The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: tombogan03884 on November 27, 2011, 11:37:42 PM
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You folks in Ga and Texas have been bitching about your "feral hogs" for a while, a few weeks ago there was a post about them spreading into NY.
Well, now they seem to be becoming a problem here in NH.
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20111128/NEWS01/711289958&source=RSS
New Hampshire has a documented wild boar population in the southwestern part of the state and wildlife biologists are becoming increasingly concerned.
Brought to America by Spanish settlers in the 1500s as a meat source and imported again in the 1800s to be hunted in gated, private parks, some have escaped over the years and are eating everything in sight, including threatened and endangered species, biologists say.
Nationally there are more than 20 million wild pigs. In the Granite State, feral and free-ranging swine number in the hundreds, but they have adapted well and reproduce quickly, according to New Hampshire Fish and Game Wildlife biologist Mark Ellingwood.
Omnivores who dwell in packs, they eat everything from roots and worms, amphibians to deer fawns and can destroy a lawn, a garden and sensitive habitats in hours, he said.
Parker Hall, the USDA’s state wildlife services program director, said the wild pigs “are becoming an issue of increasing alarm to all wildlife agencies,” because they are growing in numbers nationally, destroying environmental communities, pushing out native species and imperilling endangered species.
He said of particular concern here are New Hampshire’s amphibian and reptile population and native plant communities in swamps, some of which are listed as federally threatened or endangered.
Private park
Many of the feral pigs populating the East Coast are believed to have their origins in Tennessee. But New Hampshire has its own swine tradition that dates back to the 1890s, when Austin Corbin II of Newport founded a private hunting park.
Fish and Game Lt. Bob Bryant said Corbin Park is the last of the major game preserves in the state, and is some 24,000 acres, regulated by Fish and Game.
To this day, Corbin Park members hunt descendants of the Russian and German boar the man known as “the father of banking” brought to the state, along with deer and elk and other large game animals.
In 1949, the legislature passed the boar damage law, requiring “persons responsible for their introduction with their ownership” to be responsible for all damage of escaped boars. Since then, the state considers New Hampshire boars as the property of the park. The park itself does not claim ownership. But because of the law related to ownership, there can be no regulated hunt, Bryant said.
The animals are considered escaped property of Blue Mountain Forest Association, also known as Corbin Park. Gerald Merrill, manager of the park, did not return calls for comment.
Ask for permission
Bryant said hunters must ask for permission to shoot a boar. While park officials do not claim animals outside the fence are theirs, they readily give permission to those who want to shoot the animals.
“You still have to call them for permission,” he said.
He added that boars can be taken by hunters with a valid hunting license; the hours for hunting during daylight hours also apply.
Scott Gilroy, president of the Blue Mountain Forest Association, said the organization is willing to fix damage caused by the boars, but it takes no ownership of them.
“Over the years, yes, some have escaped,” the more than 20 miles of 13-foot fence, which he said a crew maintains.
“We take our responsibility to be a good neighbor very seriously,” he said. “If there is damage to someone’s lawn, we will fix it.”
Similarly, when someone calls to shoot a boar, we say, ‘Please shoot it. We take no position on ownership, but we recognize the state RSA,’” making the park responsible for damage.
Gilroy said he had no estimates on the number of European wild boar in the association’s forest. Their numbers fluctuate with the severity of winters, he said.
What concerns the association, Gilroy said, is the southern wild pig migration, which is marching northward.
“In five or ten years we are concerned about that,” he said, noting that if the feral swine breed with boars that have escaped the park, the responsibility portion of the state law may need to be revisited.
Reports of damage
Helenette Silver’s “A History of New Hampshire Game and Furbearers,” published by Fish and Game in 1957, and considered by many to be the authoritative source on animals in New Hampshire during the past century, states that perhaps 25 to 30 animals escaped from the park soon after Corbin imported the two types of boars. She wrote they established a range in the towns of Croydon, Plainfield, Grantham and Cornish.
“A few have been spotted as far as Alexandria in Grafton County,” she wrote. A large fire on Blue Mountain in the 1950s was also believed to have led to the escape of some animals.
