The Wild Pig Dilemma

Whetstone Weekly: The Wild Pig Dilemma – Why Some States Are Banning Wild Pig Hunting

Hello, Fellow Land Stewards,

With the recent news of Ohio joining Kentucky in the growing list of state agencies to ban pig hunting, I felt the need to address the topic. As a former Ohio resident with a family farm in southern Kentucky, I strongly agree with the move to ban pig hunting.

“But, Zack, you're a former Ohio resident and a Level II Deer Steward with a BS in Wildlife and Fisheries Management. Why on earth would you support a ban on pig hunting?" Well, let me tell you, it's not because I've gone soft on these porky pests. While it might seem counterintuitive to ban pig hunting, especially given the destructive impact wild pigs have on our ecosystems, agriculture, and public health, I want to explore the reasons behind these bans and what they mean for landowners and hunters alike.

The Wild Pig Problem

Wild pigs, also known as feral hogs, are like the uninvited guests at your family reunion who eat all the potato salad and leave a mess in the bathroom. They root up fields, destroy crops, and disrupt native plant communities, leading to severe ecological damage. Their population has been exploding across the United States, with estimates of over six million feral hogs causing more than $1.5 billion in damage annually. That's a lot of bacon!

While feral pigs expand their range naturally, the distribution maps do not reflect what any of the natural expansion maps predicted. Trust your gut as you ponder why that is.

The Paradox of Hunting

At first glance, hunting seems like a logical solution to control the wild pig population. However, it turns out that hunting can actually exacerbate the problem. Here’s why:

1. Dispersal Due to Hunting Pressure: When wild pigs are hunted, they tend to disperse and spread out to avoid hunters. It's like playing a game of whack-a-mole. You might get one, but the rest scatter like, well, pigs. This can lead to an even wider distribution of these destructive animals, making the problem harder to manage.

2. Idiots Moving and Releasing Pigs: Here’s where it gets especially egregious. Some hunters deliberately release wild pigs into new areas to create hunting opportunities. This illegal and unethical practice significantly worsens the spread of wild pigs and undermines control efforts. It is nothing short of ecological terrorism, sacrificing the health of our ecosystems and agricultural lands for short-term recreational gain. This behavior not only exacerbates the problem but also shows a blatant disregard for the environmental and economic consequences.

3. Reproductive Rates: Wild pigs have an incredibly high reproductive rate. A single sow can produce two litters a year, each consisting of up to a dozen piglets. This means that even extensive hunting often cannot keep pace with their rapid reproduction.

Why Ban Hunting?

Given these challenges, some state wildlife agencies have decided that a different approach is needed. Here’s a look at why banning wild pig hunting is seen as a viable strategy:

1. Focus on Eradication Efforts: States like Missouri and Kansas emphasize comprehensive eradication programs over recreational hunting. These programs often include trapping, professional culling, and using technologies like GPS tracking and aerial shooting, which are more effective in reducing wild pig populations.

2. Preventing Dispersal: By banning hunting, these agencies aim to prevent the dispersal and spread of wild pigs caused by hunting pressure. This allows for more concentrated and coordinated eradication efforts.

3. Eliminating Illegal Releases: Banning hunting helps to eliminate the incentive for illegal releases of wild pigs. Without the prospect of hunting, individuals are less motivated to introduce these animals into new areas. Don’t be THAT guy. Just, don’t.

What happens to a pig after it is cut loose?

When a domesticated pig is released into the wild, its physical transformation begins almost immediately, driven by the need to adapt to its new environment. Within a few weeks, the pig's smooth, pink skin darkens and grows thicker, developing a coarse coat of hair that provides better protection against the elements. By the end of the first month, the pig's body loses its excess fat, becoming leaner and more muscular as it forages for food and navigates its rugged surroundings.

Over the next few months, the pig's snout elongates and becomes more muscular, improving its ability to root through the underbrush for food. Its ears grow more erect and sensitive, enhancing its ability to detect predators and other threats. The pig's hooves harden by the six-month mark, making it better equipped to traverse rough terrain. The most noticeable change occurs in its tusks, which begin to elongate and sharpen, serving as weapons and survival tools.

Within a year, the transformation is nearly complete. The pig, now resembling a wild boar, has a dark, thick coat and a lean, muscular body. Its tusks are prominent, and its behavior has shifted to become more nocturnal and cautious. This timeline highlights the pig's incredible adaptability and the dramatic changes it undergoes to survive in the wild.

In short, it turns from this:

To THIS:

What This Means for Landowners

These bans can be both a challenge and an opportunity for landowners dealing with wild pigs. While it may seem like a loss of a control tool, it opens up access to more effective, state-supported eradication programs. Here’s how you can navigate this change:

• Engage with State Programs: Contact your state’s wildlife agency to learn about available eradication programs and how you can participate.

• Implement Comprehensive Management Plans: Consider integrating professional trapping and removal services into your land management plan.

• Stay Informed and Compliant: Stay updated on the latest regulations and comply with state laws to avoid legal issues.

A Collaborative Effort

Ultimately, the battle against wild pigs requires a collaborative effort. While banning hunting may seem drastic, it’s part of a broader strategy to protect our landscapes and livelihoods from the devastating impact of these invasive animals. The goal is to work with local resouces and agencies to address the problem in a more intensive manner than the average landowner can afford.

Thank you for being part of the Whetstone Habitat community and your dedication to sustainable land management. As always, I’m here to help with any questions or habitat consultations you might need. Together, we can give your property an edge against invasive species and ensure a thriving ecosystem for the future.

Hear Me Out:

Let’s do a little thought experiment, shall we? Imagine you live in or manage/hunt on a property in a state that recently passed one of these bans. Imagine that you are in a county that has never had feral pigs in the past. Now imagine that first feral hog to transcend the property line and occupy your beloved hunting property for the first time. A pioneer, if you will.

You would be fooling yourself to think you would get a shot at that animal before he crossed in front of one of your two dozen trail cameras on his way to your favorite deer feeder. Or, worse, it's a sow with piglets in tow that appears on your cell phone at 3 p.m. on a Sunday in June. Do you really think you and your best hunting partner will be able to “shoot” your way out of the situation? I wish you all the luck in the world.

In reality, an intensive, trapping-based pig removal practice is often required to curb or curb-stomp the situation. It often requires a lot of time and resources to achieve. It is much cheaper and more effective to work with the professionals.

Also, an important note: I am only endorsing this practice in states where pigs are a relatively new problem. Unfortunately, states like GA, FL, TX, etc. are too far gone for such a practice to work.

Help Us Spread the Word

If you found this edition of Whetstone Weekly informative, please consider sharing it with your friends, family, and fellow landowners. Growing our community helps us spread the message of sustainable land management and conservation. Together, we can make a significant impact, and you can start to hunt bigger bucks ;-)

Happy (early) 4th(!!!), Zack Vucurevich

Founder, Whetstone Habitat