Face to face...the winner was Chase!

Hog Showdown
by Chase Lambin

Here in Texas, hogs have completely exploded to the point that they are a costly nuisance to land owners. They multiply like rats and root up the land like a tiller, causing millions of dollars in damages. Extreme tactics have been employed to control the hog epidemic. Trapping, snaring, shooting, darting, and even killing them by the dozens out of helicopters! (Which I have done, and let me tell you, it is the more fun then you could ever imagine. But that’s a different story.)

The good news is, this environment leads to a great opportunity for hunters to have a year round target that is both ample and exciting to hunt. However, with the slightest amount of pressure, hogs tend to become nocturnal, making it extremely difficult to harvest these animals in the daylight hours. Unless you have a helicopter, the best way to get at these pigs is with dogs.

I’ve had the opportunity to do this type of hunting with one of my closest friends, Steven Wilson. I call him “Sty-ven”, because that’s how he pronounces his name. He is stone cold country. He was raised with a gun in one hand and a

can of Skoal in the other. Styven is simple as simple can be. He runs cattle and breaks horses for a living and believes happiness is:

1. having enough money to fill his gas tank
2. a full belly
3. hunting as much as possible.

He is tough as nails and stronger then a truck load of onions. My buddy is a real life cowboy who loves nothing more than to kill hogs. He has killed hundreds of pigs throughout his life and has been kind enough to take me on a couple of these hunts. This hunt though, was one to remember.

Usually, two types of dogs are used to hunt pigs. The “bay” dogs (usually hounds, Curs, and other strong nosed dogs) are released to run randomly thru the brush sifting thru dozens of scents to find the one hot trail leading to nearby pigs. A good dog is able to smell the strong scent of the pigs, tracking them into the brush and rustling them up out of there daytime bedding areas. The bay dogs are trained not to chase anything but pigs, and they are not to bark unless they are on a hot trail or have a hog “bayed” or stopped. The “catch” dogs (the muscle of the operation usually consist of pit bulls with cinder blocks for heads) stay on the truck and wait for the other dogs to bay a pig. The dogs will bark at the bayed pig, signaling the hunters to release the catch dogs to rush into the brush, holding the pig until the hunters can come in to dispose of the animal. This is when all hell breaks loose as the dogs lunge at the pig while it violently thrashes his head back and forth, using razor sharp tusks to gore whatever comes into his personal space. (A boars’ tusks can grow up to six inches long!) It’s not normal for a dog to put himself into danger, but these catch dogs are bred to have heart and they don’t back down! They tear into the pig with reckless abandon, clamping onto its ears and neck with their powerful locking jaws. While the hog is distracted by the dogs, the bravest hunter barges in and grabs one of the hind legs of the pig, rendering him immobile. Once the back legs have been secured, the second bravest hunter charges in with the pig poker, (whatever sharp object the hunter chooses) jabbing it into the hog’s heart right behind his front shoulder. The third bravest hunter (me) stands a safe distance away and films.

My original plan to hunt with Styven included using five to seven bay dogs and one or two catch dogs (this is how we have done it in years past), but his dogs had been torn up the weekend before by a large boar, leaving them too injured for our hunt. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit disappointed, but Styven, in his most comforting southern drawl says,

“We’ll be alriiight, I have one good dog that has sum hunt in ‘em, don’t you worry, we’ll git’er dun.” We weren’t going to be using the full operation like we had in the past, but I was still extremely psyched.

The next day we head out with his trusty Blue Lacy walking a creek bottom that he knows to have a lot of pigs. I am packing an open sight Winchester lever action 30-30 and he is packing an H&K .40 handgun. Wind at our face we walk slowly thru the bottom, listening and looking for pigs. About 15 minutes in I am starting to lose faith, wishing we had the more experienced dogs from years past. Just about that time I hear branches breaking and a pack of hogs bust out of the thick brush.

“Throw lead!!” Styven yells, as I snap off a shot and take off running following the dog and pigs. The pigs jump the creek and are running across the side of the ridge about 50 yards away. I snap off another shot, realizing I need to get much closer.

Holding the gun like a baton, my head tucked down, I start running full speed guided by the dogs bellow. I picture myself looking like the guy from Last of the Mohicans (I play professional baseball for a living, so I consider myself a pretty good athlete). I am floating over rocks and shrubs without even realizing how I am doing it. Unconsciously I hop the creek, and hurdle multiple shrubs. My athleticism mixed with a Texas sized rush of adrenaline allowed for some serious ground coverage.

Thinking aside, I don’t recall if I was looking at my feet, or straight ahead, but I do remember wondering why I was alone. Where the heck is Styven? I continue trucking as the sounds of the barks get closer. I see the dog stopped, which means the pig must be bayed. Most hogs run for the hills, but usually the biggest, meanest and most dominant boar will turn around and fight, protecting his pack to the death. Since we didn’t have a full bevy of hunters and dogs, it made this hunt much more dangerous. The pig usually has six or seven dogs to distract him, but this time, it was just me, the dog, and the boar. Yikes.

