Dealing with the hogs
A visit with some outdoorsmen in southwest Arkansas who are experienced with wild hogs was enlightening. It also brought forth several conflicting issues on this topic.
Feral or wild hogs are a growing menace. Biologists with the Arkansas Game and Fish commission have been telling us that, quietly, for years now. Why quietly? Because feral hogs fall into something of a legal no man’s land.
The AGFC governs wildlife. The Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission governs farm and ranch animals including domestic hogs. So who is in charge of feral hogs?
One quick answer is nobody can be in charge of those wily, crafty, destructive, prolific things that are now found in all 75 Arkansas counties. Feral hogs do what they want to. Talk about trying to herd a bunch of cats; feral hogs are way beyond that.
Since feral hogs are not wildlife by the AGFC’s definition, it does not set hunting seasons on them. But the problem has grown to such proportions that AGFC wants, urges, begs people to kill the doggone things.
In the AGFC’s words, here are the condensed rules for feral hogs:
“On private land, feral hogs may be killed or trapped year-round, day or night, by a landowner or anyone with the landowner’s permission (except anyone who has had his or her hunting license revoked). All general regulations for hunting safety should be observed.
“The AGFC encourages hunters to shoot all feral hogs they see on WMAs. Hunters may kill feral hogs on WMAs during daylight hours during any open hunting season as long as they are using a weapon legal for that season. Only permit holders may hunt feral hogs during special permit hunts. Feral hogs killed on WMAs can be taken for processing or left where they were shot. Hunters may not use dogs, bait or traps to hunt feral hogs on WMAs and may not hunt at night.
“The following WMAs have particularly high hog numbers -- Cut-Off Creek WMA, Gulf Mountain WMA, Petit Jean River WMA, Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois d’Arc WMA, Gene Rush WMA, Harold E. Alexander Spring River WMA, Sulphur River WMA and Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA.”
One common question is, are wild or feral hogs edible?
The answer is yes but with a caution. People who have eaten feral hogs say they are like lean pork in texture and in taste. The caution is that feral hogs can carry brucellosis and pseudorabies, both of which can spread to livestock. Some other diseases carried by feral hogs can be transmitted to humans. Trichinosis is one, and it can be eliminated by thorough cooking.
Yes, make sure wild hog meat is well done just as you do with regular fresh pork.
Wear gloves when you dress out a feral hog, advises both the AGFC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Burn or bury the gloves with the remains from the butchered hog and wash hands well.
History tells us that a fellow named Hernando de Soto is to blame for wild hogs. They were not native to North America, and he brought a bunch with him in his wandering from Florida to Arkansas. Later, Russian boars were imported for sporting purposes.
Some of de Soto’s hogs escaped, and some were domesticated. Those Russian things later added to the mix in the wild, and today we’ve got a surplus of hogs in the woods and creek bottoms, not to be confused with those in farm pens or commercial feedlots.