Ellingwood said there have also been sightings along the Connecticut River Valley as far away as Littleton and Lancaster, but most of the nuisance and reported damage is centered near Grantham and Cornish. Bryant agrees.
“They (Blue Mountain) won’t claim ownership for obvious reasons, but it’s pretty coincidental that they populate that area,” he said.
Still, Ellingwood said he can understand the park’s contention that they should not be singled out as the sole source of the problem.
Public awareness
Nationally, documented feral swine populations are on the rise. No other states directly surrounding New Hampshire have documented feral swine populations; the state started seeing reports of feral swine about 1985.
The pigs are between 100 and 300 pounds with rough hair, tusks and rapier-sharp teeth, according to Silver. They are difficult to hunt, wily, and “ornery animals you don’t want to fool with,” Ellingwood said. “We are concerned about their presence,” he said, primarily for ecological reasons.
In states where hunting has been allowed, there has been a rapid expansion of swine populations “by those who want to hunt” and illegally introduce swine to an area.
Fish and Game hopes to control the boars in New Hampshire through public awareness, by getting people to report sightings, by working with Blue Mountain to maintain their 20 miles of fence and having conservation officers kill the animals outside the park.
“These are aggressive foragers and will have an impact on habitat” if not kept in check, Ellingwood said.
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well get too hunting then...
;)
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Ask for permission to shoot a wild boar rampaging on my land? I think not. Methinks the law needs to be changed,
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Ask for permission to shoot a wild boar rampaging on my land? I think not. Methinks the law needs to be changed,
Just a thought, but when they see the vast amount of damage these beasts cause the stupid rules will be relaxed.
Here in Florida, you need no license to hunt on private land, before sun-up and after sun-down are fine, no permission is required except from the landowner.
And the beasts still manage to ruin thousands of acres of palmetto and woods and lawns and gardens.
Fortunately, they can also taste pretty good.
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Ask for permission to shoot a wild boar rampaging on my land? I think not. Methinks the law needs to be changed,
It was a reasonable law when it was passed, but it is now out of date.
Like laws still on the books regulating horse traffic.
When it was originally passed back in the late 30's the concern was imported boars escaped from game farms, mostly the mentioned Corbin Park which lost much of its stock to downed fences during the 1938 hurricane.
The law was not intended to deal with the migration of "wild" feral hogs from outside the state like they are seeing now.
My own opinion is that when the current legislation fails to control their spread there will be changes in the law.
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It was a reasonable law when it was passed, but it is now out of date.
Like laws still on the books regulating horse traffic.
When it was originally passed back in the late 30's the concern was imported boars escaped from game farms, mostly the mentioned Corbin Park which lost much of its stock to downed fences during the 1938 hurricane.
The law was not intended to deal with the migration of "wild" feral hogs from outside the state like they are seeing now.
My own opinion is that when the current legislation fails to control their spread there will be changes in the law.
If it was my business, I'd want nothing to do with the ones running wild.
By forcing permission to shoot them, it seems likely that an assumption of responsibility for damages might be bolstered.
What is needed is a bounty on them. Avid hunters would go for them anyway, but with a bounty, it would become a hobby/second income.
I imagine a land owner who is experiencing damage from them will be quick to grant permission to hunt his land and might chip in a bounty of his own.
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At the time the law was passed the responsibility/liability was not an issue, there were only a very few "Game Farms" that had boars, possibly just the one, and damage was limited to just one or 2 animals getting loose and creating problems in the vicinity.
None of that was in the part of the state now seeing damage though.
Like I posted above, changing circumstances will force a change in the existing law.
This would be the best time to impose a bounty, while they are still merely a PITA in a relatively small area.
That is not what will happen though.
Politicians will first hope they just go away, then they will try PETA approved "humane methods",finally when the hogs out number squirrels and are tearing up the State house lawn the politicians will finally pass a law that says "Shoot those f*ckers on sight day or night, year round !"
Of course by then it will be to late to due any good.
