Feral Pigs Taking US in Storm

[Jagermeister]

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/US/story?i...7845&page=1

This should give us something to work with in any state. There are already more pigs in CA than deer ...

George

 

[larrysogla]

Just my 2c opinion on the cause of the feral hog explosion in the U.S. is the loss of interest in the "hunting culture" of America. There was a BIG, BIG decline in the percentage of the population who hunted from the pre-WWII period to the present. It is my opinion that this allowed the feral pig population to boom in the last 10 years when fewer people were taking potshots at these critters. Before WWII when you saw a feral pig, you took 'em. Now you need to go to an 8??? hour hunter safety course, pay up for a hunting license and another fee for the pig tags, get a state handgun safety certification to buy a handgun, deal with neighbors and the public that are against hunting and against the noise of firearms and are horrified at the sight of bloody animals, deal with the danger of stumbling on a Marijuana farm, deal with the risk of transport of firearms in an unapproved manner, deal with the loss of shooting areas and shooting ranges, deal with the hassle of buying and installing gun safes for gun security, etc., etc. Too much hassle for somebody who is not passionate about hunting to deal with hunting anymore. The feral pigs are now roaming in densely forested suburban areas and in suburban wildlife parks where shooting is NOT allowed. Before WWII, these feral pigs would be gunned down by folks raised on shooting weapons and hunting rabbits for dinner. It is in my opinion a function of the urbanization and the "gang'sta crimes" that now weapons are tightly controlled and less people are able to just go out and shoot the piggies. For us passionate, licensed, pig tag carrying hog hunters these unfortunate turn of events are a blessing in disguise for now. Take 'em piggies while we can. 'Nuff said.

 

[dw33]

Demographics also play a part in the amount of people who hunt in America. More people live in cities and towns now than in rural areas, which, to say the least, limit hunting opportunties. It also limits interacting with nature. Now kids grow up playing Playstation and watching tv. The days of going rabbit hunting in the morning and evening are gone. Pretty sad really.

 

[larrysogla]

For the life of me, I do not know why a tightly controlled ARCHERY ONLY hog hunt is not allowed in the Santa Ana River Drainage. All I can think of is that it is a public relations issue with the Anti-Hunting public. With today's GPS carrying hunter, the hunt can be confined to out of the way areas of the drainage. It is very doable, just a public relations risk for the Land Managers. Sad. 'Nuff said.

 

[dw33]

Larry, I also wondered why they called it off. Public relations department is probably a good bet. If the wild pigs ever injure anyone they will be in a legal nightmare though. You don't really hear about pigs leaving the riverbottom, but when they do, the local government will probably hire a company to get rid of them, when they could have headed off the problem by allowing controlled hunts, (say four times a year?). I agree, it can definitely be done in a safe manner.

 

[Cabowhntr]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (larrysogla @ Dec 16 2006, 08:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

For the life of me, I do not know why a tightly controlled ARCHERY ONLY hog hunt is not allowed in the Santa Ana River Drainage. All I can think of is that it is a public relations issue with the Anti-Hunting public. With today's GPS carrying hunter, the hunt can be confined to out of the way areas of the drainage. It is very doable, just a public relations risk for the Land Managers. Sad. 'Nuff said.

[/b]

My daughter rides horses out there and says they have seen many wild pigs in the river bed,..I say maybe an organized effort by people who like the ARCHERY ONLY idea might help..any ideas who to contact?

 

[dw33]

County governments? Where has she seen the pigs? Norco area? Eventually they will work their way up to the foothills bordering national forest land, if they are already not there. Hey, I think I will go exploring up there soon. Rabbit or quail hunting, pig exploring, should be fun.

 

[Cabowhntr]

Yeah, Norco...just a bit south of limonite....

Hows that for close to home!!

 

[dw33]

10 minutes, lol. I am going to buy a bow and practice and wait for "The Day."

 

[larrysogla]

That is so frustrating to know that wild pigs are proliferating so close to home and there are out of the way areas in the Santa Ana River Drainage where an archery ONLY hunt with GPS carrying hunters can harvest the piggies. We all know it is the yuppies that populate our local goobermints that is stopping this from happening.
The more I appreciate public servants like Ranger Joel of the Sonoma Lake District who go out of their way to help hunters like us. Man that is frustrating. 'Nuff said.