My View On Hog Hunting

Hogs may not always be the most challenging animals to hunt or the hardest to find or put a stalk on, but don’t get me wrong, they are pretty smart and crafty animals when they are paying attention to their surroundings, and they can make for a real good hunt. With Rifle, pistol and bow there are few game animals out there that you can hunt year round with no limits and that can be as much adrenaline pumping fun to harvest or be as willing to charge, bite and or gore you as the wild boar hog or protective wet sow. Not to mention, what’s more intense sounding than a big ol hog squealing, there’s not another sound like it in the outdoors. Oh! And let’s not forget how GREAT eating they are.

Living in the hills of central California, I have been blessed to be able to have access to hogs very close to home, but I have no problem traveling a few hours with some good friends to knock down a few Sausage Carpets. I love to hunt hogs with a bow or pistol out of a blind or on a spot and stalk, or the most conventional way by sitting on the top of a hill early morning or just before the sun goes down glassing for a rifle shot. There are plenty of private land owners that would appreciate help getting rid of these ditch diggers, you just have to keep knocking on doors until you find that one landowner that would love your help. Did I mention how good eating they are?

The fact that hogs are not indigenous to California, much less the United States, they can be hunted all year long, as long as you have one tag per hog. Although I am not a big fan of California Fish and Wildlife’s restrictions on not being able to take a hog at night without a depredation permit or the fact that a pig tag costs over $21.00 each, we are still very blessed to be able to hunt these animals as we do. I would like to see California take a few pointers from states like Texas for example, on how they run their hog control programs and how they involve licensed hunters in the harvesting and controlling of hog numbers, but it is what is for now.

Whether they are feral hogs or the pure Russian, they all make for a good hunt and great practice with a bow to prepare for Deer season, they keep you sharp. Hog hunting is great for new hunters and kids to cut their hunting teeth on. Let’s face it, hunting hogs is a flat out blast. Did I mention how good eating they are?

What’s your take on hog hunting? I invite any comments and or input on the subject.

The Benefits Of A Hunter's Education Class

As a Hunter Education Instructor I often wonder what happens after the class.  Did the person go hunting?  If the class taker is a youth, do they have the backing of an adult to follow through with everything else necessary to go hunting?  Well, I found out this past weekend that at least two people were listening in my last class and had the desire and follow through to do what it takes to get out there and enjoy the outdoors.

For the youth, I push the hunts offered by California Department of Fish and Wildlife.  These hunts are designed to give the young hunter a positive experience their first time out in the field.  In the most recent class I taught in January, I informed the class of the upcoming Ray Azbill Youth Pheasant Hunt in San Luis Obispo.  Todd and his daughter Emily took my class and my advice.  Todd entered Emily in the drawing for the hunt and she was selected! (for this hunt, recent hunter ed graduates get priority)  Emily and Todd were fed an excellent tri-tip bbq lunch and given a gift bag full of hunter related goodies.  Emily also participated in clay pigeon shooting, archery lessons, game care lessons, and land navigation lessons.  Oh and by the way, Emily shot her limit of pheasant!  It was a wonderful experience for both.

To research these types of opportunities go to the hunting category on the DFW website and select special hunts.  Follow the prompts from there.  Good luck and good hunting!