Hog Hunting - Close Combat!

[hoji]

I trap and all traps are checked daily. I use only corral traps and they are located in deep shadewith a 40 gallon water trough inside. I shoot from the stand as well{ works well when they become trapwise, pick out dominant sows and the juveniles get easier to trap} and no, I have never lost a pig,{ did have one get up, I have a thread about it} if a clean shot does not present itself, I do not take it

Aerial gunning IS the most effective method of reducing population, just does not work in a dense canopy setting. I have watched aerial gunners work and I do not believe it is inhumane. These guys will kill 1500 pigs in a week if they have the right conditions. They shoot til the animal collapses and is no longer moving.

Dogs for tracking a wounded animal is a totally different scenario than using dogs to hold an animal for 10 minutes or so until the "hunter" catches up with them and stabs the animal to death.

Check with the agencies that do it professionally don't take my word for it.

I do not need to check with the agencies. I work for one. The agencies you are speaking of are Wildlife Services from the USDA, as well as other state, county and city divisions. The general consensus is you will kill a hog or two with using dogs, but you are really just driving them onto someone elses land, and doing nothing to the problem, save for making it someone elses problem.

 

[Geno]

Hoji:

I don't see any personal attack. I see a gentleman's opinion. H&H and I sometimes disagree; we do so respectfully. He did so with you respectfully.

With respectful and disagreement,

Doc2005

 

[bikerdoc]

Guys,
We can feel stongly about a subject and still be HighRoad.

 

[H&Hhunter]

If you work for one of the agencies in Texas that control feral hog surely you've read the official reports that state that trapping, areal shooting and dog hunting when used in a combined fashion are most effective for feral swine control.

You've probably already read it being a professional animal control officer and all. But just for the rest of our members here it is.

http://texnat.tamu.edu/symposia/feral/feral-23.htm

Here are some high lights.

GARY A. LITTAUER, District Supervisor, Texas Animal Damage Control Service,
Courthouse #19, Uvalde, Tx. 78801

Abstract: Methods of controlling feral hog damage are described. Literature on fence designsto exclude hogs indicates hog-proof fences must be net or diamond mesh wire with small (< 15 cm) wire spacings. Several designs of electric fences or electrifying existing fences are reported to be effective in excluding most hogs. Lethal techniques described include neck snares, cage or pen traps, hunting with dogs, and aerial hunting with helicopters. These techniques accounted for 55%, 14%, 6.3%, and 17%, respectively, of the hogs taken by the Texas Animal Damage Control Service during 1983-1992. An integrated approach to controlling feral hog damage is recommended.


And some more..

Hunting with Dogs

Using dogs to trail and bay hogs is an age-old technique that is still used today. The technique consists of walking or riding horseback through hog inhabited areas while allowing the dogs to work and cast about for hog scent. Once a hog is started by the dogs, the chase is relatively short and the hog bays to defend itself. The hunter then catches up to the dogs by approaching the sound of their barking and kills the hog with a firearm.

Published studies evaluating this method indicate variable success (McIlroy and Saillard 1989). Undoubtedly, the experience of the hunter and dogs as well as that of the hogs being hunted are important factors in determining success.

A variety of dog breeds have been shown to be useful in hog hunting including several breeds of hounds (walker, blue tick, black and tan, and plott), and livestock working dogs such as blue lacy, pit bull (used primarily to catch and hold the hogs rather than trail), and even border collies. Dogs of mixed breed have also been used with success. Experienced hog hunters that use dogs have a wide range of opinions on what constitutes good hog dogs. Nevertheless, certain attributes that seem to characterize the more successful packs of hog dogs are:

1. At least one dog should be a good scent trailer and experienced in trailing hogs. The dog preferably has the ability to detect and follow a trail that is several hours old, and will bark upon striking the trail.
2. The dogs must be aggressive enough to consistently bay the hogs once they catch up to them. They must bark to let the hunter know the hogs are bayed.

