent across all studies," he said. "In order to hold a population stable with no growth, 60 percent to 70 percent of a feral hog population would have to be removed annually."
Another myth is that it's possible to identify the breed of a given feral hog by its color markings.
"Today’s feral hogs are descended from domestic breeds, Eurasian wild boars and, of course, hybrids of the two," Higginbotham said. "But despite claims to the contrary, simply observing the color patterns, hair characteristics and size cannot let you definitively identify which of the three types an individual hog falls into."
Damage no myth
One thing about feral hogs is definitely not a myth—the huge amount of damage they do to crops, wildlife habitat and landscapes, Higginbotham said. And from all indications, the damage they do is expanding in scope and range.
"Feral hogs were once largely a rural or agricultural issue in Texas, inflicting over $52 million in damage annually," he said. "But the porkers have literally moved to town and are now causing significant damage in urban and suburban communities. This damage includes the rooting of landscapes, parks, lawns, golf courses, sports fields and even cemeteries, as they search for food. It has been estimated that a single hog can cause over $200 damage annually."
The $200-per-hog estimate doesn't include the damage feral hogs do as they compete with other wildlife species, such as whitetail deer, for food and habitat. And some of the species challenged by feral hog invasions are endangered.
It's important to keep in perspective that the bottom line is not an actual hog-head count, but the damage they do and how to develop ways to reduce it.
"For those landowners actively engaged in deer management, tolerance of feral hogs should be very, very low," Higginbotham said. "Can we (significantly) reduce the damage feral hogs do through control efforts? The answer is 'absolutely yes.'
"Texas AgriLife Extension Service has demonstrated that through education and outreach and Wildlife Services-led control efforts, damage can be significantly reduced by control efforts," he said. "In a 2006-07 study funded by the Texas Department of Agriculture, agricultural damage was reduced by 66 percent via control efforts in just two years."
Since 2007, subsequent studies done by AgriLife Extension and again funded by the state’s department of agriculture confirmed that control measures such as trapping and shooting "prevented millions of dollars in damage by reducing feral hog populations," he said.
"Landowners remain the first line of defense since Texas is 95 percent privately owned land," Higginbotham said. "This means arming the public with Best Management Practices and using various legal control methods to abate the damage by reducing feral hog populations."
For more information on feral hogs, visit the AgriLife Extension website, "Coping with Feral Hogs," at http://feralhogs.tamu.edu
Busting feral hog myths
Robert Burns, Texas AgriLife
Mar. 29, 2011 11:21am
Until recently, if anyone tried to tell you how many feral hogs there are in Texas, they were just blowing smoke, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service wildlife biologist.
"When it comes to feral hogs in Texas, separating fact from fiction is becoming a little easier as research reveals more about the pesky porcines," said Dr. Billy Higginbotham, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist. "There remains much we don’t know about this exotic that has inhabited our state for the past 450 years."
Highest ranking among the myths are estimates of the actual number of feral hogs in Texas, Higginbotham said. A common number that has been bandied about for years is 1 to 4 million. But there was just no data to support this estimate.
That is, not until Dr. Roel Lopez, associate director of the Texas A&M University Institute for Renewable Natural Resources, recently used geographic information system procedures to turn the guesstimates into reliable estimates, said Higginbotham, who collaborated with Lopez on the study.
The term "geographic information systems," usually simply called GIS, refers to a procedure that involves diverse data gathering means, from on-the-ground GPS referenced data to satellite to historical records, and organizes it geographically.
"A simpler way to put it is that it’s just an electronic map," Lopez said.
Using GIS techniques, Lopez was able to quantify first the extent of the feral hog habitat in Texas. He estimates that "approximately 134 million acres, or 79 percent of the state’s 170 million acres, represents feral hog habitat," said Higginbotham.
By knowing the range of feral hog habitat and the species population density in various types of Texas environments, Lopez also came up with a population estimate that has some meat to it, Higginbotham said. Lopez estimates that the actual number could range from a low of 1.9 million to a high of 3.4 million.
Exaggerated claims of feral hog population-growth rates are a related myth. Many of the population guesstimates are based on a purely arbitrary number of hogs in Texas being set at 1 million in the 1970s. This number, which also had no research basis, is then often extrapolated on using another bit of misinformation: That because of feral hogs' high birth rates, their population is doubling every year.
So what are the facts?
A 2011 consolidation of past studies done by graduate student, Janell Mellish, the average litter size in Texas and the Southeast is 5.6 pigs, Lopez said.
It is also known, that on average, a sow is about 13 months old when she has her first litter, and also on average, mature sows have 1.5 litters per year. This means there is a significant population growth rate, but a far cry from the doubling-yearly myth, Lopez said.
