Feral Hogs are getting out of hand

[Haris122]

I thought of hunting them just because it would be fun to go after something else the size of a deer, outside of deer season, and because the "season" for them was always open, but I'd have to drive out pretty far to go someplace that had any real population of them, so I never did do it while I had the chance. Wish I would've gave it a shot while I still had the chance, but it wasn't like I would've ate them anyhow. Though from what I hear and read about them, I don't mind at all that they're trying to thin them out as much as possible. As much as people seem to hate the hunting ban, I don't think most people trying, would get anywhere near the numbers per year, that you do.

[Chief Grey Bear]

99% of those that are against the ban, don't even hunt hogs. 

The real hog hunters don't hunt MDC property. So the ban doesn't affect them.

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, Chief Grey Bear said:

99% of those that are against the ban, don't even hunt hogs. 

The real hog hunters don't hunt MDC property. So the ban doesn't affect them.

There are purist hog hunters ? 

"Look at that poser, he's no REAL hog hunter.  I bet he hunts conservation land, smokes menthols, and even picks up his brass".  ?

[oneshot]

I was Baiting and Calling on Corps Land most weighed 80 - 100 pounds but did kill one that weighed 450 pounds. My Boys helped me get him out and said I was just nuts shooting one that big with a Muzzleloader from the ground.

I might add I had several Sows around me several times with Babies. The Babies were actually kind of cute but most Babies are.

oneshot

[wayneblevins]

While I don't want hogs I have to agree that mdc works off of what brings in the most money. In most cases that is deer. I know of instances where a farmer has shot coyotes after dark for killing livestock and they were fined. I watched from a roadway less that a week ago as two coyotes attempted to kill a calf. They had the cow, and two calves cornered (she had just had twins ) they approached from different directions one from each side the cow had a calf one each side of her with no chance of protecting both of the calves I stopped and yelled at the coyotes, but they paid me no mind. I then drove to where I had phone service and called the land owner he came and delt with the problem. It this had been after dark he would have been guilty of spotlighting the coyotes. MDC refuses to change any regulation for this because it might make it harder for them to prosecute people poaching deer.  I know someone smarter than me ( that won't take much)  does a search they can find instances of this same thing happening and the farmer getting convicted of poaching this is not right but it makes no difference to MDC  deer is where they get the most revenue from

[Haris122]

Quote

While I don't want hogs I have to agree that mdc works off of what brings in the most money. In most cases that is deer. I know of instances where a farmer has shot coyotes after dark for killing livestock and they were fined.

I don't know all the details, but I'm kind of doubting that. I know the past several times someone shot a mountain lion in Missouri, all they had to do is come up with some lie about feeling unsafe, or that their livestock was endangered and they got off free, even though from what was mentioned, that was not the case. I bet if he had proof, he'd have got no grief for it. When I first got my hunter safety certification 7 or so years ago, they even had I think march off limits to coyote hunting, now that's not even the case anymore. I don't see what that extra month would've hurt as far as protecting them. What I don't agree with as far as regulations go, is that you need a deer permit on top of small game permit, to hunt them at that time. Way I see it, if you're only using the type of gun that they require during deer season for other game, then you shouldn't need to get the deer permit too. That's I think a little bit of a scam.

[wayneblevins]

I can't find the court records for the case but it was at west plains. The person telling me this inspected dairy farms and it occurred on a farm he inspected. He told me that the farmer had called MDC and was told he could not shoot the coyotes with the aid of a light This was after he had already lost six or seven calves MDC advised him that it was probably dogs killing the calves. The farmer then recorded the coyotes attacking a calf that had just been born he was still advised no shooting with a light. He finally shot one after they started to eat the backend out of the cows while they were calving and got caught he fought the ticket in court and lost. I also called MDC and asked about this because I lost several chickens to coyotes and was told no i could not shoot them with the aid of a light ended up losing twenty hens in the span of a month I finally shot the coyote during the day time while standing on my front porch as it was digging under the chicken pen.

[jdmidwest]

I don't think you can hunt coyotes with a light.  But if you are checking your livestock during the night and run across one, you should be justified in shooting a coyote or any predator harming your livestock.  A farmer has a right to protect his livestock.

There is always a fine line in areas where spotlighting deer is a problem.  MDC takes a dim view of spotlighting deer hunters.  But the culprits seem to use the defense of spotlighting something else to cover up their real intent.

 

[fishinwrench]

Why is it OK to spotlight fish ?  

[jdmidwest]

You can hunt coons with a spotlight too. One of those goofy rules.