Simple Steps To Keep Yourself Safe From Wild Hog Disease

When hunting wild hogs, you want to take some safety precautions. Many people hunt wild hogs for recreation and to help reduce overpopulation. However, these animals can spread diseases to humans and other animals. So, in this post, we will go over some simple hog hunting tips to keep you safe from wild hog disease.

How is Wild Hog Disease Spread?

Wild hogs can carry over twenty-four different strains of the disease. For the most part, transmission happens after the hunt. Hunters who consume wild hog meat and don’t cook the meat sufficiently can get sick with hog disease. In some cases, though, if you come into contact with hog’s blood or other body fluids, you can contract Brucellosis. This bacterial infection can originate from a hog.

What Steps Should You Take to Prevent Wild Hog Disease?

Minimize Contact. If you see an animal that looks sick or discover a dead animal, avoid it. Even if a hog isn’t ill, minimize your contact with the animal as much as you can.

Use Sharp Knives. When hunting or butchering your hog, always use sharp knives. A sharp blade reduces the mess, and you can cut up your hog more easily.

Wear Protective Equipment. When handling dead hogs, always make sure to wear protective equipment. This way, you don’t come into contact with body fluids that cause infection. Rubber gloves and protective eye gear are a must. You want to avoid getting into direct contact with body fluids on your hands and bare skin.

Dispose of Your Gloves. You want to get rid of the gloves used for butchering and bury them if they are disposable. If they are reusable, wash your gloves thoroughly. Otherwise, bury or burn your gloves with the other parts of the hog you aren’t using.

Clean Your Tools. Along with your gloves, you also want to clean up any hunting tools. Killing any bacteria from the dead hog is the goal. Diluted bleach is the best option for cleanup. But you can also use other types of anti-bacterial disinfectant.

Wash Your Hands. Make sure to wash your hands, as well. Run them under warm water for at least twenty seconds and lather up your hands well to get rid of all the germs.

Prepare Your Hog Meat Safely

If you plan on consuming your hog meat, you want to prepare the meat correctly. Make sure to separate your hog meat from other cooking ingredients such as vegetables (this is especially important if the vegetables will be consumed uncooked). Use a different knife to cut the flesh so there is no cross-contamination. Cook the meat to at least an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Gum Log Plantation

People hunt wild hogs because, besides the thrill of the hunt, wild hog meat is delicious. The Gum Log Plantation experts will share hog hunting tips and some great cooking tips to keep you and your meat disease free. Call 229-318-9015 for more information or to make a reservation.

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