The Hog Blog

I’ve mentioned more than once that I’m from North Carolina, and a handful of readers have asked about wild hog hunting opportunities there.  I don’t have a ton of info on that, because at the time I left about 13 years ago, most NC hog hunting took place up in the mountains (where you can still chase the descendents of some of the first European wild boar released in this country).  Nowadays, as with many other parts of the country, NC is seeing a surge in the number of feral hogs around the state… particularly in the wake of some of the devastating hurricanes that brought down so many pig farm fences. 

I keep catching stories from here and there about hogs in different parts of the state, the piedmont near Raleigh, the coastal plain up near the Roanoke River, and some of the swamps around my southeastern home.  But as far as telling someone where to go find good hog hunting in my home state… well, I’m generally at a loss.  Until now…

I think I wrote about the Howell Woods hunts a little while back, when the program was just getting underway.  The Howell Woods is a 2800 acre parcel of property that was donated to Johnston Community College.   At the time there was a simple lottery system where hunters could send in a fee (I think it was $10) and get a chance for a hunt.  The other option was to donate some time and labor to the program, and in exchange for your work you’d receive a hunting pass.  Work more, hunt more… it was, and is, a pretty sweet arrangement. 

Anyway, I hadn’t thought about the program in a while, until browsing around I found the NC Game and Fish magazine online, and this great article about the Howell Woods program as it is today.  Looks like the hog hunting is still good, but the program is branching out into deer management with hunts there yielding some really nice bucks.  It’s a great article, and if you’re in NC, or looking to do some hunting there, I strongly recommend giving it a read.  This is a really good opportunity to hunt a quality property for a reasonable price. 

And for the rest of you, I promise, as soon as I find out more good hog hunting locales in NC, I’ll be sure to pass them along to you… just as soon as I get back there and try them out myself, first.

OK, so I’ve been on vacation and as a result, it looks like Dave Hurteau’s Field Notes blog “scooped me” on the latest in the lead ban chronicles.  Looks like the lead ban folks have set sights on Utah now, as described in this article from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 

The article is actually a pretty good look at where things stand, and I’d suggest reading the whole thing before going too far off on your comments.  A key point to take note of is that the folks at the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources are not proposing a California-style ban, but are instead looking at Arizona for a more successful and hunter-friendly approach.   For those who don’t know, Arizona has implemented a voluntary compliance program, asking hunters not to use lead ammo and providing coupons for two boxes of non-lead ammunition.  

Jim Parrish, nongame avian coordinator for Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources, said video footage has shown that the condors are feeding on gut piles in Utah and have been exposed to lead. He said Utah plans to implement a program similar to one in Arizona that would provide vouchers to hunters for non-lead ammunition, starting in 2010.

“We’re trying to get the information out there now,” he said. “We’re in an outreach mode and rallying support mode.”

Unfortunately, organizations like the Center for Biological Diversity are still pushing the myth that switching from lead to non-lead is as simple as changing from Coke to Pepsi.  That’s the kind of propaganda that needs to be challenged and kicked to the road.  This kind of misinformation for the sake of an agenda is a real good reason that so many hunters are skeptical of organizations like the Center for Biological Diversity and the Peregrine Fund.   Fortunately, the article does challenge the CBD’s assertion with some facts.

“It’s a simple fix to just ban lead-based ammunition,” said Jay Lininger, an ecologist for the group [Center for Biological Diversity] in Flagstaff. “It would be far less expensive and less of a headache for everyone if widely available alternatives were simply required.”

Lead ammunition has been popular with hunters because it performs well and is cheap. Copper bullets, touted as the alternative to lead bullets, perform just as well but are more expensive and not available in all calibers.

There’s a lot more coming on this one.  Center for Biological Diversity is already threatening to sue the Bureau of Land Management and National Parks Service for failing to require non-lead ammo.  Hopefully the feds will have a little more spine than the CA Fish and Game Commission, and this suit will meet the very timely end it deserves.  If not, sportsmen stand to bear the brunt of the outcome. 

Anyway, if you live or hunt in Utah, it wouldn’t hurt to put your thoughts and feelings in writing, and send them to the Governor, your state legislators, and the Division of Wildlife Resources.  Let them know that you support and appreciate their reasonable efforts to protect the condor, and their respect for the needs and concerns of hunters in the process.  Tell them that you agree with the plan for a voluntary switch to lead-free ammo, and that the vouchers are an excellent incentive for big game hunters to comply.

