Seems to me that the hog population is exploding and the deer population is in decline. At current trends, how long will it be before the hog population surpasses the deer population. And what will that mean for our deer hunting.

I know some will call me Chicken Little or that I am trying to create a false situation to scare folks.

But, I feel the threat is real.

I know we have many biologist on here and many with a life time of woodsman ship experiences.

PLEASE don't turn this into a bashing thread!

Give your opinions and ideas.

On Bankhead hogs outnumber deer 10 to 1 at a MINIMUM.

I have noticed as hogs move in deer move on to better habitat with less competition. They'll eventually have no choice but to coexist because deer are losing hog free places every day.

I still don't think it's a doomsday scenario. Deer and hogs do ok together in other states with a much higher concentration of hogs.

I agree about the hogs running deer off. I have two places on the nat frst one in chilton and the other in Bibb that since the hogs moved in the deer sightings have plummeted. I think within the next 10 years hogs will outnumber deer 2-1 if not more.

I think it will just be a matter of time before something "knocks" the hog population for a loop. It will either be disease, or a man made drug, etc. that will devastate their numbers. I hope it happens soon because the hogs are here and the deer are losing ground every day.

hogs and deer have been coexisting in south Al for hundreds of years.....

deer numbers are down because of yotes and fast triggers on the does....

Couldn't have said that better myself! Thank You.

I was thinking about this today. I bet coyotes breed almost as regularly as hogs and have litters as well. You just don't see them as much because they are dang smart. I know I don't kill near as many coyotes as I should, but they are devastating our recruitment rate.

It must be sort of rare for coyotes to eat pigs. It seems that the same fawn research would have had some info about pigs if coyotes eat them very often.

Well the deer population sure ain't growing exponentially.

In the long run, I think deer hunters will come to appreciate hog hunting more and more.

Timber cruiser, my opinion is that coyotes work on pigs more than we think. We have a lot of mature sows that give birth to 8-10 piglets. By the time those piglets are 3 months old there are usually 4 or less. I'm getting these numbers from camera surveys on bait sites. Also, a lot of reproduction research going on right now, and preliminary stuff is showing lower reproductive rates than what literature has been saying for years.

I have also heard that boars will kill piglets but i would think a sow would make a stand and try to defend her piglets from a coyote but I could see a pack of coyotes just outnumbering her and stealing a few piglets.

Still never seen a hog on either of the places I hunt in Tuscaloosa or Greene counties....

I agree with Bham Fred. Trigger finger on does and coyotes.

What are the preliminary results on the hog reproduction Matt? I'm curious to know. It's a given that it is a whole lot more than the rate of deer. It's good to hear that the yotes are doing their part in keeping em in check somewhat.

EXACTLY, Matt!!!
I was just telling Barry and Troy that last week. I see the number '8' used a lot as a typical sows reproductive rate per litter. And, it may be in 'NEW' territory where hogs have just established themselves. BUT, here in my area, where we have had them basically forever, my experience shows 3 being more typical and if a sow actually raises 5.....it is a BIG litter!

I feel this is due to several factors:

1) In areas of established hog populations, brucellosis is usually present. It results in reduced reproductive capabilities, up to sterilization.......and even death.
2) Predators, mainly coyotes! They are tough on pigs. Just look at any coyote scat and you will find pig/hog hair in it if there are ANY in the area!
3) Parasites such as intestinal worms, flukes and external parasites such as lice and ticks. They cause poor health in sows which results in smaller litters. And, they will either kill the pigs OR weaken them until they succumb to predators.

All of these factors seem to be minimized in 'new' territory, though. As always, the population of a 'new' animal introduced into prime habitat results in a population explosion.

So, I also think things will take a downward swing before long in the areas that hogs have not been in long. Especially with the increased interest in hunting them and the advanced methods of harvest.

I'm not saying yet. The sample size is small and it ain't my research. As soon as any definite conclusions are drawn I will share. All I can say is that something may possibly be lowering reproductive rates.


Danny, we have high rates of pseudorabies up here, which can cause reproductive failure and abortions. I think that's what happening here.

I've watched a group of yotes wearing out a sow and her piglets.

We don't have them yet at our place in South MGM but I'm sure we will soon like everyone else. If they move in our deer will move out due to the lack of hardwoods to hold both. Actually we probably have the ideal habitat for hogs with it being a creek bottom and swamp land. Not good.

There are a lot of foods that deer and hogs eat that are a shared food supply. BUT, for the most part, their feeding habits are very different. It is NOT the direct competition that most think it is!

Also, I wonder where all these deer that 'leave' these areas when hogs move in are going???? And, how do they decide where the boundaries are??

My lease has both.....and in higher numbers than you see in most areas. Neither are over-populated, and I have to work to keep the hog numbers in check. BUT, there is absolutely no doubt that not only can they co-exist, they can prosper and do well.

If I am not badly mistaken, the deer population is dropping by choice....correct?

If not, why the liberalized 'Doe' Seasons?

It almost seems as if some are trying to make up some type of relationship between the two scenarios that you are describing. BUT, I simply do not see any relationship.