Persuasive Essay On Hog Hunting

They are a parasite; like a flea on a dog, or ringworm on a cat. They attach themselves to a location like other parasites attach to a host animal, roaming free to do damage as they please. Wild hogs are a nuisance animal that have quickly become overpopulated and under hunted. Many animal rights activist want to end or strictly regulate the hunting of these destructive creatures; however, these animals were not meant to wander wild the way that they do, once domesticated animals released for sport have quickly adapted to their environment and become the beasts they are today. Many states already allow hunters to go out all year long and hunt for the feral swine; however, in Arkansas, the current hunting law is that a hunter can take a wild hog while legally hunting another animal. Hunters should be able to go out and hunt for wild hogs, not be limited to killing them as they cross their paths or if they are spotted on their land. The only stipulations that should be placed on hog hunting are that the hunter must have knowledge of hunter’s education and a valid state

issued hunting license. Why are these animals such a nuisance? These animals have no natural predators, they have several offspring in a litter and without the natural predators their population numbers are climbing at alarming rates, these animals pollute water, cause crop and property damage, have been known to transmit diseases to livestock and sometimes even humans, and at times can also be a threat to humans.
Unfortunately, it is true that feral hogs have no natural predators, they are fierce animals that attack easily. They have even been known to make coyotes, bobcats, and even humans retreat. A snaring feral hog is dangerous; a herd of feral hogs can be threatening. They have been known to consume and injure livestock. Also, according to Ian Frazier, hogs, of all the domesticated animals, become feral most easily. He also says that of all the domesticated animals they survive better in the wild and the reproduce quickly and more abundantly than any other large animal. These facts highlight the inevitable truth, without action the population of wild hogs will not decrease or subside (Frazier, 71). Other animals that have no natural predators include the komodo dragon, lions, tigers, grizzly bears, and the anaconda. These are all animals that like the wild hog have gained the reputation of being fierce creatures that will terrify almost anyone or anything that comes into contact with them. While these animals do not pose the same population threat as wild hogs, the do pose similar dangers to people. This is reason enough to take action and get the wild hog population under control sooner rather than later.
Another key point is that since they have no natural predators the feral hog population has grown at an alarming rate. One sow or female hog can produce an average of 4 to 6 piglets in one litter. That same sow could possibly have two litters a year. So, the sows could possibly have 8 to 12 piglets in a year. That is just one sow (Dave, 32). Other sources indicate that this could number could be even higher. An anonymous article in the magazine “Outdoor Life” wrote that a wild sow can have up to 10 piglets in one litter, which totals to be around 20 in just one year. (Boars: Bad to the Bone, 78). An Australian study discovered that in just twelve months, one year, that the wild hog population can increase their numbers fivefold (Fat Chance, Butz, 100-104). The current hog population in the United States alone is about six million (Feral Hogs- More than a Nuisance, 59). That means that if the Australian study was correct, the hogs could potentially have a population of thirty million within a year. While this is unlikely, it is also a very sobering thought that requires deeper consideration into the matter of the wild hogs. It is estimated that Hogs will populate all 50 states within the next 10 years. There are hundreds, if not thousands of feral sows currently making their home in Arkansas (One Nation Under Hogs, Butz, 43). A man by the name of Billy J. Higginbotham stated “there are only two kinds of states in America, the ones that have wild hogs now, and those that will be plagued by them soon.” This quote says it all, wild hogs are an almost unstoppable plague and if this country is to avoid being overtaken by these beasts, it is time to act now.
Of course, the increasing population of the hogs is overwhelming, but their sheer numbers are not the only problem. There are several complications that present themselves with the growing population of these wild hogs. One of these problems is water pollution and contamination. Hogs erode the soil and muddy streams as they root around; they use any available water source to wallow in because they do not have sweat glands and must find ways to cool down, one reason hogs love mud so much. While the hogs are wallowing in the water, it is not uncommon for them to defecate in the water source, leading to the spreading of germs and possible diseases (Morthland, 52+).
Next, feral hogs can cause major damage to a farmer and his land. They will eat and destroy almost anything, they use their strong snouts to root or dig into the ground, and with their snout, a hog is able to root about three feet deep into the soil. These beasts have been known to destroy whole fields without a preference to one crop or another. They have destroyed field of rice, corn, and soybean crops as well as hay meadows. To a farmer, their crops are often a major part of their livelihood. To have their crops and land destroyed they could be taking a major loss. Once the land has been rooted up by the hogs, it can be very expensive for the farmer to get the repairs necessary for the land to be productive once more. Also, the hogs, wild as they be, often do not wander far. They generally return to a familiar area where they have become comfortable. To this farmer that means he can either eradicate the problem, or he can live with the constant fear that his land and his life may be uprooted once more by these beasts, posing a huge problem for the farmer (Morthland, 52+).
