Feral Hogs? In Indiana?

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

From the Indiana hunting guide:

Feral Hog
Reporting
Populations of feral (or wild, free-ranging)
swine have been a problem in pockets around
the state in the past. In addition to being a
disease/predatory threat to Indiana livestock
and poultry production, they are known to
cause damage to crops and native plants and are
detrimental to native wildlife and their habitats.
As part of a risk assessment program, the
Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH)
is asking hunters who spot or take a feral hog
to report the animal to the agency. Reports will
help BOAH and DNR determine if additional
census, disease monitoring and/or control steps
are necessary.
Anyone who sees or takes a feral hog
should call BOAH at (877) 747-3038 or
email: animalhealth@boah.IN.gov to report
the approximate location, number, sex and
estimated size of the animal(s).

Has anyone seen these? I take it they can be hunted any time. Where did they come from? Are they farm escapees or what?

I've never hog hunted and frankly, I don't see feral hogs as a bad thing.

How would one go about hog hunting? Would a .45acp work, or should I use a rifle or shotgun, if I should be able to even find these critters?

Josh <><

[Disposable Heart]

YES!!! I was waiting for those snortin' bastards to come north! Time for my .460 Weatherby to shine!!!

[melensdad]

I would love to see feral hogs in my area, however my farmer neighbors hold a completely different view on the topic. They are known to be VERY destructive to crops and can literally destroy a field if their population is only modest in size. I know people in other states who would love to get rid of their feral hogs.

Again, I'm looking at this from the 'sport' standpoint, but there is no good reason to allow them to remain in any area where farming occurs. They escape from farms, breed and become wild. Hogs are smart animals, adapt easily to living in the wild.

Not sure that I'd use a 45acp, 357 on up should be good. They have a reputation for being pretty tough, but the reputation is often overblown. A good buddy of mine is a hog hunter and uses handguns to take them. The problem is that many people take body shots and hogs can easily weigh hundreds of pounds so handguns can be ineffective if shot placement is not perfect. My buddy waits for them to drop their heads and shoot them from above, breaking the spine where it meets the skull. He hunts with a 44 magnum. A slight miss results in a bullet the runs into the thorasic (sp?) cavity (lungs/heart area).

If they do come north in any quantities I'd think the 458 Socom would become very popular in Indiana. It is legal for deer hunting and would do a great job on wild hogs!!!

[Josh Smith]

If I can find populations, I believe I will use the .45 as a backup with an SKS as a primary.

My reasoning is that a friend down in TX uses hot 9mm on up for these. I doubt they grow as large down there, but you never know...

Do you have any idea about how quickly these wild ones can turn? I'm talking if they charge - I take it they have the thick gristle shield around their heads and shoulders which makes turning at speed difficult, so you can just side step.

Josh <><

[jontheturboguy]

We used to have a skull of one around my parents farm here in Southern Indiana, but had to give it up to the DNR.

They do exist, and they are to be shot on site.

[Josh Smith]

I wonder what they taste like... acorn fed hog... hmmm....

Josh <><

[Annie Oakley]

For all my farming experience hogs were never my cup of tea...just something about them. Saw a show about them a couple of years ago and as soon as the first or second litter delivered in the wild the babies are back to what they were before man started keeping them. They said that one that escapes starts taking on the characteristics within a year.

[kedie]

When I was at Ft. Benning, I heard about guys hunting them with large knives. I don't know if this is true, and it sounds a little crazy to me. I have been told that wild boar is delicious though.

[haldir]

I ate some back 30 or more years ago. I don't remember it being very tasty, nor the bear meat. Our family were all hunters and for Christmas every year we would have a wild game feast. Great memories.

[paddling_man]

Originally Posted by kedie

When I was at Ft. Benning, I heard about guys hunting them with large knives. I don't know if this is true, and it sounds a little crazy to me. I have been told that wild boar is delicious though.

We had Russian Boars feral all over the Smokies in East Tennessee. Nasty, filthy, dangerous! They will even eat deer fawns. 30-30 did just fine in the short range shooting of the scrubby hills and mtns around Knoxville. Tn DNR wanted them shot on sight. As many and as often as possible. Good to eat when less than 200 lbs.

I've got a friend in Texas. They hunt with dogs and finish the hog with a large knife.