I've met plenty of folks here in South Texas who complain about hog damage, but when I ask if I can shoot some, they start talking $$$$. Hey, it's their problem, not mine.
I believe the difference is the deer aren't hurting your woodlands. The bed isn't hurting your motel.
Would you charge me rent to come on your property and spray your house for termites? Now, that's the same thing. The termites are causing damage to your property, and I come and kill them, so they don't cause you more damage. The hogs are causing you damage, and I come and kill them so they stop damaging your crops. Instead of charging me, you should be paying me.
I hear this kind of stuff all the time on the state hunting forum. I complain about the hogs. Hunters say, "If you have a problem, invite me to hunt and I'll help you solve the problem."
There are several things wrong with this. First, there are not many people unknown to me who I would allow to hunt my property. Most people have very little respect for your property. I don't know why, but it is so. Last time I allowed someone to hunt, he showed up later with a half-dozen friends. He said he figured I wouldn't mind if they just shot a few of my extra doves.
Second, hunting isn't going to solve the problem. Most hunters would shoot one or two at most. Hunting isn't the answer; extermination is the answer. You have to be willing to shoot until you run out of targets and let the buzzards clean up afterward. I have been attacked ferociously on the hunting forums for being immoral and wasteful. People say, "Just call me. I'll take the meat." Try calling someone at dark in the middle of July when you have 15 hogs on the ground.
Third, so-called "sportsmen" are the reason we have a problem in my county, anyhow. I'll be 63 years old tomorrow. I still own the farm I was born on. I never saw a feral hog until after I was 40 years old. That was about 15 years after deer hunting became such a popular sport, and hunters realized they could better utilize their leases if they had some hogs to hunt after deer season closed. They began releasing hogs on the river bottoms, and they quickly spread. Then, dog hunting became very popular. I will make a blanket statement here. Most dog hunters do not have an iota of respect for a land-line. Their excuse is, "My dog can't read that posted sign." Dog hunters were bad about catching hogs, transporting them to an area where hogs were not so plentiful, and releasing them. Illegal, sure, but what are the chances of getting caught?
Anyhow, when I hear the old line, "If you have a hog problem, why don't you let me come shoot them?" I know someone is just looking for a free place to hunt. No thanks. My land is for me and the friends I choose to share it with to hunt on.
Here is an example of some of my pot stirring.
Excuses for Trespassing - Georgia Outdoor News Forum
