Passel of hogs/boar

[The_Centaurian]

Mrs. Horse let me know that there was something scary behind us today. I looked over my shoulder, expecting something ridiculously un-scary… She had already spooked at the sprinkler today, acorns on the roof yesterday, and a towel on the trail last week, so I was expecting a good laugh… Only there was a large, mixed group of about 20 wild boar and hogs behind us!

I didn’t realize that the two species could join forces. The animals were supposed to have been contained, but obviously that did not work because now they are running loose on the polo field.

I don’t even like “cute” pigs like Wilbur or Babe! Under the circumstances, I let Mrs. Horse trot the rest of the way home.

[The_Centaurian]

I know wild boar are a nuisance just about everywhere in my region. Has anyone had success managing these animals, either as a landowner, barn manager, or boarder?

I considered carrying a firearm, but Mrs. Horse would definitely not tolerate mounted shooting, and I’m not sure how the landowner would react if I shot one of his hogs, even considering that they have gone feral.

Should I carry a bow and arrow? Teach my horse to capriole? Or is avoiding this terrifying passel just the price I pay for riding where I routinely see rabbits, deer, waterfowl, and other wildlife?

[mountainhorse]

They are a huge problem-I would think landowner would want them gone-depending on what they do with the land. Farmers would have them shot as destructive as they are to crops. Hunters might take them to hunt. If landowner is also the barn owner, then definitely get them gone.
If you are riding on land that someone else owns with no direct relation to the barn or that uses the land for profit, that is harder, and I would be cautious riding there. One spook and you fall amongst the boars, could be a big issue.
They are dangerous creatures that are overpopulated-especially in your area,…I would do something to remedy it, like contact the landowner for a solution.

[JanM]

Where I live it’s open season on them, since they are considered destructive pests. Tell the landowner, and I’m betting he’ll get them removed.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=JanM;8951719]
Where I live it’s open season on them, since they are considered destructive pests. Tell the landowner, and I’m betting he’ll get them removed.[/QUOTE]

Same here, they are destructive to everything, fields, pastures barns, wells, watering holes/springs, wildlife.

South of here, they use helicopters to try to thin them down.
Here we trap them, only way to try to control numbers.

As the game wardens tell us, harassing feral hogs is the best way to keep them on the move, don’t let them make themselves at home there.

[cutter99]

They are extremely destructive and can reproduce very, very quickly. They can be very aggressive and I would be concerned by for both your safety and that of your horse. As a hog farmer myself, we have a hard and fast rule that we never handle our boars (intact males) alone due to the danger involved. Be very careful if you are dismounted around them. I would automatically assume there are intact males in the herd.

People pay big bucks to have them removed. There are professional hunters who will come in and remove them for a fee.

[The_Centaurian]

[QUOTE=cutter99;8952254]
They are extremely destructive and can reproduce very, very quickly. They can be very aggressive and I would be concerned by for both your safety and that of your horse. As a hog farmer myself, we have a hard and fast rule that we never handle our boars (intact males) alone due to the danger involved. Be very careful if you are dismounted around them. I would automatically assume there are intact males in the herd.

People pay big bucks to have them removed. There are professional hunters who will come in and remove them for a fee.[/QUOTE]

I talked to the barn manager about it after the sighting, and apparently the landowner has castrated all of the hogs, and killed at least 15 animals recently (not sure if it was boars, hogs, piglets).

Can the feral male boar reproduce with the hogs?

They are very destructive, indeed, and very scary! Lots of cookies for my smart old mare for getting us out of dodge safely.

[OTTB2]

They are GOOD eating, your best bet is a trusty 30-06 and have a field day. Many food pantries as long as its prepped correctly will happily take hog meat. Its good meat.

[wireweiners]

Feral hogs are the same species as domestic hogs. They are like mustangs or feral cats, domestic hogs that have escaped and gone wild. So yes, they can reproduce.

Young feral hogs can be good eating but the mature hogs, especially the boars, have a strong, gamey taste. Someone shot a large boar last year and dumped the carcass on the roadside. The buzzards and coyotes wouldn’t even touch it.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=wireweiners;8953752]
Feral hogs are the same species as domestic hogs. They are like mustangs or feral cats, domestic hogs that have escaped and gone wild. So yes, they can reproduce.

