Feral hog Hunting

[MOPanfisher]

Saw this in my e-mail this morning, thought I would share.

 

MDC proposes banning hog hunting on conservation areas 

 

mdc news release

MDC proposes banning hog hunting on conservation areas

 

"*New regulation would help end disturbance by hog hunters of MDC hog-trapping efforts and help end illegal releases of feral hogs for hunting.*"

 

*JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.* – At its meeting on Jan. 22, the Missouri Conservation Commission voiced initial approval for recommended changes to the Wildlife Code of Missouri that would prohibit the hunting of feral hogs on lands owned, leased, or managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC).

 

The next step in the rulemaking process includes a 30-day public comment period on the proposed regulation changes, which will run from April 2 through May 1. Public comments can be submitted by mail to: Missouri Department of Conservation, Regulations Committee, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-0180. Comments can also be submitted by email to Regulations@mdc.mo.gov <Blockedwww.Regulations@mdc.mo.gov>, or online at mdc.mo.gov/node/24141 [ Blockedhttp://mdc.mo.gov/node/24141 ].

 

Following final Conservation Commission consideration of citizen input and staff recommendations this summer, the anticipated effective date of the regulation changes will be Sept. 30, 2016. Potential penalties for illegal hog hunting could include fines and the loss of hunting privileges.

 

***Hog Hunting Causes Headaches*

 

The Conservation Department discourages hunting specifically for feral hogs in Missouri. Research from other states shows that hog hunting actually increases feral hog numbers and locations because of illegal releases of more animals into the wild for future hunting opportunities.

 

According to MDC Wildlife Division Chief Jason Sumners, hog hunting on conservation areas ruins efforts by MDC staff to trap and kill entire groups of feral hogs, called sounders. Groups can consist of several dozen animals.

 

“The proposed ban on hog hunting on conservation lands is a direct result of misguided hunters disrupting trapping efforts by MDC staff,” Sumners explained. “MDC staff set large, corral-type traps on areas where there are known feral hogs. They then bait the area with corn for several days or weeks to attract the targeted group of hogs, get them used to the surroundings, and get them concentrated in the trap before triggering it. This work takes weeks, with the goal to trap the entire group of hogs.”

 

He added, “After weeks of work to catch the sounder of hogs, we then get an individual hunter who finds out about the site and shows up at some point and shoots a hog or two. The rest of the group then scatters and moves to a new location. As a result, weeks of work have been wasted and new areas now have feral hogs.”

 

Instead of hunting hogs to help reduce their numbers, MDC encourages hunters and others to report feral hog sightings to their local conservation agents or MDC offices. Staff can then confirm local numbers and locations, and determine how best to capture and kill the entire group of feral hogs.

 

MDC owns or manages about 1,000 conservation areas around the state with nearly 30 known to have feral hogs, mostly in southern Missouri. One goal of the new regulation is to prevent the illegal, intentional release of feral hogs on other conservation areas.

 

*Releasing Hogs is Illegal*

 

Releasing hogs to non-enclosed areas or to the wild is illegal in Missouri. MDC encourages the public to report these types of illegal activities to local conservation agents or to call its Operation Game Thief hotline at 800-392-1111.

 

In the future, the Department will also recommend to the Conservation Commission to revoke the hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges of any individuals found guilty of intentionally releasing feral hogs.

 

The Department is also working with elected officials, conservation groups, and agricultural organizations to raise awareness of the problem with feral hogs and hog hunting.

 

*Threats to Native Species*

 

Feral hogs are an invasive, nuisance species in Missouri. They are not naturally found in the wild in Missouri and the growing populations and numbers of locations are a result of people illegally releasing them to run wild – often to later hunt them.

 

Feral hogs cause significant damage to wildlife habitats, compete with native wildlife such as deer and turkey for food, prey upon native wildlife such as turkey and quail, destroy natural areas along with agricultural lands, pollute ponds and streams, and spread diseases to domestic livestock and people.

 

Diseases spread by feral hogs include swine brucellosis, pseudorabies, trichinosis, and leptospirosis. The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed several cases of hunters contracting potentially life-threatening bacterial infections from field-dressing feral hogs.

 

For more information on feral hogs, visit the MDC website at mdc.mo.gov/your-property/problem-plants-and-animals/invasive-animals/feral-hog-control [ Blockedhttp://mdc.mo.gov/your-property/problem-plants-and-animals/invasive-animals/feral-hog-control ].

