Feral Hog Trapping Demonstration by Missouri Department of Conservation and USDA APHIS
I was hoping it was seminar showing landowners constructing their own traps. It was not.
Then did not give seminar, they just talked to people that came up to them and demonstrated how Boarbuster worked along with the HogEye Camera/Trap system worked did shoot a little video may post later.
I talked with both Feral Hog Strike Team Leader – Matthew Peter and Mark McLain, MDC’s Feral Hog Elimination Team Leader.
Which I have talked with both on the phone and by email past few months. Had a nice talk with both.
Told them that the USDA APHIS failed to even draw in the Wild Hog Boar with the baiting method. I Went over AGAIN the changes in policy and regulations I am looking for from the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Told them I am still for an all methods approach.
I don't hunt wild hogs, don't care too, they are just like roaches in my opinion. I just want to manage my property so I can deer and turkey hunt and trap furbearers , that's all this comes down to and here the changes I am looking for.
NUMBER ONE
If you have a Bow Tag, or Firearms tag during – Archery Season, Youth Season, Firearms Season, Antlerless Season, Muzzleloader Season should be legal to shoot Wild Hogs on public land in Missouri on MDC ground.
The hogs have no clue if you are shoot at them or Bambi. How many times have you sat in stand during gun season and was startled at a gunshot? No one is shooting at you but you still jump.
If you are not going to trap conservation land during hunting season, because not one trap or bait is set on the MDC ground next to me and you’re not going to be able get a trap in there anyway because of its location, distance and terrain.
I don’t really care what type of reporting or permitting goes in with this, just as long as there is never ANY cost associated with any permits to the public, hunters or landowners.
Here my reason
Wildlife is managed under the principles of the The North American Wildlife Conservation Model. The Model should not be exclusive to wildlife or game species but invasive also.
Regulated hunting is the foundation of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. It was led by prominent HUNTERS, to stop over-exploitation of wildlife by market hunters and the desire to have wildlife accessible to all people.
Simple way to look at it - That is why we have the Department of Conservation to set limits on the amount to wildlife that can be taken, so wildlife will be here in the future.
The early days of North American wildlife management were spent stopping declines of those species the human population found useful in some way and encouraging population growth with limited seasons, male-only hunting, daily bag limits and other RESTRICTIONS.
As successful law enforcement, habitat preservation and wildlife management programs grew, so did most wildlife populations.
Early biologists saw this effect of harvest as evidence that game populations could be managed as a renewable natural resource where the population replaces the portion REMOVED by HUNTERS.
In cases where population REDUCTION is the management goal, managers must implement FEMALE harvest beyond the level at which the population can replace itself in the short-term.
POPULATION REDUCTIONS or maintenance at appropriate levels are a clear case of HUNTERS acting as partners in wildlife management. Conflicts with man in the form of vehicle collisions, nuisance wildlife, livestock depredation, predation on crops and risks to human safety may result in a goal to manage at a ‘Social Carrying Capacity’ lower than the biological limit of the habitat.
For example, the number of deer-vehicle collisions is estimated to exceed 1.5 million every year on U.S. roadways. This tremendous loss of life and property, illustrates the importance of effectively managing wildlife abundance to appropriate levels by the HELP from HUNTERS.
Recent international symposia have reaffirmed that regulated HUNTING is the MOST EFFECTIVE TOOL to assure species exist in balance with their habitat.
The role of hunting - Over-abundant big game populations can alter the habitat to the detriment of many other species. The same can be said for Wild Hogs
This shows the IMPORTANCE OF HUNTING IN CONTROLLING WILDLIFE POPULATIONS. – The same can be said for Wild Hogs.
In some areas, deer overpopulation increases because LANDOWNER RESTRICT HUNTING.
The same can be said for Wild Hogs in Missouri – Over-abundance of Wild Hog Population can alter the habitat to the detriment of many other native species. On Missouri Department of Conservation Land the Wild Hog overpopulation increase because the Landowner AKA., AGENCY RESTRICT HUNTING.
