Hunters often talk about their critical role in controlling wild animal populations. Our man Leghorn recently did his part for the Texas eco-system, popping his hunting cherry (bad metaphor but there you go) by shooting hogs with Tyler. I’m not sure it matters much, but the boys ate what they killed. Cut to Pakistan, which also has a wild boar problem. “Each night, packs of the hairy beasts emerge from Islamabad’s river beds, parks and scrubland to rifle through the overflowing rubbish bins of its mostly wealthy residents and growing number of restaurants,” the AP reports. And this is a problem because . . .
The animals can weigh up to 180 to 220 pounds (80 kilograms to 100 kilograms) and have razor sharp teeth. Adult males come armed with upward curving tusks. While they scurry off at the site of humans, they charge when cornered, alarmed or wounded and are a major cause of traffic accidents in the city.
OK, so there are plenty of armed citizens thereabouts. Why not just let the locals blast the beasts? For one thing, the Islamic religion forbids local residents from eating pork. For another . . .
City authorities are laying poison and have announced free hunting permits to cull the wild pigs’ numbers. But to make sure [pig hunting] residents don’t get caught in the crossfire, they only allow shotguns. There have been few takers. Hunters are wary of getting arrested by the police, or even worse — getting mistaken for a terrorist.
So, if you’re a Pakistani hunter targeting wild boar in an urban environment use a Benelli M2; the military and police will know you’re A-OK. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s pork problem opens an opportunity for U.S. hunters who don’t rely on that EWYK (Eat What You Kill) defense for their predilection for killing four-legged swine.
The animal’s abundance has made the country a prime spot for boar hunting, said Qaiser Khan, who leads hunting parties to Pakistan, including teams of foreigners who like to shoot hogs. He said that teams must sign a contract stipulating they will not cook the meat or ask staff to so.
Nick? Tyler? Anyone? Bueller?