[Old plug]

 

• BOY if that is not just like then  those things multiply like squirrels. Never  heard of any problem around LOZ but if there is I will shoot them on sight. i went to a garden meeting one time a year are so ago and MDc was telling folks we could not shoot Armadillos because they were wildlife and we were not authorized to harm them. While that is true because of the way the law is written. I know people that shoot them as fast as they can find them. I wonder what people in st louis are going to do when the armadillos or hogs show up in their yards. The Armadillos allready have I am sure. My son travels all over that area daily and sees them as road kill especially in the southern areas. 

[MOPanfisher]

None of the Agents I know would write a ticket for shooting an armadillo I don't think.  Would be sort of like writing a ticket for catching too many carp.  I know the reasoning behind them wanting to ban hog hunting but don't know well it would work.  There are places where the main problem has been a few folks who were raising them and releasing them and selling dog hunts.  Kansas banned hunting for them and then went "whole hog" on elimination, traps, shooters, helicopters, the works, and it did work pretty well from what I understand.  However they have not been able to do as well in some places with rougher terrain and more trees as the hogs seem to learn pretty quickly that being out in the open is a death sentence.  I occasionally get to help a trapper go on "kill day" to get hogs out of a trap and enjoy it quite a bit, and they are delicious!

[Flysmallie]

I have a buddy that "guides" on a deer ranch in south Texas. They have a hell of a time trying to control the population on that ranch and the surrounding farms. Last I heard they were getting 80 cents a pound for as many as they could kill and the meat was being shipped overseas. They have used guns, arrows, traps and in some cases just ran them over on ATVs. And more just keep showing up. But he said it gives them something to do and keeps them in beer money.

[Old plug]

Now 80 cents a poind sounds interesting. During the depression they called Amidillo Hoover Pork. We seem to have gotten the upperhand on thm in my neighborhood. Only shot two last year. But I cannot remember how many I shot over the past few years. i just love my 410 slug for that. 

[Flysmallie]

I grew up in southern Oklahoma so armadillos have always been just another creature in the woods. No different than a possum. We used to have them in our yard all the time but I only remember my dad shooting a couple of them that acted "strange". Most the others were just chased back into the woods. If chased is the right word. They are pretty slow moving to be considered chased I think.

 

[Old plug]

Flysmallie...... Bet you seen the damage adult ones can do to the front end of a car if they get startled and jump high. iT is usually a lot of damage.

[oneshot]

The MDC have started using Boar Buster Traps and their getting bunch of money from USDA.

Like I told them not many in the state will speak out against the ban because not that many hunt them. Me I've always stayed clear of their Traps. Problem is they only try catching them where they have done crop damage. I tried telling them where there was Hogs on MDC Areas and they said there wasn't any. They said they have eradicated them where I hunt which they haven't.

They stop me from hunting them I will not tell them where they are. As far as I'm concerned they are their baby let them find out.

oneshot

[Flysmallie]

On ‎1‎/‎27‎/‎2016 at 0:00 PM, Old plug said:

Flysmallie...... Bet you seen the damage adult ones can do to the front end of a car if they get startled and jump high. iT is usually a lot of damage.

I just saw this post from Old Plug, but I don't think I've ever see one startled, much less jump. Wouldn't be anymore damage than a dog or deer. I see a lot of those hits and you would be surprised at how much damage a dog can do. Besides the business I'm in is the collision repair industry so the more vehicle damage there is the better I guess.   I don't want to see anybody hurt, and so much damage to the vehicle that it's a total loss isn't helpful either. But a few fender benders here and there is what supports my family.

[Old plug]

Flysmallie..... i have seen them jump and run near as fst as a rabbit when starteled. The thing is they are about blind and deaf Yet sensitive to sudden flashes of light.  First thing i do when set up for one is turn on the yard lights and leave them on all night. That along  with a game camera tells me its a Armadillo and what time I can expect them ( they are  the most puctional critters I have ever seen) to show up. Then i just go out and sit in a chair with  my 410 slug and wait for them. They are not bothered a bit by the steady yard lighting. But let them be in the shadows and  you shine a fashlight on them you would be amazed how fast they can move at  times. The other thing is not hearing that contributes to the hitting the grill ( i was told about it happening a few  times  over at a body shop in Osage beach.) I have actually shot one 10  yards away and turned  on another one still digging as if nothing was going on 10 yards in the other direction and  shot that one too. But  had I taken a few steps in his direction he might have fled. Because of ground  vibrations. I really think what happens on the roads is the strong headlight and vibrations catch  them very suddenly and they jump straigh up. I have bever seen one jump any other way but straight up. As far as  going through the grill and destroying the radiator. I have no doublt some hard shelled animal 25 or 30 lbs  as they are, will go through the front end  of a car going 50 mph or better. strange animals indeed.