The Hog Blog

I haven’t had a chance to do this in a while, but tonight I spent some time cruising through my news feeds to see what’s happening in the world of wild hogs, boar, and pigs.  There’s no way I can bring you all up to speed on all that we’ve missed, but here are a couple of tidbits that I had to share.

First, this is from ABC Rural News (ABC, in this case, is Australian Broadcasting Company), about the impact, or lack thereof, that recreational hunters are having on the overpopulation of hogs in that country.  I’ve mentioned before that hunters participating under fair chase principles simply won’t do what it takes to eradicate hogs, and that certainly seems to be the case in Australia. 

Recreational hunting is a favourite pastime of many people in regional areas, but Dr Carol Booth, from the Invasive Species Council, says unco-ordinated shooting does little to reduce feral populations.

“It’s been estimated for some areas that you need to reduce pig populations by something like 70 per cent to actually achieve a reduction in the population the following year,” he says.

It’s an interesting reality check. 

Another article from the BBC discusses the recent deaths of a couple of reintroduced wild boar in a Scottish forest.  The disease angle is interesting enough, but what really caught my attention was the rationale for reintroducing these beasts…  because they control the undergrowth and keep brush under control. 

The animals were released in a bid to aid the regeneration of ancient Caledonian woodland.

Trees for Life is keeping the surviving boar in a 30.4 acre enclosure in an area of ancient birch wood.

It hopes the animal will control the spread of bracken which shades out other wild plants.

Of course, in Scotland and Britain wild boar are, after all, native to that landscape.  It does make me wonder what the real impacts of wild hogs would be on US habitat.  Isn’t it possible that, in the big picture, they may actually offer some benefits?

That’s just a taste of what’s going on with hogs around the world.  Thought ya’ll might find it interesting.

First things first… a couple of weeks back, I posted up about a proposal floated around Montana to ban lead ammunition from State Wildlife Areas.  As of February 11, the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Commission voted against the ban.  As was reported in the Billings Gazette, it was a close vote.

HELENA — By a slim, one-vote margin, Montana’s Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission on Thursday killed an effort to ban lead shot ammunition for upland game bird hunting on a series of state-owned hunting lands.

The commission voted 3-2 against banning lead shot ammunition at the Freezeout Lake and Canyon Ferry wildlife management areas. Earlier, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks had suggested banning lead shot on all the management areas. The commission never considered a total ban, the only two that came up for discussion at Thursday’s meeting were Freezeout Lake and Canyon Ferry.

That’s the good news.

The not-so-good news comes from California.  I received the following press release the other day, but was asked to hold it.  Well, it’s reported all over the place now… so much for being first out of the gate.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: John D. Mann

February 23, 2010

 (916) 718-7420
 
Nava Announces Introduction of Bill Banning the Use of Lead Shot in State Wildlife Areas
 
Nava Will Be Joined by Audubon California, Defenders of Wildlife, the Humane Society and other Environmental Groups
 
What: Press conference regarding Nava’s proposal to ban the use of toxic lead shot in all California State Wild Life Areas
 
When: Wednesday, February 24, 2010, 11 a.m.
Where: State Capitol, Room 1190
Who:  Assemblymember Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara)
            Audubon California
            Defenders of Wildlife
            The Humane Society of the United States
 
The bill will expand existing federal limitations on the use of lead shot to include all 627,000 acres of California’s most important wildlife habitat that host many species which are listed as threatened, endangered or fully protected under state law.  
 
“This is an important environmental issue for California wildlife,” said Assemblymember Nava. “The science is increasingly clear that lead shot poses a real danger to bird populations on these lands. With viable alternatives to lead shot – this is just a no-brainer.”
 
Two years ago, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Nava’s Ridley Tree Condor Preservation Act that banned the use of lead ammunition in California condor country. The ban has been instrumental in the recovery of the endangered California condor.
 
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 It just makes me tired.  The arguments have all been made, and I don’t have much new to add.  I recognize that lead-free ammo is becoming more and more available, and that the lead ban juggernaut has worked up a pretty solid head of steam in this state.  Even so, statements like, “the science is increasingly clear that lead shot poses a real danger to bird populations on these lands,” really piss me off. 

