We have major feral hog population problems here, enough that it's now open season year round, really, officially. They are terribly destructive and there are increasing numbers of people being attacked by boars. Since they have no natural predators and sows can have a dozen or more babies per year, their numbers are growing exponentially. There's no effective means of control.
Well, except shooting them. I prefer a rifle, but some use a pistol. Hogs are very tough; any pistol used should be large caliber, and you'd best be a darn good shot-they will take a **** of a hit, get up and come after you (much like a cottonmouth). I use an AR (lots of pigs, lots of bullets), or a 30.06, hit them anywhere in the right zip code and they're down for good. Any larger caliber will do; I always take The Judge as back up.
The challenge is being ready when they show up. The batch that just spurred this post has been around for several days, tearing up our pasture, and will likely return tomorrow at about the same time. They'll make excellent eating.
Here's a couple of pictures of live pigs at some one else's place. The babies are very cute, but in just a few weeks they'll be able to destroy a quarter acre each, within an hour or so. I'll try to post some shots of their handy work here tomorrow, along with the score card-so far it's Hogs-0, Me-4.
Update: Added photo of Pig Plowed Patch
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