EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

 Does anyone know if any pure russian boars exist in the U.S.? I would think that unless someone is having them shipped in from over seas and keeping them confined, that all that is left is feral hogs and hybrid hogs. Just curious why all of the wild hogs we hunt reside in the south when russian boars come from a place where the temps are sub zero.

i know my brother went to a HUGE game ranch in west texas and he had true russians there BAAAAD s.o.b. he said with a hefty price on each head too

 Well i guess that i stand corrected about feral hogs only being in the south...
                   .Of course the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is known for its hunting. For the most part, a sparsely populated land, deer, bear and numerous small game animals roam the woods and shores of the Upper Peninsula, providing hunters great game opportunities. But the ultimate in hunting game is the Russian boar, an animal of mythic proportions in hunting tales.
History of the Russian Boar in Michigan
Russian boars are not native to Michigan. They are considered an "invasive" species, originally imported by game preserves and ranches to provide hunting enjoyment for paying sportsmen. The problem started when some of these animals escaped the fences confining them. As Stephen Schmitt, a Department of Natural Resources spokesman and wildlife veterinarian states, "Hogs are very difficult to keep confined behind fences, unless those fences are quite significant."
The Problem
The problem is, as Schmitt notes, these wild Russian boars, once established in the wild, "are very difficult to get rid of." Problems associated with the swine include disruption of the environment, causing crop damage, destruction of property and even menacing of domestic animals and people. Disease is another concern, with the feral pigs capable of carrying at least 13 known diseases, including tuberculosis. The with the Michigan Department of Agriculture confirmed in May 2010 the presence of pseudorabies virus in free-roaming hogs and some on the hunting ranches in Michigan.
Russian Boar Population in Michigan
The wild boars in Michigan are likely a combination of wild Russians and domestic hogs that have escaped farms as well. Having adapted to the environment in Michigan, they have bred and prospered. According to Michigan State University swine breeding specialist Ron Bates, herds of these wild Russian boars can reach 40 to 60 animals or more; moreover, beyond the destruction of property and environment and disease concerns, the ferocity of the Russian boar is also of concern. "These are half-bloods, and they will revert back to their wild ways," as Bates states.
Hunting Specifications for Russian Boar in Michigan
Enter hunters. While one state representative tried to introduce legislation in 2001 to allow the shooting of the feral Russian boars, it was defeated through opposition by the DNR. Not until the end of 2006 were hunters with valid licenses urged to shoot any wild pig in select Michigan counties. As of 2007, hunters can not only hunt at one of the hunting preserves (where the price can easily be $750 or more) but can also shoot any feral pig in 50 counties, ranging from urban Oakland and Wayne counties to rural Baraga and Lake counties. In these counties, prosecutors agreed to not prosecute hunters, as Schmitt notes. As of 2010, "provided there's a hunting season of some kind open," and the shooter is licensed, it's open-season on the Russians. "Just shoot 'em," urges the Michigan United Conservation Clubs.
Hunting Tips
So with virtually little limits, hunters can visit hunter's preserves in the Upper Peninsula that allow you to hunt for a price--or search out your own feral Russian boar in the wilds of Michigan. In spite of disease concerns, as long as the meat is properly cooked (cooked to an internal temperature of 170 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), there is little to no risk in eating the flesh.

Hunters enjoy hunting the swine in a variety of


Read more: Upper Michigan Russian Boar Hunting | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_6497871_upper-michigan-russian-boar-hunting.html#ixzz0vlYNbJsJ

  ;D Now i wonder if i can convince James that we need to move up north so that we can hunt hogs in the summer in cooler temps. lol :D

 I guess a game ranch is about the only place to find one.

Ya idk about yall but i've never seen a true russian in the wild

You will be wanting to come back down here in the to hunt in the winter, it is way too cold up there.So I dont see that there is any advantege in moving. Stay here and visit with us.

that aint no joke ... everyone i've talked to said there aint no place like texas the huntin is great the weather isn't too horrible and then women are the most beautiful

I agree on the hunting and the women... but the weather in Southeast Texas sucks!     9-10 months of summer and 2-3 months of winter.
I'd love to have four seasons, rather than two.

aint that the truth i aint a fan of night huntin and thats what i gotta resort too

 Geese have it going on....summer in the north and winter in the south.   Rocking P, I was just joking, I couldn't leave the best people in the world.

Man would i trade 9-10 months of summer for 11-12 here in FL, with the exception of last winter which was freakin weird.  I had to go buy winter clothes. lol I now have 1 sweatshirt and 100 bathing suits and t-shirts..lol

 That is FUNNY! :laugh:  I know i see more and more people around here wearing flip flops in the winter.

 not sure if any of yaw are wanting to get any russian pigs but the guy in michigan said a person can pick there pigs up and he is askin 500 for boars and 300 for sows. i was thinkn bout gettin 1 boar and 5 sows. any of yaw interested in making an order to make the trip worth while?

thar was a guy in laineville tx that had about 400 head i have no talk to him in a few years but i can find out if he is still has any i got 25 from him fof 2000$ 5 wear boars 20 wear sows one boar weant 300# turn thim all lose in the hi game fince out back ;)

 the 4b hunting ranch will not allow dogs. he said there was a lady in lano or plano tx that has some russians. can u find out if the guy u got ur hogs off of is still in bizness and if so let us all know please

The russians y'all are talking about are actually European that were brought over by early explorers and settlers. There is a site that gives some insight to the origin of the european.

http://www.genetics.org/cgi/content/full/154/4/1785 (http://www.genetics.org/cgi/content/full/154/4/1785)

I have a small group of euros that I am raising more for like a hobby.


Here is a pic of my daughter and my breeder boar, Hercules

(http://www.texasboars.com/photopost/albums/userpics/ash-herc.jpg)

yea he called thim that

 I looked at some pics of russians on the 4b, those things look very impressive. Wouldn't mind having one of those up on the wall.  :)

Maybe Black Gold will chime in and offer some of the people he sdold some of his stock too. used to be called Brutal Boar creations, and he had some realy cool hogs. I have a picture of Sampson his old breeder boar on my wall.

Yall can keep all those Russian hogs, I would be just fine catching nothing but listed hogs the rest of my life  8)

 the link for the guy in michigan is http://www.gordysrussianboarfarm.com/index.html