A PIG IS A HOG IS A WILD BOAR By Jim Foster Of course as most of us should no by now there are no hogs or pigs native to North America. Every pig animal was brought here from somewhere else as a domesticated farm animal only a few months away from becoming bacon. So the term “wild boar” should be “feral boar/feral pig”. Unless it’s female then it would be a “feral sow/feral pig”. Not really to dramatic when you look at it that way. In spite of that, one outfitter’s ad read, “The most exciting hunt you will ever take”. If that was the case then you either haven’t hunted much or maybe hunted nothing bigger than a red squirrel. I have hunted and killed many a feral hog over the years and have found them to be a worthy as well as tasty quarry. Hunting methods have been from a blind and feeder, with dogs, spot and stalk with black powder rifle, rifle, pistol, and a bow. Feral hogs are not dangerous unless with young or wounded and cornered. But, then again corner a wounded or scared house cat and see what happens. Sometime back someone got the idea that when a ranch hired them to trap excess hogs (there are always excess hogs) they could then turn around and sell them to other ranches whose idea was hunting them for profit. A short time later the ranches that bought the hogs learned how reproductive and destructive these imported swine could be. Soon they were hiring the same trappers to get them off – almost an impossible task. Moving on to Wisconsin – the year 2002, a motorist in Crawford County struck and killed a wild sow and five piglets. Next, farmers noticed their corn and soybean fields had been rooted up, followed by more wild pig sightings, crop damage and of course more car-pig insurance claims. It’s a proven fact a large hog can roll a car if hit head on. Investigators learned the pigs came from a trailer pulled by a man from Texas accused of opening the trailer door and allowing 31 pigs to escape into the fields. It had begun. Complaints poured in and state legislators changed the law. Robert S. Johnson, 55, of San Marcos, Texas, was cited this year for illegally stocking wild animals and is facing fines of as much as $31,000. His trial resumes October 24 before a Crawford County judge. Oh yes, as an added note, Robert owns an elk farm in Crawford County, maybe they should shut that down as well. The kicker is his nickname is Bubba. Go figure, huh? As of this writing feral pigs have now been sighted in more than 30 Wisconsin counties and are spreading. So friends and hunters go enjoy a little pig hunting if you get the chance, in Texas and other states you will need a valid hunting license to hunt. But, in Wisconsin the Department of Natural Recourses has issued a plea to hunters to shoot all the wild pigs they can — no license is needed. Maybe I need to take a trip to Wisconsin. If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please Email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com