[Driller1]

Originally Posted by Cliffie

Well nobody's hiking in these temperatures anyway!

Some cross country ski....

[stewfro]

In August, 2009, were shocked to find a wolverine marking territory in the garden at the Big Bay Lighthouse. It was a four or five minute encounter, he even turned towards us and approached to within 50 feet or so. The he calmly walked off into the bush. In my excitement, I screwed up somehow, and the three photos I shot on the disposable camera did not turn out. I will remember that encounter till my dying days.

We were staying at a private Chalet about a half mile away, and my Girlfriend and I were stunned by the dead silence that night as we sat out at the fire pit. The previous evenings were filled with bird calls. We were wondering if perhaps the wolverine was still lurking about.

[darstar]

Originally Posted by stewfro

In August, 2009, were shocked to find a wolverine marking territory in the garden at the Big Bay Lighthouse. It was a four or five minute encounter, he even turned towards us and approached to within 50 feet or so. The he calmly walked off into the bush. In my excitement, I screwed up somehow, and the three photos I shot on the disposable camera did not turn out. I will remember that encounter till my dying days.

We were staying at a private Chalet about a half mile away, and my Girlfriend and I were stunned by the dead silence that night as we sat out at the fire pit. The previous evenings were filled with bird calls. We were wondering if perhaps the wolverine was still lurking about.

A good fireside story. Big Foot is also hanging around Big Bay these days..... The creatures of the night always seem to come out with out warning , the lest they could do is wait until we have assembled a camera crew from the local TV station.

[Perferator]

Originally Posted by chrisga

A feral hog and a wild boar are two different critters. Pigs become feral after 4-5 generations in the wild. Most wild pigs (Boars) in Michigan are from Russian Boars that escaped from hunting ranches or were set free by ranches that had neglected there fences or released them after going bust. Michigan has always had feral pigs, from escaped pigs from farms. They dont usually become feral because the farmers usully get them and they dont reproduce due to lack of mates in the wild. We didnt used to have wild boars until the introduction of hunting ranches that imported them from Canada. Dont mean to throw wrench into the conversation, but does are da facts.

A feeder pig that runs off from a farm may not be noticed or even searched for by a busy farmer that works 3 jobs. This happens often here in the NLP. Many that arent your classic farmers or ranchers will have a pen out back with a 5 or 6 pigs to raise for their family. If they arent properly contained they will get out. It's only a matter of a few months and they will revert to wild instincts. They are highly intelligent, very reclusive (mostly nocturnal) and are prolific breeders. Eventually they will overtake the wilds of the state. Give it time and the hunting will be easier but by then it will be too late. Forget taking a leisurely walk in the woods as they are very aggresive and easily agitated toward humans.

I'm deer hunting in Emmet county this year and have seen many sets of wild hog tracks. Last year I hunted Charlevoix county and had one come in to my stand while bow hunting out back of my house. There were sightings in the area.

One person on page 2 (?) asked how they survive the cold.....they can. Farmers dont heat their barns

For those interested in a gold mine of information on this subject, head over to the Michigan-Sportsman forums where Kristie Brown (a DNR biologist that is tracking the wild/feral hog issue) has a 76page thread chuck full of sightings, shootings, mapping and general information on the subject......

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/fo...d.php?t=194817

[Giesela]

I recently watched another TV show about something or another and at one point they were in Texas talking to agriculture experts and they said the feral pig thing is so out of control no amount of hunting will be able to catch up and the destruction is in the millions. I think part of the problem was when tracking they can get into such dense places hunters can't get to them. They were showing some guys who use strike and catch dogs. Even then it seemed like quite a time consuming production to track and kill one.

Perferator - did you shoot the one at your deer stand? I would think that any and all should be shot on sight.

[actinic]

Did you guys catch this article?

Hogzilla: Local couple slays four feral pigs, including 514-pound beast | Muskegon News - - MLive.com

[darstar]

My biggest surprize was descovering Fisher Cats here in the UP. Got a big one in my woods behing the new house, about 25 lbs. They eat porkepines belly side up.....

[Giesela]

What do you mean by "got one"? As in seen or killed?

[darstar]

No , he was here first....still is. I just moved in last week , full time. The woods hold lots of secrets..discovery is a great past time....yet to see a bear, lots of deer,one fox , lots of porkies , garter snakes , eagles,crows,hawks, . I know we have wolves ,yet to hear them but have seen tracks. Some Moose are around also...... I just did not know about Fishers around here. Martins yes, its their kinda country.

[Perferator]

Originally Posted by Giesela

I recently watched another TV show about something or another and at one point they were in Texas talking to agriculture experts and they said the feral pig thing is so out of control no amount of hunting will be able to catch up and the destruction is in the millions. I think part of the problem was when tracking they can get into such dense places hunters can't get to them. They were showing some guys who use strike and catch dogs. Even then it seemed like quite a time consuming production to track and kill one.

Perferator - did you shoot the one at your deer stand? I would think that any and all should be shot on sight.

No, the pig came in with his eyes directly on me and didnt look away. I had a bait pile (when it was legal) and the pig wouldnt take a bite. He backed up and never taking his eyes off me. If it were rifle season then it's a different story.