Calling All Wild Pig Hunters Additional Boar Hunting Opportunity at East Park Reservoir in December 2010.

On September 16, 2010 Marc Kenyon, the new Wild Pig Coordinator of the California Department of Fish and Game published a press release calling on boar hunters to assist in controlling a wild pig population in Colusa County. This special hunt will be held in cooperation with the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) on USBR–managed lands at the Reservoir. It is located approximately 20 miles west of Maxwell.

This additional hunt is available to 24 hunters with a valid California hunting license. “Hunters may apply for the two-day, muzzle loader pig hunts by mailing their information on postcards to DFG. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 27. Entry permits with maps and additional information will subsequently be mailed to successful applicants.”

Marc Kenyon worked out details of this additional hunt (in addition to hunts in April and October) earlier this year. Wild boar thrive on lands managed by the US Bureau of Reclamation according to Marc Kenyon.
"The USBR maintains lands that are prime wild pig, deer, elk and turkey habitat, comprised of grasslands, mixed oak woodlands and riparian areas," Kenyon said. "Because there are so many pigs, they are frequently wandering onto adjacent private lands. We wanted to quickly enact control measures designed to alleviate the impacts pigs are causing there. . .
We agreed to construct pig-resistant fencing to protect native vegetation and offer a third hunting opportunity," Kenyon added. "Pig eradication was discussed, but total pig removal is logistically challenging and cost-prohibitive in these situations. At this point, controlling the population is the best we can hope for."
Congrats to Marc Kenyon for a job well done. At last there is one official who understands and acknowledges the positive contributions hunters can make in controlling burgeoning wild pig populations and their rapid expansion. Whether 24 hunters with muzzle loaders can make a significant impact remains to be seen. On the other hand, if the boar population is still relatively small these hunters and their trusted weapons might just do the trick. Let us remember that hunters with muzzle loaders managed to eradicate entire species.
Personally I am happy to see that DFG is calling on hunters for assistance instead of calling the heroes in their helicopters. Hunters, let us not forget, are cheaper than copters.

Details of the additional special hunt can be found on the DFG website. For application details and additional information, please visit the wild pig special hunts website at www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/pig/specialhunts.html or contact Marc Kenyon, Wild Pig Program Coordinator at (916) 445-3515 or Dana Michaels, Information Officer, (916) 322-2420.
PJJ