TheWarhammer
Member
I've read a few threads here about hog (feral pig) hunting. I've read several articles about the population explosion of wild pigs in the US, particularly in the South. I've watched "Pig Bomb" on the Discovery Channel as well as a few other shows on the topic. Here's what I've learned:
So would someone please explain to me why it's so damned expensive to go hunt these destructive pests!?!?
Here in Texas, "Game Ranches" are charging $150-$200 per day to hunt "hogs." They also typically charge either a "per pig" fee or even a "per pound" fee! Some of these outfits even charge a "trophy fee" if you shoot a particularly big pig!!! (This is regardless of whether you intend to take the meat home or just leave it for the buzzards.) On top of this, many of them charge a "processing fee" for field dressing your hogs, but won't allow you to do it yourself on the property!
$400-$600 to go help a land owner rid himself of a nuisance animal that is destroying his land and driving off desirable game animals! What gives?!?!
I've been wanting to try my hand at hog hunting for a while, but the cost just seems completely out of line! Anyone here in Texas have tips for hunting hogs without breaking the bank?
- Feral pigs are extremely destructive to both agricultural land and to habitats for desirable game animals.
- Feral pigs breed at alarming rates and the populations are both rising in numbers and spreading all over the US.
- Feral pigs are aggressive and have been known to attack other animals as well as humans.
- Even with all of the trapping and hunting going on right now, the feral pig population is growing more or less unchecked. One statistic I read is that 7 out of every 10 wild pigs would have to be killed just to keep the population stable!
So would someone please explain to me why it's so damned expensive to go hunt these destructive pests!?!?
Here in Texas, "Game Ranches" are charging $150-$200 per day to hunt "hogs." They also typically charge either a "per pig" fee or even a "per pound" fee! Some of these outfits even charge a "trophy fee" if you shoot a particularly big pig!!! (This is regardless of whether you intend to take the meat home or just leave it for the buzzards.) On top of this, many of them charge a "processing fee" for field dressing your hogs, but won't allow you to do it yourself on the property!
$400-$600 to go help a land owner rid himself of a nuisance animal that is destroying his land and driving off desirable game animals! What gives?!?!
I've been wanting to try my hand at hog hunting for a while, but the cost just seems completely out of line! Anyone here in Texas have tips for hunting hogs without breaking the bank?