Pig Hunting: Why Hunt Pigs? Eight Great Reasons

By Steve Sorensen

 

 They’ll send shivers up your spine when you think about those tusks shredding an abdomen or cutting
through a calf muscle like a scythe.

 

wild pigs damage fields habitat

Feral pigs do tremendous damage to
the landscape and habitat.

Wild pigs. Russian boars. Feral hogs. Whatever you call them, Hogzillas are not traditional North American big game animals. But they can be big. Real big. And they’re animals. Deadly animals.

I remember as a kid reading a magazine article about hunting wild pigs. It sounded exciting and I remember seeing pictures of a big bristled pig with long, razor-sharp tusks. It probably told the where-to and the how-to, but the why-to of hunting pigs is more relevant than ever because the population of wild pigs is exploding across North America. And they can be a lot of fun to hunt.

Why hunt pigs? To be blunt, because they need killed. It’s really that simple. Wherever they are, they reproduce rapidly, and are almost impossible to control. You might have your own reasons for hunting pigs, but if you need reasons here are eight great ones.

Reason #1

Pigs are destructive. This is the number one reason why game departments never close the season on wild pigs. Pigs compete with other wildlife. They’ll eat anything they come across. They’ll devastate turkey populations because they’re so methodical in their rooting that they can’t miss turkey nests. Nor do they miss fawns. If you have pigs in your deer or turkey hunting area, you need to kill them.

Reason #2

wild pigs damage crops

Feral pigs destroy farm crops.

Hunting pigs is an effort in conservation. Conservation is first and foremost about habitat, and killing pigs is a necessity to save habitat for other species. Pigs in North America are an invasive species – and they destroy the habitat for native species. To put it mildly, they don’t play nicely with turkeys, deer, nor songbirds and other non-game species, and in most places they have no natural predators other than man.

Reason #3

Pigs are prolific. They’ve been described as the most prolific large mammal on the face of the earth. Some people say they’re born pregnant. No, that’s not possible, but a female pig can bear two or three litters per year and some are mature enough to breed at 8 or 9 months. And if a litter averages about six piglets, one adult pair becomes 20 porkers in a year. That makes normal exponential growth look anemic. Hunting is the best way to deal with explosive populations tearing up the landscape.

Reason #4

Pigs are delicious. Leaner than domestic pork, it has a flavor that many people think surpasses grocery store pork. In fact, some high class restaurants prefer serving wild pork. Those might be subjective opinions, but it’s a fact that wild hogs don’t have the hormones that domestic pigs are fed. Don’t let wild pigs go to waste – the Internet is full of recipes, so get one and eat healthy.

wild pig skull with tusks

A pig skull is a great conversation piece and a unique trophy. Photo by Jeffery Wagner

Reason #5

Pigs are trophies. They may not have the mystique and the uniqueness of antlers, but they have a lot of bone in their skulls. A good skull with long, curling tusks makes an impressive display and invites people to ask for the story behind it.

Reason #6

Pigs are exciting. They’re perhaps the most accessible dangerous game in North America. They’ll send shivers up your spine when you think about those tusks shredding an abdomen or cutting through a calf muscle like a scythe. Don’t underestimate tuskers. They are known to come after hunters, so make sure you’re well-armed and know how to shoot.

Reason #7

feral wild pig boars

Porkers can be vicious – so make sure you’re equipped with adequate firepower.

You can hunt pigs with any weapon. Want to try out your new crossbow? Practice on live game with your recurve? Test the performance of your muzzleloader? Get the excitement of handgun hunting? Virtually any style of weapon, suitably equipped, properly powered, and in capable hands is great for wild pigs.

Reason #8

Pigs can be hunted anytime.  Spring, summer, fall, winter. Wild pigs are a great way to extend your season because in most places with wild pigs, hog time is all the time. And don’t think hunting inside an enclosure means they’re tame. Guys from southern states where pigs are overpopulated are capturing them and selling them to the ranches. So when you’re hunting a Pennsylvania ranch you’re helping to control pigs in, say, Georgia or South Carolina.

If you need more reasons to hunt pigs, you can probably find them. But the bottom line is that it all adds up to fun. So, get with a buddy and make plans to go pig hunting. Once you’ve done it, you’ll be looking for an opportunity to do it again.

***

About Steve Sorensen

Steve Sorensen, Outdoor WriterAward-winning outdoor writer and speaker Steve Sorensen loves the Havalon knife, and has been a fan of knives since he begged his dad for a hunting knife when he was six years old. His articles have been published in Deer & Deer Hunting Magazine, Sports Afield, and many other top magazines across the USA. Invite Steve to speak at your next sportsman’s event, and follow his writing on his website, www.EverydayHunter.com.