An advantage of hunting with dogs is that many hogs can be taken in a relatively short time. The method can also be selective for taking individual depredating hogs. Where net wire fences surround the area to be hunted, snaring all exit holes just prior to hunting with dogs can increase hog take as hogs that escape from the dogs may then be caught in snares. Disadvantages are:

1. It is often difficult to find and train good dogs. An experienced proven dog may cost $500 or more. A great deal of time and commitment are required to train dogs. The dogs must be hunted often to keep them in condition, and dogs that perform poorly must be culled. Dogs must be broken from chasing or attacking livestock, deer, and other nontarget animals.
2. Dogs often are injured or even killed when baying hogs, particularly larger boars in dense cover. Veterinarian bills can be costly.
3. In hot weather dogs can only hunt for a short while in the morning, or must be used at night. Many areas have terrain that is not conducive to night hunting. Rattlesnakes (Crotalus sp.) are more active on cool summer nights than during hot days and can pose a hazard to dogs and hunters.

 

[Art Eatman]

Hoji, stand wherever you like. But remember that this is a public website and there are rules about how one expresses himself. Everybody who ever posted at this website agreed to those rules at registration.

Viewpoints about hunting abound. Many claim that the very use of firearms is not sporting. Many of these state that only primitive methods should be allowed at all--such as bows, spears and knives in hand-to-hoof combat, up close and personal.

"For me it is about reducing the number of pigs in the most efficient manner available."

Nothing wrong with that reality. Just remember that you do not have any right whatsoever to define reality for other people.

 

[hoji]

Using dogs to trail and bay hogs is an age-old technique that is still used today. The technique consists of walking or riding horseback through hog inhabited areas while allowing the dogs to work and cast about for hog scent. Once a hog is started by the dogs, the chase is relatively short and the hog bays to defend itself. The hunter then catches up to the dogs by approaching the sound of their barking and kills the hog with a firearm.

That report... Really, I see nowhere in that report { and I have read it before} that says anything about sticking them with a knife.

Abstract: Methods of controlling feral hog damage are described. Literature on fence designsto exclude hogs indicates hog-proof fences must be net or diamond mesh wire with small (< 15 cm) wire spacings. Several designs of electric fences or electrifying existing fences are reported to be effective in excluding most hogs. Lethal techniques described include neck snares, cage or pen traps, hunting with dogs, and aerial hunting with helicopters. These techniques accounted for 55%, 14%, 6.3%, and 17%, respectively, of the hogs taken by the Texas Animal Damage Control Service during 1983-1992. An integrated approach to controlling feral hog damage is recommended

Updated: Mar. 17, 1997

Good lord, the report was written 17 years ago, and the "update was 12 years ago.

I was just at an AgriLife Extension feral hog workshop today. They had an old time dog hunter speaking and even he admitted that it is good for a couple of hogs , but really just drives them to another location.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Feral Hog Picture


To many outdoor enthusiasts, feral hogs are an exciting animal to hunt. Some consider them trophy animals worthy of being mounted by a taxidermist to adorn their game room wall for admiration and memories of the hunt. Feral hog meat can also be quite tasty and is often leaner than domestic pork.
Feral Hog Control - Hunting
The feral hog is not classified as a game animal in Oklahoma or Texas but a hunting license is required to hunt them in both states. Some hunting techniques result in the live capture of feral hogs and subsequent transportation of those hogs within the state or across state borders. Currently Oklahoma laws regarding transportation of feral hogs within the state require blood tests for brucellosis on hogs six months of age or older only if there is a change of ownership. Hogs, domestic or feral, transported into Oklahoma, are required to have a blood test for pseudorabies if they are under six months of age and blood tests for pseudorabies and brucellosis for hogs six months of age or older. A veterinarian certificate and permit are required regardless of age.
(See also: New Feral Hog Legislation in Oklahoma - December, 2000 article)

Texas law requires all hogs brought into the state to be domestic with appropriate blood tests. Transportation within the state is legal provided they are moved directly from the premise where they were trapped to a slaughter facility or feral swine slaughter holding facility. They may also be transported directly from where they were trapped to a livestock market for sale only to slaughter. Feral hogs may also be transported directly from where they were trapped to a game preserve provided they test negative for brucellosis and pseudorabies within 30 days prior to movement.

Domestic hogs are occasionally raised as free-ranging animals, particularly in southeastern Oklahoma and eastern and central Texas. Generally, free-ranging swine found in other parts of these states are feral and not considered livestock. However, where feral hogs are hunted, a reasonable effort should be made to be sure the population is feral and landowner permission is granted before hunting.

