Michigan Boar Question...

[ishot3bucks]

I was very fortunate to shoot a boar a couple weeks back and assisted the Department of Agriculture with blood samples from my pig. Has anybody else done this and how long does it take to get the results from the blood samples?

Do you think I should go and eat it without the results? Those hams are staring at me!!!

Thanks,

Ishot3bucks!!

[MGV]

If you bleed it out correctly it should be fine to eat. Are they thinking the Boar has Psuedo Rabies or something. Or are they doing DNA for figuring out the sucker that is letting these things loose?

[ishot3bucks]

Good question....I believe they are checking for diseases that could affect livestock? I'm still eating it!

[Howitzer]

Where did you shoot it?

[2PawsRiver]

Congrats. I hope all works out well. I was hoping to try for one specifically to eat it..................eating them is questionable.:confused:

[redwingsdude]

Eating deer from the northern part of the state is questionable as well, as is any big game from out west. The good thing is that very few animals are actually infected, and after testing, they are totally fine to eat.

[Quadd4]

The CO that we talked to incinuated that the pig would be a better prize than the venison in ones freezer so I would think they'd be safe for eating. But hey, I'm no expert.

[ishot3bucks]

Where did you shoot it?

West Branch...saw 10 together!!

[One Eye]

Do you want me to "taste test" it for you?? :evil: :evil:

Dan

[2PawsRiver]

Well at least share some details.

Were you hunting Boar, or did you just happen on them

Was this a game ranch hunt or were they free range hogs

Are you seeing alot of sign in your area.


(read that after I posted and the "Well At least share some details"..sounded sarcastic....was not intended that way.)

Just sounds interesting.

[fasthunter]

Hey, congrats on the piggy!!!:D I'm no expert, but if it was me I would just eat it anyway. I'm sure if you cook it all the way like you're supposed to it should be fine. That's just my opinion though. I'd eat it anyway.

[ishot3bucks]

Well at least share some details.

Were you hunting Boar, or did you just happen on them

Was this a game ranch hunt or were they free range hogs

Are you seeing alot of sign in your area.


(read that after I posted and the "Well At least share some details"..sounded sarcastic....was not intended that way.)

Just sounds interesting.


Not taken that way at all.... This was free ranging, private property that my family owns in west Branch. We heard they were near our property for the past 3 years but have never seen them. This year was a different story! The property is getting destroyed...they tear up the ground like a Rota-till! Well 1 day during bow season my cousin heard some noise behind him and turned to see a pack of wild boar! We were so excited to finally see them. But no one has had a shot. Toward the end of deer season (I was lucky to bag my deer this year and fill all my tags) I went up with a few friends to see if I could spot the boar. After a long walk and seeing some devastated property..I walked up on a group of 10 or so..It was weird seeing them on our property! We've owned it for 10 years and I never thought in my wildest dreams that we would be hunting pig!!

A long story short...I got on the hand-held and called for my other hunting buddies (3 of us total). We did a push in the last thicket I saw them at and a group ran right by me...they can run! The last one stopped and gave me a quartering away shot with my 12g slug and the squealing was unbelievable! SHE weighed 125lbs and I can't wait to get back up there again! Waiting for snow..again...that's what led me to them last time.

I will try to add the picture if I can figure it out? (I added it to my pictures...look there) don't know how to get it on this thread?


Thanks...any other questions would be great!


Ishot3bucks

[umas911]

here ya go


http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/520/web_blog_size.jpg

[ishot3bucks]

Thanks!! How did you do that?

[umas911]

Thanks!! How did you do that?

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79297

[ishot3bucks]

Think I got it thanks!!http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/email_size.jpg

[fasthunter]

Cool pics!!!;) :)

[IceDaddy]

That is just too Cool!:coolgleam
Congrats! I would have that thing about half devowered by the time
the test results came back.:lol:

[2PawsRiver]

Very Cool. Were the other ones about the same size. I would imagine these can get up to several hundred pounds. Again congrats and thanks for the story.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/email_size.jpg

[2ESRGR8]

Congrats on the kill but I would suspect this is bad news for any ground nesting birds in your area(turkey, grouse, woodcock, pheasants....).

[ishot3bucks]

I hear it's bad news for a lot of animals!! Including fawn!

