Wisconsin feral pigs?

[BrianC]

Hey Trad Gangers,

I'm over here in northern MN and there's no piggy's to hunt.  I've heard of the feral pigs running around in WI.  I wouldn't mind heading over there this spring and trying my luck.  Any ideas on places to hunt or people to contact at the WI DNR?

Thanks,
Brian

[Little Tree]

Most of the hogs are in Crawford Co. I am in Vernon, one Co. north. I will be  looking into the little piggys this year to try and stick one. The farmers want them all dead...Now!  I would contact the DNR and see if they have any info on them, They have not been around long, maybe 20 years or so. Good luck, let me know if you find anything out, maybe I could show you around. LittleTree

[ChuckC]

Brian, there used to be a small herd of them in way north central WI. Don't know if they are still around.  I chased some for an afternoon numerous years ago.  Try the DNR and ask.  That is the best way.
ChuckC

[formerbutcher]

I'd be up for a pig hunt if you guys can find out where there at.  Formerbutcher

[BrianC]

I'll do some digging guys and see what I come up with.  I'm hoping to be in St. Croix county in early May chasing turkeys, but may be able to squeeze something in, say April?  The WI DNR sight has some good info on location of feral pigs and a wildlife biologist contact person also.  I'll keep you posted here.

Brian

[BrianC]

I sent an email to the WI DNR contact person as far as feral pig hunting goes.  I'm anxiously awaiting a reply.  Oh yeah, I drew my non-resident WI turkey tag, Zone 19, season May 9-13.  I'm pumped!

Brian

[sticshooter]

Pigs at home? I'm in.<><

[Brian Stewart]

I did a little research into this a while back.  The DNR website has some info as to where pigs have been reported.  I contacted some guys I kind of know down in Southwest WI and they were kind of negative as to non-locals coming down to hunt.  Apparently most of the pigs are on private land and are being taken care of by those "in the loop".  

Hopefully I'm wrong, because I'd love to get over there and try hunting them.

Brian

[Gottabow]

I've heard the same thing as Brain..you know how it goes..they get crop damage money..we already have people hunting here..blah blah blah

[formerbutcher]

Little Tree, You have hogs running aroung you'r land ??

[sticshooter]

Southwest wisconsin where? I know a few people and maybe I can get some info.<><

[Leland]

Your not going to go into the woods and see hogs wandering around in the brush.The ones that I know of were taken while gun hunting deer.Also had a friend that went along with a large group of people to make some drives.They hunted all day and saw no hogs and very little sign,this was in one of the so-called problem areas.I would hate to see you waste your time,thinking there would be hogs running all over the place.I heard of two being shot this past deer season in Crawford Co. If you do go have a safe hunt & good luck. Leland

[BrianC]

I got an email reply today from the WI DNR.  Here it is...
         
Subject: RE: Bowhunting feral pigs?
Date: Tue, 6 Feb 2007 15:03:22 -0600
From: "Woodbury, Bryan J - DNR"  Add to Address Book  Add Mobile Alert  
To: "brian castellano"
   
Brian,

The area with the highest concentration of feral hogs is in the Gays
Mills area in Crawford County (estimated between 50 and 100 wild hogs
in
a 5-mile radius of the intersection of Hwy S and Hwy 131, south of Gays
Mills and Bell Center). The Department does not keep a list of
landowners with feral pigs on their property. Because feral hogs are
nomadic creatures, it is suggested you knock on doors to see if the
landowners have seen pigs recently. There is tremendous interest in
hunting feral hogs and gaining access to private lands maybe difficult.
If you have other questions you can contact Dave Matheys at
608-637-3938
(Wildlife Biologist for Crawford County). Additionally, if you harvest
a
feral pig, save some blood and diaphragm tissue for the Department's
disease surveillance (contact the local wildlife biologist or
conservation warden).
The Kickapoo River wildlife area (Bell Center Unit) is in the middle of
this "core" area. You can look up the property on the following web
page:  http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/wildlife/reclands/index.htm.
The local Biologist is reporting there are few feral pigs sightings on
public land due to the tremendous hunting pressure.

Additionally, there have been hogs sighted in the Clark County Forest
along the Eau Claire and Clark County line (T26N R4W Section 17, page
62
of the Wisconsin Gazetteer).

Good Luck.

Bryan

Brian