Jump to content

Boar


red_stag88
 Share

Recommended Posts

You might find this extract, from an old MAFF report interesting, note the date.

 

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

 

1. A comprehensive literature review has been carried out on wild boar and feral pigs. No published material can be found on the biology or ecology of free-living wild boar or feral pigs in the United Kingdom, and the literature refers primarily to studies on the animals present in Europe, America and Australia.

 

2. The presence of populations of free-living wild boar living in the counties of Kent, East Sussex and Dorset has been confirmed, evidenced by tracks, rooting in agricultural fields and woodland, and from the inspection of animals shot by hunters or killed by road traffic.

 

3. The free-living wild boar in Kent and East Sussex are almost certainly breeding as a farrowing nest has been found and piglet tracks located. The possibility that an escaped domestic sow constructed the farrowing nest is unlikely. There have been a number of eye witness sightings of wild boar sows with young but no domestic pigs have been seen. However, the possibility that the free-living wild boar sows were pregnant prior to their escape cannot be disproved. The free-living wild boar in Dorset may also be breeding due to eye-witness accounts of sows with piglets.

 

4. Establishing where the free-living wild boar originally escaped from is not possible. The animals carry no identification marks and ownership cannot be determined. In England, wild boar are kept in captivity in wild boar farms, wildlife parks and private animal collections.

 

5. Wild boar farming is a relatively new enterprise in England. Approximately 40 farms, situated in counties throughout the country, are registered with the British Wild Boar Association (BWBA). The Association was founded to promote wild boar farming in this country and membership is voluntary. Currently, an unknown number of wild boar farms also exist that are not members of the BWBA. Wild boar currently escape from their farm enclosures and, where suitable habitat can be found, the potential exists for future escapees to establish free-living populations in other areas of the country.

 

6. The phenotypic appearance of carcasses examined from Kent and East Sussex indicate the animals to be wild boar, as opposed to feral pigs (free-living domestic pigs that have reverted to the appearance of the wild type) or hybrid animals (wild boar and domestic pig crosses). However, the exact genetic make-up of the free-living animals in Kent, East Sussex and Dorset is unknown.

 

7. Free-living wild boar have no natural predators in the UK and their high breeding and dispersal rates, combined with the presence of suitable habitat, indicate that the population will spread and increase. Computer modelling predicts a positive growth rate for the population in south-east England. From a suggested initial population of one hundred animals, a five year projection shows an average population size of 169 animals, with a minimum of 108 animals and a maximum of 326. A fifteen year projection, with more probability of errors, gives an average population size of 485.

 

8. Damage to agriculture by free-living wild boar has been confirmed in Kent and East Sussex on pasture land and cereal crops. In Dorset, pasture land has been damaged. Farmers in Kent and East Sussex have reported predation on lambs by wild boar. However, no evidence of lamb predation by free-living wild boar was found during the 1997 lambing season in Kent and East Sussex.

 

9. In Kent and Dorset, free-living male wild boar have come into contact with domestic pigs by breaking into outdoor pig units. Mating with domestic sows has occurred and hybrid piglets produced. This contact between free-living wild boar and domestic pigs could provide a transmission route for the spread of disease. A transmissible disease becoming endemic in the wild boar population could continually re-infect the domestic pig stock, with considerable economic consequences.

 

10. Rooting amongst woodland bluebells has occurred in woodlands harbouring free-living wild boar. It is not known if the rooting is detrimental to the plant or to the general ecology of the woodlands.

 

11. It has been confirmed that the free-living wild boar in Kent, East Sussex and Dorset have been involved in road traffic accidents and confrontations between wild boar, the public and farmers have occurred.

 

12. Wild boar are a former native species of the British Isles up to the 17th century. The possibility of re-introduction, particularly into woodland in Scotland, has been considered. The species could be either regarded as a native species with a biodiversity value or conversely as an invasive pest.

 

13. The free-living wild boar impact on many areas, particularly agriculture, animal health, conservation and public safety. It is therefore recommended that the Ministry formulate a policy with regard to wild boar and their management. Research into the ecology, population dynamics, feeding behaviour and genetic make-up of the wild boar in the UK is recommended to help formulate cost-effective management procedures. It is further recommended that legislation covering wild boar farming is reviewed with the aim of reducing the likelihood of further escapes.

 

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

October 1998

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The keepers, on one of the estates that I help out on, regularly shoot wild boar, especially in maize crops.

I have come accross their rootings while beating.

A whole family of wild boar went through the beating line at Mapperton at least 8 years ago, so Lord knows how many there are about now.

I think a local boar farming enterprise was in difficulty about 10 years ago and the baillifs were about to come and take away the assets. A day or so earlier, a lot of the stock 'escaped'.

Perhaps the fox now has a predator!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Will have to dig out those old SSG's.

Not bloody likely Old rooster!!!! I've seen them take a 4 slugs and still run. If you dont kill it instantly, It will gore you, if you dont die from blood loss, you will do so from infection. Thats why most people use something in the order of a 30-06 with 165g - 190g bullets. In some places of Sweden they released them and are in terrible trouble with them, they tear up crops like nobodys business. A couple can get through 2 tonnes of household scraps overnight.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Red:

 

A 12 guage slug placed to the heart lungs, kills a wild boar very effectivly. I have shot 3 with a slug gun and 3 with bow all have died quickly and humanely when shot in the vitals. However that does not mean that they can not be nasty. They will charge at you when they feel threatened, and they can cover ground at an amazing rate. Usually they will stand sideways to their intended victem, you will see the hair over the shoulders stand up and you will hear a load bark. They are great fun to hunt from the ground and from a tree stand,(high seat). Just remember if you are going to hunt them with a rifle use a bullet that will penetrate deep and expand, but not so heavy that it flies right through them. When the bullet is placed correctly dead is dead and you dont want to be distroying any meat with excess bullet weight.

 

Cheers...... :yp:

 

Mmmmmmmm wild pig on the barby :lol::lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As nttf says,go for the vital organs.I work in a slaughterhouse,a pigs brain is very small compared to the size of it's head.If you don't hit them in the right spot they won't fall.And believe me they get pretty angry.A full grown boar would rip a man to pieces with there tusks in seconds. :yp:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Red Stagg:

 

With todays choice of shotgun slugs on the market, as well as barrel choices, Smoth bore, Rifled, and sights or scopes it is very common to shoot a 2" group of 5 rounds out to 120 yards. We shoot deer over here consistantly over the 60 yard mark. That said 2 of the shotgunned pigs I shot were well within the 15 yard mark.

Just remember to take 2 friends with you, and to be sure you walk in the middle. That way if you do have to run there is always one infront that you can trip...... :lol::lol::lol: :yp:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...