[M1Garand]

They are having a lot of problems with them in the South. From ripping up the dirt, to ground nesting species to fawns, they are bad news and that is an understatement. I was hoping maybe the coldness here would inhibit them but seems like they're getting worse. Good job on taking one, hopefully you can get some more.

[Enigma]

Well I think it's great you got one I wish there were more of them, they have wild boar down south and by watching TV hunting in those states it don't look like they have a lack of game.

[MickeyFinn]

Good kill! Any chance anyone gets to shoot wild boar in MI do it!!! You might want to check but I thought I just read a NRC commission minutes that said you can kill wild boar (feral pigs) no matter what time of year or what weapon your carrying. Remember to let your local DNR office know if you see wild boar in your area or shoot a wild boar.

[Howitzer]

Good work! It is hard to believe that it was only a couple years ago when people were making the Sasquach jokes about wild pigs in Michigan but it seems like people are shooting them in almost every county. A guy a huge boar near my property in Shiawassee.

[Michihunter]

http://www.michigan.gov/images/dnr/feralpigmap_177404_7.jpg

[Howitzer]

and now we can add six or seven counties to the map.

[trapstercarl]

Why would the cold weather affect them? If they have any russian blood in them what so ever they should be perfectly fine in our climate.If I remember correctly Russia is a pretty cold place and they thrive over there. Sounds like michigan has a new species to hunt. carl

[bowhuntbigbucks]

Congrats on the pig!! We need to put a stop to the pigs, before they get out of hand!!

[Erik]

Thats sweet! Yours looks like a classic wild boar type pig. Nothing to worry about there, but be careful about shooting just any ole pig that happens to be running loose cause I'm pretty certain you can be held liable for shooting someones domestic stock. Even if they are on your property. At least it used to be that way unless something changed real recently. By the same token if you know about a farmers whos stock are getting loose you can report them and they can be held responsible for any property damage caused by their animals.
Anyway congrats. It looks fine and healthy. I don't think I'd have a problem eating it.

[reddog719]

If you saw ten than theres a good chance that by next fall there could be 50 theere . They are very prolific:) :) :)

[Whit1]

Well I think it's great you got one I wish there were more of them, they have wild boar down south and by watching TV hunting in those states it don't look like they have a lack of game.

This is a GREAT example of "Be careful what you wish for!!"

[MGV]

Thats sweet! Yours looks like a classic wild boar type pig. Nothing to worry about there, but be careful about shooting just any ole pig that happens to be running loose cause I'm pretty certain you can be held liable for shooting someones domestic stock. Even if they are on your property. At least it used to be that way unless something changed real recently. By the same token if you know about a farmers whos stock are getting loose you can report them and they can be held responsible for any property damage caused by their animals.
Anyway congrats. It looks fine and healthy. I don't think I'd have a problem eating it.

You are correct about that being illegel if it is livestock. My parents had issues with a neighbor that let his cows out on purpose. We would catch them and return them all the time. Finally it was the last straw and we locked them in are barn and called the police. We were told that we were holding the animals against their will and could be charged with kidnapping the animals. Go figure. They destroy your land but you can still be charged as a criminal.

[yoopertoo]

Has anyone seen pigs in Baraga or Marquette county?

[hawkeye]

You are correct about that being illegel if it is livestock. My parents had issues with a neighbor that let his cows out on purpose. We would catch them and return them all the time. Finally it was the last straw and we locked them in are barn and called the police. We were told that we were holding the animals against their will and could be charged with kidnapping the animals. Go figure. They destroy your land but you can still be charged as a criminal.

See another thread here:

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=168477&highlight=boar

This report appeared in the Michigan Farm News.

November 30, 2006
Hogs gone wild
By Paul W. Jackson

Wild hogs have been a problem in other states for some time, but Michigan officials say they're just learning the extent of the problem. In order to "nip" the problem "in the bud," hunters in 23 counties are urged to kill any wild hogs they see and have them sent off for disease testing.

Feral and Domestic Swine in Michigan

Looking for a license to kill? You got it.

If you're a licensed hunter in Michigan, you have permission - heck, you're even encouraged - to kill any hog you see rooting around in the wild of 23 counties. (see map).

Drop the varmints for the sake of the state's domestic swine industry, deer, stream banks and other habitat, crops and human safety. Go hog wild.

