Lay My Hat Forum

olive · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1588

(My post from the France forum)

"Our local donkeys haven't been able to do their Christmas grazing because of the dozen or so sangliers squatting on our land. The local hunters are delighted to be offered the chance to cull them so we might be able to look forward to some level grass after Saturday.
Guests are always thrilled to sight them - some try to feed them (must add that to my info pack - don't feed the pigs), others spend hours sipping aperitifs waiting for them.
But: what to do when the hunting season is over & they start to sidle back?
We've tried crumpled newspaper, considered that mothballs are too expensive to sprinkle around a couple of dozen acres of land, have given carte blanche to hunting friends, left out chewed pork chops.... all to no avail.
Any ideas?
Probably not, as one of our neighbours hasn't solved the problem. If Jim Dyson can't do it, nor can we.
If anyone can help it will be the Italians. On to the Italian forum."

And I forgot the most important problem; the pigs dig up the olive tree roots.
What do you do in Italy?
Perhaps you just live with them...

Tizfata · Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 1160 Location: Tuscany

olive · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1588

You've obviously got better hunters than ours!! Ours manage to kill more of their fellow hunters than pigs.
I'm sure that you're right, and that that is the answer to our problem.
Next problem: how do I get Italian hunters to come to Provence?

pambon · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1901 Location: Taormina, Sicily

I thought they were used for sniffing out truffles....??

Anyhow, they wouldn't have a long life down our way!!
_________________
Holiday Apartment in Taormina, Sicily

It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.
Confucius (551BC-479BC)

olive · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1588

We had to settle for local hunters, but today they managed to get 4 and let us keep a piglet.

The French hunters' advice is: freeze for at least 3 months (it's wild, so no Vet has been near it) then cook slowly and very thoroughly as a stew. DON'T Barbeque. No mention of sausages.
Is this what you would do in Italy with a wild pig??
Any recipes gratefully accepted, per piacere!
I remember we used to eat wild pig with chocolate in Umbria or Tuscany ........

Grazie - auguri di Buon Anno!!

pambon · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1901 Location: Taormina, Sicily

We are talking wild pig and NOT wild Boar aren't we?

Here we have 'il maiale dei Nebrodi' which is black skinned and native to the Nebrodi mountain range.
It can be prepared more-or-less like a normal pig. Sausages, minced meat, cutlets, cuts for roast, stewed, rolled and stuffed etc. Not fried.

Hope this helps and buon appetito!
_________________
Holiday Apartment in Taormina, Sicily

It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.
Confucius (551BC-479BC)

olive · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1588

That helps a lot, Pambon - I won't be googling for wild pig after all! I am reliably informed that it is a boar - a wild, baby boar.

Err - what does what change in the preparation?

This reminds me of my Chicago visitor who was terrified of a stray dog that had wandered onto the land. I heard her son saying: "Mother, dogs don't eat people, wolves eat people".

Is there a similar line I could use with "pig" and "boar"?? - apart from "Pigs don't taste good with chocolate, boars taste good with chocolate".........

enid · Joined: 27 Dec 2004 Posts: 5538 Location: Labretonie France

Are you allowed to have the boar? I know our hunt has to account very carefully for everything it kills.

pambon · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1901 Location: Taormina, Sicily

Giulia · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 54 Location: Umbria

Last May we had a visit from two local pigs escaped from a nearby farm. The very fat male had a problem managing our drive and almost collapsed when he got to the top. He then drugged himself to the big oak trees and started munching on acorns and to dig out big sods of hearth. Eventually exhausted he dug himself in and went to sleep. I quickly went to get Delia's cookery book planning how to divide the chops from the sausages in case he never woke up whilst my habby was taking the attached photo a couple of inches from his nose. In the end the lady pig called him and they trotted away leaving our loan in a mess!
Giulia Shocked

olive · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1588

Yes, Giulia, ouir lawn is in a terible mess - the hunters think that there were 15 boars there.

"Are you allowed to have the boar? I know our hunt has to account very carefully for everything it kills."

Swine stealing! I know nothing about hunting, Enid. The president of the chasse was there so I guess it's alright.
No, that's irrational: I guess that nobody will prosecute us.

They kept 4 and gave our daughter one.

enid · Joined: 27 Dec 2004 Posts: 5538 Location: Labretonie France

olive · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1588

"...they had authority to kill only a certain number of animals each year."

I guess that a hunter bending the rules isn't the least likely event in our litte village. They didn't want to come back for the other estimated 10 boars because it was the end of the season - I didn't understand that but what you say makes it coherent. Our piglet isn't in their refrigerator .... I wish it were, on a temporary basis, as it takes up a lot of space - and energy - and that will be for at least 3 months. Next year I'll get the hunters in before Christmas and shoulder of boar, boar cutlets, leg of boar etc will be on my gifts-to-give list.

enid · Joined: 27 Dec 2004 Posts: 5538 Location: Labretonie France

olive · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1588

Sorry I wasn't clear, Enid - I don't know anything about hunting in general or in particuar. Your post gave me fresh information after the event. I'm still not clear as to whether the hunters broke any law by givng a pig to the owner but that's probably my fuzzy morning mind.
I have no idea how many animals the local hunt has killed - should I ask for an official list next time??? Is there a list at the Mairie?? Help!!