At the same time Nava is making statements like this, the folks in Montana are saying that the science does NOT support a lead ban.  So which is it? 

Well, anyone who’s been paying attention knows it might be a little of both.  Research does show that carrion birds and even some raptors are picking up residual lead which may be coming from hunter-shot game.  But it’s also not showing a sharp increase in mortality.  In fact, bald eagles, golden eagles, and some hawks appear to be doing very well.  Ravens, crows, and buzzards are also thriving. 

The problem is that the real science here is being buried under emotions, politics, and agenda.  Statements like Nava’s only make it worse.  It’s not a “no-brainer”.  It’s just that some people apparently aren’t using their brains.

So over at Holly’s NorCal Cazadora blog this morning, she’s given us all a chance to get active in making positive change for members of the US military.  It starts with a fairly simple idea… let active military hunt any state on a resident tag.  Several states allow military to hunt as residents, as long as they’re stationed in the state, and that’s cool… but this takes it a step further by setting aside the expensive non-resident fee requirements, and allowing them to purchase resident tags. 

What do you think? 

If you like the idea, follow Holly’s lead by posting up with a link back to her article: http://norcalcazadora.blogspot.com/2010/02/soldier-and-hunter-with-brilliant-idea.html

On the blog post, Holly also has several other ways you can get involved to make this thing a reality.

What a difference a week makes!

After the previous weekend’s tough hunting at Tejon Ranch, with nine hunters coming away with only three hogs, I was a little concerned going into the past weekend’s hunt.  However, on this last hunt, there were a number of different factors involved.  

First, the weather turned cold and wet.  The beautiful, sunny days of the previous hunt quickly became pleasant memories when the rain and fog bored into the hills.  The persistent, icy rain turned the roads into sloppy goo and worked its way right through the best gear.  Even before the rain, the cold wind on Friday night nearly drove me off of my favorite ridgetop. 

The bright side is, the changing weather got the animals moving.  We started spotting pigs by 1130, right out of camp on Friday, and when the fog allowed any visibility at all, we continued to see hogs.  During the previous hunt, hogs were moving almost completely at night, leaving a frustrating amount of sign but heading back to their beds before first light.

The other big difference was the group of hunters on this trip.  The previous trip consisted of nine guys, only two of whom (myself and Ron Gayer) had any experience on the ranch.  Few of the others had much hog hunting experience, especially not in a place like Tejon. 

The group this weekend consisted of 12 guys, mostly long-time hog hunters who have been coming to Tejon for several years.  They came with “honey holes” already picked out.  They knew how to get to the good spots, how to hunt them, and in the end, it all paid off.  The group rolled out of the gates on the last day with a total of 10 hogs for 12 hunters.  Everyone had taken at least one shot (a couple of guys took more than one shot). 

For me, a big part of the pleasure this weekend was hunting with my friend, T. Michael Riddle from Native Hunt.  I’d told him for years about how much I loved hunting the Tejon Ranch, and he said he’d always wanted to get out there.  I think Michael quickly found that everything he’d heard about the place was true.  It’s simply a phenomenal piece of land, loaded with all the bounty and beauty Nature can provide. 

After a couple of false starts, we were able to hang both our tags on a couple of fat sows.  (I’ll write a little more about those false starts over on the Native Hunt blog.) 

And then there were pork chops, and there was much rejoicing!

Tales from Tejon will continue shortly.  Just waiting on some photos right now.  It was a great time, with a bunch of great guys… but details will have to wait. 

In the meantime…

Just got this from the Peregrine Fund in my email this morning.  Let me ask you to read it completely before you comment, just so you’ll know what’s actually in the report and what conclusions they’re drawing.  Of course then, once you’re educated, have at it! 

