I keep hearing more and more especially from people in the southern part of the state about the exploding population of wild hogs here in Ohio. The thing I'm wondering is with them being so prolific will they eventually inhabit every county in the state? Sounds like some good hunting opportunity to me! In my 21 years I've seen the coyote populations soar to the point I can now hear their hows on my nightly walks. Will these boars do the same? Think there will come a time they make it as far north as Columbiana County? Does anyone on here have any experience with hunting or even witnessing these things?
I think it is very possible. It would be great to hunt also. But on the other hand it scares me, being a farmer in north west ohio. I believe just one herd of these hogs could completely destroy a crop in just one night. But yes I believe they will eventually habit all of ohio
I think the ppl hunting hogs in southern Ohio may be the same ones spotting Bigfoot. I've been hunting southern Ohio awhile now. No sightings yet. If they are out there, the numbers couldn't be substantial. Just my two cents.
I think the ppl hunting hogs in southern Ohio may be the same ones spotting Bigfoot. I've been hunting southern Ohio awhile now. No sightings yet. If they are out there, the numbers couldn't be substantial. Just my two cents.
i agree here, i hunt with a group of people in southwest ohio and i have never seen one or even seen damage that could have came from them. not saying there isnt any in OH but the numbers cant be too high
More east than west. Vinton county has hogs. There are more in other places also. These are bad. Would be fun to hunt but other than that a real prob. As long as the state tries to control them by hunting over time they will expand.
Maybe I’m optimistic, but I just don’t think it’ll happen. The only “reports” I’ve heard of are internet posts like this one, almost zero first hand accounts of wild hogs. Yes, some are killed every year. But I just don’t see or hear anything to even suggest some sort of “exploding population”. The ODNR really got people talking a few years ago when they put out the article about wild hogs. For some reason people took that to mean they were everywhere, rather than the pre-emptive strike that it was. If you look at the states where they’ve gotten out of hand, they’re all well south of Ohio. TN would be the closest that I would consider having a real population, and they’re nothing like TX or GA. For whatever reason, they don’t thrive in colder climates. I just don’t think they can really explode in Ohio. I also agree with Rod Man, some of the sightings are questionable.
Yeah, agree with everyone, and magis raises a good point. They want to keep them from establishing well and are getting the word out. Ohio has too many hunters and to many small properties for them to go unnoticed in an area for long.
In Texas they do so well because of all the space I think. I hunt the there every couple of years. The hunter per acre there is much lower than in Ohio.
Also wonder if the winter climate is a factor?
If you do see them, kill them and enjoy.
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What we need here is a good plague....
My understanding (which is second hand in this instance) is that the wild hogs are a lot more gamey than farm raised pork. It was explained to me that there is a night and day difference between the meat due to a number of things. For instance they are more active, they have different diets so the flavor of their fat is different, and after all they are different animals.
Anyone on here who has taken one care to speak to that?
My understanding (which is second hand in this instance) is that the wild hogs are a lot more gamey than farm raised pork. It was explained to me that there is a night and day difference between the meat due to a number of things. For instance they are more active, they have different diets so the flavor of their fat is different, and after all they are different animals.
Anyone on here who has taken one care to speak to that?
I can only speak to Texas hogs. The adults are not very good to eat unless caught live and penned and feed for a period of time. You can make spicy sausage though.
I will also say that the adults are stinky, nasty and wormy certain times of the year. They also have a high rate of disease. I think trichinosis was the me, but someone might know better.
These were true razorbacks though. The hogs in Ohio tend to be more feral hog than wild boar. So they might be better. Now we did kill a few piglets one year and they were really good.
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What we need here is a good plague....
Last edited by Mad-Eye Moody; 11-15-2012 at 09:31 PM.
Almost all are feral, very few Razorbacks. Of the 10/12x's I've consumed hog it's best eaten as sausage or a roast that's been brined for 24 hrs.. A brine solution with a variety of spice's is best. Quite tasty!
Feral hogs are a tuffer animal than farm raised, less fat, different eatin habits & a much leaner meat. So as an end result, like with all game it's how one prepares the meat to make it palatable.
I've only had wild pig once, and it was from a game farm here in Ohio. For the most part, any wild pigs in Ohio have come from game farms, though the one I tried may have been penned and fed for a while, I'm not sure. I just had some pork steak, but I thought it was very good. I had to cook it slower than domestic pork because it burnt easily, but other than that it tasted like regular pork. This was from a boar around 200 lbs. I was surprised it at how good it was.
Have seen the damage first hand if you see one blast it these things are so destructive they will destroy what is left of our fragmented forest Ohio does not need a hog problem it is bad eneough logging is out of control in this state just one more problem if you want to hog hunt go south these private hunting "preserves" could care less about the problem they just count money they dont see the big picture why would you want to hunt in a fenced in area, just has bad has the pay lakes, GREED GREED GREED That is all I have to say
I have to concur with most of you guys. Hunted in a lot of places in ohio for 15 years. Never, never saw a wild boar let alone saw a track. I know they are destructive and I know we don't need them screwing up our native habitat or wildlife. I would love to hunt them someday, but not at the expense of farmers income. I know if I ever do see one its bacon time.....
I went to a seminar this fall and heard a great talk concerning ferrel hogs in Ohio. Go to the USDA website and look up a Craig Hicks, wildlife disease biologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, APHIS-Wildlife Services, he knows everything about ferrel hogs and where the populations and problems with them in Ohio currently are. He is the only one assigned to deal with the growing issue of ferrel hogs in Ohio. If you are having a hunting or sporting club meeting or function invited him to speak, he will come and give his presentation which is about an hour long. You can contact him at 866-4-USDA-WS.
I've had my place down south for 6 years, had corn out a lot with camera's on it....never one sighting or picture....but the local's have seen and killed them....years ago there was and still is a hunting preserve that specialized in them that a tree fell on there fence and let a lot of them out before they could stop the escape....not far from my place as the crow flies....what I hear a guy up the road got mauled by one.....I have put out beer soaked corn trying to lure them in, with no luck....think I had some drunk coons though....did hear a few years back when I hunted the TRC special hunt that one or 2 were killed there in Logan county....further south went on a wild boar drive that I did see some evidence of there being in there, and the locals down there see and hunt them....but none were seen that day....not really wanting them on my place but sure would be nice to kill 1 one day....maybe I'll do that down in Florida or Alabama
i agree here, i hunt with a group of people in southwest ohio and i have never seen one or even seen damage that could have came from them. not saying there isnt any in OH but the numbers cant be too high
+2...agreed here also..Ive heard sooo much about these pigs in ohio and there exploding populations..been hunting SW ohio and SE ohio for 15 years and have yet to see ONE yet..i dont argue that they are in ohio, and MAY become a problem SOMEDAY..but there are definitely not significant numbers of them.
Ironman,
I've lived & worked in the vicinity of TRC & have never heard anything about any hogs killed there. Not saying it's impossible, but I do have contact with TRC personel who take care of those things & nothing. I do know though about the hunts down around Urbana ; a guy I work with owns one of the farms that they actually killed a few hogs on. They waited for a fresh snow , then drove out blocks of woods. He never did bring me in any sausage from one of those things !!
Feral Hog populations
Feral Hog populations
....did hear a few years back when I hunted the TRC special hunt that one or 2 were killed there in Logan county....further south went on a wild boar drive that I did see some evidence of there being in there, and the locals down there see and hunt them....but none were seen that day....not really wanting them on my place but sure would be nice to kill 1 one day....maybe I'll do that down in Florida or Alabama 
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