Author: Hogger

Sportsmen across the country enjoy hog hunting because it can be a lot of fun as well as challenging, and the critters make good eating. But what do you know about feral hog diseases? Researchers in Texas warned Central Texas farmers, ranchers and hunters to use caution when handling wild game after finding evidence of an infection in feral hogs, one type of which is so lethal to humans it’s considered a viable bio-weapons agent!

A study out of Texas Tech University’s Institute of Environmental and Human Health warned farmers, ranchers and hunters this week to use caution when handling wild hogs after finding evidence of the bacteria that causes tularemia in feral hogs in both Bell and Coryell Counties. If you enjoy hog hunting in Texas, particularly the Central portion, pay attention. Fifteen percent of the feral hogs from the two Central Texas counties and 50 percent of those from Crosby County showed evidence of current or past infection.

Tularemia is a serious infectious disease caused by the bacteria Francisella tularensis. The zoonotic disease researcher who lead the team that tested about 130 feral hogs from Bell, Coryell and Crosby Counties reported it is not a feral hog disease to be taken lightly. In addition to feral hogs, rodents and other game animals as well as mosquitoes, deer flies and ticks, can carry tularemia, which is commonly known as rabbit fever. Researchers reported:

“We have found high levels of antibodies in these pigs that show they have been infected with Francisella tularensis and found that some of these pigs were actively infected with it. The bacteria are constantly present in animals in this area and the feral hog population, but normally it’s only a small number of cases. This is a huge number of infected animals.”

What the hog researchers have yet to determine is the subspecies of bacteria infecting the feral hogs of Central Texas. The Type B subspecies can cause illness in wildlife, domestic animals and humans, but poses a less serious health threat to humans. On the other hand, the Type A subspecies can be lethal to humans and the U.S. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention considers Type A a viable bio-weapons agent.

“If you are handling or cleaning or eating wild game, particularly hogs, deer or rabbits, you should be wearing rubber gloves and eye protection when you’re dressing wild game. The bacteria can enter any sort of small cut or hangnail. During this time of year, it might not be as big of an issue, but you should check yourself for ticks, wear tick repellent and avoid biting flies, including mosquitoes.”

The tularemia discovery was made while the researchers were actually looking for brucellosis. However, they found no evidence of that disease in feral hogs, and were surprised to find evidence of tularemia. Traditionally, it’s a rabbit disease, but it does get reported in birds and other mammals from time to time. Because wild hogs can range over large areas, it’s certainly possible that they can transport this stuff to different areas. Caution should be taken when handling and processing game in the field and home. In addition, make sure game meats are thoroughly cooked before eating them.

Between 2000 and 2008, only eight human cases of tularemia were reported in Texas. About 125 cases are reported each year in the U.S. Feral hogs can be found in 230 of Texas’ 254 counties, making for abundant hog hunting possibilities, but cause annual damages estimated at nearly $400 million. The potential spread of feral hog diseases, combined with physical damages caused by hogs, may make these animals more disliked than ever.

One of the things I look forward most each spring is the opportunity to head out feral hog hunting. Cool weather combined with green grass and typically a lack of hunting pressure for several months means feral hogs will be out moving and feeding during daylight hours. And knowing that hog movement is occurring during the day is a BIG advantage when it comes to hog hunting.

According to many research studies, feral hogs are very intelligent animals. I had always heard that pigs were smarter than dogs, and I believe it. Wild hogs, without a doubt, are the most intelligent animal in the woods and any hunter that intentionally pursues this animal will agree. For the experienced hunter, these feral hog hunting tips will probably be second nature, but this article is intended to help hunters that are relatively new to the sport.

My first hog hunting tip is to find rank hog habitat. Find habitat that is thick and gnarly and chances are you will be knocking on the doorstep of some hogs. Hogs tend to hole-up in areas where they are rarely, if ever, disturbed. These will be neglected areas of property or areas that are difficult to access. When looking for some hog haunts, make sure to stay scent free because hogs have an acute sense of smell.

My next hog hunting tip would be to stay out of the “core” of hog country. If you know exactly where the hogs are bedding up or hanging out during the day, do not go in shooting! Instead, set up on the periphery and pick off the hogs over a period of time. If you go in whole-hog then you are going to blow them out of the area. If that is your agenda, then get in there. Otherwise, pick your spots for successful feral hog hunting and set up at least 200 yards from pig paradise.

The average litter of a feral hog sow is 6 to 8 piglets. Of course, this depends on the breed of the feral hog and, like white-tailed deer reproduction, food availability plays a role. But this is one thing that can work to your advantage when hunting hogs. Hog hunting tip #3: If you are really looking to stack up some hogs, make sure you shoot the lead hog first. This will be the hog leading the group. Often times, it will be the sow or the oldest sow in a sounder (group of hogs). Shoot the lead hog and the others will panic, giving you the opportunity to harvest multiple hogs per outing.