Contact
Lynda Lambert, Arizona Game and Fish Department, (602) 789-3203
Jeff Humphrey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (602) 242-0210, Ext. 222
Susan Whaley, The Peregrine Fund, (208) 362-8274
Scott Sticha, Bureau of Land Management, (435) 688-3303

NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
February 22, 2010

Contact
Susan Whaley, The Peregrine Fund, (208) 362-8274
Lynda Lambert, Arizona Game and Fish Department, (623) 236-7203
Mark Hadley, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, (801) 538-4737
Recent condor mortalities used to expand conservation efforts

BOISE, IDAHO — After 3 years without a confirmed mortality from lead poisoning, three California condors have recently died from the biggest challenge to the species’ recovery. The condors, including a female and her chick from the previous year, were recovered by The Peregrine Fund.

Necropsies to determine the cause of death were performed at the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research. Testing confirmed the presence of lead fragments in the digestive tracts of all three birds. Lead shuts down the condors’ digestive system, which leads to starvation, weakness and death.

“While the deaths of a breeding female and her wild-hatched chick are a significant loss, condor conservation has been gaining ground since lead poisoning was first identified as a leading cause of mortality and we began to educate hunters about the effects of spent lead on condors,” said biologist Chris Parish, head of The Peregrine Fund’s condor recovery operation in Arizona. “But, as the condor recovery program progresses, new challenges have been identified.”

The three dead birds had been outfitted with tracking equipment that allowed field biologists to monitor daily movements. In recent years, that radio tracking data has identified increased use of southern Utah as a major foraging area for the flock.

“When we first reintroduced condors to northern Arizona in 1996, the birds primarily foraged closer to home,” said Chris Parish. “Now that we have observed the condors expanding their range into Utah and foraging more frequently outside of the local release area, conservation partners are working with Utah and its hunters to reduce the amount of spent lead ammunition available to condors in gut piles and carcasses left in the field.”

The Peregrine Fund tries to capture all condors twice yearly to test for lead exposure, the leading cause of condor death. Birds with high blood lead concentrations are treated with chelation therapy to reduce the lead in their system. Condors are scavengers and research in the last five years has proven that they consume tiny fragments of lead in the remains of gunshot animals.

To aid condor conservation, the Arizona Game and Fish Department started a non-lead ammunition outreach program in 2003 to hunters drawn for hunts in the condor’s core range. Surveys show that 85 percent of hunters took voluntary measures in 2009 to reduce the amount of available spent lead ammunition in the condor’s core range.

Now the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is implementing a similar program for hunters on the Zion unit in southwestern Utah.

“We’ve started educating our hunters about the effect that lead ammunition has on condors,” said Jim Parrish, nongame avian coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. “The next thing we’re going to do is give everyone who hunts on the Zion unit a coupon for a free box of non-lead ammunition.”

“There’s no reason to reinvent the wheel, so we’re modeling the Utah program after Arizona’s non-lead effort,” continued Jim Parrish. “Utah’s sportsmen are conservation-minded.  We’re confident they’ll step up to the challenge and that our program, combined with the highly successful program in Arizona, will keep the condor population healthy and allow it to grow.”

Condor conservation partners include The Peregrine Fund, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Utah Wildlife in Need, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service.

For more information on condor conservation and non-lead ammunition, visit www.peregrinefund.org or www.azgfd.gov/condor.

DID YOU KNOW?

• By 1982, just 22 California Condors remained on Earth. Captive breeding programs were established in the 1980s.
• California Condors now live in the wild in Arizona, Utah, California and Mexico.
• The condor is the largest flying land bird in North America. The birds can weigh up to 26 pounds and have a wingspan up to 9½ feet.
• Condors reach maturity at about six years of age.  They usually produce one egg every other year.
• Prior to reintroduction, the last wild condor in Arizona was sighted just south of the Grand Canyon in 1924.
• There are now 74 condors in Arizona and Utah.
• Visitors at the Grand Canyon and Vermilion Cliffs may be able to observe the birds, especially during the spring and summer.

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I know, I’m stating the obvious.  A few posts a week is hardly the pace I’d like to maintain, but it just seems to be the status quo here lately.  No excuses… but I do hope a couple of weekends of hunting will get me back on track. 

