Posted: 11/26/2007 6:32:25 AM EDT
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Well, I was on my way home from hunting. I hunt in South Branch and I was coming form Rose City on 33 south and just before I got to 75, there was a small shop that had a buck pole and on that said pole was a 650lbs Feral Hog....the person who shot it said there is about 20 of them in a group....Damn, I wanted a PIC! I went and got gas, came back and he was already down and off to the butcher...the store owner showed me a map where they have been seen and where they have been killed...So lets just say that they are live and doing well in the Rose City, South Branch and West Branch area. |
Check this link on the michigan DNR website. www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10363-155439--,00.html |
Thanks for the link. I was unaware of the vital area being slightly further forward than in deer. Sounds like you just take the same precautions as with deer. |
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Thats the map they showed me! Also, my wife's uncle was about 1 mile from his house and he saw 3 of them trotting down the road! I told him, that if he had is CCW he could pulled ahead of them and put a couple rounds in them. THere was 2 sow's and a boar...he said they where huge! I need to get back up there and do some hog hunting.... ANt |
I'm in. I need something to shoot my new 30-30 at and I haven't been able to deer hunt yet. Never been and have nobody to teach me... Killin' feral hogs sounds like just the ticket. It looks like around Saginaw county has a large population. :) |
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So this brings up an interesting question... It seems I could go out and just hunt hogs. All I would need is a deer license and abide by deer hunting laws, correct? Don't really want to take a deer, but I'd be willing to get my feet wet up in a stand shooting at some pigs. If I had a bait pile with hog tracks around, I think odds would be pretty good. |
Years ago I took a parasitology class; a high percentage of wild pigs carry trichinosis. I can't remember the numbers now- it was something in the 5-10% neighborhood. |
Just need a small game license and they are good to go. If you have a valid license for deer, etc then you can shoot them as feral. Bird hunters should always carry a decent sidearm. They are around here, but don't always go back to the same place. Bait will work but they are notoriously difficult to predict. DNR has hopes of keeping the population down through hunters killing them, but they way they roam and breed like rabbits I don't think it will work. Joe |
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Just make sure you are in the correct counties listed on the DNR site. If you see a pig outside of a pen you are gtg. Farmers accept the fact that a loose pig could get shot. If you shoot a pig outside those shaded counties you will be in trouble. And to think you can go to this place Bear Mountain Lodge and pay a bunch of money, or do it for little to no cost if you can find some pigs. This is one of the places responsible for letting these get out in the public, guess we should thank them! |
Wouldn't a couple slugs in a different pocket be a better choice for hog? Most bird chokes are open enough to fire a slug accurately. My over/under shoots them really well. Are there laws against carrying slugs while bird hunting? I am getting into pheasant hunting soon, which is why I ask. Gonna try my hand at it on a farm first, then go out on my own after I'm more comfortable. |
Know of any hogs around here to hunt? |
also,someone had a few get loose out of a pen over in Midland county. sad thing though,this could turn into a huge problem,like how its in Texas. |
It is already becoming a problem. I'd say about two years ago they started popping up in Midland and West Branch areas. People would report a few, then you'd hear no one saw anymore for a while, figured they were wiped out. What we know is they move around alot and just because you haent seen any lately dont mean they're not around. Just look at the DNR map plus the fact that the DNR is putting some time and money into this now. Feral hogs have 2-3 litters a year with 5-7 young. They have few natural predators in Michigan other than Coyotes taking a few small ones, the bigger hogs are tuff. Maybe an answer for the UP wolf issue though. Maybe the wolves will get a taste for pork and leave the deer alone. Heres a pretty good site on the Texas Hogs Texas Boars |
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Last year around this time I saw one on the side of 75 around Gladwin. It was out grazing with a deer herd. On the Texas boars, if any of you guys are military theres a hunting lodge in central Texas owned by the Army that you can book time at and there are guides provided. |
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The area where they were released in Midland county (Kawkawlin flood area) was a regular haunt of mine years ago for deer and small game. I can see why they thrive there lots of places are difficult to get into so they can go about their business un-molested. Joe |
Kent County is open to hunting hogs. Just gotta find some. They have been taken here. Gotta check out some areas. Looks like at least 1 in Greenville. State game areas might be a good spot. |