Wild Pig Meat?

[Mikey88]

I recently killed my first wild pig and am enjoying the meat a whole lot!

I was concerned about the things I have heard about the diseases they may carry!

 

[Mikey88]

Continued...

Sorry, I hit the wrong key!

Anyway, do you wear gloves while field dressing the pig and do you cook the meat any special way?

I was reading a post here and heard that brucellosis almost killed him! I love pig hunting but just want to know the safest way to enjoy the meat!
Thanks

Mike

 

[Shot]

With wild animals there are always concerns about diseases. Has the though very crossed my mind, maybe only twice. I have been hunting pigs since I was 6 years old (20 years now). Been eating wild hogs since I started eating sold food as an infant. I don't know of anyone who has gotten sick (I heard of people though). So what I am trying to say is enjoy your meat. The chances of getting a disease is pretty low.

To tell you the truth, I am more afraid of store bought meat than wild meat. And especially restaurants, I have heard of dozens people getting sick from restaurants (sushi), but I still go.

 

[hogwild757]

Like the above mention is there always gonna be caution and safety take when handling wild meat. But with wild boar/feral hog they some may carry brucelosis. A hunter should always wear a latex glove of some sort xtra protection.
I'm sure you heard the saying stupid is what supid does. When a person take the Hunter safety course the instuctors stress highly about wearing protection when dress game.
Non of that mucho stuff I don't protection its only for sissies, which is abunch of crap. It just takes one incedent to make you safer person so don't let it be your last. Its better to be safe then sorry.
I prick my finger while dressing a hog and I was wearing a glove and still got sick. Plus the fact of wearing a glove reduces the amount of blood you have clean after wards. Make sure you take out of the field what you brought in the field keep our hunting lands cleaner then you found it. Be safe good luck hunting.

 

[BDB]

I just hate wearing the darn gloves as I don't get the same feel when I have my hands up inside trying to loosen up the goodies. I should wear them, I know that. But if I nick myself enough to break skin, it's going to cut the glove anyway. So yes, wear gloves and eat up, mmm mmm good

 

[Uncle Ji]

just make sure you ice it down ASAP, and cook it all the wat thru (always well done) and there should be no problem. Slow and low as in kalua pig or barbeque will kill anything nasty there might be.

 

[Rancho Loco]

I wear exam gloves when dressing and skinning - just to keep the clean-up easy.

 

[bossgobbler]

I know a lot of guys who don't whare gloves and have never been sick. Maybe its just a matter of time and there luck might run out. Here is a web site that may give you some more info as far as safe cooking recomendations and freezing temperatures that kill trichinosis. They have alot of great recipee ideas as well. I enjoy hunting wild pigs because they are good eating. I prefer 125 lbs. or less which to me taste the best. Finger lickin good.

Check out the following website. I hope it helps.
www.brokenarrowranch.com/ Articles/Articles-Trichinosis.htm

Bossgobbler

 

[doccherry]

On the Big Island of Hawaii, leptospirosis is a real problem, brucellosis secondarily, within the feral pig population. Field studies show that as many as 10% of the pigs carry the little bug in their blood and in their urinary bladder. It's a nasty disease, much worse than a bad case of the flu. I wear the blue nitrile gloves which are much stronger than latex gloves---you can buy them at Home Depot or Lowe's---and they only cost about 80 cents per pair. I always wear them when butchering hogs. I figure if I kill 15 hogs per year or so, at some point that disease will sneak up and clobber me if I'm not careful with the blood and urine.

By the way, if you like your meat rare, if you freeze wild pork for 15 days or more at 15 degrees or less, everything in it is killed. That comes from several Dept. of Ag studies. I freeze my pork that way and then cook it medium rare. Much, much tastier that way and no worries about getting sick [unless you drink a case of beer with it].

Welcome to the world of hog hunting.

 

[Mikey88]

Thanks everyone for the replies and all the helpful info!

I feel much better about eating the pork and feeding some to my wife and daughter too!