USDA map linking NY feral hog populations to hunting preserves, game farms
Feral hogs aren’t just for the south anymore; New York state is now officially worried about wild boar, too. I used to think that wild boar were a good example of an ecosystem problem hunters could help solve. Turns out, they’re the ones causing it by releasing hogs to shoot them for fun.
A feral pig family / NY DEC
Feral pigs or wild hogs can come from many sources: abandoned pets, escaped livestock or even pigs from Europe released long ago. But, wildlife biologists around the country blame the upsurge in the last two decades on releases by hunters. Hunters might release or relocate them on purpose to hunt or the razorbacks may be escapees from canned hunting operations.
New York now has hogs, mainly in three counties (Tioga, Cortland and Onondaga) that border yahoo hunting state Pennsylvania. The USDA report says “Intentional releases of swine by hunters interested in pursuing them in New York, escape of swine from shooting preserves, and breeding facilities are factors that need to be considered if the eradication efforts in the state were to be successful.” The report says New York boars probably cross the border from Pennsylvania, which has confirmed wild hog populations and a particular canned hunt operation.
Coincidentally, there is a shooting preserve with feral swine located in Pennsylvania that shares a property boundary with the New York border. The New York properties that we trapped and that reported feral swine damage are also adjacent to the state border. Shooting preserves can be a source of feral swine populations that threaten natural resources, agriculture, human health and safety, and property.
That pretty well describes the Tioga Boar Hunting Preserve in Tioga, PA. They describe themselves as “the largest in the east, with hundreds of acres for you to hunt on, and a past record of the finest trophies ever taken anywhere!!” and ”just across the upstate New York border.” They charge $500-$900 to hunt a boar, depending on its size (plus $85 per person lodging, $100 butchering fee (optional) and 2% credit card surcharge).
I called Tioga Boar Hunting Preserve and asked about being cited–though not specifically in the report. “That’s old. From two years ago. If you post something like that on your site, you’ll probably be hearing from our lawyer we have working on it,” said the man who answered the phone but refused to give his name. “It probably would be easier for you not to post something like that.” Golly, that’s intimidating.
“The only reason they put us in the report is we’ve been here since 1966 and everyone knows about us,” he said. The preserve’s boars are all tagged and that “there hasn’t been a report of a boar around here.” He blamed reports of released boars on another hunting preserve near Pittsburgh that released its animals when it closed.
The report, released Monday, used data from a survey and trapping in 2010.
The problem is that hogs damage crops, infect cows and pigs with disease, eat wildlife and food that should go to wildlife, and could potentially charge people. (They get to be huge.) In New York, the rare Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) could suffer from hogs eating the animals or destroying their habitat.
Feral pig 2004 distribution map
The Missouri Department of Conservation says that its hogs have roamed parts of their state “since the open range days” but just got out of hand in the 1990s because hunting guides would release hogs to promote hunting and the population got out of control. “It is believed that the biggest contribution to feral hog population expansion is the illegal release of feral hogs for the purpose of sport hunting,” says Rex Martensen, their field programs coordinator in a video. Hunting alone won’t get rid of the population, either.
Texas has a big problem with wild hogs, too–but not so big that they would only approve a plan that hog hunters like, , according to Wildlife Management Pro. The plan was hailed as ”still giving hunters an opportunity to bag a boar trophy worth bragging rites.” The rules allow hunters to trap wild pigs and hold them in a trailer for a week before sending them to slaughter or to an approved canned hunt facility with fences at least five feet high. The swine form of Brucellosis has been confirmed in 19 cattle herds. Let’s contrast the tolerance of wild hogs to that of bison outside Yellowstone.
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Where to SEE FARM SANCTUARIES with cow, chicken, domesticated pig, sheep |
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Where to SEE DEER (and anteloope and reindeer) |
I don’t think the problem is what they say. I’ve read a lot of hype and doom and gloom but the pigs just are not here. Even the map in the article dosen’t show pigs in ny or pa. I live in upstate NY and have been looking for signs of these pigs everywhere i go and i spend a LOT of time in the woods and fields near where they say the problem is. I have advertised my services to hunt these for farmers. I have not recieved any information on where they are nor have i seen any sign.
It seems that they do better in the warmer climates and I would be surprised if they spread across new york state. We are just coming off a mild winter now and i will be on the hunt for (wild) hogs many weekends this summer.
The wild pigs do not cause damage to crops. Hunters sneak into gardens and do this at night. The hunters use the tusk and feet of pigs they have killed to leave prints in the ground. This makes it look like the damage was done by pigs. Then hunters go to the property owner and get permission to hunt on his or her land. Believing that the pigs caused the destruction, the property owners often grants permission to the pig hunters. I am a member of VOGWOP. We defend the rights of trees and other plants and provide services to plants that are suffering from the effects of global warming and other problems they did not help to create. We are not about animal rights and we would not protect pigs if they really did the stuff they get blamed for. But we are some of the few humans who know better. SAVE THE PIGS
I shoul have asa much right to comment as anyone else, your readers are intelligent enough to read all comments and form their own opinions. My comment can not be so bad that you need to protect people from reading it, can it ?
