Birth Control For Bison - “Romance without Responsibilities”

Why not for Wild Pigs?

Feral pigs are the subjects of discrimination in California. Female feral bison on Catalina Island, California, are being put on birth control. The bulls are left alone to do what Bison bulls love to do: Fall in love. Now they can do so without the serious consequences of romance.

Female pigs do not enjoy such privileges. Why only bison and not female wild pigs? I have suggested birth control for Miss Piggy in a previous article on this blog. Boar would enjoy love without responsibilities as much as bison bulls. So, why are we discriminating?

The answer to this question is found in an article by Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times. Sahagun answers the question indirectly in his article “Catalina bison going on birth control”. It appeared on November 20, 2009 in the Los Angeles Times.

The Catalina Island Conservancy, which owns 88% of the island, is rounding up the bison herd, separating females from the rest and vaccinating them with a contraceptive. The process needs to be repeated after one year. About 200 bison now live on Catalina Island. The contraceptive is effective in approximately 90 percent of bison cows.

An estimated 800,000 wild pigs live in California. They are faster, more agile, more intelligent than bison and not marooned on an island. They have plenty of space for running away. That makes herding wild pigs into corrals far more difficult, if not impossible. Vaccinating boar directly will most likely not work. But administering the vaccine in food should. Lace acorn with it and watch the wild pigs happily vaccinate themselves.

The contraceptive for bison may not work in wild pigs. But if we can develop one, we should also be able to create a vaccine specifically for wild pigs. Bison contraceptive vaccine is non-hormonal. The wildlife contraceptive porcine zona pellucida (PZP ) is developed from pig eggs. The vaccine stimulates the body of an injected animal to produce antibodies that distort the shape of the sperm receptors on the egg. Sperm no longer detect the receptors and thus do not attach themselves to the egg. Fertilization does not take place.

PZP was tested and studied on horses, feral burros, deer and possibly other large mammals as a multi-year vaccination and in animal feed. Why it has not been widely used to control the explosion of wild pig populations is unknown to me.

Be that as it may, for once I agree with the Nature Conservancy, wildlife conservationists and animal rights activists. It is far more humane to control burgeoning populations of big mammals with contraceptives than to engage in the wholesale, cruel slaughter of the animals with poison and from the air.

Tell that to the wild pigs of Catalina Island. They were not given the benefit of contraceptives, not even for test purposes.

They were trapped and killed, poisoned and mercilessly hunted from the air by the brave shooters in the sky, which I despise so much. The lucky ones were shipped out to ranches on the mainland – to be hunted there. Feral pigs are not a tourist attraction like the Catalina bison. Boar are not driving money into the coffers of tour operators like bison. Feral pigs just dig holes, mud holes. There is no money in ordinary mud! And they destroy cash crops and manicured front yards in suburbia.

Wild pigs are not cute and pink. They are ugly, dirty, mean and smelly. They deserve to be murdered from the sky!

The revenge of the boar? They keep on making more and more and more wild boar.

Giving the porkers food spiced with PZP could put a damper on their out of control population increases without depriving hunters of one of their favorite big game animals. But it would not take the fun out of the life of Miss Piggy.

The article in the Los Angeles Times quotes Carlos De La Rosa, chief conservation and education officer of the Catalina Conservancy:

"Bison will continue to be bison. . . . "Males will continue to compete for females, and females will continue to go into heat. The only difference is that we can control how many calves they have.
"For bison in love," he added with a laugh, "this means romance without responsibilities."

What's good for the bison, is good for the boar. Don't you think so?

The entire article is here.

PJJ

Hunting Boar And Wild Pigs

Officially Released and in the Wild.

The electronic version of the new Boar Book, Hunting Boar And Wild Pigs - The Definite Guide To More Successful Boar Hunting In California And Elsewhere, is now officially published and released. A version for eBook Readers will soon be available through major retail outlets.

Avoiding the conventional, static book format, the author again breaks ground by making his work the hub of a web of knowledge, tapping into his other hunting related writings, linking to this boar hunting blog, to wild pig hunting tutorials and many studies on hunting wild pigs. Embedded references to his works and links to significant hunting publications on the Internet compliment and complete the topic of hunting boar whenever possible.

This unique concept makes 'Hunting Boar And Wild Pigs' a truly living, interactive guide manual for big game hunters.

For more information and ordering details go to http://wildboarbook.com.

"Hunting Wild Pigs" Soon To Be Released

"Hunting Wild Pigs" Soon To Be Released

Advance Copies now available to recent buyers of the previous book.

