Did hunting russian boar get legalized?

[Eastern Yooper]

Did anyone hear as to whether or not the state took action to allow hunting for the wild boar in the UP?

A couple months ago this topic had 15 minutes of media fame.... and then it just dropped-off the face of the earth.

I would still like to try and blast one, providing its legal to do so.

[east bay ed]

yooper,
i don't know why it wouldn't be legal to shoot a wild russian boar if it is in the wild. if the state doesn't have a "population" of wild boar then they are not regulated. as long as you have permission to hunt on the land you should be able to shoot it. the same thing has happened with other exotics that have escaped from preserves elswhere in the state. a few years ago someone in davison shot a fallow deer and the dnr said that he didn't need to waste a tag on it, since it is not under the control of the dnr. shoot away. wild boar is really good meat.
good luck

[Eastern Yooper]

At first glance I thought the same as you, Ed.... but its actually more complex then simply being feral game. Here's a couple threads (from a few months back) discussing the issue.

Basically, since the boars are 'alternative livestock' and technically regulated by the USDA.... I'd rather play it safe and have the law on my side.

FREEP article: Russian Boar loose in UP:
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24676&highlight=russian+boar

Feral species:
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22698&highlight=russian+boar

Hogs in UP:
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24645&perpage=20&highlight=russian boar&pagenumber=2

[Youper]

I drive past a place for this everyday on my way to work, and supposedly it is up and running. They have a brochue in the local sporting goods store, and it seems as canned as it can get. They raise the hogs off site, and bring them in for the "hunt."

[dieseldude]

E.Y.,
do you know of, of have a free ranging pack near you?

[Lunker]

Heres a bit of info. A guy at work shot a 300 pounder at a TN ranch. He watched the ranchers clean and butcher it for him. They then threw the guts in the pen for the hogs to eat. So basically the same way mad Cow disease was created was being practiced on these pigs. He gave most of the meat away..

[Eastern Yooper]

Thread is going off-track.

Read the links: I am not talking about doing a game ranch canned hunt. There are wild russian boar running loose over by L'anse.

These boar escaped from a game farm... they are raising holy-hell for the locals and possess the potential to create havoc.

The state legislature was going pass legislation to allow for the year-round hunting of them. Otherwise, if it didn't get passed its like shooting a neighbors cow on your property: No law against it per se.... but there could be substantial civil repercussians.

[Bushwhacker]

EY,

We deer hunt down in that area, and were in the local watering hole, Billy The Finns, on Nov. 14. This is just across Huron Bay from Point Abbaye, which is where these boar are. The owner was saying that they have been hunting them, and had no problem, but you might want to check with the Baraga DNR. We were about ready to give up chasing deer and go hog hunting, but we never did.
Bushwhacker

[Eastern Yooper]

Thanks BW.

Were the locals really complaining about them the way the FREEP made it out to be? And are there as many around, or are they kinda sparce?

I think I'll take your advice and call the district DNR office. If they gimme the thumbs-up, I may damn well head over there in a couple weeks.

[Michigan Hunter]

I hunt Rissian Boar two-three times a year in Northern California with my son. Heck, if the darned things are growing around Michigan I'm for saving plane fair and non-resident licenses. They are a ball to hunt. Far different than hunting deer and more fun....
I hunt private ranches (non fenced except for cows) so it's a real hunt.

[Pinefarm]

I didn't take the time to re-read your links, but it was my understanding that the local cops and prosecutor said that they weren't going to ticket or follow through on any charges. They want the things killed. They're right too. We don't want those things running around up there. They should put a bounty on them.

[Eastern Yooper]

I called the Baraga DNR office and spoke to one of the C/O's (LT. Strauch was out of the office).

The CO chuckled and said there has been alot of interest in this topic. He went on to say that the department isn't doing anything to people hunting the pigs.....

....but that the owner of the game ranch has been persuing civil action against people killing them.

He also indicated most of the pigs are gone, either captured or killed.

Sounds to me like its a 'hunt at your own risk' type thing and the potential civil ramifications alone aren't worth it.

~Sigh~ I really wanted to shoot one.

[Pinefarm]

But sometimes it's very difficult to tell the difference between a pig and a coyote. Know what I mean? We don't want those things to live and establish themselves. The rancher has no case, only empty threats. Same with shooting pheasants on private property next to a preserve. Granted, there is a pheasant season, but there's no law prohibiting the taking of pigs. They should be on the same list as opossum, skunks, pigeons, and rats. The CO already implied that the DNR doesn't want them around either.

[Pinefarm]

Here's what Oregon is trying to with their pig problem...

Proposed bill would deal with feral pigs

Submitted by: Gene McMahan

The Oregon Department of Agriculture has introduced a bill that would allow residents to trap and kill aggressive pigs much as they do with troublesome cougars or coyotes.

The state's population of feral swine gained attention last year when a 520-square-mile control area was established in Crook County.

Officials believe most of the pigs are offspring of hogs that escaped from a game ranch, but state biologists said some could be wild Russian or European boars. Those breeds can weigh up to 300 pounds, grow 5-inch-long tusks and outrun the average deer.

The legislation would change the classification of the wild pigs from livestock to predators, allowing people to trap them without facing legal trouble, said ODA director Chuck Craig.

"This way, land owners can take care of the problem without government involvement," he said.

The new classification would eliminate the need for control areas and safeguard hunters from claims that someone owned the slain pig, Craig said.

[mechanical head]

Saturday night he was driving from GR to Mt. Pleasant, just past Morley on 5 mile Rd he ran into a 200lb sow !!! Holy **** did it ever do damage to his car. The officer on the scene told my friend that 20 or so escaped from a breeder in the area about a month ago and only caught half of them that got out.

[Danatodd99]

I sure hope your friend decides to take legal action against the farmer for not properly controling his livestock.
If it did that much damage to his vehicle, he could make the farmer pay for repairs.

[Dom]

I kinda hope they spread and a season is opened on them. As long as the population is controlled, the damage they do would be controlled. Hunting them is a challenge. Appears they are in a snow belt area -- they can survive hard, long, cold, winters, with lots of snow, but I don't know about 3 or 4 feet of snow. They may migrate more to the Southern Yooper. Here's a decent Boar I shot a couple weeks ago -- what you're up against if they do open. Not the best pic, but I shot this decent Boar about 3 weeks ago. One suggestion -- hunt from an elevated stand, and if legal, at night, Waidmannsheil, Dom.
http://www.hunting-pictures.com/members/DomKnoll/KeilerDec02.gif