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Just wanted to let you all know that I recently got back from the Austin, TX area and had an awesome time hog hunting. The Traditional guys (who I never met before) were nothing short of spectacular hosts. I flew in from Boise and my high school buddy flew in from S. California and we were treated to great food, extra bow strings that were lost in transit, cold beer, the sweetest smelling pecan wood campfire smoke, and some metal art work made by Rick Couch (traditional hunter from Texas). I had never been on a hog hunting trip and although I didn’t get one, I will return next year to finish what I started. It’s interesting learning about the different hunting cultures that exist throughout the country. By the way, this was a DIY hunt on one of the few Texas Wildlife Management Areas. If you’re interested in going next year, let me know and I’ll get ya set up.
Bill -
Bill — By DIY, do you mean no baiting?
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By DIY, I mean not having to pay a ranch owner or tresspass fee, not paying a guide or anything like that. No, I don’t mean baiting but I mentioned in my initial thread, traveling to other parts of the country can be “interesting because of the local hunting cultures.” You picked up on that and yes, the local hunting culture does include baiting. How did I feel about that? Uncomfortable, because I don’t bait, I stalk. At the same time, I was a guest, an outsider, and observed the local culture and practices (baiting) but didn’t attempt to sway or change them. Puts ya in a quandry of sorts, not unlike some articles I’ve read here in TBM. I hope this experience opens up some good debate.
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I’ve never done the TX hog hunt, so far, largely due to expense of getting there and having no choice but to pay to hunt a baited private ranch. Your experience, Bill, sounds like a good compromise and the fact that you didn’t connect and still feel you had a good experience you want to repeat, suggests that you weren’t making any unsporting compromises. Also, I understand that “baiting” pigs often is different than the usual game-feeder bait stations they use for deer and turkey there, or the mountains of apples they pile up in some eastern states. Basically someone spreads corn every morning along ranch roads to get the pigs out of the dense brush. Had to judge without being there, but like you, to me hunting is stalking. I’d think that in some conditions of terrain and cover that would be possible for pigs. Best luck next trip. Bloodless
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For me, hogs just don’t qualify for the baiting debate. They’re fun as hell to stalk but, when you just want a rack of ribs, baiting’s the way to go. I don’t use bait for anything else, bears included, but have no reservations about shooting a pig with his snout in a corn pile. Maybe the facts that they’re a non-native, invasive species that, in many cases, degrades natural systems has something to do with it.
ch
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Clay — That’s an entirely reasonable moral position! If we had local “eater” hogs here (feral pigs) I might easily be persuaded to scatter a little corn in exchange for lots of good pork. But am I interested in driving two days south, at significant monetary expense, to kill anything over bait? Nope. I love to hunt too much and will invest my scarce traveling funds in other directions. And you? dave
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Great points by all! I guess the important thing, regardless of whether you agree or disagree to participate or be in close proximity to baiting hogs, is that an opportunity to hunt any method was available in an otherwise slow (for hunting) part of the year and that this hunt was relatively inexpensive (travel and 5 day out of state license). Another important part of this experience was meeting new hunting friends who were very welcoming. Next year I hope to return to Texas if finances permit and maybe I’ll bring home the bacon!
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Dido Dave, I wouldn’t drive anywhere to sit on a pile of corn either. Or a dead horse for that matter (I once found a bear bait where someone had a tree stand looking over the skinned carcass of one). I just don’t see the fun in staring at a dead horse all day:?
When I was down south though, I didn’t have to drive anywhere. And I never had to buy any pork. I also trapped them which was much more efficient than shooting them over corn. All that was just to thin them out and get stocked up on bacon. If I ever wanted to hunt, I grabed the bow and went for the spot’n’stalk:wink:
BTW, for anyone who has never hunted hogs, take the chance if you ever get one. They’re perfect for sneaking up on. A lot like black bear in many ways.
ch
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