“The Complete Guide To Hunting Boar and Wild Pigs in the US And Beyond” is on schedule for publication around mid-November 2009.

The successor to “Wild Boar In California- Where and How To Hunt” describes in great detail what every hunter ought to know about boar and wild pigs to hunt them more successfully. The emphasis of the new book is on boar and wild pigs, their anatomy, behavioral patterns, daily routines, habits, habitat requirements, hunting weapons and methods. Regardless of whether you go on guided hunts or prefer the thrill of pitting your hunting skills unguided against the survival strategies of a boar, the profound knowledge gained from this new book will make you a more successful hunter.

"Hunting Wild Pigs" is a groundbreaking new way to explore and to explain thoroughly the multifaceted topic of boar hunting by directly linking chapters and subjects of the book to relevant additional in depth information on the Internet. Unlike conventional books, this publication is easily updated and expanded anytime because data are created and stored electronically allowing embedded links that can be called up instantly. The work is therefore the hub of a compendium of combined knowledge reflecting other writings of the author and publications of others.

The series of tutorials "On Hunting Boar" is a substantial part of the overall project as is the blog “Wild Boar Hunting in California and Worldwide.

There are no repeated fleeting references to 'sus scrofa', their omnivorous nature nor anecdotal stories about successful wild pig hunts with a guide. Yet we still have the obligatory lists of private ranches, outfitters, hunting ranches and references to hunting on public land. Much of that material is however directly linked to the book in order to keep the information up to date.

JL

Feel The Need For Meat? - Wild Boar Meat That Is?

Last night and out of nowhere it suddenly struck me: Why not buy wild boar meat from a market or a meat processor! Clean, fully wrapped, ready to prepare at prices that are most likely lower than what you would have to pay per pound if you went out to harvest your own boar.

Look at it this way: First you spend a lot of time arranging for a guided wild pig hunt. Then you pay anywhere from at least $ 500.00 to 1,000.00 or more per boar harvested, plus a 'gratuity' to the guide for field dressing, a fee for cool storage, a processing fee to a butcher, packing material and more for electricity to keep your freezer or refrigerator going.

Moreover, you need fuel to get to your destination, pay for lodging and food. Is that all? No, before you can bag your game you have to brave high temperature or freezing cold, run up and down steep hills, cope with insects and crawly things that can bite and harm you, not to speak of poisonous plant life that can make you miserable for days on end. And there is never a guarantee that you will bag your wild pig!

If you are lucky you get your wild pig. Fortunately, it is a good boar, not too small and not too big and a sow but not a boar. Because getting one of those, especially when he is a big trophy boar (which the guide would love you to shoot because of the trophy fee), gives you a lot of almost worthless meat. Large old wild boar have that infamous gamy taste that makes eating their meat undesirable. Even processing the meat into Cajun sausages can not fully cover up the unpleasant taste.

Let us assume you harvested a 130 pound young sow. Good meat, good eating. By the time it is field dressed and processed you have, say, about 100 pounds of usable meat left. You placed your shot very carefully to the head to avoid excessive meat spoilage. Most of you, I presume, would play it safe and aim at the vitals. If you miss and have to shoot a second time or hit a major bone, you damage a lot of otherwise prime meat.

You paid 600 dollars for the guided hunt, another $ 100.00 for helpers, cold storage, etc, and least $ 100.00 to the butcher for meat processing. Add to it at least $ 100.00 for fuel (forget about wear and tear on your car), some food and drink.

That little sow of yours now cost you 900 dollars, give or take a few depending on your choices. And we have not added anything for your time or business lost while your were traipsing around in the wilderness. Average price per pound: $ 9.00. And this is most likely on the low side. Especially when you do not get a boar the first time out.

Instead of all this trouble and expense, why not sit at home watching some game from the comfort of your easy chair, then proceed to your computer and to YouTube for some wild pig hunting videos. There are plenty of them to watch. Find an exciting one and as the boar drops shout 'bang, bang'. (By the way, did you know that there are some video games that let you shoot real live boar? I do not know how it works, only that the animal rights people want to outlaw them. Our governor is poised to sign a bill to that effect).

No more dirty and unpleasant hard work of field dressing and skinning your wild pig. Drive to the nearest specialty market and buy yourself some fresh boar meat at a reasonable price. Take it home, cook it and enjoy some great tasting wild pig tenderloin for just over $ 10.00 a pound or a wild boar boneless shoulder roast for about the same price. You can also get the boneless shoulder at $ 6.50 per pound depending on where you buy. While you serve a mouthwatering BBQ rack of wild pig ribs to your friends you describe in great detail your boar hunting adventure and how you bravely faced the raging boar. Don't worry about details, they don't really know them either but you have seen the video of a real hunt on YouTube.