I admit that I have a fondness for the holidays, but they can sure be exhausting. Just got home from a whirlwind visit to South Carolina, then North Carolina, all wrapped up by a two-day getaway to the North Coast. I’m not even sure what my own bed feels like after all this, but you can bet I’m looking forward to crawling into it right about now. I’m a little whupped!

For those who are wondering, yes, I did get out to chase the whitetails in NC.  Managed to squeeze in one morning hunt and one evening hunt on Christmas Eve.  I spooked a bunch of deer heading into the stand before light.  I hoped they’d try to sneak back in later, so spent about six hours up there before finally giving up and coming down to go do some last-minute shopping.  (Yeah, I know.. what was I thinking?)

The evening hunt was a total wash, if spending a few hours out there in the woods can ever be considered such a thing.  Saw a pile of squirrels, watched some wood ducks sail in for the evening roost, and enjoyed the winter woods… but no deer.  The killer was returning up the drive to mom’s house and hearing a whole herd of deer take off through the trees… not 100 yards from her front porch!  I should have said, the heck with climbing trees, and just set up in the rocking chair!   

Oh well.  Time on stand, and hunting with my little brother is always reward enough. 

So anyway, the New Year is just around the corner!  No big plans here for the celebration, but I am looking forward to a lot of great things coming in 2009. 

Starting with January, there’ll be the SHOT Show in Orlando, FL.  SHOT is one of the events I look forward to all year, as it’s a chance to stroll through acres and acres of all the coolest hunting and shooting products from around the world.  Talk about your kid in a candy store!  (I know I through that cliche out every year… but it’s totally appropriate!)  Just think about it!  At every turn there are new products from ammo makers, gun makers, custom gear and firearms, camo and clothing, and everything else! 

February will have me, among other things, back up in the Tejon Ranch hills chasing hogs with several good friends.  This is the first of two planned hunts at Tejon this year.  The second will be another gathering of Jesse’s Hunting and Outdoors folk.   

Not for sure yet, but I’m hoping March will bring another Texas exotics hunt.  If nothing else, my brother and I will probably head down there.  Hunting exotics is a totally different game from anything else I’ve done, and it’s a real kick!  I’m hoping to take my shot at a mature Axis buck this year, and will also plan to fill the freezer with axis does and maybe even a hog or two.

April is turkey time.  I don’t think I’m going to be guiding for turkeys this year, unless something changes between now and then.  The bright side of that is, maybe I’ll have time to hunt my own turkey this year.  I didn’t even realize last season until it was gone, that I hadn’t gone hunting for myself the whole month! 

May is time for the previously mentioned JHO hunt at Tejon.  50 JHOers and friends will descend on the Tejon Ranch for a hog hunting fest! 

Not too sure about the summer months this year.  I’m sure there’ll be something fun going on, and you can believe I’ll be letting ya’ll in on the fun.

October will be a big one this year, with an elk hunt in Colorado and the third season of guiding up at Coon Camp Springs.  This year’s elk hunt will be my first unguided foray, but I’m pretty confident in my knowledge of the area and the animals. 

And there you go… before I know it, it’ll be November, and then Christmas will be looming once again. 

Time sure flies!

Anyway, hope you all have big plans for the coming year too!  Feel free to share them with us!

Merry Christmas, Hog Blog readers!

I have so much to be thankful for during this holiday season. Sure, I have to fly 3000 miles to be with my mom and dad, my brothers and others I love. But I can jump on a jet plane and be there in a matter of hours. There are an awful lot of Americans right now who can’t enjoy what most of us have right now… and they honestly fill my dreams right now.

So, once more as you’re kicking back with presents and loved ones and lots of good food… spare a thought for our troops.

It’s almost that magic time, and for those of us who can spend this special time with our loved ones, it’s a blessed season. But don’t forget, there are a lot of Americans far from home this holiday. Take a few minutes out of your holiday celebration to appreciate what they’re doing… their sacrifices, and their duty… regardless of what you think about the war.

Honestly, I’d never seen this one until today. It’s dark… about as dark as it gets. But it’s just classic!

And to all… I wish you a safe, and merry Christmas!

Thought some of you might enjoy this… I know what a tradition it is to get out and hunt during the holidays, and this video is about nothing if not tradition! 

So, please enjoy.  I’d almost forgotten about this one…

I’m back in NC with my family, preparing for the holidays.  But on this solstice night, here’s a little something to enjoy.  Thanks to Jesse at Turkey Scratchin’s for turning me on to it…. I’d probably have missed it otherwise.

The longest night is upon us! Celebrate… unless you have to get up early to go hunting.