The last of my feral hog hunting tips would be to look for likely travel areas. At night, feral hogs will run anywhere, but if hogs are moving during daylight hours they will use travel corridors similar to whitetail. Hunt these areas and make sure the wind is to your advantage. Pre-baiting with corn, soured corn, or any sour grain can really get an area primed prior to your arrival. Baiting or using a hog feeder can really bring those hogs in on a string. Good luck in your hog hunting endeavors and drop me a line if you have any questions!

Any time I can get out hog hunting is a good trip for me, so I took off a day to make the most of my hunting lease. A group of young pigs have been hitting one of the hog feeder fairly often. Last week, I set a hog trap that is about 60 yards from the feeder, but located between the feeder and the stand which is 150 yards from the feeder. Anyway, nothing was in the hog trap when I check it, so I thought maybe the hogs were just a little trap shy.

This morning I hunted that stand and shortly after shooting light I heard pigs. I quickly glassed the feeder and saw hogs running in towards the feeder without hesitation. Of course, I shot the biggest hog that was at the feeder, then the other hogs ran from the feeder toward the stand and past the hog trap.

I then proceeded to shoot 2 more hogs and was asking myself while reloading why I only had 3 bullets in the gun. Yep, I was reloading while pigs were still running around. So.. I got the gun reloaded and stepped out of the stand. Just then 2 more pigs ran out of the brush about 60 yards away, so I shot them.

And then believe it or not, I then walked to the hog trap and there were 3 pigs in it! I could not have designed this day any better! My hunting buddy heard all World War III and came up over the hill a short time later… after the shooting ceased. We ended up cleaning 7 of the 8 pigs, all of which weighed between 40 and 75 pounds. All in all, it was a good, quick morning of hog hunting. And now that’s why this feeder is now called my best hog feeder!

Question: Here is my hog hunting plight. My lease has a strong hog population. We have hog sign all over the place. However, I’ve yet to see one during daylight. Saturday morning after my hunt, I poured 160 pounds of corn around my bow stand. Saturday evening, nothing. When I went back Sunday morning: POOF, everything vanished. So my question is will feral hogs ever revert from nocturnal movements?

Answer: The hogs on where I hunt now move during either the day or night. This is true for most everywhere there are hogs. As luck would have it — it’s really their smarts — they mostly move when I’m not there, of course. The following day day is then like a photo shoot on the trail camera with hogs all over the place — in the daylight.

If I choose to sit there 2 day straight — nothing. But now and then a hog will pass through and I’ll get a crack at him. That’s what makes hog hunting so much fun, the waiting or tracking and stalking. As a rule of thumb, I do see the most of my hogs at night. If you shot one every time you wanted it would take some of the fun out of it.

Feral hogs do tend to be nocturnal or crepuscular, moving in early morning and late evening. This can vary between the seasons. Hunting pressure will turn hogs nocturnal faster than anything else, so my suggestion is to hunt when pressure is light, or at least lighter.

In Central Texas, we would never see hogs during the day during the deer hunting season. However, we could almost count on them moving during the day during late February, March and April. This was because all the deer (and hog) hunters had been sacked out at the home for the past few months and hogs had the run of the land.

Reader Submitted: I’ve been reading about the viciousness of our resident grizzly bears we have in Texas, otherwise known as feral hogs. I have heard, as I know all of you have, about my friends-cousins-neighbors-nephews-mail mans-brother that was attacked by a pack of demon-possessed pigs while hog hunting or filling his bluebird feeder or whatever. I personally know men that have cornered hogs with snarling dogs, thrown the hogs down and slashed the hogs ears, tail and manhood with a dirty knife and were then savagely attacked. Go after my crotch with a rusty, dull Case knife and I will bite you too!

If anything (including a man) grabs a terrified, squealing piglet, the protective mother will be protective and attack. Any animal cornered to tight to its liking will bite, claw, scratch and possibly kill. I have chased these killers for over 20 years and had a few that I cut, kicked or trapped chase me. However, I have never had an unprovoked hog rush from its secret habitat and viciously attack! I have never walked up on a group of porkers at a feeder, food plot or acorn-dropping white oak that have rushed me in a mad frenzy.

On everyone of thousands of chance encounters, I have had with these vicious, maiming, feral hogs they have always ran the other way!
So, have you PERSONALLY been attacked by one of these voracious monsters while simply walking through the woods to a hog hunting, while scouting, while on a family picnic in the park, or during any other outdoor activity? I really would like to hear the TRUE story from the person attacked by a wild hog.