|
Author
|
Topic: Trimming the Pork
|
The Outdoor Tripp
Knows what it's all about
Member # 619
|
posted April 24, 2006 08:59 PM
Trimming the Pork
Feral hogs provide an excellent year-round hunting opportunity, and two million porkers rooting up Texas present targets-a-plenty. But be warned: Ingestion of wild hog can be dangerous. Properly prepared, feral pork can be so tasty your lips and tongue may beat you death if you’re not careful.
Feral hogs being environmentally destructive, non-game, non-native, and delicious, are fit for whacking and stacking. In fact nothing bothers me about hog hunting except the two feet of B.S. I wade through every time folks start yapping about Porky Free-range. Pull up a chair and let’s trim some fat:
Tale of the Russian boar:
Finding a “pure Russian boar” is as likely as finding a human with the pure blood of Adam and Eve – good luck. European wild hogs or “Russian boars,” brought to Texas in the 1930’s for sport hunting, promptly escaped to breed with domestic hogs. After seventy-plus years of sows dropping two litters annually, we have 140 generations of piggies under the bridge and a total dilution of the blood line. Trophy hunters take note: The larger the hog, the less likely it carries any significant amount of “Russian” ancestry, domestic hogs being much larger than their European brethren.
He was so big:
I can’t count the times I’ve endured the 500-pounder so-and-so’s cousin shot story. Bull. Feral hogs appear much heavier than they actually are, and rarely top 250 pounds. “Huge” porkers put to the scale experience more ground shrinkage than a trophy buck on Pinocchio’s back forty. Next 500-pound yarn you encounter, ask how long it took the Volunteer Fire Department to hoist it into the truck.
Myth of the impenetrable bony shoulder plate:
Folks propping this myth obviously don’t butcher what they kill. There is simply no bony plate to be found. However, wild pigs do sport tough shoulder hide made of scar tissue created from continuous fighting. The older the hog, the more scar tissue and the tougher the shoulder hide.
Feral hogs as challenging game:
If you consider walking while chewing gum challenging, you may have a point here. Otherwise, forget it. Assuming you didn’t hike fifty miles to the pig ranch, the biggest challenge to hog hunting is keeping upwind and your mouth shut long enough for the pork to show. These habitual creatures commonly visit the same feeder at the same time daily, in numbers ensuring at least two pigs per bullet. And, second shots are common as oinkers often return to hoover up corn mere inches from fallen brethren.
Feral hogs are aggressive attackers:
Feral hogs are not aggressive and will run at the first sign of danger, or upon hearing the words “boo,” “bacon,” or “roast.” Although, extreme caution should be used tracking wounded hogs or encountering sows with young. Razor sharp tusks and surprising speed can make these defensive animals particularly dangerous.
Hunters, notorious for not letting the truth get in the way of a good story, seem to go the extra mile when romancing hog chasing exploits. Understandable, as the feral hog has seemingly become our second most popular “game” animal. However, let’s not appreciate the feral hog as the aggressive, monstrous, mythical creature he isn’t, but as the plentiful, tasty, easy-to-kill animal he is.
Bless you Porky.
Tripp Holmgrain is an avid outdoorsman sporting well-worn waders. Email him at tripp@theoutdoortripp.com.
--------------------
The Outdoor Tripp
www.theoutdoortripp.com
"All great truths begin as blasphemies."
Posts: 805 | From: Texas | Registered: Mar 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
Az-Hunter
Hi, I'm Vic WELCOME TO THE U.S. Free baloney sandwiches here
Member # 17
|
posted April 24, 2006 09:08 PM
Ahh, the ole "gristle plate" myth, one can still read about it in the gun rags, when the boys converge on a sponsor hunt by one of the cartridge companies or firearms producers.
It's a pig, and every pig Ive ever butchered, had skin, and coarse hair, never did find the gristle armor:)
Although in the weight dept, I have seen some around the 300 pound mark, but I was always after eaters, so I looked for something around 100-125 pounds.
You are correct, they are not hard to hunt, about like a turkey or deer....you just gotta know where to find them, and put a bullet in em.
Posts: 1674 | From: 5 miles west of Tim | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
Jack Roberts
unknown comic
|
posted April 24, 2006 09:50 PM
Let me make sure I understand this.
So these pigs are only slightly harder to kill and only slightly more dangerous than Cape Buffalo? But they do taste better, right?
Jack
IP: Logged
|
|
Kokopelli
SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice
Member # 633
|
posted April 25, 2006 07:05 AM
Uhhh......Those Texas pigs must not be to closely related to the Northern Calif. pigs that I've hunted. Spot & stalk in thick cover makes for an interesting time.
They do die nicely though when double lunged by an arrow.
--------------------
And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it.
Posts: 8237 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
The Outdoor Tripp
Knows what it's all about
Member # 619
|
posted April 25, 2006 05:38 PM
Not related at all.
California pigs are liberal pigs. They're on the lookout for people with guns.
[ April 25, 2006, 05:41 PM: Message edited by: The Outdoor Tripp ]
--------------------
The Outdoor Tripp
www.theoutdoortripp.com
"All great truths begin as blasphemies."
Posts: 805 | From: Texas | Registered: Mar 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
varmit hunter
Knows what it's all about
Member # 37
|
posted April 26, 2006 08:47 AM
Tripp.Why don't you jump on I-10 and come hunt hogs with me. Have you ever hunted the same Hogs twice. I have taken 47 from one 400 acre pasture. They make Deer look like a total dumb ass. Hunting the same Hogs continually is the hardest hunting challenge I have ever seen. Not talking about the pay up shoot up places where they restock weekly. Try doing ADC work on Hogs on the same ranch for a month and you may have new thoughts about Hogs.
How much domestic do you see in this Hog?
[ April 26, 2006, 08:58 AM: Message edited by: varmit hunter ]
--------------------
Make them pay for the wind.
Posts: 932 | From: Orange,TX | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
ScottD
Knows what it's all about
Member # 244
|
posted April 26, 2006 09:15 AM
Hey Ronnie,
Can I go on this trip too? (Hey, that was a pun, wasn't it?) Wasn't this the fella what said hogs were easy to call? This might be fun. And entertaining. And certainly educational.
ScottD
Posts: 10 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: Oct 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
varmit hunter
Knows what it's all about
Member # 37
|
posted April 26, 2006 10:39 AM
Plum forgot the infamous shield. If you ever skin a large bore you will defiantly find a shield made up of fibrotic tissues. Mother nature put this shield on Bores because they do fight. The vitals on Hogs are far forward than a Deer. The shield is there to protect these vitals. I have purposely taken the time to separate the shield. The thickest I have ever found is 3/4". No they are not bullet proof, but they defiantly take the steam out of bullets.
As far as Hogs charging. It is not common, but please tell that to the six land investors who called me while perched on tree limbs last month. They were put there by a sounder for just walking through there territory.
--------------------
Make them pay for the wind.
Posts: 932 | From: Orange,TX | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
