Wild Boar Hunting in California and Worldwide

DFG to Offer Three Late Season Goose Hunting Opportunities

2012-01-28T10:18:00.000-08:00

DFG News January 27, 2012

“The California Fish and Game Commission has approved a third 2011/2012 late season hunting opportunity for geese.
Licensed hunters can now hunt white-fronted geese and white geese during the late season for geese in the Balance of the State Zone. This is in addition to the already established late season goose hunts in the North Coast and Imperial County Special Management Areas . . .
The new season in the Balance of the State Zone will be open from Feb. 18 through Feb. 22. A daily bag limit of eight geese is allowed which may include up to six white geese or up to six white-fronted geese. The Sacramento Valley Special Management Area will be closed to the take of white-fronted geese during the late season goose hunt. Type A and B wildlife areas will not be open to hunting. However, Type C areas and other public lands that allow waterfowl hunting may be open.
The North Coast Special Management Area will be open from Feb. 18 through Mar. 10. The daily bag limit is six small Canada geese only. Large Canada geese cannot be taken during the late season hunt. Type A, B and C wildlife areas will not be open to hunting but other public lands that allow waterfowl hunting may be open.
The Imperial County Special Management Area will be open from Feb. 11 through Feb. 26. The daily bag limit is six white geese. Type A, B and C wildlife areas will not be open to hunting but other public lands that allow waterfowl hunting may be open.
The purpose of these late season goose hunts is to reduce goose crop depredation complaints on private lands. Providing hunting opportunities in the late season will help reduce potential crop depredation by lowering the population(s) and shifting geese onto public areas. Most goose populations that winter in California are at or above population goals and remain in California through late spring. . .. All late season goose hunts are closed on Type A and B wildlife areas. However, other public lands open to waterfowl hunting may be open during these late season hunts.”

Check applicable regulations at dfg.ca.gov/regulations.

Another Turkey Hunting Clinic in March

2012-01-27T11:43:00.000-08:00

This time for Northern California on March 3, 2012.

The DFG is announcing another one-day turkey hunting clinic. It will be held from 09:00 to 17:00 at the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area near Gridley.

DFG wildlife biologist Joe Johnson, also an experienced turkey hunter, will lead the clinic. It is designed to cover the usual topics, decoy placement, blind design, ballistics, calling, necessary equipment and safety.

The price is $ 45.00. The clinic will be open to hunters of all ages. Junior hunters of 16 or less can participate for free as long as they are with an adult. For details go to the DFG webpage for advanced hunting clinics. Advance registration is required.

PJJ

Remember Wolf 07?

2012-01-25T10:50:00.000-08:00

He is now federally protected by the Endangered Species Act

DFG News January 24, 2012

The California Department of Fish and Game just published a press release regarding this now famous wolf.

“The gray wolf designated OR7 has remained in California since he crossed the state line on Dec. 28. The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) closely monitors the wolf’s position and progress, and will report on his status through a new website at www.dfg.ca.gov/wolf/.

While OR7 is the only documented wolf in California, any wild gray wolf that returns to California is protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The federal law generally prohibits the harassment, harm, pursuit, hunting, shooting, wounding, killing, trapping, capture or collection of wolves in California, or the attempt to engage in any such conduct. Penalties include fines up to $100,000 and one-year imprisonment.
Though many sightings have been reported, all other recent “wolf” sightings that have been investigated in California have been found to be something else, such as a coyote, a dog or a hybrid wolf-dog. Despite reports to the contrary, DFG is not aware of confirmed sightings of other wolves in California since 1924. . .
Concerns about human safety are largely based on folklore and are unsubstantiated. In recent years there was one human mortality in Canada caused either by wolves or bears and one confirmed human mortality in Alaska by wolves. Based on experience from states where substantial wolf populations now exist, wolves pose little risk to humans.
However, DFG recommends that people never approach a wolf, or otherwise interact with or feed a wolf. Farmers and ranchers can reduce the likelihood of attracting wolves and other predators by removing potential sources of food and other attractants from their land such as discarded animal carcasses, bone piles, etc. . .
OR7 is a 2 ½ year old male formerly from a pack in northeast Oregon. He is being monitored through various means, including with a Global Positioning System (GPS) device that periodically transmits its location. It is not possible to predict his next movements, but he has remained in eastern Lassen County for approximately one week. DFG is notifying media, local officials and landowners of OR7’s general whereabouts.
DFG has been following the recovery and migration of gray wolves in western states with the expectation that at some point they will likely reach California. The last confirmed wild gray wolf in California was killed in Lassen County in 1924. The available historic information on wolves in California suggests that while they were widely distributed, they were not abundant. DFG has summarized information about wolves in California which can be found at www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/wolf/docs/Gray_Wolf_Report_2012.pdf.”

