How does wild boar taste?

[madoka]

Reading this article about how some parts of Japan are overrun with wild boars got me to wonder how wild boar tastes. My understanding is that it's perhaps inedible?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/10/ageing-japanese-towns-overrun-wild-boars/

Less than 20 years ago, the only challenges for the 100 residents of the tiny island of Kakara, off southwest Japan, were the elements and ensuring the fishermen’s catch could get to market on time.

Today, the islanders are outnumbered three to one by wild boar who feast on their gardens and are becoming increasingly aggressive and territorial.

The problems facing the residents of Kakara are being repeated across Japan, with boar numbers exploding as rural populations decline.

Japan's rapidly ageing and shrinking population is part of the reason behind the increase in wild boar, as older rural populations die out, leaving towns and villages empty. Meanwhile, young people are also moving to the cities in search of work. The number of people with shotgun licenses has also fallen sharply in recent years.

And as the people leave, the boar are moving in.

The first boars apparently swam to Kakara, which covers a mere 1 square mile and sits between Fukuoka and Saga prefectures, but have been in hog heaven ever since.

They have found a place with no natural predators and plenty of crops, such as pumpkins and sweet potatoes, that the local people grow in their back gardens.

 

[tynopik]

 

[BoomerD]

Like pork.

 

[zinfamous]

Wild Boar is delicious and actually common in Europe, particularly Italy.

You have to make sure to drain the males properly, though, or the flesh gets this strong musty taste, or so I've heard.

 

[kage69]

Japanese don't really hunt like they used to, and not as many Ainu around these days either.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2...-arms-hunters-dwindle-animal-numbers-explode/


I encourage meat eaters to try any kind of wild swine whenever they have the chance. There's a guy in VT that raises some kind of hog on the byproduct plant matter from dispensaries, or those that grow for them anyway. Savory pork heaven to die for is the result, very similar to some wild varieties I've sampled. They eat everything, so there's a lot of iron and protein in their diets, and yeah, the males can be a little funkier. I think it's best to use a proper hunting round with headshot, then dress immediately. Save the varmint rounds for the varmints. Use a caliber befitting a quarry that can kill you back.

Anywhere these hogs run free they pose a danger of some kind, be it Japan, Italy or here in the States. The factoid I've heard is 1 mature female can produce 100 piglets in a year (for the ones in the American South).

We have to eat them. People on the coast have to do their bit and go after lionfish, so those of us inland need to handle the hogs. Valid use for the AR platform btw. These guys travel in dangerous packs. Chambered in something a bit more rugged than 5.56 obviously, more like .450 Bushmaster.

 

[brianmanahan]

it tastes like roast beast