 

For more articles on pig hunting click here, and for the
best wild pig skinning knives, click here.

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Paul’s Stories from the Road: Best Knife for Skinning Deer

by Paul Schwartz

“I Forgot How to Replace the Blade”

Paul Schwartz, Havalon Division Sales Manager

Paul Schwartz, Havalon Division Sales Manager

I don’t usually title one of my stories with the punch line, but the way I was approached by the teller of this one, made me wonder how it was going to end.

I was in Sacramento, CA at the International Sportsmen’s Expo. I was talking with a few people who were asking about our knives, learning how each style is different, and how this whole “replaceable skinning blade” concept actually works. I was nearly finished addressing all of their questions when a younger guy squeezed his way through the group, and slammed his Piranta Zytel on the table. “I have a big problem with
your knife.”

Because I seldom have to address an issue with our knives, my heart stopped, I felt sweat building on my scalp, and I just knew I had to answer this customer’s concerns immediately. The very first words out of my mouth were, “Okaaay, I’m sorry to hear that, what’s going on?” He replied, “Last season, I skinned five deer with this knife, but now it’s dull, and I forgot how to replace the blade.” It was at that point I noticed the smile on his face, and that of the group of people who had been listening intently. This young hunter went on to say how much he really liked our knife, and how light weight it was. I walked him through the replacement process, and when I offered him a dozen free blades for his troubles, he declined and said, “at this rate the 12 blades that came with it will last me forever.”

Moral of the story: If you ever need a refresher on how to replace the blades on your Piranta, please click the link “How To Replace a Havalon Blade Video” on our homepage.

Remember, if you have a story you would like to share please send it to me, and hopefully it can be shared with all our friends.

Another Great American…

About Paul Schwartz:

As the Sales Manager for Havalon Knives, Paul’s primary responsibility is to manage the day-to-day sales through Havalon’s retail, dealer, and web outlets. But Paul adds that making each customer feel appreciated and happy is also an essential part of his daily work.

Originally from Cincinnati, Paul makes his home with his beautiful wife, Maura, in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, right on the border of Indiana and Ohio which makes him central to activities in both states. Paul and Maura love dogs, and currently have three rescue dogs. When Paul’s not working or spending time with his family, he enjoys going to the local stables, and spending hours riding through the woods, enjoying the peace and quiet of the Indiana scenery and wildlife.

What’s your story? Please email me at pschwartz@havalon.com. Let us know why your Havalon Knife is the best hunting knife you have ever used, and what knife now stays back home in the old coffee can.

 

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Havalon Knives Review:
A Knife Pro Talks About Havalon Knives

By Tom Claycomb III

 

How A Havalon Knife Fits Into The World Of An Outdoorsman

I’ve worked for over 30 years in beef packing plants and have learned much there that applies to my outdoor world. I know nothing about combat or survival knives, or what knife makes the best screwdriver or pry bar. What I know about is skinning and boning out animals and filleting fish. That’s my specialty.

tom claycomb holding havalon piranta original

The Havalon knife is finding its place in the hands of
every knowledgeable knife user.

With that said, let’s discuss how a Havalon knife fits into the world of an outdoorsman. First, you need to realize one knife will not fit all jobs. It’s that simple. Let’s translate that into a language that everyone speaks. Do you have only one tool in your garage? I’m not a mechanic but I have at least 20 screwdrivers, 20 open end wrenches, 300 sockets, 4-6 hammers, 3-4 adjustable wrenches and the list goes on. Get my drift? Everything has its purpose, and works best when you keep that in mind.

Sure a Havalon isn’t as stout as a Bowie knife. It’s not supposed to be, but when used for what it is designed to do it will smoke a Bowie knife, machete or whatever you’re using to field dress and cape out your big game.

Right Fast I Can List Seven Pros For The Havalon Knives…

1. Lightweight: I live in Idaho. Last season after hitting it hard elk & deer hunting I think I lost something like 15-17 lbs. I always try to cut weight in my pack, too. You can carry a stouter skinning knife, but throw a Havalon in your pack and you’ll save weight. It’s all you need to cape out your trophies and quarter your game on backcountry trips. They’re so light you’ll hardly remember you’re carrying one.

2. Skinning knife: Every hunter needs to skin something. The Havalon knife does great work on every trophy from squirrel to elk to brown bear. Don’t take it from me. Take it from top guides from Alaska to Africa – a Havalon folder with replacement blades lets you put your time and energy into skinning, not sharpening.