In the meantime, here’s the best hog of the three we took this weekend…  A wicked, ugly, old bruiser with one eye and split ears.

Wow. 

I was told a very long time ago that there is no “sure thing”.  And I get it. 

Even so, when I head out to Tejon, I have a pretty high level of confidence that I can not only kill a hog myself, I can take several other hunters to hogs as well.  My track record there is pretty danged good. 

But the real clincher was that this weekend’s success wouldn’t just depend on my fortunes… former Tejon guide, Ron Gayer came along to join the fun.  Ron knows this place like almost no one else, and he was more than willing and happy to help out.   In addition to hunting some hogs, Ron was hoping to shoot some footage for his series of educational videos, called “The Guide’s Guide To Hunting.” 

And there was even more great news… the weather, always a major gamble in February, was as close to perfect as it could ever be.  With clear nights in the mid-thirties and sunny days with temps around 60, the snow melted off of the ridges and wet roads dried out.  (Many of the ranch roads can be absolutely terrifying when wet.)  It was no problem accessing my tried-and-true spots. 

Hog sign was everywhere.  Where the snow had recently receded, the fresh ground was shredded by rooting snouts.  There were cattle trails that looked like solid mosaics of hog tracks.  Scat littered the ground.  There were even places where we could smell the danged things!

So when I rolled out with Fabio and crew this past weekend, I felt pretty sure I’d have a stack of hog photos to put up today.  But, I guess it was not to be. 

It wasn’t for lack of trying.  We covered a lot of ground, both on foot and by vehicle.  We glassed high and low.  We pushed the bedding areas.  We hiked and sneaked and drove and even crawled a little bit…

And we did see a few hogs.  A few shots were fired.  A few hogs were scared.  But when all was said and done, the nine hunters in our group were only able to connect on three hogs.   All three were really good boars, but for a group this size, and with these conditions, I expected to easily come out with about 60% success.  It was probably the toughest hunt (for finding hogs) I’ve ever had at Tejon.  Ron was a little surprised as well. 

But that’s hunting.  We did have a great time, though, and that’s what counts. 

I’m heading back down this coming weekend for a little redemption.  T. Michael Riddle will be coming down with me, for his first visit to Tejon.  Yeah, I know, he’s got his own place with plenty of hogs, but the allure of a place like Tejon Ranch goes way beyond killing pigs.  After hearing me go on about it, he had to come out and see it for himself.

For anyone else who may want to get down to Tejon, I’ve got another hunt going in May.  This will be a much bigger group (25-50 hunters), but there is plenty of ranch to spread out.  Cost for the hunt is $450/per person (plus a $13 insurance policy), and each hunter will be allowed to take one hog.  Youth hunters (12-16) hunt for half-price.  This is an unguided hunt, but there are usually plenty of Tejon veterans willing to help out with strategy and suggestions for places to hunt. 

There is no lodging provided in this deal, but there’s a great camping area that’s suitable for everything from tents to motor homes (no hook-ups, though).  For those who don’t want to camp, there are a couple of motels a few minutes from the ranch. 

If you’re interested, and would like more details, shoot me an email.  Make sure you include the words Tejon Hunt in the subject line.

Man!  Has it been that long?  It seems like forever since I’ve been hog hunting, and this trip couldn’t come at a better time. 

I’m heading out tomorrow afternoon, driving south to the Tejon Ranch.  I’ll be joining several friends, including Fabio (I’ve guided Fabio over at the Native Hunt ranches a time or two), and we’re planning to put the serious smack-down on some hogs.  I was particularly fortunate that my friend, Ron Gayer wants to join us on the hunt.  Ron’s video series, The Guide’s Guide to hunting, is going well, and he’s hoping to shoot some new video on this trip. 

Of course, it doesn’t hurt anything that Ron was also the Head Guide for the ranch for many years.  I’m looking forward to having him along.

I wish I had cooler stuff to write about right now, but work has been pretty intense lately and it’s taken its toll on the blog.  I’m happy to be busy, but at the same time I’m really glad to be getting back into the field.

