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Ya think we're worried about just gators in Florida?

#1: Ya think we're worried about just gators in Florida? Author: Vince, Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA

Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:35 pm
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Ya think we're worried about just gators in Florida

The fellow in the pictures is Larry Earley. He lives about 30 miles from Orlando, in the very rural community of Okahumpka, just off the Florida turnpike in Lake County Florida. He has 20 acres of land and ! on it, a few cows and horses. Mostly it's pasture land that is fenced with woods surrounding him. He is neighbored by a larger cattle ranch. His neighbor has complained for several years that wild hogs had been raiding his cattle feeders and salt licks. Last month he saw what he thought was a cow in his pond and went to see if it was stuck in the mud and would have to be pulled out. When he got close enough to realize it was a hog, the thing made a charge at him. He had driven his truck down to the pond and carries a pistol in it (as any Florida redneck would, and I say that with genuine affection). He got his handgun and when it came at him again, he shot it twice and killed it. Wild hogs in Florida usually run from 100-400 pounds with a 400 pounder being a monster. Because this one had been feasting on grain for several years it had grown to mammoth size. When Larry took it to the processor it weighed in at over 1100 pounds! The meat has no wild taste, as it was grain fed! ; and Larry is quite the hero. He has fed many fireman and provided the homeless shelter in downtown Orlando with a couple of meals.

This is one BIG porker.

#2: Re: Ya think we're worried about just gators in Florida? Author: longwalker, Location: Bethel, AK

Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 1:48 pm
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Good thing larry had a large caliber handgun. Something that big could complicate your day.

longwalker

#3: Re: Ya think we're worried about just gators in Florida? Author: Dimitri,

Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:38 pm
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These large hogs they are finding hasnt it been determained that they are a crossbreed between wild boar and domesticated pigs ?? Confused

Its been a while since I read about them but I'm sure that thats what they said was the cause of these large hogs Smile

Dimitri

#4: Re: Ya think we're worried about just gators in Florida? Author: 4570Ranger,

Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:55 pm
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Hiya Dimitri Very Happy

That's what happened.Russian boar,crossbred with domestic pig/swine.
End result,is the mix.And, very quick.
Seen a wild pig charge a couple guys hunting (on TV). Just missed a guy that part of his pant leg was slashed.
Wonder what the "big" brains at DFG in Sacramento would think ?
At the site, they have a PDF of wild pig.Get this:90 lbs and under, the 44 mag and 454 Casull. For 90lbs and more, then it's a "NO". Go figure for city people.
Wonder what the guy used in Florida ? Mate, any more info ?
That one in Florida,comes to being "Hogzilla". And a verified one at that.

#5: Re: Ya think we're worried about just gators in Florida? Author: Vince, Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA

Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:16 pm
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No more info on this one. Haven't any idea what his handgun is either.

Tried enlarging the pic but it only got blurry, but from the size of his hand and the way its sitting in his hand I'd say that it is possibly a Mod 29 S & W with a slab sided and compensated barrel, so it is most likely at least 44 MAG.

Cheers, Vince

#6: Re: Ya think we're worried about just gators in Florida? Author: Dimitri,

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 10:32 am
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Quote::

Wonder what the "big" brains at DFG in Sacramento would think ?
At the site, they have a PDF of wild pig.Get this:90 lbs and under, the 44 mag and 454 Casull. For 90lbs and more, then it's a "NO". Go figure for city people.

They serious 90lb limit for handguns ?? wtf

People hunt big bears with handguns I've read. Now tell me how does a boar make it less effective if you have proper shot placement ?? Confused

Anyways Larry Earley said on www.snopes.com/photos/...bighog.asp this:

Quote::

I shot a log boar hog on August 27, 2004. The pictures you have were taken on my property close to where the hog was shot. I have many more photos. I do not know the origin of the story on the Internet. It did not come from me. Half of the details are accurate. I shot the hog once with a .44 magnum (the one in the photo). The hog charged towards me after he was shot but he only covered about 20 feet of ground. I was 10 yards away when I shot, and I was backing up while keeping the crosshairs on the hog as he was moving towards me. That is typical with wild hogs, that is what makes them fun to hunt.

The hog was too big for scales that were available to me on a Friday evening (500 lb. scales), so we decided to let the processor estimate the weight for us. Smokin' Oak Sausage Co. in Branford, F,L did the processing for me and he put the weight between 1100 and 1200 lbs. The tusk on the right side was 8-1/4" above the gum line and the right tusk was broken and measured 5" above the gum. The hide with the head was weighed at 284 lbs. The taxidermist I am using measured the neck at 42" around and the length from his eye socket to the tip of his nose at 11-3/4".