3. Caping big game: As a kid all my unlucky trophies got caped with my pocket knife. Now taxidermists use scalpels. That’s what a Havalon blade is, and it excels at caping out big game – nothing is better. As I said before, one knife will not work for all tasks, so for caping, you need a Havalon.

4. Boning knife: Boning knives don’t come with scabbards – therefore it’s a lot safer to carry a folding Havalon in my backpack or saddlebag. If I take a tumble or have a horse wreck I won’t get stabbed. So for boning in the backcountry, the Havalon folding fillet knife or the Baracuta-Blaze does double duty.

5. Fillet fish in the backcountry: The Havalon fillet knife is handy to carry for backpacking in the backcountry and also safe. When I backpack into the backcountry I’m sucking wind. Throw a Havalon in your pack – it works great to fillet dinner.

6. Fine cutting: I make a lot of sausage and teach sausage-making seminars. I’ve discovered that a Havalon knife works great for surgically removing tendons/ligaments that make your sausage chewy. You can remove them without wasting excess meat.

7. Myth of not stout enough: No, they will not work as a pry bar. Nor as a chisel. I have a buddy that we’ll call Frank, since that is his name. He had me take the chips out of his edge and put a tip back on his knife. A month later he told me I might need to work on it again. Gee, it was back to ground zero. No knife is good for these tasks. Granted, Havalon knives have a more delicate blade that isn’t intended to go through everything. One knife doesn’t fit all, so for some tasks you will need a stouter blade, just like for some nails you need a bigger hammer.

A word about knife sharpening. This goes against my grain but here’s the truth: most people can’t sharpen a knife. I teach knife sharpening seminars and have written at least 40 articles on the topic. In fact, I sell instructions on Amazon Kindle (click here for info), so I think you should learn how to sharpen a knife. But what if you don’t know how? What if you’re going on a hunting trip next week? What if you’re headed for the backcountry and sharpening gear is too heavy to pack? There is only one answer, and it’s easy: Havalon!

So in the outdoorsman’s world where do I see Havalon fitting in? I think they’re great for caping out trophies, skinning the feet on bears, filleting fish and filling in for a boning knife. They’ll be a lifesaver until you can come to one of my knife sharpening classes!

***

About Tom Claycomb III

tom claycomb outdoor writerTom has worked for 3 of the top 4 Beef Packing companies for the last 30 years and trained literally 10’s of thousands of boners. He’s tested knives for many of the major knife producers, written over 40 articles on knives and has taught various knife related seminars at Bass Pro Shop, Cabela’s, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Sierra Trading Post, Ace Hardware, and more.

 

Click HERE to read more reviews on Havalon Knives by Pro-hunters,
and for reviews and testimonials by hunter’s and fisher’s like you, click here. If you’re ready to buy the best hunting and skinning knife, click here.

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Walleye Fishing Tips

By Bernie Barringer

Bass-Style Spinnerbaits for Walleyes?
The Surprising Truth!

At times in my fishing career, I’ve just shaken my head in wonder. Those occasions have turned into “aha” moments. This happened to me about ten years ago on sprawlingLakeMcConaughyin westernNebraska.

bernie-barringer-with-walleye-at-devils-lake

Bernie Barringer displays a large walleye caught on Devils Lake on a spinnerbait. The flooded timber at Devils Lake provides and ideal setting for walleyes with spinnerbaits.

I was fishing the big walleyes for which the lake is famous, and happened to drop in at a tournament weigh-in. It was a Nebraska Walleye Association event, and as the leaders paraded through the weigh-in with their 30- and 40-pound bags of fish, I heard several of the top teams say they caught their limits on spinnerbaits.

I was certain it was a local way of referring to bottom bouncers and spinners, or some kind of crawler rig, but a little investigative work proved me wrong. These anglers were using bass fishing baits and collecting limits of large walleyes on them.

Large numbers of anglers were slow-rolling 3/4-ounce spinnerbaits along the rocks of the dam and rock bluffs of the lake. They were counting them down to 18-25 feet where the schools of baitfish were located. Some of them were casting spinnerbaits among the boulders and fluttering the baits down into the shadows where the walleyes would attack. Some were even trolling them!

I had caught a few walleyes on spinnerbaits in the wilds of Canada – but I figured that was a fluke! After all, those naive walleyes will eat most anything that doesn’t eat them first. But could there be more to this spinnerbait thing for walleyes?

