Great point Wmwendler .
I dont even know most of the hog hunters in my area these days and I see them everywhere!
Im putting these hogs in the same category with coyotes and whitetail deer myself. I agree with Wmwendler that they are adapting through learned behavior mostly and they are dang good at it! Same as coyote and deer.
But there is something else thats happening out there in the woods and Mike hits on it with his question " You notice the legs on some of these hogs these days?".
Thats how these hogs are evolving!
In the wild its always been survival of the fittest and these hogs are simply adapting and evolving like other species according to habitat and predator base. More specifically, us hog hunters.
My point is simple. With increased hunting pressure from all of the "pro hog hunters"
these hogs are learning that if they run fast and fare enough they can make a get a way! The ones that make that get a way (usually the more leggy ones) are the ones that continue to reproduce making more leggy little running sob's.
Its not happening over night but if man can bread a dachshund with 3 inch legs to work in badger hole then why cant mother nature bread a leggy hog to run like a race horse enabling it to get away from its predators given a little time.
Natures way of selective breading to accommodate a hogs predator base. Hog hunters!
Just my theory but it makes since to me.
Mike, I agree that its gonna get worse but we will always be able to catch them with dogs. Us predators adapt and evolve with our quarry also.
