Anyone have solid info on Michigan feral pigs and locations?

[insttech1]

The DNR now lists 30 counties in which to shoot pigs.  I'd be more than happy to remove some for anyone out there, if I can just get access...

Anyone have any info and/or areas where crop damage may be occuring?  Or on public lands?

Thanks for the tips!!
Marc

[whitebuffalo]

Hey I don't even know what counties, how did you find that out Marc?

Maybe we could get toghether and do some roving around for the beast.That would be an excellent time. Jason B.
I'll call the DNR to see what I can't drum up.

[Stu]

A friend of mine has 90A in S. Osceola county, his neighbor deer camp shot a large hog this year. I hunt Montmorency, Alcona, Midland counties, haven't seen any there nor any sign. Of course, I wasn't really looking for pigs.

I recall reading in the Midland paper about a bunch of them getting loose north of here a couple of seasons ago (like S. Gladwin or Clare counties??), and the DNR was encouraging people to take them. I've heard since they've spread, the above anecdote is the only evidence I've seen of that recently.

[whitebuffalo]

Hey I found this on the web sight. The red counties are the ones with free roaming pigs.
I live in montcalm county and I haven't seen any sign that I know of from pigs but if I do I'll be all over it. The map looks small but if ya hold your mouse arrow over it for a second a zoom square pops up so you can zoom it in better.

    http://www.michigan.gov/images/dnr/feralpigmap_177404_7.jpg

[Dave Worden]

Thanks for the link Jason.  Someone mentioned this last winter at the rabbit hunt, but I only caught a tiny bit of the conversation.  This definitely sounds like something worth looking into.

[Hawken1911]

Here piggy, piggy    .  That would be a good time Jason.

[GEREP]

There is a bar in Leroy (osceola County) that has quite a congregation of...oh wait, that's probably not what your getting at.

Sorry,

   

KPC

[Arwin]

I wouldn't mind tracking down a little squeal! I live close to Allegan County, which looks like it has few roaming around

[skinflint]

I live in jackson county,have'nt seen any pig's in my area,no four legged one's anyway,but the map show's  there here.First I heard about it. That's interesting. Gary

[DRR324]

I am in Clare county, about 2 miles from the southwest county corner.  I hunt both Isabella county and Clare.  No sign of any 4 legged swine yet.  Have had a few issues with the 2 legged pigs- 2 treestand stolen in the last few years.
I think we all need to keep each other updated on any sightings.  As a group- we could narrow down the locations and put a hunt together in short order.

[Pasty Face]

I know there are a few in Baraga county up here in the UP. Dont know of anyone ever shooting any but I dont get over that way much.

Two have been killed about 10 min south of my house here in MQT, but those were russians that got out of a game farm. I deer hunt in the area and have never seen any.

[insttech1]

Sorry I should have kept up on this post more quickly...

Whitebuffalo--I saw it on the Mich DNR website, and there was another article in the local paper (tri-county-times) basically outlining the DNR's website.

I was hoping to hear of some areas where there might be some high concentrations...

I may call my uncle, who has a history with the local swine farmers in Shiawassee County, to see if he can get any info from other farmers coming in to sell their pigs at auction.

Thanks All!
Marc

[whitebuffalo]

That sounds good Marc. As far as concentrations I beleive most of them get out of the hunting farms around here and rome free for about a day or two and are killed by the farm or the dnr. Thats kinda what I'm thinking is happening cause the wild boar hunting farms around here are really starting to pop up every where. After I did a little reserch on my areas hunting farms I found I have an elk and deer farm not more than 5 minutes from here. Now I don't want to disrespect anyone who hunts these farms. As I was looking at there web site and there animals on there farm some of them  pics had SOLD on the front of it like they were cattle. Kinda hurt my heart to see a 380" to 400" bull with the word SOLD in big red letters accross the front of it. I'm not bashing them cause its there business but it just hurt.  

[Arwin]

Know where your coming from W.Buffalo. I want to go and do a hog hunt to fill my freezer, but seeing a grand animal like an elk, shouldn't have a sold sign on him. You could probably do a free ranging elk hunt out west for the same amount a game ranch would charge. To me the piggies are different. It's like buying bacon on the hoof! LOL!

[insttech1]

Guys--some of those elk that you see are not "sold" for a hunter to come and kill.  They are bred and "sold" to high-dollar restaurants and processors that are licensed to sell the elk sausage and jerky that you can buy in many grocery stores in the US.

I can go into high-dollar grocery stores in the middle of Ann Arbor (where the liberalism is high) and buy elk summer sausage...

I'm not condoning it, and I'm not condemning it either, as I buy that summer sausage from time to time as a treat for me and the kids...

Or, those animals are "sold" to a game ranch, where they will be released for harvest by hunting.  (NO DEBATE ON THE IDEA OF HUNTING PLEASE--we're talking about pigs here!!)

But those animals are "mostly" contained, with the occasional escape, and nearly ZERO breeding potential if they do get out.

The feral hogs, however, seem to be becoming more frequent, and therefore, ready to be thrown in the skillet...YUM!

Thanks for the info.
Marc

[Arwin]

I used to work in a resturant as a dish washer. The cook would take both backstraps with spine attached(pork loin roast I think) and bake it in the oven for a long time. I've been wanting to do my own ever since! It melted in your mouth when ate! Yum is right!

[Archer 1]

Somebody shot a big boar by Houghton Lake this season. Don't know all the facts, but heard that some PETA idiots cut the fences at the Ponderosa game farm in St Hellen. and that's where they thought it came from. They had a picture of the boar on the news a while ago.

[JimmyC]

Saw a mountain lion chasing a wild boar down by Kensington Metropark just the other day............ yea, yea, thats the ticket.

Sorry, couldn't resist

[whitebuffalo]

insttech1, I have a fairly large pig farm just south of where I'm at. I used to see them in the open feilds grazing but they looked like normal pigs. I'll stop in and see what they say about there hogs. I'll report back sometime this week.

[insttech1]

Jason,
Sounds good, and thanks.  
I'll see if I can dig up anything else.
Marc