State officials aren't kidding about this. They want hunters to treat hogs gone wild - the official term is feral swine - as disease-carrying, aggressive and destructive vermin that need to be exterminated, and now.

Officials from the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are so serious about this, in fact, that they put out a joint press release a week before the firearm deer hunting season that "encouraged hunters with a valid hunting license of any kind to shoot feral swine in 23 Michigan counties." Outside those counties, feral swine sightings should be reported to MDA or local law enforcement agencies. They should not be shot until local authorities can determine that the animals are not claimed as someone's property.

However, if they are shot outside the zone as a defense against attacks, there are likely to be few, if any legal repercussions, said Ernie Birchmeier, Michigan Farm Bureau livestock specialist.

"I would hope that wild animals that threaten a farmer's family or property could be harvested without much problem," he said. "Just remember to get it to a lab for disease testing as soon as possible. And, as always, make sure you know what you're shooting at, and be sure it's a wild pig."

Quick action

The state's appeal to hunters worked quickly. A bow hunter killed a feral hog Nov. 15 in Gratiot County from horseback as it followed on his horse's heels, said Bridget Patrick, zoonotic disease communications coordinator with the MDA. Its head was sent to MSU's Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health for initial testing, but if disease is discovered there, it must be confirmed at the federal laboratory in Ames, Iowa. At least three other sightings were reported, Patrick said, including one from Branch County, which was not on the original list of 23 approved kill counties. Media reports added at least one other feral hog killing at press time for Michigan Farm News.

Slow reaction

Disease is one of the main reasons state officials are so eager to eliminate the feral swine problem. No one knows for sure if they're carriers, but they have the potential to carry tuberculosis, pseudorabies, brucellosis and a host of other infectious ailments.

The problem has been evolving for a few years, at least. In the Upper Peninsula's Baraga County, Sen. Rich Brown introduced a law to make it legal to kill feral swine about six years ago, but it failed to become law. See sidebar story on this page at right.

The wild herd today, according to the best guesses of MDA and DNR folks, is a combination of wild Russian boars brought into Michigan for fenced hunting preserves and domestic hogs that escaped confinement.

"These are half-bloods, and they will revert back to their wild ways," said Ron Bates, Michigan State University swine breeding specialist. "They've adapted to their environment and bred, and their numbers are growing. I've heard second-hand and third-hand reports that at least one herd has already reached 40 to 60 animals."

With that many wild hogs out there, the problem may already be beyond the stage where alert hunters can "nip the problem in the bud," as MDA veterinarian Nancy Frank told the Michigan Commission of Agriculture.

"If a female only produces one or two litters per year and only three or four pigs per litter survive, the numbers will grow exponentially," Bates said. "Four or five females producing like that could grow a herd to 40 or 60 easily. They've learned how to find food, they've begun nesting, and as they move about, they're difficult to control."

They're also very aggressive, Bates said.

"That was part of the excitement of a Russian boar hunt," he said. "These are dangerous animals."

Aside from their aggression toward humans and other animals, feral swine pose an environmental problem, according to MDA officials and Sam Hines, executive vice-president of the Michigan Pork Producers Association.

"I've seen the damage they've done in the Smokey Mountains, where they have a bunch of them, and they can really rape the environment," he said. "They root for worms and food, destroy stream banks and certainly have the potential to do major crop damage. It's amazing the amount of damage they can do."

That's not even counting the potential to spread disease to domestic swine, of which the state's pork industry has been aware for some time. It warned the MDA and DNR about the problem in January, when the Michigan Swine Health Committee adopted a resolution on control of feral swine.

But the DNR and MDA met with pork industry officials a couple months before that, Hines said, and alerted him to the problem.

"I wasn't aware at that time that they were a menace," Hines said. But (State Veterinarian) Steve Halstead and I agreed that it was enough of a threat to convene the health committee (which issued the resolution), so we worked hand in glove on the issue."

So why did it take 10 months for the state's official encouragement to kill wild hogs?

"Sometimes the wheels turn pretty slow downtown," Hines said.

The MDA and DNR took action as soon as they knew there was a problem, Patrick said.

"We didn't have any observations or complaints until archery (deer) season started this year," she said. "That's when we realized we had better put something together" and encourage hunters to kill the swine.

Black market hunting

Hines said he realizes that the issue has not yet reached life or death for the domestic swine industry, but, he said, there's no question that the problem is already beyond the bud stage.