I fly around the corner of some sage brush and posted up with his fur on end, is a 200 pound boar staring straight at me. The beast is slamming his tusks together, warning me and the Blue Lacy to back off. If you have never heard a boar gnash his teeth, it sounds like two knives being slammed together. It will definitely make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

I freeze and we have a two or three second stare-down. The pig and I are in an old fashion showdown, I could almost hear the theme song from The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (I think I saw a tumble weed roll by to my left). Giving my best Clint Eastwood squint, I make the first move, cocking the hammer on my 30-30. Just as I do the pig lowers his head, lunges forward, and makes a last ditch effort to win this battle. I stand my ground, shoulder my Winchester, and aim right between his black beady eyes. I don’t recall the gun even going off, all I remember is the pig coming to a skidding halt ten yards in front of me.

The next few seconds are a blur of squeals, barks, and Styven yelling from the bottom of the ravine. Styven stumbles up to me, trying to catch his breath, obviously winded.

“Gaw-dang, yer TIN times tha athlete I am. Y’went down that ridge like a dang billy goat.”

He had tripped over a stump and rolled down half the hill, only to regroup and trip again. His hands and knees were covered in blood! I say between panting breaths,

“Good thing— I didn’t –need –backup.”

With a laugh Styven says,

“Heck, you din need me, you got’er dun.”

Yes we did. One pig down, 2,000,000 to go.

This article was submitted to us by AAE member Chase Lambin of the Minnesota Twins.  Thank you, Chase and well done! If you need help the other 2 million, just let us know!

It’s well known that wild hogs can do irreplicable damage  to farm crop, natural vegetation, and hunting businesses…and once they get started, it’s very difficult to stop.  The insurgence-like spread of these “feral barrels” & “root monsters”, not only has most farmers and landowners up in arms, but has caught the attention of the national media as well.

In a recent article by FoxNews.com, “No Oink About it, Pig Problem Spreading”, the hog population in this country is estimated at over 4 million!  As alarming as this number may be to some, it likely represents a “best case scenario” on the low end, due to the difficulty in conducting such massive population surveys and the hogs’ prolific nature.   Hogs are said to cause approximately $8 million in damages each year.   That number also doesn’t take into account   their impact to the natural environment, water resources, and native species, accordingly to Carol Bannerman, a spokesman for the USDA Wildlife Services.

Michigan has even recently taken steps to try and remedy the situation, calling for a “shoot on sight” order, where anyone with a hunting license can kill a feral pig.  In July 2011, it will be legal, in the state of Michigan, to shoot any pig that comes onto a person’s property.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking the [hog] problem very seriously. “Because of the impact it has on everything from agriculture to natural resources and humans’ health and safety, its an extremely important problem,” Bannerman said.

The one group they mention in the article that is actually enjoying the surge in hog numbers is…(you guessed it)…hunters!   The influx in numbers across the country has added hunting opportunities for hunters young and old.  Most hog hunts are very affordable (and sometimes FREE) as many landowners also see them as a nuisance because of all the aforementioned problems they cause.   What a better way to get outdoors with friends and loved-ones and do you country some good, then with a little small-scale population control?!

It reminds us of the question posed to an old farmer sitting on his front porch when asked “What is you’re feeling about feral hogs?”  The man replied, “I absolutely love ‘em…as long as they’re on YOUR land!”

To read the full FoxNews.com article, follow this link.

AUSTIN, Texas – Hunting affordability and accessibility are growing concerns in the outdoor industry, but it was not a problem for nearly a dozen children and their parents who enjoyed the thrill of the hunt and the taste of pork at the 2nd Annual Pigapalooza Youth Hog Hunt. Sponsored by the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance (ADWA), the event was recently hosted at the DB Hunting Ranch in Bertram, Texas.

“The Pigapalooza is always a fun event for the kids but, more importantly, it is another means for us to address the growing problem of hunting affordability and accessibility,” says John Meng, president of the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance. “Our children today are the sportsmen and conservationists of tomorrow. We, as a society and an industry, must work now to ensure that wildlife stewardship and outdoor participation exists 10, 20 and 30 years from now. The Pigapalooza is only one event during the year, but I know each and every one these kids will remember this experience for a long, long time.”

The Pigapalooza Youth Hog Hunt provides a fun and affordable hunting opportunity for children, ages 8-17, and serves pork sandwich lunches and educational activities to help inform children about wildlife issues. At this year’s event, Wildlife Analytical Laboratories (www.DeerAge.com) provided an informative talk on wildlife stewardship and aging deer through forensics, while other ADWA volunteers provided sessions on duck calling, archery and led a nature walk. In addition to the hunt, children also received free duck calls, scent-masking sticks from Trophy Blend Scents, ADWA caps and a chance to win a free hunt at the ADWA Youth Safari Camp opening later this spring.

“It was a pleasure to be at this event,” says Henry Chidgey, owner of Wildlife Analytical Laboratories. “I very much enjoyed the opportunity to share some of our passion and knowledge about wildlife stewardship with the young folks and I really want to compliment ADWA and the work they do.”

