wild pigs in Kansas?

[navylawdog]

My mom told me the other day that wild pigs are making up into Kansas. I was just wondering if any of you had any information on this? And if it is true what about a season?

Navylawdog

[dukkillr]

There are some but they are not "making [it] up into Kansas" they are deliberately released by people hoping to create a huntable population.  There are now areas where they do have a viable population but to discourage people from releasing them, it is now illegal to hunt them on public ground.  It has always been illegal to release them.  They are working on eliminating them around Clinton Lake with helicopters.

It is my understanding that it is legal to shoot them on private property as long as you have permission from the owner. 

[navylawdog]

Thanks for the information. I was just hoping to have a new job for my winchester 94 .45 colt when I came home but it doesn't sound like I will get the chance. Maybe if I go to my grandma's place. She lives close to Clinton Lake.

Navylawdog

[guzzijohn]

It is my understanding that it is illegal to shoot hogs even on private property. There might be an exception for the land owner themselves if the pigs are destructive (are there any that are not?). Kansas does not want to encourage hunting of hogs due to the threat of them being imported and becoming more of a problem. A while back the Army killed some on Fort Riley using helicopter gunships. I imagine a 20mm does not leave much eatable meat.
GuzziJohn

[Big Nasty]

The KS regulations books have said if I read it right, Farrel hogs have started to populate in KS and are illegal to shoot or hunt. There is no season, and they can only be taken by land owners who have damage caused by them. The state is trying to populate them for hunting it generates revenue. I have friends that live in TX and they have warned me if they populate here our agriculture is history.

[dukkillr]

The KS regulations books have said if I read it right, Farrel hogs have started to populate in KS and are illegal to shoot or hunt. There is no season, and they can only be taken by land owners who have damage caused by them. The state is trying to populate them for hunting it generates revenue. I have friends that live in TX and they have warned me if they populate here our agriculture is history.

The state IS NOT trying to populate them.  They are trying to do the exact opposite, erradicate them.

[Graybeard]

While I'm NOT questioning what you say DK it sure seems a strange strategy to me to prohibit shooting them if you are trying to erradicate them. Seems to me telling folks to shoot on sight but leave them lay would be a better way to eliminate them while discouraging fools from bringing them in to hunt them.

[dukkillr]

The theory is that if you allow hunting people will continue to release them and it will also continue to educate and pressure the ones that exist.  They believe that if they outlaw the hunting the pigs will be less difficult to get rid of and people will quit bringing them into the state.  I'm not saying it's a good plan, but it is what they are telling us.

[Graybeard]

By what means do they expect to get rid of them if folks are not allowed to kill them? Land owners at least?

Here in Bama it's illegal to import them from out of state and to move them from one location within the state to another unless they are dead. Once a population is established it will spread and not hunting them will merely speed up that spread. If you let them get well established you'll never be rid of them. Trapping is more effective than hunting at removing them of course just as it is with any critter.

They will spread along waterways and increase anywhere food can be found in abundance. It's gotten to the point now where even the WMAs are having to open special hog seasons as they can't kill them fast enough during regular game seasons when only the legal firearm for that season can be used on them. I think all game managers shoot them on sight on all public land year round. So do most private land owners.

[CV66Slim]

I can't find anything on the Kansas Department of Animal Health's website to confirm this, but there are several news articles that seem to back up the following:
A new Department of Animal Health rule states that no person shall engage in, sponsor, instigate, assist, or profit from the release, killing, wounding or attempted killing or wounding of feral swine for the purpose of sport, pleasure, amusement, or production of a trophy. Owners or legal occupants of land, the employees of such owners or legal occupants or persons designated by such owners or legal occupants may kill any feral swine when found on their premises or when destroying property. Such designees shall have a permit issued by the livestock commissioner in their possession at the time of the killing of the feral swine.

[jumpsteady]

I don't really care how, where or why it happens, just kill them. I'm not against using them as a gut pile to hunt coyotes over. And if I see one where I hunt at that is exactly what I'm going to do.

[Warhawk]

I lived most of my life in Kansas. No one ever accused the fish cops up there of being overly smart.

[navylawdog]

I don't really care how, where or why it happens, just kill them. I'm not against using them as a gut pile to hunt coyotes over. And if I see one where I hunt at that is exactly what I'm going to do.

Sounds like a plan to me. Kill one pest using another.

Navylawdog

[ilmo]

Not sure where this is but interesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGC1tjHCSVE

This is better out of Texas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiHmYsyVniE

[blacklab]

Had some pigs on river bottoms down at Rantoul Kansas. Sent in a chopper and took out 122 pigs with shotgun. Either weapon I don`t want those guys shootin at me. Was working an oil lease in that area but owner said no to hunting of any kind. He only had timber so crops were no problem for him, but his neighbors had row crop so the pigs probably went there to eat and back to timber to bed.