I didn't know what it was going thru the snow , but it was moving fast , pitch black with snow on it's back , and just before daylight this morning .
We recived a foot of snow last night and it was still coming down when I sat in the blind . The creature plowed thru the snow less than 20 yards from me , even with the scope on it I couldn't tell what it was for shure , it was moving fast !
Around 1 P.M. with no deer in site I decided to check out the tracks , it had to be a wild pig !
Look at the hoof and the belly marks in the snow, your opinion ? Remember 1 foot of snow , definatly not a deer (couldn't crawl at that speed and less than 20 yds. away) , black as cole , and hoofs .
If it's there again tomorow , bang !
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I've never seen pig tracks before but I'm thinking that's exactly what they would look like in the snow.
You should have wissled or maybe clapped your hands. Might have made it stop so you could get a better look.
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pigs have 4 toes. two forward two rear
on hard ground they can be mistaken for a doe, in sand and mud you get to see the two back toes.
a small pig could easily be mistaken for a fawn.
piggies aint always black, some times red, brown, grey and white... Depending on the species inter mixed and age, none of these bores are pure strains. they all have been crossed with domestic at one time to suit the needs of game preserves..
I dont remember them walking or running with matching tracks, "rear track in to front track" Dosnt mean they dont, I just cant remember, from the pictures it looks like matching tracking.. I will have to put "Babe" into the vcr and see how he runs to be sure....
snow on the back sound about right for a piggy, they run out from under the pine tree or shrub they were laying under their back hairs do catch and hold a lot of snow...
I was up east of gaylord just a couple miles north of that big military base when I saw something black flash though the woods during squril season, he came though so fast he bearly looked like a black shadow going though the woods just about 35 yards away... "no snow on the ground" did not make a sound. black as night. the shape caught my eye, quadroped...
At the time I was thinking black fallow deer or panther... it passed across the fire trail I was standing on. I bearly got a two second look at it and it was gone...
this was in the mid 80's, so we know it want a piggy...
it sent goose bumps down my spine,
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There's a big pig ( 400#+ ) 1/2 mile away at the end of the road , its tore the yard up something terible at that house . it comes out of the swamp area at night , the land owners have been tring everything they can to shoot porkey but no luck .
I'm guessing our pig is under 100# .
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I'm game for a wild piggy dinner.[
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sounds like to my your neighbor has truffels in the yard...[
] "under ground growing mushrooms"
Let me know when the bounty gets a little higher, I am sure the insurance company will be willing to pay at some point. [
] I got a little trick to hoofin them in the air...[
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Hog roping ?
I could hook up a boat winch to a maple with some pullies and fight that oinker in like a stergon , yee haa !!!
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If you do get one be sure to have the thing checked for diseases. The reason why the DNR want them gone is because disease is wide spread with them and they don't want to infest livestock and other game animals.
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ya, its been a long time since any one has broken out with a food borne illness called tricanosis
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][#003366]State Asks Deer Hunters to Help Eliminate Feral Swine[/#003366][/font]
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][#003366]Contact: [/#003366][/font] [font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][black]Kristine Brown 517-336-5030[/black][/font]
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][#003366]Agency:[/#003366][/font] [font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]Natural Resources[/font]
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][black]Nov. 14, 2007
Officials from the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are encouraging deer hunters with a valid hunting license to shoot feral swine (free-ranging pigs) in 50 Michigan counties.
"It is critical that feral swine are removed from the landscape as soon as possible," said Douglas Reeves, DNR Wildlife Division acting chief. "Feral swine populations cause crop damage, pose a serious threat to the health and welfare of domestic swine, and negatively impact wildlife populations and ecosystems. They can be dangerous to humans as well."
Officials said state law protects livestock that has temporarily escaped from farms; so special precautions are necessary to guard farmer's property, but the state also wants to keep feral swine populations from becoming established. On April 12, 2007, a resolution to prevent the establishment of feral swine in Michigan was passed by the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and the Natural Resources Commission.
"We will take aggressive enforcement action to protect the health of domestic swine and to eliminate feral swine from the wild in Michigan," said State Veterinarian Steven Halstead. "Our goal is to safeguard the livestock industry as well as the environment from these unwelcome invaders."
Sam Hines, executive vice president of Michigan Pork Producers Association, warned that "the production of domestic swine in Michigan is a $700 million industry and feral swine present a risk to the industry."
County prosecutors are aware that shooting feral swine in 50 counties is permitted and have assured MDA officials that individuals who shoot feral swine in those counties will not be prosecuted.
Feral swine may be taken in the following counties: Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Bay, Berrien, Branch, Cass, Cheboygan, Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Emmet, Genesee, Gladwin, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Houghton, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Lake, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Tuscola, Washtenaw and Wayne.
Feral swine can carry diseases such as brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis (TB) and trichinosis, which may impact the state's domestic swine industry and Michigan's wildlife. Therefore, MDA and DNR have set up a program to test these harvested animals for certain diseases.
DNR staff will assist hunters in submitting samples for free disease testing. Blood collection kits also are available at the USDA Wildlife Services office in Okemos and should be obtained prior to entering the field. A person will need the vials with them to gather blood immediately after shooting a pig.
A person field-dressing swine, especially in the northeastern Lower Michigan TB area, should wear gloves. If the lungs, ribcage or internal organs from a feral swine look abnormal (multiple tan or yellow lumps), the meat should not be eaten. The carcass should, however, be removed from the environment and brought to a DNR field office for testing.
It is highly unlikely a person will contract a disease by eating cooked meat of feral swine. However, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, feral swine should be thoroughly cooked to an internal temperature of 170 degrees F. to kill the parasite that causes trichinosis.
State law prohibits the release of any species having the potential to spread serious diseases or parasites, to cause serious physical harm, or to otherwise endanger native wildlife, human life, livestock, domestic animals, or property. Intentional release of swine in Michigan is a felony and may be punishable by a fine of not less than $1,000 and imprisonment up to 5 years.
The DNR reminds hunters to be certain of their targets before shooting. Feral swine usually range between 60 pounds and 300 pounds, but can weigh even more. They tend to be dark brown or black with thick, bristly hair and often have tusks.
Feral swine tend to frequent swamps and drainages near agricultural fields. Feral swine may not show up regularly at any given site, therefore hunters need to take advantage of the first opportunity to shoot the swine because they likely will not get a second chance.
When shooting a pig, aim for the shoulder or slightly ahead of the shoulder. The vital area of a pig is more forward than a deer.
If you see or shoot any feral swine, please contact the DNR at (517) 336-5030; e-mail: [url "mailto:brownkr@michigan.gov"][#000000]brownkr@michigan.gov[/#000000][/url] or call the MDA at (517) 373-1077 or the USDA Wildlife Services at (517) 336-1928.
For more information on zoonotic diseases and feral swine, go to: [url "http://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases"][#000000]www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases[/#000000][/url].
[url "http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/TEM_Chapt_14_206595_7.pdf"][size 4]Trapping Safety[/size][/url] ... virus, tularemia, Lyme disease, mange, and trichinosis cause infection and disease
in Michigan. ... less severe and does not last as long. Trichinosis - ... [/black][/font]
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