The release also references a graphic to distinguish a wold from a coyote. It is found at the official website of the State of Montana: http://fwp.mt.gov/fishAndWildlife/management/wolf/wolfCoyote.html.
Have a look.
PJJ

DFG Increases Number of Fund-Raising Big Game Tags for 2012

2012-01-22T12:54:00.000-08:00

DFG News January 18, 2012

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) just announced four random drawings for big game license tags in 2012. All interested hunters can enter into the drawing for for one of the tags by purchasing tag drawing chances at DFG license sales office, online and at the upcoming International Sportsmen’s Expositions in Sacramento and Long Beach.

There is no purchase limit on the number of tags a hunter can acquire. A valid hunting license is also not required at the time of the purchase of random drawing chances. However, successful applicants must show proof of a valid 2012/2013 hunting license before receiving the tag. In 2011 the sales of chances for the random drawing raised $ 130,000 for conservation. These funds are a vital contribution to wildlife conservation programs.

The price for a chance is $ 5.66.

Application deadline is on June 2, 2012; the actual drawings are scheduled to take place within 10 days of the deadline.

As in 2011, the Department of Fish and Game offered random drawings for one open zone deer tag and one for an Owens Valley zone elk tag. This year DFG will add one northeastern California pronghorn antelope tag and one Kelso Peak/Old Dead Mountains desert bighorn sheep tag.

“. . .San Gorgonio Wilderness Outfitters has offered to provide free guide services to the hunter who wins the Kelso Peak/Old Dad Mountains desert bighorn sheep tag.”

“This is a wonderful offer and commitment by the San Gorgonio folks and demonstrates the great support of one another within the hunting community,” said DFG director Bonham.

“In our continued support of hunting and quest to increase hunting and fishing opportunities in California, I’m pleased that our hunters can purchase multiple random drawing fund-raising tag chances for special hunt tags this year,” added Charlton H. Bonham.

”I am particularly excited that this year we will include a once-in-a-lifetime desert bighorn sheep tag as well as a coveted northeastern California pronghorn antelope tag. California’s big game conservation and hunting opportunities continue to demonstrate that world-class opportunities are available in this great state. Just this past season two hunters set pending Boone and Crocket State and Pope and Young world records for desert bighorn sheep.”

As an added bonus, San Gorgonio Wilderness Outfitters has offered to provide free guide services to the hunter who wins the Kelso Peak/Old Dad Mountains desert bighorn sheep tag.

“This is a wonderful offer and commitment by the San Gorgonio folks and demonstrates the great support of one another within the hunting community,” Bonham stated.

Hunters who are not selected as winners of one of the four random tag draws are still eligible to bid on any of the 13 fund-raising tags available through auction by DFG’s conservation partners.

Detailed information and frequently asked questions are at dfg.ca.gov/licensing/hunting/huntingfaqs.html.

PJJ

Boar In The News – December 2011

2012-01-19T15:25:00.000-08:00

True to their reputation as trouble makers, boar busied themselves doing just that.

Wild boar killed in Matsuyama residential district

Japan Today December 21, 2011

“A wild boar was killed after wandering into a residential area of Matsuyama City in Ehime Prefecture, on Tuesday afternoon.

The animal was first spotted about 7:20 a.m. by a man who called 110. During the day, the boar was seen in various other locations before being cornered at 3:15 p.m. in a residential area, NTV reported. Some 30 police were mobilized and eventually captured the animal by jumping on top of it. It was later killed by a hunter.”

Commented a reader:

“ It would have been hilarious to watch the flops chase the pig down. The way the article reads all 30 cops jumped on the pig.

One question though; Why didn't the cops shoot it?”

More boar misdeeds from Japan, as if the ill-fated town Fukushima did not have enough problems already. Let us hope that we are not talking about radioactive boar here. But does it really matter when the entire area is being bombarded by radioactivity.

Boars gone wild in Fukushima

On December 20, 2011 Majiroxnews reported that “Japanese farmers asked the authorities on Friday to do more to prevent wild boars from damaging their crops at Fukushima prefecture. They say the boars are destroying their crops by eating them, and they appealed to local authorities for assistance in getting rid of the boars.

A decrease in hunting after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident is being blamed for the increase in the boar population. There were 30 percent fewer hunters this season, which lasts four months, starting from mid-November. There were 3,291 registered hunters as of Nov. 15, compared to 4,779 registered at the same time last year. Hunters register their traps and guns every season.

“Many hunters left their shotguns behind in their homes in the evacuated areas and they can’t return to get them, while others are too scared to go into the areas that contain or may radiation,” a farmer spokesman said. Another concern is that the boars themselves may contain high levels of radiation, since they move into and out of the contaminated areas.

