Bow hunting seasons are now open in most states. Here in Wisconsin we have been hunting for a few weeks now. We have passed up shots at some smaller bucks. The bigger deer have failed to show themselves yet.
Now is the time to hunt close to the bedding areas. The deer have sensed the change in the seasons and have noticed the increased human activity in the woods. The mature bucks will most likely stay bedded until just before dark, so set as close to the bedding area as you can without spooking the deer. I watched a doe come out of the swamp
Is hog hunting in Texas just another promotion for a state-wide hunting sport, or has it become a sport of necessity? It’s a question that many Texas landowners have responded to with a resounding yes! It’s both!
Hog Hunting in Texas is a sport that is being enthusiastically encouraged by ranchers, farmers and land owners all over the state. And it’s part of their struggling attempt to bring some element of control to the rising feral hog population, and to the damage they cause to crops, personal property and livestock each year.
· Crop Damage – $52 million annually
· Automobile Damage – $36 million annually
· Livestock Damage – $18 million annually
The problem has grown large enough that the Texas Wildlife Commission jumped on board to support landowners in their cause. In addition, the Texas Agrilife Extension Service is organizing seminars to help educate the public.
So what’s the real problem, and why are feral hogs getting so much attention from land owners and state agencies?
The core of the problem lies in the density of the current hog population and their astonishing reproduction numbers.
According to a report from the Texas Cooperative Extension Service, Texas is currently home to about 2 million feral hogs, which represents about 50% of the entire population of feral hogs in the US.
Female hogs can produce a remarkable number of offspring per year. Breeding among females can begin as early as 6 months old, and they can produce a new litter of 4-13 piglets every 6 months. Hogs generally live 4-8 years.
With numbers like these it’s easy to understand how feral hogs could double their population every 6 months. So the Texas Wildlife Commission stepped in to declare no closed season on feral hogs. Hunters can shoot hogs year-round, and in unlimited numbers.
Land owners have begun to promote hog hunting in Texas as a way to pay for some of the damage they incur from the growing hog population. Many participating land owners offer great on site accommodations for single hunters or groups, and some guaranty of a kill.
By: David Lange
About the Author:
David Lange writes on outdoor sports and hunting and fishing excursions.
Wild hog hunting can be an exciting hunt as well as helping farmers and ranchers. There are a growing number of feral hogs in the United States. These hogs are causing havoc and destroying many crops. The natural feeding patterns of feral hogs of rooting destroy natural habitat and crops.
Feral Hogs Grow Huge
The introduction of the Russian Boar and the growing number of feral hogs has produced huge hogs eating their way through the countryside. These hogs are very dangerous and thus hunting them will call for skill, if you wish to hunt them safely.
There have been hogs shot that weighed over 1,000 pounds. Wild hogs have tusk that will grow to 9 inches or longer in some cases. It’s these tusks that can cripple or kill animals and hunters if they are cornered or are protecting their young.
Hunting the Hog
If you are interested in hunting these hogs, you will find in a lot of states wild hog hunting is permitted year round to control their population.
Here are some tips if you want to hunt wild hogs. First is if you have not hunted them before, your best bet will be to hire a wild hog guide. This guide will help you with all the techniques and regulations for hunting wild hogs. An experienced guide will know the area you are hunting and safety tips to keep you from being injured.
When hunting wild hogs there is very little room for error. The slightest mistake could cost you severe injury or even death. Do not just wing it; your safety will be well worth the price of a guide.
Hunting Tips
Weapons will vary according to the size and species of hogs, as well as the area you will be hunting, so do your homework first. Feral hogs have an excellent since of smell, so unscented bug sprays as well as deodorants are best used when looking for wild hogs. You might consider the same techniques of stalking and hunting with a bow. A feral hog has good hearing as well, so be as quiet as you can while hunting. If you wish to hunt for the meat go small. The smaller the hog the tastier, the meat will be. You see the older and larger a hog gets the more gamey the meat will become. Getting rid of that gamey taste will take some extra work.
Most importantly is to make sure you follow the rules of the state or county you are hunting in and get permission of the landowner. Poaching is a serious offence and will be handled as such. In many cases, landowners will appreciate your helping to control wild hog population.
By: Robert Joe Wallace
About the Author:
In April of 2006 history was made when what is believed to be the very first Elephant to be killed with a crossbow in modern times was harvested in Zimbabwe on the eastern shores of Lake Kariba. Bill Troubridge, president of Excalibur Crossbow, took the mature bull Elephant with one arrow on the ninth day of a grueling hunt with PH Carl Mason of African Trails in the Omay tribal region of Zimbabwe. This area is home to one of the largest concentrations of Elephant in Southern Africa, and damage to the vegetation and local crops encourages herd reduction there through sport hunting. “Initially this hunt started out as a quest to demonstrate the effectiveness of our recurve limb crossbows” said Mr. Troubridge, “but it truly ended as a life altering experience”. Over a hundred natives from nearby fishing village shared the bounty provided by almost 4000 pounds of boned meat from the downed bull.
This feral hog eradication program is funded by a group of farmers who are taking progressive action to reduce the devastation done to their crops by these animals. Each and every feral hog is estimated to cause $1400 in crop damage during its lifetime. As you can see this data in combination with the extraordinarily high and ever expanding hog population proves to be a very big problem. Through the support of the farmers of Haskell Co. and the efforts of Nueces Helicopters, LLC. the hog population is on its way to a more controllable state as well as a much higher crop yield for the farmers. For more information see www.nueceshelicopters.com
This feral hog eradication program is funded by a group of farmers who are taking progressive action to reduce the devastation done to their crops by these animals. Each and every feral hog is estimated to cause $1400 in crop damage during its lifetime. As you can see this data in combination with the extraordinarily high and ever expanding hog population proves to be a very big problem. Through the support of the farmers of Haskell Co. and the efforts of Nueces Helicopters, LLC. the hog population is on its way to a more controllable state as well as a much higher crop yield for the farmers. For more information see www.nueceshelicopters.com