Author Topic: Pure Russian or European wild boar? (Read 917 times)

bigbore442001 · « **on:** February 17, 2006, 10:37:40 AM »

I was watching a PBS special on a Croatian National Park that had free ranging wild boar in it. They were very impressive. They have a very distinctive look about them. Very unlike the feral hogs that I have hunted in the Sunshine State.

I know that there are some preserves that have Russian or European wild boar, but it seems that they don't have a lot of room to roam so to speak.

Are there any good preserves in the US that have the pure European boar that is sporting? Thanks

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** February 17, 2006, 12:35:19 PM »

There probably hasn't been a "pure" European boar or sow either in the US in over 150 years and may have NEVER been a Russian here. From what I've read the shipments that were supposedly from Russian likely came from other European sources and not actually from Russia.

I am amazed and confounded by the insistance so many have for calling any black hog a Russian.

Wynn · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2006, 02:32:17 PM »

IMHO, the pure Russian or European Boar that is free roaming anywhere in the US is a modern myth.

Something to ponder though; the Spanish brought many domestic (Asian) strain hogs to Florida in the 1400s. They have been roaming around breeding wild here ever since. Thats wild enough for me. I've seen brown hogs, spotted hogs, white hogs and plenty of black ones in my 40 odd years of hunting and been charged at one time or another by every color.
I've carried a 9 inch scar on my right shin since I was 24 from a black, 80 lb, boar that slashed me with barely a one inch cutter. The memory of that pain is still vivid. "Feral" hogs are "wild" hogs and are potentially dangerous. If you want a "Russian" boar, go hunt them in Russia. You are not likely to find one on a affordable hunt in the U.S. unless he was recently imported to a high fence "preserve". My back door hunting grounds are dangerous enough for me.

drdougrx · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2006, 05:54:45 PM »

Hi BB,

I'm with GB. There really aren't any russians anywhere. I was speaking with a preserve and breeder outside of Toronto who had pure bred europeans for molto $$. They are out of business now (closed by the CN gvt). Many of the preserve hogs in the north east are fairly pure europeans as they come from breeders in Sask, but, any that are over 300 or so lbs are some kinda mix as real europeans generally don't get that big.

I go to a preserve in Vt that has them. It's 5K acres and has been around for decades. It's about as good as it gets up here.

Good luck!

PEPAW · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2006, 05:47:41 AM »

Our Texas Hill Country hogs have a very distinctive look compared to the ferals I hunt in S. TX or Central TX. Long hair, long heads and long teeth. We killed 4 last weekend and I was struck by the difference. If I was to ever take a hog's head to the taxidermist, it would probably be from that country.

There were some Europeans brought into the Hill Country Exotic ranches years ago and the blood lines are still heavy. Amazing now to hunt low fenced ranches in that country and see so many different wild "exotics" including black buck antelope, fallow, sika, axis and auodad.

pepaw

drdougrx · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2006, 06:31:02 AM »

Texas is a hunters paradise! Wish I were there.