Author Topic: Is it really that bad ??? (Read 969 times)

LouD · « **on:** February 11, 2005, 01:07:23 PM »

I've been reading the Bob Robb book on hog hunting in California in preparation my initial attempt to harvest a pig. In the part regarding field dressing he describes his first pig as being infested with fleas, ticks and lice.... yuck !!!! What's your experience

mikemayberry · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2005, 03:36:49 PM »

I shot a wild hog in Oklahoma the first week of November 2003 when I surprised him while looking for a doe I arrowed at dusk the evening before. Temperature was in the low 80's and I was so proud to have taken the 135 pounder with a .40 S&W Sigma. First shot standing and the next 6 shots with him running in my general direction. The beast died 12 feet from me. I would only add that I was glad I had a 15 shot magazine just in case the event lasted 10 seconds instead of 5 seconds.

Now to your question. I drug him from the trees we were in and noted how clean he was. Not a tick, flea or anything nasty. He gutted as clean or maybe cleaner than a deer.

I know this will not always be the case but with this one, no problems.

Hope this helps.

Mike

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2005, 05:42:52 PM »

Fleas, ticks and lice? Yup very commonly so. But that's just the beginning of what all it "might" have. Wear rubber gloves and if possible hose it off GOOD before proceeding.

flatlander · « **Reply #3 on:** February 12, 2005, 04:24:50 AM »

I shot a few in OK and they were pretty clean, but my first trip out was in south Texas and there were huge fleas all over them. One got onto my hand and bit me and it left a red inflammed area for a couple of months. One got on my buddy and you can still see where it bit him and it has been years since we were down there. Rubber gloves would definitely be a good thing just in case.

Hoyt · « **Reply #4 on:** February 12, 2005, 05:17:47 PM »

Hog disease

whodowl · « **Reply #5 on:** February 12, 2005, 05:49:56 PM »

Quote from: Hoyt

Hog disease

Yep. I believe 2 hog hunters died in Florida this past year from contracting this disease. The surgical type gloves are not recommended when bleeding and gutting this animal, they are too thin and transmit the animals blood too easy. Use the heavy rubber gloves guys. I read this in the Ocala Star Banner this autumn. One guy died near here and another up near the panhandle.

Uncle Ji · « **Reply #6 on:** February 12, 2005, 07:12:24 PM »

Depends on locale. When I lived on the Big Island of Hawaii My home was in Honalo on the dryer leeward side of the island. The pigs in this area always had ticks, and fleas, and they never tasted that great due to their diet consisting mainly of fern and other herby tasting plants. The hunting here was easier due to more open terrain. We would drive 2.5 hours 1 hour of which was via 4x4 jeep trails to hunt the windward side of the Island in Laupahoehoe. Here was lush rain forest with allot of fruit for the pigs to feed on. The wetter habitat was not condusive to the flea, and tick population increasing so these pigs were pretty much parasite free, and much more edible due to their high fruit diet. The vegetion was thicker, and the terrain steeper but it was very much worth the 5 hour round trip drive, and harder hunting.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2005, 03:00:48 AM »

I have seen all the bugs you mentioned on hogs. I always wear 2 sets of gloves.

TomD · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2005, 06:24:16 AM »

Yup. The one's I've taken in the San Antonio area had nasty fleas. Ticks have been eradicated in the area by the Fire Ants.

I guess it didn't bother me much because here in CT the Ticks are horrendous. You really can't wait to skin your kill because there are so many ticks on the animals.

Uncle Ji · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2005, 01:52:45 PM »

Just as a side note, and to concure with TomD, we never haul out pigs from the woods whole, we always carry a packframe, game bag, and plenty rope. We will in the field skin, and bone out whole pig with the exception being the ribs for barbeque (Pulehu), so external parasites are pretty much a mute point, though the main reason for butchering in the field is less to carry back, and less work on getting back home including disposing of guts, skin, and bones.