Hunts are normally organized to keep the boar population under control. Hunters go into the woods, and hunting dogs are used to drive the boars toward a hunter who then shoots them with a shotgun. Nonetheless, controlling the population is difficult, and the population keeps increasing, as the boars can have 3 litters each year with up to 14 babies each time.”

See, hunting does indeed have a significant effect on wild boar populations. No helicopters are needed when hunting is facilitated and sustained. The lack of hunters hunting boar in Fukushima proves the point.

Back in Europe, the Guardian Environment Network reports on a brewing controversy over hunting boar piglets.

Berlin plans hunt of wild boar invaders

“Under the bright lights of Berlin's inner city shines a world of harmonious contrasts: Artists rub shoulders with businessmen; businessmen rub shoulders with the unemployed; and the unemployed rest and play with the Turks and the Kurds to mold their own distinct culture.

Yet ten minutes away – deep inside the city's vast forests – lives a bored, hungry, restless creature whose keen snout senses a fuller, more vibrant life. Twice the size of a dog and weighing up to 300 pound, Berlin's wild boar has the potential to rub everyone the wrong

Derk Ehlert, City Hall's special commissioner for wildlife states, "the authorities have no choice but to control them." He argues that the city's hunters are essential to keep down the animal's rising population. Many Berliners disagree. They see the boars as part of the cityscape. In their opinion the authorities approach is inhumane and unnecessary.

For the authorities the problem is not only the wild boars' coming into the inner city for food (that has been happening for centuries), but that their population is increasing dramatically. Since 1989, the number of boars has risen from 3,000 to between 8,000 and 10,000. The milder winters caused by global warming is one reason. Another is the boars are enjoying a more varied diet. Both have combined to create boars that are living longer, maturing earlier, and mating sooner. So, not only have the authorities hired teams of hunters to control their numbers, but they have asked them, and other hunters, to concentrate on shooting piglets under 15 weeks. Hunters earn a special price for each piglet killed.

This approach, controversial among the general public, has also upset many hunters – only for different reasons. First, the hunters regard themselves as sportsman; killing babies is not a test of their skills. Second, and the main reason, hunters can still earn more money killing and selling an adult boar. Hunting piglets is waste of their time. While the authorities need to kill 80 percent of the new generation to reduce the boar population, they are currently killing only 40 percent.

The hunters who try to meet the quota are often showered with abuse. When the authorities have called them in to shoot boars in the inner city, people have been known to scream "murderer" at them, and old ladies have been known to beat them back with their umbrellas. On one occasion a woman called in a hunter to kill a boar that was wandering through her flower shop, and a newspaper reporter to attract publicity. By the time the hunter had loaded and aimed his gun, however, the woman had become friendly with the boar. She insisted the hunter leave the animal alone. The newspaper journalist told the hunter that if he went through with the shooting, he would take photographs and write a negative story. The hunter backed down.

In this boar war, the authorities cannot afford bad PR. According to a study by York Kotulsji and Andreas Konig, at least 25 percent of Berliners believe the boars have the right to share their space as they believe they have the right to share the boars'. After all, it is human error and expansion that caused the boom in the first place. Regarding them as friends, some people will attract them into their backyards by feeding them oats – many boars' favorite food. Feeders have even attracted boars to new areas – such as the derelict US listening station on top of a hill in West Berlin.

Wildlife commissioner Ehlert says the feeding is not only encouraging more boars into the city, but changing their diet. "Boars," he says, "are a complex animal." They come into the city because they enjoy variety and, like people, develop their own personal tastes. The city is opening up a whole new menu for their palate. In addition, it is the mother's role to teach her children where to find the best food. If the female boar leads her sounding into the city for scraps, the next generation will feed in the city, and then the next generation after that. As far as the authorities are concerned, that will increase the chance of attacks on humans and the destruction of public property, which will, in turn, place a strain on their budget.

But the question remains: Are the authorities' methods worthwhile, economically or otherwise? Certainly the evidence suggests they need to control the situation. Yet there is equally strong evidence to suggest the use of specialist hunters is exacerbating it. One day last year, a boar injured by a hunter's bullet bit three people who were in a park. The Berlin Animal Protection Society – which is against the harsh tactics, but in favor of controlling the boars – points to such incidents to argue hunting should be the very last resort.

The Animal Protection Society wants the authorities to control the boar population through a contraceptive pill. The authorities say that is too difficult and expensive to implement. Perhaps in the short term. In the long term, not only could such a solution prove far less destructive for the local community, but also for the authorities' credibility. Administering the pills in baited food could keep them in their natural habitat . . .”