Hang tight, and I’ll be posting up stories (and if the weather holds, video) of the hunt!

Here’s a quickie for a Monday morning… 

It’s still a  little early, but for folks who enjoy shooting ground squirres, jack rabbits and such in the condor zone, it’s been a long, miserable search to find a lead-free, rimfire bullet for the .17hmr.  Last year, CCI released their TNT Green line, but personally, I never even saw it on a shelf or catalog.  I guess it was out there, but it slipped right by me.  From talking to several Hog Blog readers, it slipped by them too.

Well, here’s your chance to remedy that…

I have found (and purchased) the .17hmr TNT Green ammo online at RM Ammo.  They had a fair supply when I ordered, and according to their website, they still have 30 units left.  I’d never heard of RM until a friend turned me on to them, but the service was extremely fast.  It’s not super cheap, at $12.95/box, but that’s only a couple of bucks more than regular .17hmr ammo. 

If RM runs out, you can also find the TNT Green in stock at MidwayUSA.  They’re getting a little more for it, about $15.99/box or $145.99/brick (500 rds).   

As best I can tell, Cabelas and BassPro are not carrying this ammo yet, or at least it isn’t listed in their catalog.  You can check your regular ammo sources to see if they have it as well.

The lead-free, .22lr “Short Range” ammo from CCI is still not widely available.  I’d intended to take my test box out to the range this weekend, but it just wasn’t in the cards.  As soon as I get a chance to get this stuff into the field, I’ll let you know what I think about it.

So I’ve received a few emails from folks I met at SHOT wondering how things are going, and hoping, “by the way”, that I found the samples of their products satisfactory.  In other words, they’re wondering if or when I’m going to review their products.  A couple of Hog Blog readers are wondering similar things.  And it’s a fair enough question. ..

So my answer, in short, is that I don’t write reviews off of press releases and product labels.  I don’t sit and turn something around on my desk until I’m struck by the product review muse with some glibly positive commentary.  If I am going to review something, I intend to use it, try it as it’s intended to be used, and then I’ll write about it. 

For example, if it’s ammo, I will shoot it.  Ideally, I’ll use it on game, but at the very least, I’m going to see how it performs on targets and in my guns.  Is it accurate, does it chamber and cycle, and does it kill cleanly?  If it’s a knife, I’ll cut something with it.  How’s it hold up on a hog skin (if it can handle skinning hogs, it can handle anything)?  Does it keep an edge, and can I resharpen it easily? 

I’m not going to test optics by looking across the living room or out the back door.  I need to take them in the field, under real conditions.  I don’t have one of these high-tech testing labs either… I’m not measuring exit pupil or light gathering capacity.  I want to know if I can clearly see what I’m looking at.  How’s it handle rain, fog, or 100-degree heat? 

If it’s clothing, I’ll wear it… not just around the living room, but in the field.  Is it tough, waterproof, or whatever else it’s advertised to be?  Before review, I’ll read the book or view the video.  And so on…

Point is, all of this takes a little time and time is a precious commodity.  I’ve got a good-sized stack of things to go over, and some more that should be in the mail.  Included are the new, lead-free .22lr cartridges from CCI, some great new boots from RedBack (which I love so far), several hog calls (this is for you, Rex), a couple of books and videos, and some new “scent-blocking” clothing. 

There are a couple of exceptions to my rule, though… for example, some things are just great ideas that I want to share. 

One example is the “Shotkeeper“.  It’s a shadow-box designed to hold a photo from your hunt, with a special cutout to fit the shotgun or rifle shell used to make the shot.  You can get them for 2″x3″ or 4″x6″ photo sizes.  Simple, I agree, but it’s a really cool idea and a nice way to commemorate a hunt.  They also make a similar display, called the “Lurekeeper“, for fishing (a photo and a cutout for a special lure or fly).  I didn’t get a good photo, but check their site. 

So hang tight, as some reviews will be forthcoming over the next couple of weeks.  Others will take longer, but should be coming as my spring hunting kicks into high gear.