NUMBER TWO
Instead of making Hog Doggers out as the bad guys, which is absolutely counterproductive the USDA APHIS and MDC instead of using helicopters over dense Ozark Forest Valleys for $296 per pig, then a partnership should be made, working together to eliminate wild hogs. Helicopters are limited on places they can go,
No. 2A - If Dogs can travel the Western Landscape to hunt Mountain Lion then on 100% of the landscape in Missouri can be covered by dogs, and should be used.
A 2014 Missouri study calculated trapping costs at $264 per pig and aerial shooting at $296 per pig, Jump said.
No. 2B - Also making Hog Doggers out as the bad guys and keep saying they are releasing hogs is counterproductive.
Too me it is the same as people are poaching Deer, Elk, Black Bear, Wild Turkey etc. etc. etc. every year in Missouri, but I don’t see the MDC blaming hunters and stop hunting because people are poaching.
Hog Dogger took over 1,800 hogs in 2018. I don’t really care what type of reporting or permitting goes in with this, just as long as there is never ANY cost associated with any permits to the public, hunters or landowners.
NUMBER THREE
Get rid of the Outdated Regulations before the Wild Hogs existed on the landscape and CWD regulations where born –
Landowners should be allowed to use Soured Corn Mix or any tainted corn as suggest by the Texas A&M when Wild Hog Damage or Wild Hog are damaging property, without losing hunting rights to any area of the property in any season, included in all of the CWD Management Zone.
Either landowners are partners in the Wild Hog Problem, or they are wildlife game violators. Hard decision must be made NOW! Because saying the Department is Protecting Native Species by allowing invasive species killing methods to be restricted, only Destroys the Native Species Habitat and in essence the Department has actually helped Damage the Native Species.
I don’t really care what type of reporting or permitting goes in with this, just as long as there is never ANY cost associated with any permits to the public, hunters or landowners.
NUMBER FOUR
Continue to use USDA APHIS and MDC Trappers in Missouri taking 9,300 hogs in 2018 is a plus!!!
NUMBER FIVE
This is the biggest of them all
Hog Dogger killed 1,800 hogs – My Reply to that is SO WHAT!
MDC killed 9,300 – My Reply to that is SO WHAT!
I know of multiple landowners not working with the MDC, that don’t report the hogs and have killed over 200 to 400 hogs on private ground. – My Reply to that is SO WHAT!
I am very glad that each group has killed wild hogs and that is a GREAT thing. But if it’s only 20%, 50% or even 60% - everyone is spitting in the wind.
I ask what the population is the answer is I DON’T KNOW then killing hogs under the 70% mark which every agency says has to be done then, including the MDC not reached in SO WHAT!
The No. 1 Conservation Department in the National that can Estimate 1.3 Million Deer, 300,000 to 400,000 Wild Turkeys can set limits on every species of Wildlife in Missouri can't figure out what the wild hog population is.
Interns are not walking around Missouri counting Wild Turkey, Deer or any other animal by starting at 1, 2, 3 - They are extrapolating the numbers.
By not knowing the goal that has to be reached every statement MDC has made about eradication, making progress, or closing in on the Feral Hog is Unquantifiable, Dishonest and Unprovable.
U.S. Forest Service - Mark Twain National Forest best educated guess that last year the Wild Hog Population was 30,000 to 40,000 in state of Missouri and if 11,100 hogs killed that is 37% to 27% in 2018.
THAT IS 33% TO 43% SHORT OF A KNOWN GOAL.
BUT NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI CAN SAY IF THIS IS CORRECT OR NOT, BECAUSE. WE DON'T KNOW!!!!
GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT THE POPULATION NOW!!!
The Feral Hog Trapping Demonstration by Missouri Department of Conservation and USDA APHIS January 18th, 2019
Typically, just talked to people that came up to them and demonstrated how Boarbuster worked along with the HogEye Camera/Trap system worked.
Sorry too many people got in front of me to be able to record trap dropping. People really don't care if you are holding a video camera. LOL
Boarbuster is a great trap and has its place in the hog trapping world.
Price around $5,595
Want to see video's or learn more about Boarbuster visit the website.
HogEye is also the best camera and control and works with mutliple style hog traps not just this one, and also has its place in the hog trapping world.
Price around $2,450
Want to see video's or learn more about HogEye visit the website.
