Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game "True" feral pigs vs. domestic swine

Ran across an internet post the other day the that was talking about a 500+ lb "wild" boar which I am always skeptical of the when the weight is that high. The article reminded me of this screen shot I had captured.

If you need to tell the difference between between a true feral pig and a domestic pig that was "released" a week ago and shot and claimed to be wild boar. Just look at the skull shape. Domestic on the left and wild on the right.

Feral pigs always have a long snout. I’ve seen hundreds of them.

The thing is that it only takes a couple generations for them to “devolve”. The tails go straight, hair gets longer, skull shape changes. They are amazingly adaptable creatures, one would admire their ability to adapt if they weren’t so destructive.

Don't KNOW crap about feral hogs, but I have read that domestic
hogs "evolve" into ferals in 4 or 5 generation's. Both bone structure
and hair.

Always questioned that. How could bone structure change that fast,
if there wasn't an influx of genes?

I’m not a biologist and don’t know they how’s and whys. But I saw a documentary years ago about how foxes will basically start turning into dogs within a few generations in captivity, exhibiting different colors and traits that don’t occur in the wild.

Thanks for the screen shot. Be Well, Rustyzipper.

Also, I saw a documentary on how Russian fur farm wid animals in a few years of captivity will start having white fur.

Recessive genes being expressed through inbreeding.

European boar can reach 500 lbs. and have crossed with feral hogs in many areas. I have seen at least three hogs that would easily go over 400 lbs. and shot one that was an estimated 375+ it broke a rope that was supposed to be rated for 500 lbs when I tried to hang it. One big sow was spotted the others looked more like Eurasian boars. But anything over 250 is pretty unusual where I hunt.

Hardly any in the Hill Country hit 250 lbs. They get bigger in east Texas

Dang Tejano! I want to come hog hunting with you Pard!

Just offhand - a guess - it's probably epigenetics, genes are switched on or off in response to environmental conditions. The 'wild hog model' is probably present in domestic pigs but suppressed or inactivated due to the environment in which domestic pigs are kept. Once in the wild for a few generations, gene expression is altered.

This boar was confirmed by DNA by TWRA to be Eurasian boar. Killed in middle Tn By myself

No clue what he weighed so I won’t guesstimate. Had to cut him to pack him out of woods

Another pic to give you idea of size.

Domestics likely get breed by feral hogs thus the evolution.

We were invaded by "wild boar" some years ago and in a herd, you could see a significant difference in confirmation and head shape between the two genetic pathways!

I would think this is maily linked to diet. If one hangs out near a corn feeder and is eats all the time thay can get big quick. When they find their own food and they stay hard and lean, only put fat on during late spring summer and early fall.

I’d say about. 275

We estimated 275-300. I tend to not guess and post it when I can’t weight them as I don’t have too much experience with hogs Honestly. That was our assumption in weight though

Killed a few. Most were weighed and were 175-215

Slg888 killed one that I have pics of and witnessed just how big it was. It bottomed out the scale at processors that went to 500lbs. I assume the scale was accurate enough. It was huge. I wouldn’t even post that weight had I not seen it

Except it didn’t look like a Eurasian. It looked very much like a feral boar. Not much hair. Huge block head

KevinJ, that last line sounds like a boss I once had. Especially the huge block head.