Wild Pigs in Washington

[BlackRiverTaxidermy]

So...watching this show today called 'Invasion', which is going over the overpopulation of wild hogs, the feral species that were introduced, mitigation and other problems Texas, among other states are having with hogs. I grew up in this state and always heard there were wild hogs in the Olympics that were 'fair game', but never personally made an attempt to confirm this; also heard they are no longer there.

So here are a few questions for the masses...mostly for my curiosity....Did anyone every see or hunt them there (Olympics)? And...without making any suggestions, implications, or prompting a drunken idea on a wild evening...do you think wild hogs could survive in the western part of Washington state to proportions that some of the other states are having problems with. Again, not advocating any suggestions, but was curious what it might do to both the predator issues as well as other game animals and or hunting opportunities. Love to hear anyone's thoughts.

[JimmyHoffa]

I think they'd survive just fine assuming the cougars went easy on them.  The forests of western WA aren't too unlike some of the forests where wild boar seem to thrive in Europe.  Mostly just warmer winters/less snowfall here.

[Mfowl]

I remember hearing about them on the OP as well. I also heard that they were a rumor started by a former sporting goods store owner to drum up business. No specifics on that theory. I don't see why they wouldn't survive, plenty of forage items and ag lands to raid. I do know that WDFW had a portion of the Desert Wildlife Area near Moses Lake quarantined recently to irradicate pigs that they found there. Not sure where that process is at now though. I'd say we're lucky not to have them given how many factors are against our big game herds already.

[magnanimous_j]

I've heard about these pigs for years, but I've haven't heard anyone claim to have even seen one, let alone shot one.

[JimmyHoffa]

I had heard they were up the Wynoochee a few miles outside of Montesano, but that was about 15 years ago. 
The other reported critter on the OP is wild turkey.  I've not seen any, but my cousin saw one about three years ago.  Some of the old harvest reports show them. 

[Humptulips]

There are wild pigs on the Quinault Indian Reservation. They have been on the lower river for years. Occasionally you hear of someone seeing them. I've heard of them as far up as Raft river at 101. Also heard of them getting seen south of the Res behind Moclips a few times. I don't think there is a lot of them and the chances of seeing one long enough to get a shot is slim,
When all the talk was about wild hog and some people were looking for them I had heard they were on the Hump but I've spent a lot of time in the area and never seen any sign. I think that was all smoke.

[Bofire]

BTKR billy the kid rock is the local expert on these pigs. I think you should contact him directly.
Carl

[257 Wby Mag]

There used to be some up bear canyon between cinebar and Morton. Some hound hunters cut some loose about 10-15 years ago up there, a buddy killed 3 60-80lbrs 10 years ago or so up there..... Hopefully they spread into weyco and start uprooting and killin  every tree they find....

[Bigshooter]

There used to be some up bear canyon between cinebar and Morton. Some hound hunters cut some loose about 10-15 years ago up there, a buddy killed 3 60-80lbrs 10 years ago or so up there..... Hopefully they spread into weyco and start uprooting and killin  every tree they find....

A friend of my dad's saw 1 while deer hunting down near the Tilton about 15 years ago and he didn't kill it.  He lives on dodge rd and that is the only one that he has ever seen.

[Humptulips]

There used to be some up bear canyon between cinebar and Morton. Some hound hunters cut some loose about 10-15 years ago up there, a buddy killed 3 60-80lbrs 10 years ago or so up there..... Hopefully they spread into weyco and start uprooting and killin  every tree they find....

  Tell us how you really feel abut WEYCO.   

[grundy53]

I had heard they were up the Wynoochee a few miles outside of Montesano, but that was about 15 years ago. 
The other reported critter on the OP is wild turkey.  I've not seen any, but my cousin saw one about three years ago.  Some of the old harvest reports show them.

I heard the same thing about pigs being up the Wynoochee. Also heard there were some feral cattle up there too.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

[jmscon]

I thought that I heard about some Siberian pigs in the Oly Park and that there was a culling of some sort, 20 years ago maybe.

A link I found:

http://www.invasivespecies.wa.gov/priorities/feral_swine.shtml

[JimmyHoffa]

I had heard they were up the Wynoochee a few miles outside of Montesano, but that was about 15 years ago. 
The other reported critter on the OP is wild turkey.  I've not seen any, but my cousin saw one about three years ago.  Some of the old harvest reports show them.

I heard the same thing about pigs being up the Wynoochee. Also heard there were some feral cattle up there too.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

There are feral cattle further north.  I know of at least one that was shot.  It was jumping over/tearing down fences to get into peoples gardens and trying to get to the tame cows.  I've heard there's a few more still roaming about.

[257 Wby Mag]

There used to be some up bear canyon between cinebar and Morton. Some hound hunters cut some loose about 10-15 years ago up there, a buddy killed 3 60-80lbrs 10 years ago or so up there..... Hopefully they spread into weyco and start uprooting and killin  every tree they find....

  Tell us how you really feel abut WEYCO.   

Or better yet, I'll tell ya how my old old hound huntin pards feel about big timber comps!! Grin

[billythekidrock]

I've heard about these pigs for years, but I've haven't heard anyone claim to have even seen one, let alone shot one.

I saw one on the OP many years ago near the National Park.