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Several folks are making good money down here at it. Like Solus said, a bounty of sorts might not be a bad idea. The one caveat would be inexperienced folks just going out and blasting away at anything that moves.
http://www.jagerpro.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/JAGERPRO
JAGER PRO is the only outfitter in the United States who guides hunters at night using military grade thermal technology and semi-automatic 308 rifles to perform thermal hog control in southwest Georgia. There is NO LIMIT on the number of hogs killed per night during these hog control missions. All pork is processed for hunters or donated to churches and local families. Open hunt dates are available under "Book Your Hunt" on the website calendar. Come enjoy the most exciting tactical boar hunt of your life!
About Me:
Rod Pinkston is the owner of JAGER PRO™ Hog Control Systems and earned his living as a Soldier for 24 years. He retired as NCOIC of the United States Army Marksmanship Unit's Olympic Shooting Team at Fort Benning, Georgia after his Soldiers won two gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. He is also a Senior Field Editor with Boar Hunter Magazine, a member of the National Wildlife Control Operators Association and earned the coveted Jagdschein hunting European boars in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.
JAGER PRO, LLC was established in May of 2006 to help reduce the economic and environmental damage caused by wild hogs in the state of Georgia. Our mission is to provide farmers and plantation owners with innovative wild hog management through the implementation of high-tech night vision and thermal equipment. We accomplish this mission by offering hunting clients the ultimate tactical boar hunting experience and adventure. We apply our military experience and thermal technology to wild hog management to be the premier outfitter and hog control operator in the state of Georgia.
Hometown:Columbus, Georgia
Country:United States
Occupation:Professional Hunter & Speaker
Companies:JAGER PRO™ Hog Control Systems
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Very cool Peg
How do we get this job? Anyone interested in a startup business?
FQ13
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Very cool Peg
How do we get this job? Anyone interested in a startup business?
FQ13
I calculate a lot of overhead. ;D ;D ;D ;D
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I calculate a lot of overhead. ;D ;D ;D ;D
I think our former sergeant might have gotten the "lost in combat" discount on some of that overhead. As for the rifles? Well, maybe we couldget DPMS to sponsor us. Making hog hunting a big money competition like Bass fishing or kingfish tournaments has potential. I mean hell, the founder of BASS got richer than God by organizing a bunch of rednecks and then convincing sporting goods companies they could make a bundle if they'd pony up some prize money and give out some free gear. Why not a hog hunting tour? I like it. ;D
FQ13
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Do it like the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Largest hog for a single derby wins those prizes, at the end of the season the shooter with largest total of weight wins the big prize, one entry per shoot. ;D
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Do it like the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Largest hog for a single derby wins those prizes, at the end of the season the shooter with largest total of weight wins the big prize, one entry per shoot. ;D
Nah, that wouldn't work. You need land owner cooperation and they want them all dead, not just the big ones. It would have to be largest number, total weight, and biggest hog in about that order as far as prize money goes. Perversely, I can actually see this working. Land owners who don't want to pay trappers, rednecks who want to kill stuff (us), and gun and assorted companies who want to sell stuff. Its the perfect storm of bloodlust and capitalism all wrapped up in an environmentally friendly banner. After all, its for the children ;D. All we need now is a shady promoter with industry connections. MB?, that's your cue. Hogapolooza 2012 anyone? ;)
FQ13
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"perfect storm of bloodlust and capitalism" made me lol. :)
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Methinks tom, that a certain bullet, like Hornady TAP, in a certain local platform could stock one's freezer well for the Winter....
and a mighty tasty BBQ in true Infidel Spring fashion.... ;)
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/dscf2641d.jpg)
Go Get One!!!!
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Methinks tom, that a certain bullet, like Hornady TAP, in a certain local platform could stock one's freezer well for the Winter....
and a mighty tasty BBQ in true Infidel Spring fashion.... ;)
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/dscf2641d.jpg)
Go Get One!!!!
I was wondering if it would work on a large one. How many grains, what configuration, and how many rounds? I'd use the .270, but I WANT to use the AR. ;)
FQ13
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Barnes 70 gr. if you want to pay. Hornady TAP 75gr. HP's ( a local favorite)....and Federal Fusion 62gr or 64 gr. SP.
