Whew chased out of the woods

[howie1968]

this  morning  at  about  5  am  if  figured  id  go  to  the  bottoms  and set  up  to  see if  i  see  where  they  are  crossing  during  the  wee  early  morning hours  like  a  fool  i  did  not  carry  a  gun,  ive  been  known  to  this  quite often  when  scouting  thinking  i  could  outrun  a  pig!!!!    wrong  answer!!!!  i  stepped on  a  twig  and all  heck  broke  loose   i  had  mistakenly  crossed  a  major  bedding  areas  in  some  pines  heading  to  the  creeks when  i  heard  grunts  squeals  i  took  off    i  shined  my  light  when  running  out  and  a  sow  was  running  right  at  me   i  yelled  at  her  several  times   before  i  went  up  a  tree   she  kept  me  there   for  about  10  minutes    as  i  sat  there  scratching my  head  i  wondered  why  she  came  at  me  then   i  seen  she  was nursing  3  small  pigs.  they  were  the  cutes  little  critters  they  were  brownish  in  color  with  spots.  neverthe  less  i  will  at  least  carry something in  there  i  think  i  am  going  to t ake  the  scope  off  my  30-30  and  put  a  williams  peep  on  it  and  use  this  as  my   roaming  gun

[Chesapeake Troller]

Bet a couple rounds from a heavy handgun would of moved her off in a hurry. I always carry a Glock 40 cal when I am out roaming. Glad you did not need to shoot her though, our rule on our club is never shoot a nursing sow as that will kill the piglets, unless you catch them up for pen raising. I have also hear from a number of different folks that the meat from a nursing sow is really bad. Any thoughts on that line of thinking?

Chesapeake

[howie1968]

i dont  thinkm  i  could  shoot  a  nursing  sow  either,  and   i  have  enver  tried  meat  from a nursing sow   but  my  friend  says   it  is  bad  also

[markc]

Shooting a nursing sow, is a matter personal choice, but don't believe that it will automatically kill piglets.  Any piglet over a few weeks old will already be eating atleast some amount of solid food.  Other sows will readily nurse piglets not their own.  It's fairly common knowledge guys.  Pigs can and will breed at 6 months of age, so believe me, a pig that is 8 weeks old may be nursing, but he is also eating the corn under your feeder.  I have seen it myself at the lease many times.  Piglets smaller than an NFL football, eating corn under the feeder right beside momma, and nursing later.  They won't automatically die.  Shoot or don't shoot based on your personal ethics and choice.   Saw it again 2 mondays back.  
markc

[markc]

Guys take a moment to read the article and note the photo's of the 2 week old piglets eating solid food.  Personally, I shoot a sow, a boar or whatever hog presents itself and is of a decent size.  We are talking pig's here not deer.  While still wildlife, the pig's are much more hardy than most folks realize.  Any sow will nurse any piglets.  


http://www.texasboars.com/article.html

[Chesapeake Troller]

Good point Markc, and thanks for the link to the article. Personally I feel that even if other sows are in the area and will nursemaid the surviving piglets I still would pass on that nursing sow. Just could not live with that on my mind. Last season I had two sows come into the feeder with about 10 or so piglets with them, they were bigger than a football and both sows teets (sp?) were pulled way up against their bellies. I saw earlier in the year a sow with softball sized youngin's and her teets were hanging very low. So my judgement so far is if the teets are pulled way up like that then blast away, if they are hanging then I pass.

Still don't know if it's true that a nursing sow's meat tastes any different that a non-nursing, that would make a huge difference to me as well as I shoot for food as well as for fun.

Chesapeake

[Hoyt]

The public land I hunt..people would pass on the nursing sow and shoot the pigs..if they are big enough to fry.
I've seen people walk by my stand with 2 or 3 little pigs hanging from their belts...bout the same size as squirrels.

[markc]

now I've enjoyed some small shoats, 35 to 40lbs smoked whole on the smoker, but those little tiny ones, to me are a bit too cute, and too small to make it worth the trouble to clean and cook.  Kinda feel the same way about squirrels.    :lol:
markc

[Chesapeake Troller]

Markc,

How do you smoke those 30 pounders? I have always wondered if you wrap them in bacon or how to season them. Also how long on the smoker and at what temp? I was planning to post a question later this year if I got one that size.

Thanks, and if anybody else has done this and has some suggestions please feel free to respond.

Chesapeake

[Wynn]

My wife shot a 35 pounder a couple of years ago. (Her first) I smoked the hams (4lbs each) and shoulders in a Brinkmann and Bar-B-Que'd the ribs on the grill. It was all delicious and I converted a "ick - to gamey to eat" couple over to wild pork with it. I cook all wild pork to 170 degrees in the thickest part for food safety reasons. (Even a mild case of Botulism will break you of sucking eggs for good)