We kind of manage them the opposite way. We want the russians & we take out or barr any off colored hogs or Piney Wood Rooter type hogs. The Russians like said are a wilder hog, but there are a lot of ferals that can run like a bat out of hell. It just boils down to what you want. If you want bigger blockier hogs, that is your preference & nothing wrong with that. To me, the old time Piney woods rooter was reverting back to a Russian hog. They had a extremely long snout & were smaller in the hindquarters. They could be any color but did not have the heavy wool undercoats or reddish brown hair that the Russians have.
Perfect example of different strokes for different folks! For the sake of conversation, if you don't mind I would like to hear why ya'll prefer keeping the russian type hog as opposed to the old school rooter type hog. I prefer the rooter type hog simply because that is the type hog I grew up seeing and hunting from a young age. Like I said, I didn't get into running dogs until 05/06 but I gave them hogs hell with my 30 30 when I was younger walking the woods and wearin them out every chance I got (guess im partially to blame for the downfall of rooters in our woods). We aren't doing it simply "because the russian type hogs run" although some have the tendency to run I believe that regardless of a particular feral hogs genetics some just flat out prefer to run while others prefer to sit down and bay. We simply like the rooter type hog so that is what we are trying to improve as opposed to the newer outside influenced type hog.
Justin, It is just like you say, a personal preference. I love catching any hogs, Russian or Feral but just like the Russians better. I don't need the pork to eat, I just enjoy the dogs work & it seems like they have to put a lot more effort in bring a Russian hog to bay once he breaks. When they first were introduced to our part of the country, We never knew a hog could run like that. Back then, like said above the hogs bayed up very easy. Of course the woods were different too. Mostly open woods with virgin timber on it & very few hog hunters. A big Russian boar is just a prehistoric looking hog & we went to a lot of effort to make sure they made it.