I’d later learn that fishing with spinnerbaits was once a big secret on western reservoirs, but it’s a secret no longer. “Spinnerbait fishing for walleyes is very common on McConaughy,” says tournament angler Travis Sanger, a spinnerbait convert. “It is also popular on Merritt Reservoir and Elwood, which is where I believe it all started.”

spinnerbait lures for walleye

Occasionally the addition of a trailer hook will increase the catch rate when walleyes are less than aggressive and sometimes just nip at the tail of the bait. The trailer hook with a Gulp! minnow or PowerBait grub will give them something to aim for and increase the hookup percentages.

So what makes a spinnerbait the ticket on those three reservoirs? “Alewives,” he says. “I have also seen them work well on lakes that have a shad forage base, which includes some of the Nebraska reservoirs, but alewives are a key.” Turns out, a spinnerbait not only imitates an alewife, but it attracts them.

“When you see alewives following your spinnerbait, you know you’re in the right area. I don’t know if they follow out of curiosity or what, but they follow a spinnerbait. If alewives are around, walleyes will be nearby. If you aren’t seeing alewives following your bait, do not spend too much time there.”

But are spinnerbaits really the right tool for the job in this situation? Or would a more traditional walleye lure be better? “The advantage of a spinnerbait is its ability to select for larger fish,” Sanger explains. “You won’t have 40-50 fish days with a spinnerbait; but as a tournament bait, it is great because it is selecting those four- to five-pound fish and up.” That’s the upside to the bait, but there’s a downside too. “It tends to make you a hero or a zero,” he says.

spinnerbait dipped in gulp juice

The author’s friend Duane Ryks dips a spinnerbait tipped with a Gulp! 3-inch minnow in a bucket of Gulp! Juice. This really charges
up the bait.

That, of course, begs the question: Will spinnerbaits work in waters other than western reservoirs – waters with similar forage base and cover? I sought to answer that question while pre-fishing an FLW Walleye Tour event on Devils Lake, North Dakota a few years ago.

I was pitching shad raps among the flooded timber, a technique that has put a whole lot of Devils Lake walleyes through the weigh-in line over the years, when I noticed a pattern:  I was catching more walleyes when patches of weeds were nearby. Shad Raps are often lost on the tangles of underwater wood, and they do not pull through weeds well at all.

I decided to pull out a spinnerbait, and to my excited amazement, I caught walleyes on four of my next five casts. “A spinnerbait stays in the strike zone longer than a crankbait,” says Devils Lake guide Jason Feldner. “You can crawl them over branches and fish them right along the edges of the deep weedline. I’ve caught a lot of fish on them.”

Feldner uses two distinct techniques. In the spring, he likes to use a detachable blade like a Beetle-Spin blade, with a 1/8-  to 1/4-ounce jig and a plastic trailer such as a Power Bait twister-tail or shad body. He prefers yellow and white. “The walleyes hit them really aggressively,” he says. “Usually from behind – a lot of the time your line will just go completely slack and then you know you have a fish.”

Feldner also slow-rolls them over deep structure, counting them down and retrieving them along the bottom, similar to the way the McConaughy anglers were fishing the dam.

bernie barringer with walleye

Here’s the author with a walleye caught on a spinnerbait. Walleyes attack spinnerbaits aggressively and often engulf the entire bait.

Most spinnerbait walleye anglers agree on one thing: willow leaf blades. Maybe it’s the combination of flash and vibration that attracts them. Or the tight spin of a willow leaf blade that creates just the right profile. “I don’t know why it is, but willow leaf blades produce walleyes,” says Travis Sanger. “If it is a willow leaf and gold in color, it’s the right spinnerbait for walleyes.”

Sanger likes to combine his gold willow leaf blades with spinnerbait bodies and skirts in chartreuse or white. Feldner basically agrees with the color choice, most often going with yellow or white. Both are fishing moderately clear water. For stained water, brighter colors like florescent orange or fire tiger might be a better choice.

Sanger asserts that the upsides of fishing spinnerbaits for walleyes far outweigh the downsides. And he is certain they will work in many other walleye waters, particularly those where shad or alewives are the primary forage.

“You can cover a lot of water with them and select for bigger fish,” Sanger says. “It is hard to spend the time to really gain confidence in them, but once you do, it’s golden!”

***

About Bernie Barringer

bernie barringer outdoor writer
Bernie Barringer is a lifelong angler who has competed in professional walleye tournaments. He enjoys fishing for all species and writing about his experiences for many outdoor magazines.

 

Click HERE to read more articles by Bernie,
and for the best fillet knife for fish, click HERE.