YeeeHaww free roaming feral pigs in NY!?!?!?! lets go huntin’!!!!!!!
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Can you give me some advice on hunting for feral swine…..?
living in berks county and another home in Pulaski, NY … we would like to stop
in at an arranged area in Courtland or Tioga for a feral pig hunt …. any info
is appreciated.
In this Yellow Journalist’s opening comments, he states,
“I used to think”. I might suggest you resume this obviously
foregone activity.
Hunters provide more revenue to the tune of billions of dollars each year for the presevation of wildlife, both game and non-game species. Non hunting wildlife groups provide little if any revenue to directly improve or preserve the habitat of animals they claim to protect. These
groups primarily spend money trying to litigate and legislate hunting out of existance.
Indeed, all hunters are not angels, there are good and bad
people in ever group or walk of life. There is no concrete evidence Hunters released these animals. The matter needs
intence investigation. I am not a fan of “Canned Hunts”, to me, it strains the ethic of fair chase. It also can present an environmental impact problem with the escape of
exotic game, or the diseases they carry.
Unlike you, Iam a little reluctant to tell a land owner what he can and cannot do to make money on his own land, and infringe upon the freedoms of others when I dont want my freedoms messed with.
I’ld love to hunt these animals.I live in Endicott ny, and love to be in the woods.But I’m not sure where to find or hunt feral hogs.Any information or contacts would be appreciated.
I’ve been a serious archery only hunter for 13yrs. I have and use land owner contracts. I’ve worked & hunted with a couple land owners,with good success in the past.
I look forward to your help and information.
Thanks for the map. Now i know where i can go hunting for hogs.
this guy tim lowers him self to name calling and put downs like a littie kid…….he has no factes to back up a real debat…..pigs are a spreding thing like wild fire thay are all over the lower state and are moveing north…..hunting is the only way to stop this.I have killed over 20 hogs my self 30-06 and 12ga do the job and wild hog is dame good to…we shold all grab a gun and kill a hog…u can feed ur famliy and take a disrutive animal out of the mix …the same gos with wolves…..tree hugers suck…..
Where did you find the pigs ? I want in on the action. As long as they’re in the wild.
Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask, but I am just getting into hunting with my son. We live near Richmond, VA, and wanted to try Rasawek Hunting Preserve, but we couldn’t find any reviews of it. It’s about an hour west of Richmond: 2861 Hadensville-Fife Rd, Goochland, VA 23063 804-467-9000 Is it any good?
Haha i think thats funny also Time 3 meerkats debating whether to desplay your comment. The thing is these people know we speak truth thats why they are afraid of what we say. We listen to what they say then they try to silence us lol. It is soo funny.
Haha I think its funny these people think all these problems are caused by all hunters. A lot of hunters like myself cant afford to hunt these boars the biased journilist said i caused to go free. Kevin where do you suppose your meat comes from? I think its funny people say we hunters are evil but meat from a grocery store is packed with so much shit that it aint funny. Id much rather shoot me a deer or a boar and eat it. One 5.56 from a colt AR-15 “Assault Rifle” will put it down real fast, or do you think i should surrender my colt AR? Ohh wait i gotta surrender my shotguns and my rifles and my pistols because you probably are one of those people who think the average person doesnt deserve the right to own weapons. You probably think that if weapons are banned crime will go down. Funny thing about people like you is you dont understand that without hunting the animal populations will go so far up it will be detrimental to the ecosystem. If you take away human hunters, why not take away animal hunters such as coyotes and bobcats, and foxes because all hunters are evil right? I laugh at people like you kevin and the author of this article because you generalize all hunters, there are good and bad just like there are good and bad from everything. GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Oh My, Those evil hunters are at it again. Bad enough hunters spend millions of dollars that each state uses for wildlife. Now they’re releasing animals to destroy the same land they hunt deer, bear, turkey, etc… Wow, somone needs to put a stop to all this. Maybe PETA will actually spend some of it’s millions on anilmals instead of it’s campains. Hahahahahahahahahaha
OH! Even better! “Tim, 3 Meerkats are debating whether to display your comment” LMAO! First of all, what adult refers to him or herself as a meerkat? Second, why are you afraid of free speech? Are you afraid an honest debate?
Thank you for the laughs you have provided me today! Semper Fi and happy hunting.
Gee, I wonder if this guy is an anti hunter. I especially like the comment about the “yahoo hunting state of Pennsylvania” LOL, priceless journalism. At least it’s unbiased.