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CVA Explains Why to Hunt Wild Pigs

The white-tailed deer has been the muzzleloader hunter’s primary target for many years. Most muzzleloader hunters purchase muzzleloader rifles to hunt the muzzleloader seasons during white-tailed deer season. By doing so, they often can extend their seasons and increase the number of deer they can take. However, a new animal may be winning the hearts of more and more muzzleloader hunters – the feral pig. Hog numbers are growing at a staggering rate nationwide. Seasons and bag limits are becoming more liberal, and many states, especially in the South, have year-round hog seasons. But why can hunters harvest large numbers of hogs every day throughout the year in some states? 

According to Chris Jaworowski, a hog specialist for the State of Alabama, “Most sows have at least two litters per year, with three being possible. Those litters average eight piglets. And, at 6 months of age, the young are capable of breeding. Top this with the fact that hogs have very few if any predators, and the result is an ample supply of wild pork.” From these statistics, you can see why an overpopulation of hogs easily can occur, even if an area starts with only two wild pigs. More wildlife specialists nationwide are turning to hunters to take more hogs each season, which is good news for blackpowder hunters. If you travel to different states to hunt wild pigs with your CVA muzzleloader rifle, you may be able to collect all the pork you want or need for you and everyone else you know. 

But what about the meat of the feral hog? Is it really good to eat? You betcha. As a matter of fact, feral hogs provide a much-leaner meat than domestic hogs do. They’re free of steroids and eat wild foods. But you have to identify before you hunt them which hogs are meat hogs, and which are trophy hogs. The best feral pigs for meat will be females weighing 150 pounds or less. Even males 150 pounds or less are still good eating hogs. However, when a hog starts to weigh about 200 pounds, the meat becomes somewhat strong. The young pigs are the most-delicious tasting and tender. 

A trophy boar will weigh 200 pounds or more. Chris Jaworowski explains, "The largest of the hogs taken in Alabama have bottomed-out our deer scales, and those scales weigh up to 500 pounds. Though it takes 6 to 7 years for a boar to reach that size, there are a few around." These size hogs are often the ones with big tusks – hogs that make outstanding trophies for muzzleloader hunters. However, when you’re hunting a monster hog like this, you’ll need to use a magnum load, even at close range, because the hogs are very thick and have a gristly armor-like plating over their vitals. 

Not only do feral swine pose a threat to farmers by destroying crops and landowners by rooting-up roads, green fields and generally tearing-up the terrain, hogs are a serious threat to wildlife populations. “Deer, turkey, squirrels and other animals who feed on acorns find their food by sight,” Jaworowski says. “The wild pig uses its nose to find food. Therefore, a large population of hogs on a particular property can wipe-out an acorn crop and severely damage the food supply for not only deer and turkey but also for other wildlife.”

Therefore, most wildlife agencies in most states are planning for more-liberal bag limits for feral swine, longer seasons and more opportunity for muzzleloader hunters to take more feral hogs throughout the year.