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AGING WILD HOGS
It seems to me that each time I'm around
when a hog is killed the question of age always pops up. In the past I would usually venture a
guess at the age of the dead hog but that's all it was, just a guess with no real basis to which it was arrived. I would
consider the animals weight, the size of it's cutters and the overall appearance
of the hog. Curiosity finally drove me to finding an answer to solve this
problem.
For many years I've raised and bred
wild boar. During those years many of the hogs were shot or otherwise killed. As
a result I have assembled a fairly large collection of jaw bones. So, as good
fortune would have it I have the bones/teeth and I know the age of'em.
I can now tell all of you that the above criteria I used to age the hogs were dead wrong. The size of the cutters, body weight or body size is a very poor guide to determining the age of a hog. Body weight or size can vary widely amongst wild hogs so comparing weight and size to age isn't accurate. The tusk or cutters I have found out offer no real evidence of age either. Body and tusk size is all hereditary and thus will vary greatly.
To age a wild bar all one needs to do is expose the back row of teeth on a DEAD hog. This may require cutting the cheek/lips clear of the lower jaw and prying the mouth open as wide as you can get it. Then simply compare those teeth to the information I have below.
 This tooth indicates the hog is a hybrid. It will be present at all ages. |
To begin there is one tooth that can distinguish something about a hog. The tooth in the picture to the left is not used in the aging process. Not all hogs will have this tooth. Only Hybrid Wild Boar will have this tooth. Hybrid is a cross breed between domestic hogs and the Eurasian Hog (Russian Boar). Domestic hogs or domestic feral hogs will not have this tooth. |
The average wild hog is born with a row of 6 teeth at the back of the jaw. Not all 6 teeth will show till the hog reaches 5 years of age.
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A HOG IN ITS SECOND YEAR |
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When a hog begins its second year it
will have 4 teeth showing through the gum line. |
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A HOG IN ITS THIRD YEAR |
| As a hog begins its third
year it should have 5 teeth showing completely
through the gum line. * The 3rd tooth is now narrow and sharp. (a drastic change from the 2 year old hog) The 4rth tooth will have two cusp and show signs of wear as the cusp loose the high sharp points. The 5th tooth is exposed completely and has two cusp with little or no wear. |
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A HOG IN ITS FOURTH YEAR |
| When a hog begins its fourth
year the 6th tooth, which is a big one with 3 large cusp, should be
showing 2 of its cusp through the gum line. The 4rth tooth will now begin to show excessive wear with pits or a cup like appearance in each of the cusp. The 5th tooth will now begin to show signs of wear by becoming more smooth. |
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A HOG IN ITS FIFTH YEAR |
| As a hog reaches and
begins it's 5th year the 6th tooth should show all 3 cusp through the gum
line. The 3rd tooth will begin to wear down and loose its sharp edge. The 4rth tooth shows definite signs of excessive wear. Deep cups/pits in each cusp and now may include chipping of the edges. The 5th tooth will now begin to show signs of heavy wear. Both cusps will begin to pit and be worn smooth. |
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A HOG IN ITS SIXTH YEAR |
| In a hogs 6th year of life
the 6th tooth will be completely exposed and begin to show signs of wear. The 4rth tooth will likely be chipped and decayed and be worn severely. The 5th tooth will now be cupped with excessive wear and possibly begin chipping. The 6th tooth will now begin to wear and loose its sharp edges on all 3 cusp. |
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Unfortunately I don't have a 7 or 8 year old jawbone..
With a 7 year old hog you should expect the 4rth tooth to be broken and decaying. The 5th tooth will most likely be in bad shape also. The 6th tooth will be worn smooth.
An 8 year old hog is lucky to be alive and also lucky to have his 4rth and 5th teeth. [smile]
As an overview here's a simple way of looking at the
most popular
ages of hogs taken in the field.
2 year old will have 4 prominent teeth showing.
3 year old will have 5 prominent teeth showing.
4 years old will have 5 prominent teeth showing and part of the 6th
tooth showing (2 cusp).
5 years old will have all 6 teeth showing through the gum line.
After 5 you must judge the age by wear of the 4rth, 5th, and 6th teeth.
These are my observations and are a good reference to to estimate an age with a wild hog taken in the field. Lots of study is still to be done on this and revisions are likely to be made as I learn more.