Wild Pigs in California: Boom or Bust?

Afterthoughts to reports and opinions on the future of boar populations in 2011.


Two recent articles explored the effects of favorable environmental conditions on wild pig populations in California. My articles opined that because of the past wet winter that resulted in good to excellent acorn drop and overall improved habitat conditions, we could expect a rapid increase in boar populations this coming spring and early summer 2011.



My reports, or shall we say speculations, are supported by findings of wildlife biologists working for the DFG and by results of a brief survey among hunters and ranch owners. Consensus among them was that we could indeed expect a significant increase in the number of wild pigs. Some felt comfortable enough to state that they already noticed more boar in the fields, up to 20 or thirty percent that is.



I am always suspicious of glowing reports from ranchers and guides about the high number of trophy boar roaming their specific ranches. If they note a thirty percent increase I deduct in my mind a few percentiles from that figure to allow for the effects of self-interest. But not so when wildlife biologists produce similar or identical population estimates. Hunting buddies also get a free pass on their observations because they are the ones who pay for the privilege of hunting on private land. If they do not see any of the many trophy boar that reportedly are overrunning a ranch they will tell us truthfully, I guess.
It just so happens that all groups I sampled agreed more or less that they observed greater numbers of wild pigs in the field. So far, so good.



However, I also had a few less optimistic reports. One from a boar hunter who is one of the most active and persistent hunters I happen to know. That does not mean that he is also equally successful. When he reported consistently few boar signs and even fewer wild pigs I paid only moderate attention. In fact, during fall he saw only one boar. It mysteriously disappeared in some high grass right in front of his eyes before he could even shoulder his rifle.
But there were also reports from FHL (Fort Hunter Ligget) about the lack of signs. Among others the comment of a reader about his experience at FHL in mid-October. His hunting party saw only one wild pig during an entire weekend. It also quickly disappeared never to be seen or heard of again while he was there.
Other reports spoke of signs, 'seasoned' signs, but no wild pigs.



This poses the question in the mind of any reader how it can be that twenty or thirty percent more wild pigs can roam the fields leaving few if any traces of their presence. And few or no boar are seen?
Inexperienced boar hunters or stealth boar? Overly optimistic estimates to please inquisitive minds or sound self-interest on the part of those who have vested business interests in an abundance of boar on their property? Smart wild pigs that stay out of sight (and therefore the minds) of ranchers who would love to eradicate them and of hunters with a taste for wild boar bacon?



There are some reasonable, factual explanations.

First, wild pigs are not evenly distributed over California. More of them live in good habitats on mainly private land than anywhere else. Good habitat produces food faster, in greater quantities and better quality than marginal land. Result: More boar in fertile areas of the state. One would expect much accelerated growth rates there because more sows produce more piglets. Simple, isn't it?.
Abundant and good food sources equal fast growth of wild pig populations. Marginal areas with fewer, qualitatively lesser food resources equal comparatively slower growth.



Second, at this time wild pigs only begin to recover losses suffered during the dry years. The task to go forth and multiply still rests mainly on the shoulders of drought survivors. Their numerically increasing offspring will start contributing to the production of more wild pigs later next year. We will see impressive growth rates once the first and second generation 'post drought' wild pigs join the boar production lines. Boar sightings should then no longer be the exception.
Again, this effect will manifest itself sooner in good wild pig areas than in more marginal pig country.



Third, there is a reason why wildlife biologists and ranchers see more wild pigs than hunters. Biologists are not primarily hunters but rather observing scientists. As such they do not spook boar to the same extent hunters would. Ranchers and farmers work the land. They do not only go into the fields to harvest wild pigs. Boar soon learn to discern the sound patterns of equipment of husbandry from the sound of 4x4 and ATV vehicles. One can be greatly ignored (if not cherished because it brings feed for the cattle) while the others trigger disappearing acts.



Fourth, let us not forget the influence of boar hunting on wild pig populations. With the exception of FHL all comments involved wild pigs on private land. Ranches that have established boar hunting programs with guides and outfitters organizing and conducting boar hunts every weekend (and sometimes during the week) will harbor more of the 'disappearing' wild pigs. Boar are smart enough to learn quickly to vanish during shooting hours. The readily adjust their natural crepuscular nature to a nocturnal lifestyle. I remember vividly a ranch in Kern county that held a very large, very mean and very smart stealth boar. He was known to (and sometimes seen by) dozens of eager boar hunters who were all wildly determined to bag him. For years none succeeded because he had learned only to make himself known long after shooting hours. He always disappeared well before dawn.



Our smart wild pigs are not going to hang around a ranch with an active hunting program. Those that do become nocturnal. All others move to the neighboring ranches with less active guide services. They will move even further away when they get shot at that ranch as well. But eventually they will be back right where they started from.



Fifth, wild pigs react in a very similar way to any unfavorable changes in habitat conditions of their home ranges. For example, if water becomes hard to find on a ranch or food sources near depletion, the boar will move on to properties that offer easier living. It is therefore very possible that a ranch owner can observe a greater number of wild pigs on his property but hunters looking for them a week or so later will not see them – only old signs. Ask your guide when he last guided a hunting party on the property and how many times before that in the most recent past before you book a hunt with him. Private hunting clubs observe 'boar hunting seasons' on their leases in order to allow their wild pigs to recover from hunting losses and to avoid turning them into nocturnal foragers.



Finally, hunting wild pigs more often than not involves the luck of the draw, good hunter intuition and well founded knowledge of the terrain, the seasons and the daily routines of a specific wild pig population. Though it is generally true that boar can be found under or in the immediate vicinity of oaks trees during the acorn drop, in or near barley and corn fields and watering holes they do not necessarily have to be under the trees just because it is fall. To divine correctly where to look is an absolutely necessary skill for any wild pig hunter who strikes out on his own for a real hunt – private or public land. It does not matter.
For all others guides come in handy. They spend a lot of time in the field observing the boar, studying their daily and seasonal routines and keeping track of reactions of the quarry to environmental changes. Your chances of bagging a wild pig are therefore greatly improved when you use the services of guides or outfitters. Responsible guides also make sure that the ranches under contract are not over hunted because it would result in wild pigs moving away and hunting success rates consequently plummeting together with the reputation of the guide.
Unfortunately, not all guides act this way. Do a little research before you hire a guide. Personally I have an issue with guides who charge a trophy fee.
But that is a topic for another day.
PJJ