Updated information on hunting wild boar in California with a special note on a small wild boar population in Southern California.
Just as I previously indicated 1996 appears to shape up to be a good year for boar hunting. Plenty of rainfall, good forage and improved habitats apparently have resulted in a significant increase of wild boar.
In fact, boar populations are so numerous that the daily bag limit has been increased to two animals, 365 days a year!
In some areas of our State wild boar have become almost a nuisance. Consequently, efforts are under way to have wild boar declared "non-game" animals, at least in certain counties such as, for example, Santa Cruz. Wild pigs are so numerous there that in fall of 1996 a no holds barred policy is expected to take effect that will allow wild pigs to be trapped and hunted by any method except poison.
Check with Fish & Game for details.
Those of you who have acquired a copy of my booklet on wild boar hunting in California are aware of a small population of wild boar in Riverside County. Well, this 'small' wild boar population has been busy making more wild pigs. Indeed, they multiplied so fruitfully that the authorities now are pondering the question whether to encourage hunting or to call in Fish & Game and have them kill off the wild boar. Since the population is so close to a recreation area frequented by locals my guess is that Fish & Game will get to solve the problem.
Therefore: Carpe diem.
We will keep you posted as soon as more details and new developments become available.
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at pighunting@yahoo.com