Still, there seems to be little urgency on the state's part. When all hunting seasons end March 31, it will again be illegal to kill them, which gives the feral herd until Oct. 1 (except for a spring turkey hunt) to breed, reproduce and grow into a greater problem.

The state will trap hogs during that time and get a greater grip on wild hog numbers, Patrick said.

If all the various concerned parties know the extent of the problem hogs gone wild could become, asked Agriculture Commissioner Jim Byrum, why not put up a bounty to encourage wild hog killing?

"We have a concern over the potential development of a hunting infrastructure," Halstead said. "In other states' experience, a swine hunting industry develops, and people start breeding them for the hunt, and the problem gets worse."

But there already is an underground swine hunting industry, Hines said.

"A couple of our members alerted me to the fact that apparently, there are some people trying to buy old cull boars and scruffy cull sows from terminal markets, and they let them go. Then they can charge $200 to $300 to take people on a hunt. It's not legal, but it's been done. Most markets know the rules, and wouldn't sell them if they knew, but we know of at least one market where they've let them be sold for those purposes."

The time is now

State officials do not believe the situation is out of control at this point, but it seems that hunters could have been harvesting feral swine long before now, Birchmeier said. He also questioned the limit of 23 counties.

"Anyone who understands how hogs reproduce know that a hunt in 23 counties from now until March 31 won't solve the issue," he said. "The wild herd numbers will continue to grow, and damage will get worse. We're pleased that it's being addressed, and hope it can be resolved before it gets out of hand and we have serious consequences for the environment, for the domestic swine industry and for crops. The time to get aggressive on this is now. It's imperative that state governmental officials continue to work and cooperate with hunters and industry to eliminate this problem. At a time when we are constantly bombarded with animal health issues, we don't need to create additional problems through the growth of an additional wildlife species that shouldn't be there in the first place."

Problem solving, U.P. style

When it comes to solving a problem with hogs gone wild, there's nothing like a little problem solving, Upper Peninsula style.

About six years ago, said Rep. Rich Brown, a Democrat from Bessemer, there was an issue with wild hogs in northern Baraga County. Seems that several swine escaped from a fenced hunting farm, and were running amok in the community.

"They were prolific and vicious," Brown said. "They had been causing a lot of damage, and one person was even trapped in a barn by one of them. So we contacted the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), who told us there was nothing we could do, because they were not game animals. So I introduced a bill that would have made them legal game animals, with a hunting season year-round as long as the hunter had a small game license.

"But the DNR bucked the bill, so it just sat there, and never did get passed."

But then, Brown said, 'some officials' in local law enforcement made it known that killing a wild hog would not lead to legal action of any kind.

Problem solved?

"Let's just say that the problem is not there anymore," Brown said, noting that after the DNR issued the recent press release requesting that hunters with legal game licenses should kill any wild hog they encounter, he pulled up the bill, just for kicks.

"It contained almost identical language to what the DNR is saying now," he said. "I don't remember the bill number, but it should have been called the 'Three S' law: shoot, shovel and shut up."

[skidoomaster]

As said earlier, “be careful what you wish for”

I travel to Texas quite often for my job. I have hooked up with a number of property owners who give me free-run of their hunting lots to shoot hogs! They get mad when I show up with a bow! They encourage us to shoot as many as possible!!!

I’ll post some pics for your viewing enjoyment!

by the way: nice shooting "Ishot3bucks"!!

[skidoomaster]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/520/Dsc00839.jpg

[skidoomaster]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/520/Imag0035.jpg

[skidoomaster]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/520/medium/IMG_0022.jpg

[skidoomaster]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/520/Dsc01612.jpg

[ibthetrout]

Hey Skidoomaster, what kind of gun is that you have in the first picture? Kind of curious what you were using down there. Great pics! Thanks for sharing with us.

[tbbassdaddy]

Awesome SKIDOOMASTER!!! Looks like you've got a good thing going... Do you eat em, or are they bad eatin' in TX?

[skidoomaster]

Hey Skidoomaster, what kind of gun is that you have in the first picture? Kind of curious what you were using down there. Great pics! Thanks for sharing with us.
The first picture is a 270 Win, My preferred choice is to use a 243. It doesn't have the same knock-down power, but it shoots flat and accurate and mine has a very sensitive trigger. I once dropped 3 hogs out of a pack of about 40 or so. First shot was at the feeder, and the following two where on the run! Wish I had that on camera!