Regardless of twist rate, most hog shots as you know, are less than 100-even 75 yds....More like 40yds, or less.
I think a 16" AR can and should be able to put one in a coffee saucer target at that range.
Right behind the ear.....upper neck, spinal devastation. ::)
Got Bacon?
From a handloader for those so inclined...
64 grain fusion over 25.1 of varget is good for just over 1 inch at a hundred without trimming brass. It kills shit dead.
8)
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Barnes 70 gr. if you want to pay. Hornady TAP 75gr. HP's ( a local favorite)....and Federal Fusion 62gr or 64 gr. SP.
Regardless of twist rate, most hog shots as you know, are less than 100-even 75 yds....More like 40yds, or less.
I think a 16" AR can and should be able to put one in a coffee saucer target at that range.
Right behind the ear.....upper neck, spinal devastation. ::)
Got Bacon?
From a handloader for those so inclined...
64 grain fusion over 25.1 of varget is good for just over 1 inch at a hundred without trimming brass. It kills shit dead.
8)
A friend gets excellent results using the 70gr Barnes TSX over the Varget (I don't know the powder load).
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Methinks tom, that a certain bullet, like Hornady TAP, in a certain local platform could stock one's freezer well for the Winter....
and a mighty tasty BBQ in true Infidel Spring fashion.... ;)
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/dscf2641d.jpg)
Go Get One!!!!
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............................bacon. ;D
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I have a scar on my leg that says a 30,06 will not pentrate a pigs skull, twice.
sure you can kill them with a 22 short, but when they charge, look out.
a marlin guide gun in 45 70 with 400+ grainers is my gun of choice now.
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I've seen a .357 magnum bounce off a hog's head.........(heck, I've seen a .22 mag bounce off a glass bottle).
It's all a matter of angles.......which is why I don't shoot for the head (I do not put myself in a situation where a charging head-shot is an option).
I either shoot for the neck of go for the heart/lung.
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I've seen a .357 magnum bounce off a hog's head.........(heck, I've seen a .22 mag bounce off a glass bottle).
It's all a matter of angles.......which is why I don't shoot for the head (I do not put myself in a situation where a charging head-shot is an option).
I either shoot for the neck of go for the heart/lung.
when you are running back up for 2 bow hunters, you don't always have that option. any of the 2 arrows or 3 x 30.06 would have been fatal. The last shot litterly went in thru the nose and came out the butt. I figured a m1 would be a great choice, heavy, but offered rapid shots and is fairly soft shooting for a rifle. It was that or a 12 ga. I figured if I needed to get a pig off some one, a rilfe was a much better choice then a slug.
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when you are running back up for 2 bow hunters, you don't always have that option. any of the 2 arrows or 3 x 30.06 would have been fatal. The last shot litterly went in thru the nose and came out the butt. I figured a m1 would be a great choice, heavy, but offered rapid shots and is fairly soft shooting for a rifle. It was that or a 12 ga. I figured if I needed to get a pig off some one, a rilfe was a much better choice then a slug.
The M1 would have given you a bayonet at least. ;D
FQ13
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Heck, there have been reports of 9mm bouncing off of human skulls. It's why you shoot for center mass vital areas first!
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I've seen a 357 do it at less then 5'
Lets just say that was the last time I took mass transit.
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when you are running back up for 2 bow hunters, you don't always have that option. any of the 2 arrows or 3 x 30.06 would have been fatal. The last shot litterly went in thru the nose and came out the butt. I figured a m1 would be a great choice, heavy, but offered rapid shots and is fairly soft shooting for a rifle. It was that or a 12 ga. I figured if I needed to get a pig off some one, a rilfe was a much better choice then a slug.
Understand, 100%.
I'm not physically mobile enough to play back-up any more. If I hog hunt anymore, it is from a box blind, 50 yards from the "pig chow" with a .308. Back when we hunted in the deeper woods, I used a 12ga pump with magnum buck loads and 2 .44 magnum Rugers as back-up the the shotgun.