Can Wild Hogs Carry Rabies?

If you’ve ever been on a hunting retreat, you may have wondered what kinds of animals around you could be carrying rabies. It’s a scary thought and one that many hunters have had before. There are, of course, your well-known rabies carriers, like raccoons, but what about other kinds of animals, like wild hogs? In this article, we will explore whether or not wild hogs carry rabies, how you can know, and if it’s safe to eat their meat.

Do They Carry Rabies?

So, let’s get the main question out of the way. Can wild hogs carry rabies? The answer is yes. Feral hogs can, in fact, contract and carry rabies. But how does this happen?

Because wild hogs are aggressive and territorial animals, it’s common for them to attack smaller animals that may be carrying rabies. In addition, they could contract and carry rabies in situations where they may sustain an injury from a fox or raccoon. As such, you should always be cautious when hunting if you encounter a wild hog.

How Can You Know?

At first glance, it may not always be apparent when a wild animal is carrying rabies. This statement is true for wild hogs carrying rabies as well. However, there are some key signs and behaviors you can watch for that could indicate a wild hog has rabies.

Early on in the stages of infection, it will be nearly impossible to tell if a wild hog has rabies. However, you may suspect they are carrying the disease if you spot any bite marks on their bodies. As the infection progresses, you’ll notice some classic symptoms. These include whitish-yellow foaming at the mouth, extremely erratic, confused, aggressive behavior, or a general pallor of sickness over the animal. If you spot any of these signs in a wild hog, you should keep your distance and not engage.

Is Wild Hog Meat Safe to Eat?

Should you encounter a wild hog in the early stages of rabies and kill it, are you at risk of getting rabies from its meat? Unfortunately, the answer is not as straightforward as you might think. Thoroughly cooking meat from a non-symptomatic animal carrying rabies will eradicate the virus. However, one should never eat meat from any animal that shows signs of rabies.

Gum Log Plantation

Are you interested in hunting wild hogs? Gum Log Plantation, a hunting retreat in Abbeville, GA, offers a great hunting experience for hunters of all skill levels. Our expert guides know how to spot the healthiest hogs, so you’ll feel safe filling your freezer with your catch. Contact us today at 229-318-9015 and schedule your stay at Gum Log Plantation.

The post Can Wild Hogs Carry Rabies? first appeared on Gum Log Plantation.

What to Wear During a Hog Hunt

Wild hogs are an extremely popular animal to hunt in North America. For centuries, hogs have been a food source for hunters and explorers. The great thing about hog hunting is that the season is year-round, and many states encourage hunting these overpopulated destructive animals because it reduces damage done to farmers.

Hog hunting is frequently done at night, so no matter what season or state you’re in, you need to dress warmly. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter trying a new animal or an amateur looking to break into the sport, here is a list of items you should wear for a hog hunt.

Hog Hunting Lodge in Georgia: Gum Log Plantation Hunting Tips

Head & Face

In any sport, you’re going to want to protect your head. For hunting, having the proper headgear is essential to keep you safe.

A baseball cap or a wide-brimmed hat is a great way to protect your face and neck from the sun if you’re hunting during the day. Using a hat also provides some strategic advantages to hog hunting. Hogs don’t have great long-distance eyesight. A head covering of any style or color breaks up your silhouette, making it hard for the hogs to detect you as a danger. An orange hat is recommended so other hunters can see you. In cold weather, wearing a face covering, like a balaclava or a half-face mask, adds some extra protection from the weather.

Upper Body

For summer months, it’s reasonable to go hog hunting in a t-shirt. However, long pants are still advised to protect you from ticks and bugs. For the same reason, a lightweight, long-sleeved t-shirt is also a great option.

In the winter months, you should layer up. It’s best to have 1-2 layers underneath a heavy, water-resistant jacket. Dry-fit or lightweight wool shirts are great for under layers as they are moisture-wicking and keep your body temperature from dropping.

Lower Body

In general, you’ll want to wear pants for a hog hunt because of the bugs in the high grass areas where hogs congregate. In addition, wearing long pants protects your legs from scratches and bites. You’re going to want to wear hiking or hunting boots for your foot coverings. Boots are durable enough to protect you from animal bites and let you traverse rugged terrain.

It is recommended you don’t wear jeans for hunting. Denim material is not very flexible, and if jeans get wet, they become heavy and difficult to dry. Instead, wear hiking or hunting pants – they have extra pockets and are usually water-resistant.

Hog hunting is a fun year-round sport that anyone with a hunting license can enjoy, and hog hunting attire is simple. However, you’ll want to dress for the elements and have basic protections for arms and legs.

Gum Log Plantation

Do you enjoy hog hunting or want to try the sport? Gum Log Plantation is happy to help. Our hunting lodge in Georgia is located on 3,000 acres of prime hunting land, and our expert guides know where to find the hogs. Contact us today at 229-318-9015 and book your trip today.

The post What to Wear During a Hog Hunt first appeared on Gum Log Plantation.