Young feral hogs can be good eating but the mature hogs, especially the boars, have a strong, gamey taste. Someone shot a large boar last year and dumped the carcass on the roadside. The buzzards and coyotes wouldn’t even touch it.[/QUOTE]

Here, other feral hogs clean them up where you don’t even find hair or bones left.

Feral hogs are the ultimate scavenger.

[keysfins]

[QUOTE=cutter99;8952254]
They are extremely destructive and can reproduce very, very quickly. They can be very aggressive and I would be concerned by for both your safety and that of your horse. As a hog farmer myself, we have a hard and fast rule that we never handle our boars (intact males) alone due to the danger involved. Be very careful if you are dismounted around them. I would automatically assume there are intact males in the herd.

People pay big bucks to have them removed. There are professional hunters who will come in and remove them for a fee.[/QUOTE]

That’s interesting, and may depend on location. My DH has been hog hunting several times in mid-Florida on private property. HE paid the land owner/guide for the privilege of taking a couple of sows. Each year he hunted, we had a pro do a slow pig roast. Good eats!

But do NOT feed to your dogs, if you think it is a good source of game meat. I was considering doing so, especially the organs, but learned that the feral hogs/boar can carry a virus that can be fatal to dogs, called pseudo-rabies. No issue for humans, big issue for dogs. Also a big issue as a reservoir for the virus.

[keysfins]

[QUOTE=cutter99;8952254]
They are extremely destructive and can reproduce very, very quickly. They can be very aggressive and I would be concerned by for both your safety and that of your horse. As a hog farmer myself, we have a hard and fast rule that we never handle our boars (intact males) alone due to the danger involved. Be very careful if you are dismounted around them. I would automatically assume there are intact males in the herd.

People pay big bucks to have them removed. There are professional hunters who will come in and remove them for a fee.[/QUOTE]

That’s interesting, and may depend on location. My DH has been hog hunting several times in mid-Florida on private property. HE paid the land owner/guide for the privilege of taking a couple of sows. Each year he hunted, we had a pro do a slow pig roast. Good eats!

But do NOT feed to your dogs, if you think it is a good source of game meat. I was considering doing so, especially the organs, but learned that the feral hogs/boar can carry a virus that can be fatal to dogs, called pseudo-rabies. No issue for humans, big issue for dogs. Also a big issue as a reservoir for the virus.

[The_Centaurian]

[QUOTE=keysfins;8954293]
That’s interesting, and may depend on location. My DH has been hog hunting several times in mid-Florida on private property. HE paid the land owner/guide for the privilege of taking a couple of sows. Each year he hunted, we had a pro do a slow pig roast. Good eats!

But do NOT feed to your dogs, if you think it is a good source of game meat. I was considering doing so, especially the organs, but learned that the feral hogs/boar can carry a virus that can be fatal to dogs, called pseudo-rabies. No issue for humans, big issue for dogs. Also a big issue as a reservoir for the virus.[/QUOTE]

I think this was the landowner’s initial plan, until the population exploded from rampant reproduction and started causing serious damage to the $$$ manicured turf, farmland, and generally scaring the h*ll out of everyone!

The feral critters look so different from the domestics, it’s hard to believe they’re the same species capable of interbreeding. The feral ones are smaller, hairier, lighter colored with a longer, hairy tail that sticks straight up when they run and I think (I fear!) tusks. The domestics are much taller and fatter, black skin with very little hair, tails and snouts like the little pigs in storybooks, only gigantic.

Word is that the whole population is slated for capture/slaughter, so we will have to see how that turns out.

[Lady_Eboshi]

[QUOTE=The Centaurian;8951585]
I know wild boar are a nuisance just about everywhere in my region. Has anyone had success managing these animals, either as a landowner, barn manager, or boarder?

I considered carrying a firearm, but Mrs. Horse would definitely not tolerate mounted shooting, and I’m not sure how the landowner would react if I shot one of his hogs, even considering that they have gone feral.

