Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

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?

RE: Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

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.:)

RE: Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

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

RE: Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

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.

RE: Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

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

RE: Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

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.

RE: Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

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.

RE: Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

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.

RE: Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

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!

RE: Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

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.

RE: Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

I see what ya'll are saying about the hog being cut but I just got back from the lease and trapped two hogs with those tags and they were both sows.

RE: Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

And what did the tags say?? That might answer a whole lotta questions.

RE: Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

Usually they just have numbers. It is like the tags they put on cattle.

RE: Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

Many are Insecticide Ear Tags with no #'s or letters.

Buy Livestock Ear Tags

RE: Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

I know what livestock tags are.... but was asking what these particular tags had on them... could have had reference to a school or state agency... if they were just the regular livestock tags, then someone is releasing these pigs and that MAY be against the law in your state...

RE: Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

A call to the local warden should answer all your questions. I would invite him over for dinner, too. I bet he would enjoy a pig roast.

RE: Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

Well, any info on those tags yet??

RE: Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

I got a few recent pics of tags and these had numbers. I just don't get it. I don't have anyone near my property that would be doing this. I guess someone is doing it to try to keep track of how many hogs there are and when new ones move in andouthis area.

RE: Why do these hogs have tags on their ears?
 

you don't want to get caught letting them go here in okla are you will end up with a big fine.