Meanwhile back in Britain, environmentalists and researcher found that boar can also be productive users of the environment. Wildlife Extra summed up the findings as follows:

Wild boar not bad for biodiversity in Britain’s woods

“. . . Britain's beloved bluebell woods appear to be standing up well to the wild boar that escaped from farms and have been breeding here for the past 20 years, new research has found.

Extinct in 13th century
Native populations of wild boar became extinct in the UK during the 13th century but during the last two decades several small, isolated, breeding populations have established from animals which escaped following the start of commercial farming. Often regarded as a pest elsewhere, its effects in Britain have been little studied and because its current distribution is so restricted, it is not yet clear whether its presence should be welcomed, tolerated or prevented.

Dr Ralph Harmer of Forest Research studied the impact of wild boar on UK woodland plants and invertebrates. Working in woods near Rye, East Sussex, which are home to the U K's oldest wild boar population, he identified 12 sites with varying amounts of rooting. By surveying the woodland at the height of the bluebell flowering season and using a specially-designed "armored" pitfall trap capable of withstanding the wild boar to collect invertebrates at each site, he was able to assess the impact of rooting on the woodland's beetles and bluebells.

According to Dr Harmer: "The most obvious sign of boar in these woodlands is soil disturbance caused by rooting. During spring many of these woods are carpeted in blue and white by luxuriant displays of bluebells and wood anemone and the potential effect of boar on bluebells has raised concerns."

. . . His findings should, however, help allay these fears. Some 67,000 invertebrates - including 33 species of ground beetle - were identified from the pitfall traps, which were emptied every two weeks between April and August. Although the mix of beetle species varied between sites, rooting had no adverse effect on either the number of species found or the total number of beetles living in each wood.

There were large differences in the abundance of bluebells and the amount of rooting between woods, and overall there was generally more rooting activity where there were more bluebells. However, analyses found that boar do not strongly target rooting activity at patches of bluebells.

"There was no apparent adverse effect of rooting on either the ground beetle community or the other groups of ground dwelling invertebrates. Overall results suggest that if boar populations and rooting activity remain similar to those of the last 20 years then ground dwelling invertebrates may be largely unaffected and whilst there may be a reduction in the amount of flowering, bluebells are not unduly threatened in the short-term," he says.”

These findings indirectly confirm similar conclusions about the beneficial effects on wild pig rooting in California's oak lands. Native grasses are here the beneficiaries of wild pig activities. It is only fair to state however that the damage done by wild pigs or boar by far exceeds the benefits.

Boar News would not be complete without some report about wild pigs in Texas. Some feisty porkers there managed the impossible – for a short while.

Feral Hogs Escape Meat Processing Plant

Omar Villafranca with NBCDFW News filed this report in December 2011:

“Fort Worth Code Enforcement officers say around 30 feral pigs escaped from a north side meat processing plant Sunday morning. The hogs scattered into a nearby neighborhood to escape the butcher’s block.

Brandon Bennett, the city’s Code Enforcement director, says crews from the city and Beltex/Frontier Meats rounded up 28 of the pigs. Animal control says two or three may still be on the loose.

At least one of the animals charged at code enforcement officers, forcing them to use a tranquilizer gun. The captured pig weighed in at 50 lbs. making it the smallest one caught. Code officers say the pigs they’ve caught weigh between 150 and 350 lbs.

Bennett says eight were caught under a house. Another one was trapped outside of a barbecue restaurant.

Bennett says the animals are mean and armed with tusks.”

Mlive.com, where people come together to share something that benefits everyone, shared this article on December 16, 2011 in an article written by Rosemary Parker in the Kalamazoo Gazette

Michigan hunters bag dozens of wild hogs in 2011

As deer hunting season, and 2011, wind down, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reports that the number of feral hogs killed in 2011, to date, is 42, up from 37 in 2010, when state laws were adopted that encouraged hunters to shoot the pigs as they encounter them.

Exotic sport swine species are categorized as invasive species in Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the pigs are becoming an increasing nuisance across the state and estimates 3,000 to 5,000 wild pigs are destroying farmland and natural areas as they root for food.

Since May 2010, Michigan hunters have been allowed to shoot feral swine wherever they are found — on private land, with the property owners’ permission, and on public land by anyone licensed to be on the land at that time hunting other game in season.

Mary Dettloff, spokesperson for the MDNR, said the agency will release an final tally of sightings and kill reports after Jan. 1.”

AnimalTourism.com has the honor to contribute the last and most provocative article to the mix.

NY Feral Pigs: A problem caused, not solved, by hunters

“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.

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 . . .”

There we have it again: It is all the fault of hunters.

PJJ