The American Deer & Wildlife Alliance is a non-profit organization working to promote the deer and wildlife industry and to preserve our American outdoor traditions. As a part of its public education efforts, ADWA produces Points Journal, a full-color magazine covering industry news, products and services; Spikes Magazine, a quarterly youth publication distributed to summer camps and public libraries across the country; the Outdoor Patriot, a monthly podcast which features commentary and industry guests; and sponsors Keith Warren’s Deer & Wildlife Stories, a nationally broadcast television program on the Pursuit Channel. ADWA also produces the iHuntAmerica.com website (www.iHuntAmerica.com), a comprehensive search engine for hunting ranches, game preserves and outfitters.

For more information on the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance and/or to become a member, please call 877.331.8607 or visit www.deerwildlifealliance.org.

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to the growth of the deer and wildlife industry, and to preserve our American outdoor traditions. For more information on the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance, call 877.331.8607 or visit www.deerwildlifealliance.org.

The author w/ his first hog by bow

There will be lots of  landowners and lease holders out there cussin’ out loud right now at the slightest peep or thought of a “nasty ol’ hog” story. If that’s you, simply turn away.  For the rest of you, here is a “pig-tale” of  an east Texas archery hog hunt.

Whether it’s the introduced Russian boar or the common “yard pig” turned wild hog, hunting for these barrel-shaped balls of destruction has become as much necessity as sport in Texas.  Their ability to proliferate induces thoughts of a famous ESPN quote that goes something like “…you can’t stop ‘em…you can just hope to contain ‘em!”

A good friend of mine, Chris Farris, hunts a piece of property just outside of Bryan/College Station in Brazos County.  Wanting to improve their resident deer herd and with a wild hog population on the brink of taking over, I was invited to try and assist in harvest efforts.  Being the noble sportsman that I am, I would never scoff at the chance to help a fellow hunter with some population control – especially when the reward for doing so includes bacon and thick pork chops!

The land they hunt is primarily open savannah woven with thick mottes of post oak trees.  Fifteen feet up in one of these oaks, overlooking a few cut lanes, would be my vantage point for all four attempts to get my first “porker” with my Mathews bow.  This was my first experience bow hunting from a tree stand and growing up in west Texas, where any tree over 8 feet tall stands out like skyscraper, I have to admit this was a bit of a thrill for me.

On the inaugural drive to the property I knew I was in trouble when Chris uttered the statement “you should see something…I’ve seen hogs everytime I’ve sat in this stand.”  My fear of the “jinx” was on and quickly realized on my first sit.  Though I heard hogs rustling in the super thick brush that nestled up to the backside of my tree, no hogs materialized.  Having hogs that close did, however, get my blood pumping and left a taste in my mouth that I had to get rid of.

The next two sits, spaced a few days to a week apart, would play out much like the first.  I was getting frustrated.  I had heard pigs within what seemed like 20 yards, but something inevitably kept them from venturing out of the thick cover and into my shooting lanes.  It wasn’t the wind (it blew in a different direction each day).  It shouldn’t be my scent (I was doused from head to toe in scent killer) and it wasn’t noise or movement (I’ve never sat so still…).  These critters were getting the best of me and I needed to flip the odds back in my favor.  Time to bring out the “big guns”!  I had a single bag of deer corn that was left in the bed of our hunting truck since the end of deer season (yikes).  If you’ve ever smelled soured corn, you know it’s about the foulest stench south of…well, maybe south of nothing.  The good news, hogs can’t get enough of the stuff.

With stinkin’ corn scattered around me, I really felt the temptation would prove too much for a hungry hog to resist.  My gut was right and on my fourth hunt from the same stand, about half an hour before dark, I heard the familiar sound of hooves traipsing straight toward me.

Finally, after squinting so many times into the dense vegetation behind, I made out the forms of 2 black piglets leading a pack of hogs to the base of my tree.  As they hesitated just on the edge of the clearing, a larger hog filtered past them from a conjoining trail and walked straight away from me to a small corn pile.  I knew he wasn’t the biggest hog in the oncoming group, but after 3 frustrating sits with no sightings I wasn’t going to squander the opportunity.  At just under 20 yards, I took aim and released the arrow.  My shot hit high, dropping the hog where he stood.  A quick follow-up shot finished the job and I breathed a sigh of relief that my mission was accomplished.

As I climbed down and walked toward the downed hog, he actually seemed to grow at each passing step.  What I originally thought was an “overgrown piglet”, turned out to be a decent-sized boar hog.  Elation set in as I waited for Chris’ son, Jared to pick me up.  I was finally the rightful owner of a cooler full of tasty pork chops.

A special thanks goes out to Chris and Jared Farris for helping me get my first hog with stick and string.

Register for The Annual Disabled Hunt at Sunrize Acres 2010 today!

The cost is discounted to $550 for disabled hunters, and $575 for non-disabled hunters (helpers).

We will be hunting wild Russian Hogs or Exotic Rams. 1 animal per hunter. Taxidermy and butchering are not included in price but facilities are local & ready nearby.

For more information or to book a hunt, visit Sunrize Safaris at www.tednugent.com