Google for wild boar meat and you will find numerous Internet sellers of wild pig meat. Of course, ordering from one of them carries shipping costs. Therefore, the actual price per pound is higher.

Fortunately, there are plenty of local companies in large urban areas that offer wild boar meat.

For example, in the Los Angeles area you can get your wild pig meat from at least three large meat processors/retailers.

Harvey Guss's Meat Co

949 S Ogden Dr

Los Angeles, CA 90036

(323) 937-4622

Marconda's Meat

6333 West Third St

Los Angeles, California 90036

323 938 5131 also at the Farmers Market, Stall 512, in Los Angeles.

Harmony Farms

2824 Foothill Blvd,

La Crescenta, CA 91214

(818) 248-3068

These are the three heavy weights. There are numerous other outfits that sell wild pig meat or at least can order it for you. Here are a few more:

99 Ranch Market

Van Nuys Store
6450 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Van Nuys,CA 91411
818-988-7899

Alexander's Prime Meats
(Howie's Ranch Market)
6580 N. San Gabriel Blvd
San Gabriel
(626) 286-8871

Huntington Meats & Sausage
(Los Angeles Farmers Market)
6333 W. 3rd St.
Los Angeles
(323) 938-5383.

Do not overlook smaller markets in predominantly Vietnamese areas (like “Little Saigon” in Los Angeles). They carry wild pig and other exotic meats. (Maybe some of it even comes from the Big Horn Ranch?)

You can find high-end wild pig meat in several places on the net, notably at

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/565417,

http://www.exoticmeatsandmore.com/wildboar.aspx

http://www.marxfoods.com/wild-boar.

Though their prices are only slightly higher than those of local stores, they only ship in larger quantities, which together with shipping costs, adds considerably to the overall price per pound.

http://brentwoodtradinggroup.com/wibomeandwib.html is the exception. At least for the Los Angeles market.

Finally, here is another quite interesting twist to the story about wild pig meat markets. A small family owned meat processing place operates in Littlerock, CA. They specialize in sausages made from exotic meats. Many hunters take their game there to have it processed into sausages. The place is well known for its quality and savory unusual, if not exotic, sausages. Unfortunately, last I heard was that the place is for sale. It might not even be there any longer.

Valley Hungarian Sausage and Meat Co.

8809 Pearblossom Hwy. Littlerock, CA 93543

(661) 944-3351 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., 7 days a week

Their website is still up at http://www.valleyhungarian.nv.switchboard.com/

Isn't it amazing how much business a few wild pigs running around and digging up people's yards are creating in their wake? Just think of all the profitable wild pig farms needed to supply the meat. Because that is most likely where the boar meat comes from. Not from ruthless murderers of poor Miss Piggy. Well, maybe with the exception of boar 'harvested' in Texas as part of the wild hog eradication programs in effect there.

Savor delicious, healthy boar meat for less, enjoy bragging rights of a successful 'hunter' and save your energy to defend against accusations of cheating.

PJJ

Coming Soon! New Book on Hunting Boar Scheduled For Release

A new book on hunting wild pigs in California and beyond is on schedule for publication in the second half of November. The author of the new “Hunting Boar And Wild Pigs - The Definite Guide To More Successful Boar Hunting” (ISBN Number 0-89532-066-5) is known for his first book on wild pig hunting which appeared in the early Nineties. He is also the main contributor to his unique boar hunting blog “Wild Boar Hunting In California And Worldwide” which blends factual information on boar, wild pigs and hunting with a wide ranging plethora of sometimes outright hilarious boar related stories from around the world.

The new book Hunting Boar And Wild Pigs - The Definite Guide To More Successful Boar Hunting retains much of the valuable information of the previous book and its proven general structure but adds new dimensions of in depth information about wild pigs and true boar here, at home and abroad that “free” boar hunting websites do not dare disclose to hunters for obvious reasons.

Most importantly, the emphasis of the book shifted from enumerating wild pig locations, private ranches and hunting guides throughout California to a thorough study of boar and wild pigs, their habitat, their habits, how to locate and hunt them. Much of this knowledge, though crucial to hunting success, is jealously and closely guarded by successful hunters and professionals alike. If you ever hunt Fort Hunter Liggett or go on an unguided hunt on a private ranch, you will need it!

Information on wild pig locations and hunting opportunities on private land are still part of the book, except that now embedded links take you with a click of your mouse to relevant websites with up to date information. And just in case something went wrong with the linked site, major linked data is also available as an appendix to the book.

