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Originally Posted by John Doe
Damnit, R Leo, everytime your pig problem gets mentioned here, I begin thinking I can offer a solution. I have had great success in the varmint eliminating category with muskrats (chlorine pucks and brake fluid), feral dogs (electrocution), raccoons (traps), beavers (reel traps, rifles, and er, explosives) and other vermin, but have never had (what I formerly thought) was the pleasure to eliminate wild hogs.
Apparently the experts agree, it's a *****:
http://wildlifedamage.unl.edu/handbook/handbook/allPDF/mam_d65.pdf
If nothing else, there seem to be some helpful trapping hints in this handbook. I felt sure a search would turn up some type of homegrown solution, but I haven't found anything. Twer it me, I would shoot every one I could and hopefully they will develop some sort of pavlovian avoidance. I don't know if they are capable of that, but whitetails, coons, ect... certainly are.
Texas needs to do what Louisiana has done with Nutria and put a bounty on the filthy animals.
OR....here's my brainstorm solution that I didn't see in the handbook: Why not call A&M or Miss. State, Clemson, NC State, ect... and ask about birth control in bait? They have been doing this to control whitetail populations on East Coast islands for years (with no shortage of controversy).
Oh well, back to reviewing contracts for a business i don't understand  |
I haven't done a lot of research but, AFIK, large-scale trapping is the most effective means of control so far. FWIW, we're building a trap this weekend. It's a huge SOB made from heavy welded cattle panel and closely spaced t-posts...should be able to nab 20-30 oinkers at a snap according to the TPWD Game Wardens.
Like you, I thought that a bit of hunting pressure (or simply our being out there) would make them choose a less inhabited location. Apparently not...
Thank Gawd, wild pigs don't look like Bambi and don't frequently show up in urban yards (although, I did see two nosing around in downtown Rockdale one night about 9:00) so the uninformed human populace is less smitten with protecting their gnarly hides. BTW, a $5/head bounty would probably break the bank...