Hunting is probably less successful than trapping in terms of controlling feral hogs. However, hunting and trapping combined can prove to be a very effective combination for control. Hunting can be effective throughout the year and in many areas is becoming a popular sport as well. Some landowners are receiving as much as $1,500 for a guided trophy hog hunt with an average of $200 per hog. Landowners who do not wish to lease their land can still use hunting as a tool for control and may even opt to barter with hunters for other services.

Hunting with dogs
Above: Using trained dogs to hunt and catch feral hogs provides a unique sport as well as a means to help control problem feral hogs. Once caught, hunters can move in to dispatch of the hog or tie it up and remove it as well as any problems it may have caused. Photo: Randy Reed

Below: Feral hogs can be, and often are, successfully hunted with mules and dogs. Captured hogs can be sold for slaughter or butchered at home.
There are many ways to hunt feral hogs, which include hunting from tree stands or blinds, still hunting, and hunting with dogs. Stand hunting and still hunting are probably the two most popular methods of hog hunting; however, hunting with dogs is becoming increasingly popular. Aerial hunting, as well as the use of snares, are very effective means for controlling hog populations. However, Oklahoma or Texas state laws may prohibit one or both of these methods, and in some cases, special licenses are required.

Feral hogs taken while stand hunting are most commonly incidental to deer hunting. Stand hunting can be done over baited areas or in areas with abundant sign such as rootings, wallows or trails. Still hunting also can be done in baited areas or in areas with abundant sign. This method may be more successful due to the hogs' mobility. Too often hunters make the mistake of hunting areas hogs are no longer using. Hogs are a formidable game with gun, bow, primitive firearm or hand gun.

Feral hog hunting with dogs is a relatively new sport to many areas of Oklahoma and north Texas. But dogs have been used in pursuit of feral hogs for years in other parts of these states. Trained dogs have proven themselves to be efficient at catching feral hogs. Like trapping, hunting hogs with trained dogs has been a proven way to remove feral hogs from suburban areas, golf courses and other populated areas where discharging a firearm may be illegal. Hunters using dogs generally ride horses or mules in order to keep up with the dogs. Most hunters have dogs that track and eventually bay the hog and/or dogs that catch the hog. Often catch dogs are led by the hunters until the other dogs bay the hog and are then released to go in and catch and hold the hog until the hunters arrive.

The disadvantage to any type of hunting is that if pressure is intense, hogs may shift their home range areas, causing them to leave the property, or change their activity periods to night. Night shooting or hunting with dogs at night then become the best hunting methods. Night shooting should be done only with the explicit permission of a game warden. Intense hunting pressure needs to be considered if trophy fees are collected for feral hog hunting due to the possible shift in activity periods or home range.


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Contents
Introduction
History
Current Status
Biological Characteristics
Range, Reproduction, Activity Periods
Food Habits
Competition & Environmental Concerns
Habitat
Feral Hog Signs Disease
Depredation
Control - Trapping
Control - Hunting
Control - Fencing
Control - Toxicants
Control - Predators
Summary
Reference

contents © 1996 & 1999 by The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc.
© 1997-2008 by The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc.

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Hoji once again your mistaken,

I said lets keep it honest meaning that dogs are mentioned in just about every study done on the eradication of feral hogs. If you felt threatened by that I apologize. It does seem odd to me that you would not have read any of these reports being a natural resources agent. Surely you don't think that I am not doubting that you are who you say you are?

 

[Art Eatman]

Kinda got away from both the subject and the intent of the OP.

 

[rbernie]

There is no place among ethical hunters for the "bloodsport" types.

Being willing to get your hands dirty isn't bloodsport - it's a reminder of what hunting is really all about. Sitting in hunting stands out of the fray and placing crosshairs on an unsuspecting hog from a distance makes you no more 'civilized' than those who choose to hunt via more primitive means.

I always have to pause just a little bit when folk start lecturing on how 'my kind of hunting is more sporting/humane/manly/whatever than yours' - I just do not understand why it is that people feel the need to impose their fears or values on others.