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Page 20 the valley star June 28, 2012 THE STRAIGHT DOPE by Chuck Vessels Feral/wild hog hunting advice With the growing number of feral and wild hogs in our area Chuck Vessels there is a growing need for undertanding control and eradication techniques. I have spent a considerable amount of time over the last six months researching, testing, and studying options that cover the gamut of trapping, baiting, shooting, and scaring the hogs. There are several legitimate companies available to aide landowners in eradication and control services that are based on science and success. I have found hundreds of questionable services that basically just want access to your land to hunt indiscriminately with no real intent on long-term problem solving. I am satisfied that real long-term solutions are based on trapping not just hunting/shooting that systematically removes an entire sounder (sows, choates, and pigs in a related family unit) at a time. This prevents the hogs that didn’t get trapped from “learning” the trap and training others to avoid it. Yes, hogs are extremely intelligent and evidence has shown they will learn a trap and keep others away. In addition to trapping, shooting the hogs also aides in eradication and scaring the hogs off your land. This brings us to the focus of the article, which is a lesson and advice for shooting hogs. I grew up on a dairy farm that also raised a few hogs. I remember the ferocity, toughness, speed, and attitude of the domestic hogs as THE VALLEY STAR Chuck Vessels harvested a 360 lb. boar in West Limestone on May 19th. Advertise with us! 256-431-5498 being more than I liked dealing with as a boy. On more than one occasion a sow put me in a tree or quickly over a fence. I was always scared of them. I have grown now to appreciate the feral/wild hogs as being much worse on all traits. I have been shocked at how tough these hogs are. Not to mention spooky, fast, and extremely violent if wounded and cornered. I have hunted hogs with bow, knives, rifles, and even bay/catch/tie alive with dogs. I am happy to report I survived and have settled on rifles. I have either used or seen used every possible caliber of handgun, rifle, and shotgun imaginable and have decided on a semi-auto rifle in calibers from .223 (5.56mm) to .308 (7.62mm) with my preference being .308. In all cases two things are critical, bullet type and shot placement. I have shot several hogs through the heart and lungs (practiced from deer hunting) and had them run 50 yards or more into the thick brush or swamps with little to no blood trail. Match and ball type ammo drills small holes that seal with fat and do very little immediate incapacitating damage. I recommend you use quality hollowpoint or ballistic-tip ammunition to create lots of central nervous system and hydrostatic damage as well as leave large entrance and possibly exit wounds for blood trails. Even better is shot placement to anchor them in their tracks. If you draw a line between the crown of the shoulder and their ear hole and shoot at the middle of that line you will get the spine and drop them instantly. This shot placement saves a lot of nervous tracking and walking in thick brush hoping that you find Daryl Sammet Owner ALL TREE the hog dead instead of waiting in ambush. I have been involved in several hog slaughters where the proper (precise) placement of a .22 in the head killed the hog instantly. Please read “precise” placement. If you miss the “sweet spot” you will have an even more dangerous hog to deal with. So, if you have to track one, take a buddy and be very careful! Landowners have gotten used to dealing with coyote and even bobcat problems for generations. We have learned that they are spooky and generally just a fleeting opportunity at best. Modern calling and hunting techniques have provided some success. But, coyotes and bob-cats run away. Hogs are much more destructive and aggressive. They don’t mind hunting you back, and can be very dangerous to domestic animals and children. If you suffer from hog problems, do your research, talk to others, and work a proper strategy for success. Until next article, report POACH- ING and UNETHICAL behavior to the proper law enforcement community, be SAFE and Have Fun! Practice and GOOD LUCK!!! Tree Services of ALL KINDS Tree Removal • Brush Chipping • Tree Trimming Storm Damage Clean-Up • Lot Clearance Licensed & Insured Phone: 256.423.6517 • Cell: 256.431.4647 26706 Thatch Road • Athens, Alabama 35613
Two Athens players on UAH baseball team Luke Mould Chandler Brock By Sonny Turner Luke Mould, above left, and Chandler Brock, of Athens, helped lead the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH) to the South Regionals recently in Tampa, Fla. Mould pitched 32 innings during the year for the Chargers, while Brock played left field and was a designated hitter. The two were freshmen on this year’s team and are looking forward to their sophomore seasons in 2013. Mould and Brock led the Athens High School Golden Eagles baseball team to one of their best seasons a year ago making the Class 5A State Final Four. Mould is the son of Rick and Mary Mould. Brock is the son of Dwayne and Kelli Brock, all of Athens. Dobbs Shoe Shop FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1945 110 W. Market St., Athens, Just Northeast of Courthouse Square 256-232-4800 Tuesday-Friday 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. - Saturday 8 A.M. - 12 P.M. Southern Trader's Flea Market Now in new location at 800 N. Jefferson St. in former Gene's Auto Parts building Inside and Outside Selling Spots Available GET YOUR FRESH FRUIT & VEGGIES HERE! For more information call Morris Pullum at 256-374-7428 RANDY’S TOWING & RECOVERY 801 SOUTH CLINTON STREET ATHENS, AL 35611 (256) 206-9310 RANDY SELF, OWNER • (256) 321-0092 (cell) TIRE CHANGES • JUMPSTARTS • LOCKOUTS MOTORCYCLE TOWING • ROLLBACK AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK June 28, 2012 the valley star Page 21
Page 1 and 2: THE VALLEY STAR SERVING ATHENS/LIME
Page 3 and 4: June 28, 2012 the valley star Page
Page 13 and 14: COOKING WITH MAMA KAYE by Mama Kaye
Page 15 and 16: The Valley Star | feature Hospice o
Page 19: June 28, 2012 the valley star Page
Page 31 and 32: BUYING • SELLING • RENTING •

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