I've also hunted with a 30/6. Most people who hunt hogs favor a larger caliber. I like the 243 because it’s large enough to kill a hog, but small enough to drop a varmint without doing too much damage. We are always seeing bobcats and coyotes while hog hunting. I've got a nice cat at the taxidermist right now..

Hogs have a very thick and tough cartledge plate around the front chest. On larger hogs, it extends past the front legs. On smaller hogs you can shoot them like you shoot deer. However, if you come across a 350+ lbs hog and don't have a large caliber, shoot them in the ear. That is a guaranteed kill!

If you ever in TX, let me know. Feb, March and April is the best time!

[skidoomaster]

Awesome SKIDOOMASTER!!! Looks like you've got a good thing going... Do you eat em, or are they bad eatin' in TX?

I've had two of them processed. (not in the pictures above) they were both under 100 lbs. Tasted great! Not gammy at all..

I've been told by some, the larger and older, the more gammy they taste. However, I've also heard the larger are better tasting than the smaller? I can't say because I’ve never processed a large one. The only two I shot that where over 350 lbs, ended up going to the taxidermist. One for a shoulder mount, and the other was a European mount. I gave them both to co-workers here at the office.. The European mount turned out really awesome. I'll see if I can get a picture of it....

[Whit1]

I've had two of them processed. (not in the pictures above) they were both under 100 lbs. Tasted great! Not gammy at all..

I've been told by some, the larger and older, the more gammy they taste. However, I've also heard the larger are better tasting than the smaller? I can't say because I’ve never processed a large one. The only two I shot that where over 350 lbs, ended up going to the taxidermist. One for a shoulder mount, and the other was a European mount. I gave them both to co-workers here at the office.. The European mount turned out really awesome. I'll see if I can get a picture of it....

Have you ever run into a problem with worms infesting the meat?

[skidoomaster]

Have you ever run into a problem with worms infesting the meat?

not yet, hopefully I won't!

[tbbassdaddy]

Ski doo... You say you like the 243... I was thinking about using a mini 14 (223 cal)... I know it's only a 55 gr bullet, but it's that or the 30-30 lever with 170gr - Thinking about trying to find someplace in the Howard City area - another thread said there's a few up there... Your thoughts on the 223?

[MGV]

We use a 22mag for butching them on the farm. So a 223 should be fine. Just get ready for the screaming.

[skidoomaster]

Ski doo... You say you like the 243... I was thinking about using a mini 14 (223 cal)... I know it's only a 55 gr bullet, but it's that or the 30-30 lever with 170gr - Thinking about trying to find someplace in the Howard City area - another thread said there's a few up there... Your thoughts on the 223?

In my opinion, if you can get in close, use the 30-30. If your shooting far, say 100+ yards use the 223. But like i mentioned before, a front chest shot or a forward side shot will most likley not drop them. A head shot takes them down every time.

FYI: hogs have terrible vision, but excellent hearing and smelling. I've been downwind of them and stalked up to about 30 yards away without them seeing me. If the wind is in your favor, get as close as you can!

in this picture we slowly crept up the fence line in the backgroud. I was close enough to hit them with a bow...

Another tip: In Texas we use onions to bait them in. They have a great smell to mask your walk in, and the hogs love them. I cut one up while waling into the woods, dropping pieces as I go. Also, what works great is a red-lens spot light. Similar to the type predator hunters use. Hogs can't see the light, and works great for getting a shot off at night when whey are on your bait.

Let me know how your hunt goes! send me some pictures...

[skidoomaster]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/520/Dsc01672.jpg

[tbbassdaddy]

Cool thanks... gotta find 'em first... I have a buddy in Dallas, used to live here in GR, and he invites me out there to go fishing or deer hunting all the time... I should take him up on it soon, and do the hogs too!!!

Thanks!!

[skidoomaster]

I'm heading down to Sanger,-TX (just north of Dallas) 3/18 - 3/28. let me know if you or your buddy are around? I've got a great spot located about 2 hours south of Dallas.

[skidoomaster]

Came across this picture the other day. Though you might enjoy it...
My Texas buddies call this a "yankee-hunting-truck" We call it an Avis rental! (the 4th guy is taking the picture)

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/520/Dsc01614.jpg