Should I carry a bow and arrow? Teach my horse to capriole? Or is avoiding this terrifying passel just the price I pay for riding where I routinely see rabbits, deer, waterfowl, and other wildlife?[/QUOTE]

Yoicks!!! :eek: Think I’d teach my horse to RUN!!! :lol:

[cutter99]

Part of the difference in appearance is the husbandry you see in modern day hog farming. We dock the tails and remove the tusks at less than a couple days old. The feral hogs you see do not have size to them as they are foraging for food and do not benefit from modern nutrition or the genetics we use in modern day hog production.

[cloudyandcallie]

Cloudy never spooked at feral hogs running past him at one barn.
Ditto the herd of deer at another barn. He even thought a male pit bull was a “nice doggie.”:eek:
Ditto the gators at one barn.
Hattie freaked when I moved to a barn with a potbellied pig. Of course the male pig just loved Hattie and she finally got used to him sleeping in her pasture under her hay after she tried unsuccessfully to convince Cloudy that said pig was really a bear who would eat him.

[Guilherme]

[QUOTE=The Centaurian;8951585]
I know wild boar are a nuisance just about everywhere in my region. Has anyone had success managing these animals, either as a landowner, barn manager, or boarder?

We don’t have any right around us be if we did I suspect we’d have a “neighborhood feral hog termination group” formed before long. Frankly you “control” them by killing them.

I considered carrying a firearm, but Mrs. Horse would definitely not tolerate mounted shooting, and I’m not sure how the landowner would react if I shot one of his hogs, even considering that they have gone feral.

Most horses can be gun broke just as most horses can be broke to cross water or pass red firetrucks or do any number of “scary” things. Every now and then you get one that won’t do (I’ve had one that wouldn’t) and that’s just how things are.

If you are in an “open range state” then livestock that is estrayed can’t be killed just for being estrayed. If they cause damage then the owner may have to pay for it. If your state requires livestock to be confined then the protections for estrayed stock are less rigorous and the damages owners look at are more serious.

Should I carry a bow and arrow? Teach my horse to capriole? Or is avoiding this terrifying passel just the price I pay for riding where I routinely see rabbits, deer, waterfowl, and other wildlife?[/QUOTE]

I suspect the latter!

Although some friends of mine in Ocala are very much into mounted archery. I’ve seen a couple of demos and it’s an impressive skill. But I’d not try tackling feral pigs or wild boar that way, though!

G.

[ecpolo]

Hogs rooting up a nice polo field is truly a nightmarish concept. I have heard they attack horses. If I were you I would carry a gun just in case. I doubt your horse would mind you firing off a few rounds if you two were being attacked…

[Guilherme]

[QUOTE=ecpolo;8958106]
Hogs rooting up a nice polo field is truly a nightmarish concept. I have heard they attack horses. If I were you I would carry a gun just in case. I doubt your horse would mind you firing off a few rounds if you two were being attacked…[/QUOTE]

If you don’t threaten them it’s unlikely they would be aggressive. I’ve read that pigs don’t have great eyesight but very good hearing and smell. We kept a few several years ago and always ensured that we made noise so that they knew where we were. I sold a boar to a guy who paid me cash and said he’d be back to pick it up later. We had to go out on a quick errand and left him a note to wait for us. He didn’t and tried to round up the boar by himself. Not sure what happened but he got a nasty cut on his leg from a bite.

About two years ago we were on a hunt in the Big South Fork Wilderness Area. We didn’t turn up any fox or coyote, but did turn up a bear and two families of feral pigs (4-5 sows that ran 400+ lbs. and three piglet litters of a dozen or so each; this prolific breeding is why as a species they are so destructive). There was a boar around, but he was not close to the sows. Didn’t get a good look at him but he was not small.

If your horse isn’t gun broke DON’T carry a gun. You can shoot off of any horse once. But there can be unpleasant consequences.

If you see them, or if your horse does, then just give them some room and let them be.

G.

[csaper58]

[QUOTE=ecpolo;8958106]
Hogs rooting up a nice polo field is truly a nightmarish concept. I have heard they attack horses. If I were you I would carry a gun just in case. I doubt your horse would mind you firing off a few rounds if you two were being attacked…[/QUOTE]

Keep in mind… if you wound but don’t kill it, you should then track and kill it.

Wounded swine (domestic, feral, or wild) are dangerous.