Additionally, the monetary value of the damage caused by hogs can be as much as one point five billion dollars annually. This however does not include the fact that hogs are competing with the white-tail deer and run them from their homes. In Texas alone, the deer industry is an annual two point two billion dollars. With these animals running the deer away, the hunters are losing as much revenue as the farmer are. These animals have also been known to undermine road beds (One Nation Under Hogs, 71), destroy national parks, and cause much more that presents problems not for individuals but entire towns, counties, or states (Morthland, 52+).
Also, feral hogs are known for carrying diseases and parasites. These diseases could be transmitted to nearby livestock and have even been known to be transmitted to humans; diseases such as pseudorabies, swine brucellosis, tuberculosis, tick-fever, and rabies (Fat Chance, Butz, 100-104). These diseases can be spread from animal-to-animal or animal-to human directly, or they could be transferred indirectly through contaminated water sources or other parasites, like ticks. A 1982 study indicated that these creatures can carry up to 32 different types of parasites, this is not counting any of the diseases listed above. Some of these parasites include scabies, hog lice, ticks, liver flukes, lungworms, and tapeworms. (Frazier, 71).
Another problem with these beasts, is that while it is uncommon, it is not unheard of for these animals to be a danger to humans. Not only can humans contract some of the parasites and diseases these animals possess, but their sheer size and strength is enough to kill a human. More often than not, a person that gets injured by a wild hog does so while hunting the vary species. However, it is not unheard of for these animals to charge at a person that unknowingly runs across them. These is rare though because wild hogs can hear for up to seven miles away, giving them an advantage over the humans hunting them.
Next, these animals have such large and sharp tusks that it would not be difficult to kill them. In the article “Boards: Bad to the Bone”, found in the Outdoor Life magazine, a hog hunter tells his story. He says that he and his father went hog hunting with a bow and arrow. His father shot a large boar, and instead of falling dead, the boar turned and charged. He recounts several instances where this happened. This goes to show that these animals are not easy to kill, and they do possess a charge risk. These animals can run up to thirty miles per hour, meaning that if there is not a tree or something nearby to hid or climb out of reach, the person being charged may not be able to get away (McNalley, 78).
With all of this in mine, consider what methods hunters can use against these massive creatures. While none of the following methods are completely fool proof, and they do not guarantee the safety of the hunter, they do have options. The ways to control the feral hogs are through trapping using a box trap or a corral trap, using drop nets, shooting the hogs, or by using trained hunting dogs. All of these hunting and control methods come with their own risks, with possibly the greatest risk coming with hunting with dogs. While the dogs can be used to track and trap the hogs, the hogs could also very easily kill the dogs (More than a Nuisance, 59). In fact, Bob Butz says that feral hogs are “as smart or smarter than dogs”, giving them the advantage (One Nation Under Hogs, Butz, 43). With the growing technology, more modern hunting methods are also an option. There is one that allows the hunter to use an app on their phone to trigger a capturing device if a wild hog is found in the area. Whether the hunter chooses the older methods, or the modern methods will depend on what they are trying to achieve, their knowledge of the animals or technology, as well as how much money they are looking to spend (More than a Nuisance, 59).
On the other hand, many animal rights activists are completely against the idea of allowing the hunters to take action against the hogs. They argue that if the hunters are allowed to trap and kill the hogs without stipulation, the species will become extinct. They also argue that they could capture the hogs and some have considered the idea of finding homes for them, almost like a foster system. Lastly, they said that if all else fails they could create a large fence and lock all of the hogs in there. To address these ideas, there is very little likelihood that the hog population will ever go completely extinct. In fact, the species is already well adapted and tough, but in his article “One Nation Under Hogs,” Bob Butz says that when a wild hog and a domesticated hog breed, they create a stronger better adapted breed. If this keeps happening, the species will become unstoppable (One Nation Under Hogs, Butz, 43). As an Activists organization in California discovered, the hogs cannot be adopted out because of their razor sharp tusks and poor temperament. These hogs were not good candidates for adoption or fostering and the organization had to create another method. The last idea, to build a fence that will lock the hogs in also is unlikely to work. Stephen Ditchkoff, a professor at Auburn University made the statement that “there is no such thing as a hog proof fence”. Hogs can wallow under, go through, or even destroy fences. If they want it bad enough, the will escape (Fat Chance, Butz, 100-104). The plan is not to necessarily eradicate the entire wild hog population, but to lower the numbers so that they are no longer such a menace that how recently began bothering people in more urban areas along with those living in rural areas.
In conclusion, the wild hogs are a menace throughout the country.

Arkansas has yet to be overpowered, but if action is not taken soon, our beautiful state will be overrun by these creatures like the states of Texas, Florida, and others. These beasts pose risk after risk, their numbers alone are alarming and do not seem to be slowing, they pollute streams, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water, spread numerous diseases and parasites to the domesticated animals, cause crop and property damage, and are a threat to humans at times. It is time for hunters to be allowed to take action against this enormous threat without stipulations and nothing more than a valid hunting license. The citizens of Arkansas must decide, is this dangerous beast worth the destruction of our glamourous state? Decide now before the time comes when the hogs have made this decision for the state and the people who reside

here.