I have no problem removing invasive species by any means that doesnt cause another issue. I do have a problem calling it hunting. It's not.
I'd say it's hunting....just not sporting.
@Willawa
Hogs do not do so sell out on the frozen tundra, they root to survive.
We have a presence of mountain lion and they are more feared than the feral hogs.
They have little effect upon the hogs because their numbers are low and they do not hunt in prides as the lions or packs like coyote.
Should Bengal Tigers suddenly appear in the area, rednecks would ascend upon them like they did the wolf and we have very few wolves.
Any wild predator that can be blamed for eating livestock and deer and hunting man are not welcome at all.
?ÿ
I was only kidding. But the point I made regarding the lack of natural predators that would keep their numbers in check was serious.
I was down in Florida over the holidays camping at Manatee Springs State Park and got up in the night to relieve myself. When I poked my head out?ÿI found our tent surrounded by a dozen tuskers within 50' of me. They were not in the least?ÿafraid. In talking with the grounds keepers in the morning they explained it was a reoccurring problem and the damage they did was extensive. They'd call in trappers to round them up, but in a few months they'd have to repeat the whole thing. They won't likely ever be under control because they're smart and can reproduce faster than we can eliminate them. Since we generally don't tolerate predators competing with us, call it what you like but?ÿI'd say we?ÿbest get use to culling them from here on to eternity.
Having grown up hunting and fishing around the American West, with my Father, Grandfather, and extended family of "Hunters," I never understood the concept of "sport hunting." We hunted for FOOD (ate everything we killed except jackrabbits, and only hunted those to teach the kids to shoot). The only Sport that I am aware of that involves firearms, is target or other competitive shooting (Skeet, Trap, etc.). To me "sport hunting" is an oxymoron, and I?ÿguess it's too late in life to change my mind.?ÿ
Now that all of my hunting partners on passed on to the "happy hunting grounds," I no longer hunt at all, but I do enjoy going out and punching a few paper targets from time to time.
Loyal
I screwed up and posted this to the wrong thread a while back, this is where I meant for it to go...maybe I need a nap!
Back about 1980 when the feral hogs were just getting started, there was more that one old timer that had said wild hogs were everywhere in the early 1900's. Starting about 1930 and going thru the depression,?ÿ much of the timber land had been clearcut and abandoned by the timber companies. People were losing jobs and getting hungry. In about 10 years the wild hogs were wiped out. The Federal Government ended up with a large portion of the clearcut and it is now National Forest. Thru the 80's we had landowners (not farmers or ranchers) actually trapping or buying wild hogs to turn out on their place just for hunting. Not many people actually hunt for food nowadays. I expect it will take much longer than 10 years this time.
James
An invasive species that can be made into ham & bacon...
The Oklahoma State Department of Corrections operates a "company" called Oklahoma?ÿCorrectional Industries (OCI) operated and manned by our incarcerated inmates.?ÿ Most of the furniture in the State offices is manufactured by them as well as road signs, outdoor equipment for the State Parks and God-only-knows what else.?ÿ?ÿAnd they do good work.
Not too long ago I mused?ÿover the possibility of OCI directing and operating aggressive harvests of the feral swine population for production of pork products to feed our prisoners.?ÿ A few years ago they got rid of our annual "prison rodeos"; maybe they could even have "prison barbeque competitions".?ÿ I still think it's a good idea.
However?ÿletting convicts loose in the cross-timbers with firearms might be a hard thing to sell to the public... ??ÿ
In Florida when I was, um, visiting the state pen they used to feed us, err, them, any kind of road kill that didn??t stink too bad. Always a great supply of gophers, dillers, deers, and baby roaches and flies for garnishment.
In Florida when I was, um, visiting the state pen they used to feed us, err, them, any kind of road kill that didn??t stink too bad. Always a great supply of gophers, dillers, deers, and baby roaches and flies for garnishment.
Luckily I never got to 'visit' the State Penitentiary.?ÿ?ÿ However I was on first name basis with all the County's guards.?ÿ I really can't remember eating anything that resembled meat while I was 'visiting'. I do remember oatmeal and toast for breakfast, a pimento cheese sammich and chips for lunch.?ÿ Dinner was usually something brown and runny?ÿslopped over rice.?ÿ One Sunday mornings we got scrambled eggs and toast.
I can't think of a better deterrent for a life of crime than the grub they serve behind bars... ? ?ÿ
?ÿ
"Luckily I never got to 'visit' the State Penitentiary."
I wasn??t incarcerated. I was on a secret mission for the NY Times, umm no, it was the Washington Post, yea that??s it, no, no it was Mad Magazine yeah that??s the one.?ÿ ??ÿ
In California we have the Prison Industry Authority (PIA). If they make it then State agencies have to buy from them unless they give a waiver. Local agencies can buy from them. They only sell to government agencies.
"So if you have 22LR you can shoot the pig."
Buddy if yer shooten a feral boar with a 22, yer butt better be high up in a tree.?ÿ ??ÿ
Oh trust me I am not saying I would shoot a feral hog with a 22lr.
What I am saying is that because the DNR does not consider them a game species as it concerns WMA's (wildlife management areas) the weapon is determined by the game species in season. So if small game is in season, (squirrels, rabbits, dove) your weapon better be an appropriate one for the game in season. The WMA's do not allow buckshot either so you can't get sneaky. They are serious about it to and all it does is allow a nuisance problem to grow bigger. You cannot go squirrel hunting with a 8mm Mauser or a 35 Whelen. And you cannot go dove hunting with slugs or buckshot. But if you see a pig and you have #8 or #9 shot for doves you can try shooting it, but the odds are stacked against you.
These WMA rules are as stupid as they can make them and it is all because they are paranoid about poaching.
The DNR just wants them killed anyway possible but they do not make it easy. I know a lot of people who would enjoy a pig hunt with dogs but if they have an open hunt for pigs it is usually in August and nobody wants to trudge through swamps in August or climb the mountains either. No 4 wheelers, but you can use horses or mules.
Now on private land it is anything goes.
"So if you have 22LR you can shoot the pig."
Buddy if yer shooten a feral boar with a 22, yer butt better be high up in a tree.?ÿ ??ÿ
I have a friend who used to hog hunt on one of the Georgia offshore islands.?ÿ He hunted with a .44 magnum with a .357 magnum as a backup.?ÿ Sometimes a full load from the .44 revolver did not stop the hog.?ÿ
Andy
"They are serious about it to and all it does is allow a nuisance problem to grow bigger."
I agree, the things are already invading residential subdivisions in FL.
Fl needs to heard all of 'em to the Everglades so they can eat all the pythons that have found a new paradise thanks to the idiots that turn exocit reptiles loose because they no longer want them.?ÿ ??ÿ
