Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations In Texas, there are 2 kinds of property...

Gator, I had him out but he came to help me with getting a wildlife exemption. I discussed the deer situation with him but he said don't base anything on last year. We had a wet year and they didn't move around. I can buy that somewhat but after 20 years, I know the difference. He recommended that I burn off underbrush but I have too many blackjack oaks. They hold their dead leaves all year and I just can't control it. Admittedly, I am reluctant to start a forest fire for any reason. He also said that I need to clear more underbrush to let more plant life grow. Heck, I have lots of cleared areas back in the brush. The upshot of it is that I had more deer before I did all of the selected clearing. One of my neighbors who retired there 10 years ago has given up and gotten a lease in Erath County. The only change I can think of is the fact that I pretty well stay on a 4 wheeler on weekends. I know of one West Texas day leaser who doesn't allow 4 wheelers. He says that if 4 wheelers are run on his land this weekend, next weekends hunters won't see deer. Everybody in the area has 4 wheelers. The local rural mailman says that he quit seeing the big deer herds when the County opened doe season. My wife and I often get in the pickup late in the evening and drive the back roads looking for deer and turkeys. We see about 25% of the ones we used to see. However, where did they go? You know that they didn't stop breeding and the TPWD says that a doe usually spends their entire life within one square mile of where they were born. It may be a combination of neighbors dogs, 4 wheelers, and weather.

BTW, the next time you drive through the area, as you are approaching the Wagonseller exit off 287, look West on the electrical transmission line. About a mile away, you will see a big hill with a tower stand. Thats mine. Let me know when you are coming and stop by.

Dave

Some of you will think this is a great story and some will not like how the thing started.

The U. of Georgia did a study on imported wild Russians back in the late �50s around �why wild hogs are hardier than domestics.� When the study was over they where supposed to destroy all of the Russians. Well, the researchers found that hard to do and whata you know, it wasn�t long before a cattle trailer was on its way to Mississippi to seed hogs for REEEAAALLLL hog hunting. Several groups were deposited around the state.

Guess what!!! They are thriving and as you said very destructive etc, etc. One caveat � these are bad hogs and will charge as soon as they see you. Gives squirrel hunting a whole new thrill because 6 shot may not turn a big boar.

Anyway, I was invited to go on a hawg hunt on a 13,000 acre plantation in Noxubee county Ms with my best friend. We were not hunting with dogs as they usually did and were just hoping to take some long shots in the bottom fields. So, at the crack of daylight we walked down the dirt road within 25 yards of the road breaking into the fields and out steps this 253 lb boar. I�d never hunted anything that chased you before and we were not expecting this at all. So, here it was two guys standing on a gravel road 25 steps from a big boar also standing in the middle of the road but broadside. It�s still so dark that I don�t think he could see us very well, but he smelled us. I get off one shot as he turning towards us. It was good we got him because all the trees were little so I guess we would have had to jump into the pond next to the road (back in the 30�s they levee�d up the hills at the edge of the bottoms and created 5 ponds/lakes and this became the road down to the fields in the bottoms).

Be happy you don�t have wild Russians running about like in Mississippi. They are breeding with the same feral hogs and overtime it may improve and then again it may be like the Africanized honey bee. They just will keep spreading.

did you make this trap or buy it. I have never heard of a hog trap.

James,

I bought mine...but after seeing it, it would be very easy to make one. Mine was made out of cattle panels cut in half and joined together. With the addition of a wooden door and a trip wire to release the door when the hog walks on it. Very simple, but also very effective.