Exterminating pigs and javelina on Texas land? Legal/moral?

[MatthewVanitas]

One of those "I always hoped the day would come" moments happened tonight. A buddy dropped by for a beer, offhandedly mentioned that a family friend was trying to develop some property, but was having a lot of trouble with excess javelina and feral pig.

Buddy is pro-gun but not a regular shooter, but his da is a competitive shooter. Buddy tossed out the idea that the three of us, with property owner's fervent blessing, could go up and do a weekend-long extermination of the pest species.

Two question:

1) In Texas, is it legal to shoot large numbers of feral pigs and javelina to remove them from land? Do I need to see the landowner's Anti-Depredation paperwork first? Any kind of notification to Fish & Game, etc?

2) I have zero ethical problems with shooting pigs: they're an invasive species and should not be roaming free in the Western world. But javelina are native American animals, so is it wrong to kill them if you're not going to eat them? At what point does javelina property damage warrant killing, if ever?

Depending on answers to the above question, there might be a 3rd: what gun? I'm pretty sure that my 16" AR-15 with HP .223 fodder will get the stinkpigs (if my soul is okay with it), not so sure on the pigs. Okay depending on size, or is this an excuse to spring for a .303 Savage, or Swiss 7.5mm?

-MV

 

[H&Hhunter]

Matthew,

The feral hog is a varmint no season no bag limits. Have at it.

The Javalina is classified as a game animal and is afforded appropriate protections. You can NOT just go and shoot them like a feral hog without some kind depredation permit from the state. Be careful!

 

[hoghunting]

H&H is right on the money. You can shoot feral hogs in TX any time and any number of them. Javelina are game animals controlled by state regulations - just like deer.

 

[JohnKSa]

The feral hog is a varmint no season no bag limits. Have at it.

The last couple of TP&WD publications have listed feral hogs as "Exotic Animals". They are no longer listed with coyotes, rabbits, etc. under "Nongame Animals".

I'm not sure exactly what the implications of that change are...

There is still no season or limit, but the new classification may make it illegal to hunt them with a light at night. It used to be legal to leave them to rot when they were nongame, but the new classification may change that too.

Javelina are only huntable in some TX counties. In the counties that are not closed, there's a bag limit of 2 and you may not possess more than two carcasses at once. Leaving a game animal to rot is not legal.

You will need a hunting license for either species.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

I take it that the landowner's having or not having an Anti-Depredation order is the crucial factor here? How one goes about obtaining it is her worry, not mine, and I suppose that if she has one it will relatively clearly spell out what can or cannot be done.

So javelina are definitely game species, and feral pig might be?

In regards to "leaving game animals to rot", I certainly wouldn't do such just for kicks, but if it comes down to animals being culled by $20/hr pro hunters, or poisioned/trapped, vice myself and crew getting in some shooting experience, I'd rather go with the latter. If I'm really ethically off-base here, do clue me in.

In terms of hunting ethics, I knew a sergeant in Iraq who ran the FDC crew that ginned the numbers for the battery's artilley strikes, with no moral qualms. Same sergeant about beat a LCpl into the ground for tormenting a captured desert lizard, "bringing bad karma", etc. I kind of agreed with that, in an Augustinian sense.

-MV

 

[Art Eatman]

In 43 counties, the javelina season is October 1 through February 25. In 50 counties, it's year around. Limit of two per hunter, regardless of season.

Javelina are in no way a problem for a landowner, insofar as anything I've seen in the last 35 years or so. They were all over our old deer-lease ranch by Uvalde; I have some wandering around my place here at Terlingua.

"Development"? What sort?

Feral hogs? Shoot all you can. They're sorta "backhoes with legs".

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Okay, totally clear on the javelina now. I wasn't particularly keen on shooting a native species unless absolutely necessary anyway.

But I do want to get after those hogs, so I'll email whatever the Texas version of Fish & Game is, and find out what the current stance is on feral pig.

I'll likewise check around and see if heavy-grain hunting ammo in .223 is considered ethical for hog varminting on smaller (100-150 poundish) pigs. Not going out for trophy boar or anything. Otherwise I just might spring for a Swiss 7.5 and some Mojo aperture sights. They do make hunting ammo for the Swiss, right?