Additionally, we have taken this concept yet one step further. Our unique boar hunting blog has over time discussed numerous aspects of wild pig habitat, habits and hunting methods in great detail. Almost each of these highly informative subjects deserved to be part of a book on hunting wild pigs - were it not for the fact that by including them all our practical guide to boar hunting would become a monstrous, unwieldy tome on boar and hunting wild pigs.

Therefore, we decided to include links to related blog posts when called for or when the post is adding to and expanding a chapter of the book.

As with our first boar book, the upcoming book is a work in progress. We will update it, consider reader suggestions, follow the latest developments and keep the book up to date as much as possible.

Please check back here soon for the publication date and price details.

Excerpts from the Foreword to the book are here.

John London

Florida Police Shoot Praying Boar

Was he looking for salvation or for food?

Florida police shot a 200 pound wild pig close to the annual fall festival of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pinellas Park. The boar did not disturb the festival in any way according to a report in the Orlando News/Associated Press from October 19, 2009.

Shortly after receiving a report of a wayward wild pig, police spotted it and attempted to cage it without much success. The boar also seemed immune to the favorite toy of police, a taser gun.

This was not the first time that Pinellas County police had to deal with a wild pig. Another 200 pound sow attacked a woman and a police officer in April of 2009. It was captured and destroyed.

I wonder what that wild pig was doing at a fair organized by the Catholic church? Was his soul tempted by the alluring smell of food prepared at the fair? Most likely.

Or did he intend to convert? Less likely.

PJJ

Wild Pigs In San Diego County – Hunter Bags 240 Pound Evidence

Back in April of 2009 I reported on wild pig sightings in San Diego County near a water reservoir for the City of San Diego. The report was based on an article by Ed Zieralski in the web edition of the The San Diego Union Tribune. At that time the evidence consisted of a picture of at least 17 wild pigs in rough terrain. The photographer claimed to have shot the picture from his boat.

On October 09, 2009 and on October 13, 2009 the author published two articles about the first wild pig harvested by a hunter in that particular area of San Diego County. The hunter, John Ogle, was bow hunting deer when he accidentally spotted a small herd of wild pigs in the distance. The boar were however too far out to use bow and arrow. Therefore, he quickly returned to his car and retrieved a rifle leaving boar and arrow behind.

After stalking the feeding boar, just as they were dropping out of sight behind some rocks, he fired a shot at the last and largest of them. Cautiously approaching the spot where the wild pig should have fallen, he was most surprised to find a large boar. It was the first boar he has seen in San Diego County in 38 years of hunting there. And a big one too: 241 pounds when weighed at the butcher shop.

It had 1¾-inch tusks and a 15-inch tail according to the lucky hunter. He quickly declared it 'of the European strain'. Despite the black color, this boar is most likely a wild pig and not a European boar. Unless the nearby Indian tribe released purebred Eurasian boar in to the wild and there were no feral pigs around for them to mate with. Looking carefully at the head and snout of the boar, I do not believe that this is a European boar. Unfortunately, only the hunter himself could tell us details about the coat of the animal.

Four days later Ed Zieralski reported on another wild pig sighting in that general area. This time the boar was spotted by Willard Lepley, a former supervising ranger, on the southwest side of a lake. The former ranger finds it difficult to believe that the boar already made it this far up from the area close to their original release. But there it was – a real live wild pig.

This is good news for any wild pig hunters in San Diego County and a mixed bag of news for the owners of private ranches. While expressing concerns about the destruction wrought by the boar, the ranchers are eagerly getting their rifles ready to deal with any malfeasant immediately. No doubt, a small army of boar hunters will closely follow to assist them.

The wild pigs have made it as far as they have gone only because their presence was not widely known. Therefore, they were not subjected to much hunting pressure. They also prosper in an area that is difficult to access not only because of the rough terrain but also because of a lake, Indian land and private ranches. A hunter needs access to them in order to get to the boar.

While our lucky hunter reportedly has access to at least one of the ranches, it will become more and more difficult for other hunters to follow in his footsteps and secure access for themselves. That's good for the boar and, paradox as it may sound, good for boar hunters as well. The worst possible scenario is that hundreds of frustrated boar hunters descend on that small part of San Diego County and overrun tribal areas and ranches driving the wild pigs into the relative safety of private land. Boar that stay behind on public land would soon be shot out completely like on almost all public land in California.

And that is why I am keeping this post just a little vague when it comes to the actual locations of the wild pigs in San Diego County.

PJJ