Don’t Get Boared
A couple years ago I pulled into our neighborhood and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Running through the yard, and plants, and bushes was a boar. Not a domestic pig, but a “wild boar.” One of my first thoughts was for the safety of the children in the neighborhood, including my own grandkids. The boar, which I estimated to be about 100 pounds, certainly was not tame. As I turned into my driveway he ran through my back yard like his tail was on fire. My oldest grandaughter Nadia was with me, and as she jumped out of the truck, she wanted to chase the boar. I just happened to have my 22 magnum in the garage closet. I grabbed it, and a few hollow-points, and the chase was on. We ran through several of the neighbors yards, before he headed for the safety of the creek and woods. Just before the boar entered the woodline I was able to stop and get a good rest. I put the cross-hairs on his chest as I led him a few inches. At the crack of the magnum the pig entered the thick underbrush. I couldn’t tell, until I got to the bushes, weather I put the “wammy” on him or not. He didn’t go 10 feet past the point of impact, and was quite dead when we got to him. That little magnum packs quite a wallop. I was impressed!
Now I did have some concern as to the legality of shooting a wild boar without a license. I also realised that this critter belonged to someone. My initial thought is that it escaped from a wild game ranch. The safety of my grandkids,and the other kids playing in their backyards, was my first concern. I’ve hunted wild boar in Tennessee, and they are by nature mean and dangerous. They have tusk as sharp as a razor. Did you ever hear the term “razor-back?”
After we threw him in the back of my pickup I called the DNR to get their take on the situation. They told me don’t worry go enjoy some barbecued ribs. In fact they said escaped “game farm” wild boar were becoming somewhat of a problem here in Michigan. Several breeding pairs are now running wild and the DNR fears we could end up with an unwanted population of wild boar running around the woods. Huntes are incouraged to “shoot to kill” any wild boar they see running free. Just recently a hunter shot a free ranging wild boar (in the Michigan woods) that weighed over 350 pounds. Now that “porker” could do alot of damage to anyone or anything it had a mind too. The DNR also asks that you report all kills and sightings of boar you may have.
So next time your in the great outdoors “don’t get boared.” Instead “get the boar!” You can help stop the spread of an unwanted stranger in our woods.
Mike