Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?

Patriot15 · 04-21-2007, 04:27 PM

Recently I've started getting pictures of hogs with orange tags on their ears. Some have numbers and some don't have any writing at all on the tags. Why would someone trap, tag, and release a wild hog?

Rebel Hog · 04-21-2007, 06:01 PM

What state are these hogs at? We tag calves and cows when tested for Brucelosis, but I have never seen wild hogs with ear tags.

Oklahunter · 04-21-2007, 08:24 PM

They were probably on a farm somewhere in your area and escaped. Now they are considered feral, Happy Hunting!

Patriot15 · 04-21-2007, 10:51 PM

I'm in north texas and we have a ton of hogs and just recently we've started seeing these hogs with tags on their ears. And as time goes on the more hogs we see with tags.

Sewer Rat · 04-22-2007, 06:28 AM

could be part of a state or school study.... kinda like banding ducks/geese maybe?? shoot one and find out

JeffS · 04-23-2007, 08:18 AM

They are probably some that escaped from a farm somewhere. I shoot a big sow once that was tagged. She was orginally from a farm and escaped and had been living wild for a couple of years.

burniegoeasily · 04-23-2007, 08:33 AM

Im in North West Texas and its not uncommon to find hogs the kids have let go. When the hogs dont make the sell at the stock shows, some kids will let them go on the Brazos. Ive seen a few that had clipped ears and ear tags. I can only assume those have gotten lose from a buyer, farmer, or releaseby some kids who didnt make the sell at a stock show.

txmarshmonkey · 04-23-2007, 12:43 PM

I've heard of people trapping hogs and "cutting" the boars and then marking them by cropping an ear or docking the tails. Maybe it was something like that, a marker for bars.

strutnbuck · 04-23-2007, 04:42 PM

More than likely they are tagged, to let a hunter know they are "bar" hogs, a boar that has had his man hood taken away. This is what we are doing now too. You catch them, cut them, put a bright colored tag in the ear and release. A few months or so go by, see him with the tag, know he's a bar hog, shoot and eat. A bar hog is much better eating than a boar, especialy here in cent. FL!

jlsherr · 04-23-2007, 05:57 PM

Dead on. Usually these are hogs that were trapped, cut, then released. Then rehunted for future table fare. This practise is very commen here in Texas. As I am sure it is else where.