I just found out about the story on the internet yesterday. I think that it is hilarious that all of this has been going on. I'll be glad to talk to anyone about my hog.

Thats a 44 Mag I guess. Tell that to the Department of Fish and Game in California Very Happy

Dimitri

#7: Re: Ya think we're worried about just gators in Florida? Author: 1895ss, Location: Not Here...!!

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 7:41 pm
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Go ahead you tell em........ Smile

#8: Re: Ya think we're worried about just gators in Florida? Author: Vince, Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 7:50 pm
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I hear ya 1895ss.....Dimitri's never been one to hold back. Very Happy

Cheers, Vince

#9: Re: Ya think we're worried about just gators in Florida? Author: GroovyJack, Location: Bama

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 3:57 am
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HHMM .. Looks about the size of the one in Georgia from a couple years or so back .. Think they advertised it at around 1000 + , exhumed remains and figured more like 800 or so .... still HUGE ..
This one is a much better picture than the one from Georgia .. However I still question the weight .. I can very well be wrong . but I doubt the weight he cites ..
Thing is , that none of these MONSTER 1000+ hawgs , have ever been confirmed on a state certified scale .. They have all been guesstimates ...

Just my opinion

Jack

#10: Re: Ya think we're worried about just gators in Florida? Author: SwampFox, Location: Destin, Florida

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 6:24 am
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The one thing you guys miss about the story is Hogs in Florida. They have very few enemies big enough or stupid enough to take them on and due to the climate here, have litters year round. Rabbits have nothing on hogs when it comes to populating the landscape. It is amazing how destructive a 400-800 lb hog can be. You wake up in the morning and your corn field looks like a war took place the night before. The porkers make holes 2 foot deep and 6 feet across, all over the field. You have to get a dozer to recreate your nice level field.

The 1100 to 1200lb baby is unusual, but 600 - 800 is not, any more. A couple of years ago, a county mountie, here, got a call that a giant dog was chasing cars on I-10 near Crestview. So being the carrier of a nice new 9mm, he decided to go take care of the problem. He ran out of ammo standing on the roof of his car, in the median of the interstate, 45 round later. He had one pissed off 700 lb hog gnawing at the tires. He would have still been on the roof had it not been for a state trooper that happened to stop. The trooper had a 12ga in the trunk, with slugs and 00.

Most places, that is on private land, there is no season or bag limit. They are considered destructive and also free range livestock on the landowners property.

They are one of the few critters that might not run if attacked and they will come to another hog's aid rather than run off. They can kill just about anything that does not kill them first and the list that kills them is real short. You can walk right up on one without seeing it, even in a clearing with but one bush in it. Been there done that. To watch a big hog go through the wood on a dead out run is something to see, they only go around big trees, everything else the just run over, like a runaway dozer.
Ed

#11: Re: Ya think we're worried about just gators in Florida? Author: Crackshot, Location: Mich

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 7:42 am
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I for one do not doubt the weight, I worked a hog farm when was in school, and we had hogs weighing in at 800 more than a few times, I have no doubt that a wild hog/swine cross, with grain and wild forage, getting to 1000+ lbs. sorry to argue, but Ive seen farm raised hogs, who are fed on a schedual, get HUGE, so a wild one eating constantly....................yes 1000+ is attainable..

#12: Re: Ya think we're worried about just gators in Florida? Author: Dimitri,

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:07 am
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Arguing about size isnt too important, that LOOKs like its 1000+ lbs Shocked

But the better question is do you think you'd be able to have accurate enough shot placement to kill something that big with a 44 Mag while its charging ?? Confused

Dimitri

#13: Re: Ya think we're worried about just gators in Florida? Author: kbis, Location: East, Texas

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:27 am
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Dimitri- We have the same pigs down here (cross between Russian boar and domestic pig), everyone around here refers to them as feral hogs.

The ones that got into my fields were not very big, around 250 pounds, but when they left the fields looked like someone called in an air strike.

#14: Re: Ya think we're worried about just gators in Florida? Author: Crackshot, Location: Mich

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:13 pm
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I wasnt meaning to argue, Just stateing what Ive seen in the past, And no I dont think I would have the nerve to get an aimed shot on something that big charging me, Must have been a lucky shot

#15: Re: Ya think we're worried about just gators in Florida? Author: POP!!, Location: Cheyenne, Wy

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 2:54 pm
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HOGZILLA Very Happy

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