HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA WILD BOAR
The Florida wild boar is the classic
American razor-back, piney woods rooter. They are not native to Florida.
There are theories
about the origins of Florida's feral hogs. One is they're descendants
of the swine that Ponce de Leon, Hernando DeSoto and other early Spanish explorers brought
over from Spain on their ships in the 1500's. The black Spanish
hogs quickly populated the state of Florida. The early settlers
released domestic boars to up-grade the Florida feral strain which
accounts for the color markings we see that sometimes resemble
domestic hog breeds. Gestation
is 115 days. They have on a average of 2 litters per year with
about 10 young pigs per litter. They grow fast and reach 100 pounds
in 12 months. They are omnivorous. eating all kinds of foods (plants
and animals) indiscriminately. "About 1 million feral hogs live in the state of Florida"
A large wild boar hog will weigh over 250 pounds, but most run in the 150 pound range. A boar has two long tusks in the lower jaw and two whetters directly above them that he rubs the lower tusks against to keep them sharp. Tusks grow throughout the life of the boar. A wild boar is considered a trophy with tusks that measure 2 inches from the gum line. Sows (female hogs) do not have long tusks. They have poor eyesight, good hearing and an excellent sense of smell. Their meat unlike the domestic hog is lean and very edible. The Florida wild boar (feral hog) is considered a trespass animal and not managed by the state of Florida.
"Hunters are welcome and even encouraged to hunt them "year-round"
The wild boar hog hunting area and terrain you will hunt vary from sugar cane fields, palmetto thickets, to woodlands with ponds and marsh. These areas are privately owned. Areas to hunt are carefully chosen by our guides prior to your arrival. The area that best indicates it is holding a good concentration of wild boar hogs is of course selected for the day's hunt.
Wild
boar (hog - as they are called locally) hunting with dogs is a
very exciting sport. It also is the most successful way of making
a kill. High ground that offers a wild boar hog hunter a good
view and shot at a passing hog will be selected for a stand by
one of the guides - who will also stay on stand with the hunter.
The other guide and the dogs will then enter the woods at a considerable
distance in front of the hunters so as to drive a wild boar hog
or hogs towards them. During these drives the dogs will usually
bay up the hog before it reaches the hunters. The sound of yelping
dogs and the squeals of the hog would surely indicate such and
the need for some fast running by the hunters towards the sounds
of the battle. The dogs (Florida cur dog - combination of hound
and bulldog) are trained to hold the hog at bay. Once the dogs
have the hog at bay the hunter can carefully take aim and shoot
the hog.
Sows and young wild boars usually
roam in large herds, while trophy wild boars usually roam in small
bands or as loners. A trophy quality wild boar will have tusks
that will measure from two to four inches from beyond the lower
lip's line. 
A wild boar hog hunter may use
a rifle (any
caliber), black powder
(any
caliber), shotgun
(rifled slugs), and/or a handgun (any caliber from a 22 to a S&W
500). Due to the lush
undergrowth a shotgun with rifled slugs and a good sidearm are
by far the preferred weapons. A firearm (12 gauge shotgun) will
be furnished free of charge to a wild boar hog hunter who doesn't
own or is unable to bring one with him. Hunters are required to
furnish 12 gauge deer slug shells in either 2 3/4 or 3 inch shell
size. A five shell box per each hunter will be enough.
Wild
boar hog hunting requires no special type of clothing or color.
Each wild boar hog hunter should bring: extra clothing: bug spray,
camera, water canteen, rain gear, large ice cooler (60 qt. or
bigger), and large plastic bags (thrash type) to pack their meat
in. Bag ice for packing your meat can be purchased locally.
A e-mail confirmation upon receipt of
a party's reservation deposit will be sent from Ron's Guide Service
confirming receipt of deposit; total cost of hunt that would include the guide rate, guaranteed kill
charge and gratuities. Non-hunter rate if applicable will also
be listed. The e-mail confirmation will include date
of reserved hunt, where to meet, time to meet, etc.