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Turkey Hunting: Late Season Turkeys

By Vikki Trout

Three Strategies for Gobblers at the Buzzer

With only two days left to pursue the elusive Eastern wild turkey, my confidence had dwindled. As the sun peaked over the horizon on this beautiful, calm and warm morning, gobblers weren’t talking. My husband John and I had moved to several different locations trying every call and tactic in the book – hearing only silence. That is, until the ground shook from a thundering gobbler!

john trout jr calling late season turkey

The author and her husband John, pictured here, make a great double-team on late-season gobblers.

In less time than it takes to tell, John set up behind me and let out gentle clucks. It was then that I saw the longbeard moving toward the barrel of my Remington 870. On our way out of the woods that morning, with the tom heavy in my vest, we reminisced about how dismal things had looked only hours earlier.

Hunting late season turkeys is challenging. By nature, they are spooky from the moment they hatch! Rightfully so. Everything out there wants to make a meal of them – including turkey hunters.

By the time late season has arrived, most turkeys have seen it all, heard it all, and some barely escaped death at the moment of truth. Additionally, fewer birds are left roaming the woods. Nevertheless, die-hard hunters still have some good news – hunting pressure is typically lighter, and you can apply several effective late-season strategies.

1. Double-teaming strategy: Hunters working together can pay off in late season when calling to a gobbler that refuses to cross that imaginary line. Placing the shooter 25 to 30 yards in front of the caller can make the tom think “his girl” is farther away. He may not come within gun range of the caller, but might easily be within range of the shooter. Alternatively, if hunting on a hill, placing the shooter just off the top and the caller below could prompt the gobbler to top the hill for a close look around in front of the shooter.

However, avoid a dangerous situation from developing. The shooter must know – at all times – the exact location of the caller!

2. Silent strategy: By the time the late season rolls around, a gobbler may have had run-ins with other gobblers and is hesitant to face a more dominant tom. On the other hand, he may be one of those birds that barely escaped with his life after approaching a “hen”.  For one of these guys, the silent strategy might change his mind.

late season turkey strutting

Lovelorn gobblers will respond to calling right to the end of the season.

During early season, gobblers seem to respond better to consistent social talk.  Perhaps the best calling tactic in late season, however, is calling less. You may not need to be completely silent – just stick with quiet yelps, clucks and purrs and call sparingly.

3. Mobile strategy: Moving around the woods in late spring typically becomes easier, thanks to dense vegetation screening your movements. Unlike early season before the green-up occurs, briars, brambles, weeds and grasses now cover the forest floor. With a little caution, hunters can relocate without being detected. However, although the green-up helps hide us, it can also work against us when calling a bird.

During late season, many gobblers lose confidence in hen sounds because hunters have called to them so many times. We also know that toms fully expect a hen to move about, so moving like a hen is a great way to boost a gobbler’s confidence. To remain hidden, I always rely on dense vegetation, ditches and hills. Veteran turkey hunters are fully aware that it could be necessary to move consistently and call from each location. If they do come in, though, they may sneak in quietly.

vikki trout with late season gobbler

The author with one of the late-season longbeards she conquered.

I recall a particular gobbler John was hunting. This bird loved to talk. Problem was, that was all he would do – gobble and barely move. The issue was a huge thicket between them. The gobbler would not come through or around the vegetation. Instead, he held his ground and gobbled. John made the decision to walk away from the bird and circle around the tom using the foliage to his advantage. It worked!  John made a huge loop and got in front of the tom. He set up and I began calling. The gobbler came in strutting, raised his head above the foliage, offering the perfect shot.

The mobile strategy works well on loner gobblers. Hens are typically nesting during late season. This can be good news, because the threat of one of them running off with the gobbler you’re after is minimal. A jenny or two may be available, but for the most part gobblers are all alone, and vulnerable!

A loner gobbler that suddenly hears the sweet call of a hen nearby becomes excited, but that doesn’t mean he’ll come running to commit suicide. After all, he completely expects the hen to come to him since that is the way nature intended. Moving gives him the impression the hen is doing what she’s supposed to do.

Late-season turkey hunting is tough and usually drags our spirits down. Nevertheless, as I prepare this story, I’m counting off the days until the opener debuts. I hope success comes early, but if it doesn’t it’s nice to know some solid buzzer-beating strategies.

***

About Vikki Trout

vikki trout hunter outdoor writerVikki is a full-time freelance writer and photographer from southern Indiana. She loves hunting turkey, deer, bear, and small game. When she’s not hunting, she loves capturing wildlife thru the lens of her camera. She’s married to outdoor writer John Trout, Jr. Please visit their website at www.troutswildoutdoors.com.

 

Click HERE to read more articles about Turkey Hunting, and for the
best turkey skinning knives, click HERE.

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