Feral Hogs in Az!?

[hunter4life]

I have to second what LittleBear said. When it comes to something that can be hunted year round with no limits, the location should be kept secret if you want to be able to hunt them for very long. Loose lips sink ships.

 

Over here in NM there was an area that had some decent feral hog hunting even though most locals knew about them. What finally knocked them back pretty bad was when Outdoor Life had an article about hunting in the off-season and mentioned the best location to find them. After this they got hammered and their numbers have stayed quite low.

[bobbyo]

 

Redrock/marana pig. I will tell you the exact spot of these pigs. Hunting will be poor. The previous sewer swamp is now an illegally bladed dust bowl. Save hunting. Shoot a developer.

Bob

[mattys281]

I have to second what LittleBear said. When it comes to something that can be hunted year round with no limits, the location should be kept secret if you want to be able to hunt them for very long. Loose lips sink ships.

 

Over here in NM there was an area that had some decent feral hog hunting even though most locals knew about them. What finally knocked them back pretty bad was when Outdoor Life had an article about hunting in the off-season and mentioned the best location to find them. After this they got hammered and their numbers have stayed quite low.

 

I can't knock anyone for keeping their favorite spots quiet, but have mixed feelings on this particular species. On one side I really like the idea of being able to hunt something "big" year round w/out drawing tags. From that perspective, it would be nice to keep the good spots on the down-low & give 'em a chance to establish a decent population.

 

The other side of that coin is that wild pigs breed several times a year & one sow can produce over a dozen piglets during that year, all of which are breeding & producing more piglets before they are a year old. Their populations tend to grow exponentially when not firmly controlled. From what I've read, they're very destructive on habitat and can potentially put extreme competitive strain on indigenous species in the area. That's particularly concerning when we have a declining mule deer herd as it is. I don't think that they get a lot of hunting pressure in our state, though. They must not be well adapted to our dry climate, as they don't seem to have really taken off they way they have in other states.

 

I do know one thing for sure, they'll have a little more pressure on them real soon.

[azpackhorse]

If someone wants to know where I've seen feral hogs PM me and I'll tell ya, it's the same area that bobbyo was in.

They are fun to hunt and I don't mind sharing "secret spots' lol!

[DesertBull]

Kill'em all. We don't need them here.

[bobbyo]

Kill'em all. We don't need them here.

The pigs or the developers?

Bob

[DesertBull]

Kill'em all. We don't need them here.

The pigs or the developers?

Bob

 

 

LOL! I decline further comment.

 

[azhuntnut]

Wasn't there some down by Mammoth and Reddington at one time. David

[Tucson John]

I flung an arrow at one about 10 years ago down at Buenos. This was before rangefinders and I was shooting and old and slow PSE. That's my excuse for missing and I'm sticking to it! After the shot I followed the hog to an area where it looked like dozens lived. I never saw that pig or any others though.

 

TJ

[Tines]

This is my sister-in-law. She shot this hog back in '99. Not sure the weight but it was HEAVY! My nephew, her son, shot one a few months later in the same area that was a little bigger. We lost the roll of film on that pig. Sorry this picture is so bad. We used to see them everytime we wanted to.

 

Brian (azpackhorse) is right. There's a jerk out in Marana that wiped out the herd. Supposedly there's a few left and they may take hold but developers and morons don't help. I saw a small herd in 2003 but that's the last time. I also haven't been out there as much.

[COOSEFAN]

I have to second what LittleBear said. When it comes to something that can be hunted year round with no limits, the location should be kept secret if you want to be able to hunt them for very long. Loose lips sink ships.

 

Over here in NM there was an area that had some decent feral hog hunting even though most locals knew about them. What finally knocked them back pretty bad was when Outdoor Life had an article about hunting in the off-season and mentioned the best location to find them. After this they got hammered and their numbers have stayed quite low.

 

I can't knock anyone for keeping their favorite spots quiet, but have mixed feelings on this particular species. On one side I really like the idea of being able to hunt something "big" year round w/out drawing tags. From that perspective, it would be nice to keep the good spots on the down-low & give 'em a chance to establish a decent population.

 

The other side of that coin is that wild pigs breed several times a year & one sow can produce over a dozen piglets during that year, all of which are breeding & producing more piglets before they are a year old. Their populations tend to grow exponentially when not firmly controlled. From what I've read, they're very destructive on habitat and can potentially put extreme competitive strain on indigenous species in the area. That's particularly concerning when we have a declining mule deer herd as it is. I don't think that they get a lot of hunting pressure in our state, though. They must not be well adapted to our dry climate, as they don't seem to have really taken off they way they have in other states.

 

I do know one thing for sure, they'll have a little more pressure on them real soon.

 

 

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I personnally don't know much about the hogs I mentioned.......I do know that they have been overlooked and are hard to find. If anyone finds one of the herds I mentioned off the info I gave........they deserve it! I have not hunted these hogs...yet........but I do know that I have hunted the area since before I was old enough to hunt.....and I have never seen one! They are there though, just have to know exactly where. My buddies have found the heards almost every time out and there are alot more hogs out there than most people would believe......they are breeding like crazy in the short time that they have been out there.....I definitely think they need to be hunted hard..... the native critters don't need the competition! I also agree, "loose lips, sink ships", and I didn't realize I may have given too much info, but the hogs I know of can't be found just by going off what I mentioned. They are not my hogs or my spot to be giving out directions to, that is my bad To anyone headin' out to smoke a hog.....best of luck, I plan to do just that on Sunday ...hopefully! JIM>

[audsley]

I believe all the BANWR hogs are gone now. I heard one on the Buenos Aires about 10 years ago. How do I know it was a hog? Because I'm from Missouri where the sound of hogs rooting is as common as the sound of wind.

 

Now I have a question. I've heard feral hogs are not good to eat. I can't imagine why that would be true. But you might recall that huge "hogzilla" someone killed a couple of years ago back east and there was speculation it was a hoax until someone dug it up and took pictures. It was explained that feral hogs aren't good to eat. Keep in mind that this was not even a desert hog but one that should have had plenty of green stuff (though hogs will eat anything include dead humans.)

 

Anyone ever eat a feral hog?

[mattys281]

Haven't tried one yet, but from what I've been told, the sows & smaller boars are good & the bigger boars are good for sausage.

[bobbyo]

I believe all the BANWR hogs are gone now. I heard one on the Buenos Aires about 10 years ago. How do I know it was a hog? Because I'm from Missouri where the sound of hogs rooting is as common as the sound of wind.

 

Now I have a question. I've heard feral hogs are not good to eat. I can't imagine why that would be true. But you might recall that huge "hogzilla" someone killed a couple of years ago back east and there was speculation it was a hoax until someone dug it up and took pictures. It was explained that feral hogs aren't good to eat. Keep in mind that this was not even a desert hog but one that should have had plenty of green stuff (though hogs will eat anything include dead humans.)

 

Anyone ever eat a feral hog?

 

Feral hogs are tasty especially when compared to Javelina. Many people on this sight have had feral hog and love it. Some, myself included, like feral hog better than domesticated pig. Luau anyone. I even remember Desertbull complaining that his meat packer mixed in regular fatty pig with his hog and he was not very pleased.

Bob

[DesertBull]

The two that I have killed have been very good eating.