"We estimated the population growth of feral hogs in Texas averages between 18 percent to 20 percent annually," Lopez said. "This means it would take almost five years for a population to double in size if left unchecked."
The study, which was conducted by Lopez and Mellish, used three methods to estimate feral pig population growth in Texas: the statewide number of aerial permits issued for shooting feral hogs; the number of pigs processed in commercial processing facilities; and feral hog control data made available from U.S. Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services.
Another common myth is that recreational hunting alone can control feral hog populations, Higginbotham said.
"Of the dozen studies conducted across the nation, hunting removes between 8 percent and 50 percent of a population, with an average of 24 percent across all studies," he said. "In order to hold a population stable with no growth, 60 percent to 70 percent of a feral hog population would have to be removed annually."
Another myth is that it's possible to identify the breed of a given feral hog by its color markings.
"Today’s feral hogs are descended from domestic breeds, Eurasian wild boars and, of course, hybrids of the two," Higginbotham said. "But despite claims to the contrary, simply observing the color patterns, hair characteristics and size cannot let you definitively identify which of the three types an individual hog falls into."
Damage no myth
One thing about feral hogs is definitely not a myth—the huge amount of damage they do to crops, wildlife habitat and landscapes, Higginbotham said. And from all indications, the damage they do is expanding in scope and range.
"Feral hogs were once largely a rural or agricultural issue in Texas, inflicting over $52 million in damage annually," he said. "But the porkers have literally moved to town and are now causing significant damage in urban and suburban communities. This damage includes the rooting of landscapes, parks, lawns, golf courses, sports fields and even cemeteries, as they search for food. It has been estimated that a single hog can cause over $200 damage annually."
The $200-per-hog estimate doesn't include the damage feral hogs do as they compete with other wildlife species, such as whitetail deer, for food and habitat. And some of the species challenged by feral hog invasions are endangered.
It's important to keep in perspective that the bottom line is not an actual hog-head count, but the damage they do and how to develop ways to reduce it.
"For those landowners actively engaged in deer management, tolerance of feral hogs should be very, very low," Higginbotham said. "Can we (significantly) reduce the damage feral hogs do through control efforts? The answer is 'absolutely yes.'
"Texas AgriLife Extension Service has demonstrated that through education and outreach and Wildlife Services-led control efforts, damage can be significantly reduced by control efforts," he said. "In a 2006-07 study funded by the Texas Department of Agriculture, agricultural damage was reduced by 66 percent via control efforts in just two years."
Since 2007, subsequent studies done by AgriLife Extension and again funded by the state’s department of agriculture confirmed that control measures such as trapping and shooting "prevented millions of dollars in damage by reducing feral hog populations," he said.
"Landowners remain the first line of defense since Texas is 95 percent privately owned land," Higginbotham said. "This means arming the public with Best Management Practices and using various legal control methods to abate the damage by reducing feral hog populations."
For more information on feral hogs, visit the AgriLife Extension website, "Coping with Feral Hogs," at http://feralhogs.tamu.edu
Let me know when you're having a hog-roast. I'm coming over so get out the hickory logs!
Very interesting stuff.
Are there any state-operated programs for control and/or eradication in effect?
Are there any state-operated programs for control and/or eradication in effect?
Yes and no. There is no closed season on hogs and you can hunt them 24 hours a day. Texas A&M and the Texas Agriculture Service will help guide a land owner or city officials work on a solution but those solutions are about like putting a band aid on an amputated leg. Most land owners encourage folks leasing hunting rights on their property to take all the hogs they can, especially the sows. I've heard there is some other programs available but have never heard any details on them. The best thing you can do is kill 70 to 8-% of them in your area to try and make them more manageable.
The last method is what we used on our preserves. We averaged killing or trapping 65 to 805 hogs per year on our largest preserve. We had to report the numbers to the State each year as control of these critters is required by the management plan.
My god ! Thats a hell of a lot of pork. Are they used or just left to rot? Think of all the poor familys that could use em. Heck, i could go for some pork chops myself right about now
One has to know how to prepare and cook wild hog to make it edible. If prepared right, it is very good.
And if it's done wrong you can't stay in the same neighborhood with it.
I had no idea. I was under the impression wild hog was pretty much like domestic pork from talking to people. So i take it it's sorta gamey. Maybe like jack rabbits and crow.....game that people don't usually eat because it can be nasty and even dangerous to eat, but there are those who know ways to prepare it that make it edible, safe and even tasty.
A local Cowboy Church held a hog hunting contest to help out some grain farmers and this is the winning team's take for the day.