Thanks for the javelina info.

-MV

 

[MCgunner]

Javelina feed on prickly pear primarily. Unless you're farming prickly pears, I don't see where they'd be a nuisance. There is a two Javelina yearly limit, or was last time I looked.

Best way to get rid of feral hogs is get a guy with some dogs after them constantly or trap ‘em out. You ain’t gonna hunt ‘em out. They breed like rabbits and stick to heavy cover. They’re kinda like deer, can hide behind a blade of grass. Even night hunting them when they’re out, though, you ain’t gonna shoot ‘em out if there are that many there already.

 

[Mornard]

M V -- Q = Extermination of Wild Hogs - Legal/Moral?
A = Neither. The correct answer is... Impossible.

 

[roo_ster]

Hornady produces a soft point for 7.5Swiss.

Do consider the St Marie Graphics clamp-on scope mount if you have a decent scope.

 

[langenc]

I suspect they are like rabbits--it will never happen. Could reduce the population temporarily. Then with plenty of feed the liters will get larger to repopulate unless the 'developement' destroys the habitat. I suppose it will.

 

[eastwood44mag]

Feral hogs are a nuisance. Shoot at will. But be warned, if you don't burn the carcasses, you'll have a LOT more hogs (they don't mind being cannibals).

 

[North Texan]

I think you can shoot as many feral hogs as you want, and if you are the landowner or the landowner's agent, I don't think you are required to have a license.

 

[vesmcd]

As explained to me by Texas Parks And Wildlife, if you hunt ANYTHING (even varmints)in Texas, you need a hunting license. No season,limit,retrieval or method of taking restrictions for feral hogs.

 

[Art Eatman]

The Texas Parks & Wildlife folks are one of the few state-govenment agencies which has my whole-hearted support. The legislature has been shafting them on budget matters, so I'd buy a hunting license even if I weren't going to hunt.

Art

 

[ArmedBear]

"Exotic Animals"

We think of "exotic" as "something special", like a vacation in Tahiti. But Fish and Game does not see the word in the same way.

In population biology terminology, "exotic" has negative connotations. It refers to a species that does not belong in a natural environment, because it was introduced from elsewhere. This often messes with the ecosystem and sometimes displaces or destroys the local species that F&G is trying to manage.

Examples are Mongoose and feral Pigs on the Big Island of Hawaii, Tamarisk on Western rivers, Kudzu throughout the American South, feral domestic Cats just about everywhere, and, of course, feral Pigs in the American West. Pigs can be very destructive to plant life, and this can cause other problems like a drop in bird population, muddy waters in streams leading to fish population declines, etc.

Often, then, "exotic" means "fire at will!" at least if there are adults in charge (DF&G would be the adults). When the hippies get involved, though, common sense leaves the building in disgust.

 

[ambulldog]

Are you going to use dogs to bay them? You can just use the dogs to find them and then you can take them out with a rifle or pistol. You dont have to use catch dogs too. You can find alot of info here: http://www.baydog.com

 

[crunker]

How do javelina look different than feral boars? I can't really tell.

Nothing wrong with blasting the living hell out of any boar that you can see, as was said earlier, they shouldn't be in the US at all, they threated many other animals by eating too much, and they can be a threat to human life.

 

[aguyindallas]

MatthewVanitas:

I want to seriously offer my help (and perhaps some friends) if needed. I just went hog hunting and had a blast and would LOVE the opportunity to do it again, and help with the "problem". If any interest, PLEASE send me a PM.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!

 

[Art Eatman]

crunker, if you see a bunch of javelinas, none of them will weigh much over 40 pounds. Feral hogs are a helluva lot bigger, insfar as the grownups in a family group.

Seriously most notable thing is the ears. Javelina ears are smallish and rounded and stand erect.

The style of the coloring is different. Feral hogs just don't have the same sort of difference in color of the inner, short insulating hairs and the longer, outer hairs as do javelinas.

Art

 

[Jimmy Newman]

Javelina:

Wild Pig:



Aside from being furry, they don't REALLY look all that much alike .