Hunter bags 1100 pound "Hogzilla"

[richandfamous]

http://www.wftv.com/2007/0105/10679051.jpg
FAYETTE CO., Ga. -- A wild boar, weighing 1,100 pounds, was killed near Atlanta, Georgia. Residents said the so-called 'Hogzilla' had been tearing up their yards for years. A neighbor, who touts being an avid hunter, shot the pig in another neighbor's yard. The animal was then displayed hanging from a tree. In recent years, the animals have been spotted and killed in Georgia, but the Department of Natural Resources is trying to determine if the size of the most recent one breaks a state record.
link (http://www.wftv.com/slideshow/news/2691965/detail.html?qs=;s=1;w=480)

[teonspaleprincess]

Poor piggy:mad: I watched a documentary about the other "hogzilla" where they dug up where it was buried to measure it. I hate to see animals killed and hung on display. I wish he could have been relocated somewhere.

[Peter Hamilton]

agree--I hate to see any animals killed, but this boar was huge and I imagine a danger if it charged you--perhaps this boar was just too big or it was too risky to relocate

[Mabel]

Poor piggy:mad: I watched a documentary about the other "hogzilla" where they dug up where it was buried to measure it. I hate to see animals killed and hung on display. I wish he could have been relocated somewhere.

I agree. I've taken to tossing out our local paper unread during hunting season because on any page there might be a picture of a poor dead animal with it's tongue hanging out while some hunter beams over his kill. It makes me ill.

[Dark Knight]

Poor piggy:mad: I watched a documentary about the other "hogzilla" where they dug up where it was buried to measure it. I hate to see animals killed and hung on display. I wish he could have been relocated somewhere.Wild boars are extraordinarily dangerous and unpredictable. I cannot imagine trying to relocate such a thing, especially one THAT size!

Would you feel better if they turned it into bacon and ham? (Can't imagine how a wild pig would taste, lol.)

[Dark Knight]

I agree. I've taken to tossing out our local paper unread during hunting season because on any page there might be a picture of a poor dead animal with it's tongue hanging out while some hunter beams over his kill. It makes me ill.
Are you a vegetarian?

[Penelope631]

(Can't imagine how a wild pig would taste, lol.)
they taste really good..

[teonspaleprincess]

Wild boars are extraordinarily dangerous and unpredictable. I cannot imagine trying to relocate such a thing, especially one THAT size!

Would you feel better if they turned it into bacon and ham? (Can't imagine how a wild pig would taste, lol.)
Nah, sorry to say that would not make me feel any better. I rarely eat pigs, cows, fish, sheep, or any other animal. But at least it would not go to waste.

[Missouri Mule]

Don't feel sorry for these things. They have been described as four legged fire ants. Most states want them to be wiped out. They will tear up a yard like you wouldn't believe. I've seen them around where I live and they are spreading all over the United States. You don't want them. They can be eaten like a regular hog but they breed like rats and are a true menace. If you don't have them, thank your lucky stars and pray you never get any. If you see one kill it and be glad.

[Mabel]

Are you a vegetarian?

No, I'm not. Why?

[Dark Knight]

No, I'm not. Why?
Just wondering due to your aversion to seeing what hunters catch and eat. You are also eating animals that have been killed, you realize.

[Peter Hamilton]

MissouriMule, they sound pretty brutal the way you're describing them--are they really spreading thruout the US? Here in south and central florida I think they used to be around but there has been so much real estate development that we never hear about them anymore

[Dark Knight]

MissouriMule, they sound pretty brutal the way you're describing them--are they really spreading thruout the US? Here in south and central florida I think they used to be around but there has been so much real estate development that we never hear about them anymore
Here are a couple of links. First one describes their invasiveness in the US and the other is about them in general:

http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/animals/wildboar.shtml

http://www.bigcats.org/esa/wildboar11.html

[Mabel]

Just wondering due to your aversion to seeing what hunters catch and eat. You are also eating animals that have been killed, you realize.


As I am not a total imbecile, of course I realize that the meat I eat comes from dead animals. So long as the men who work at the slaughter houses don't proudly display their kill in my morning paper I have no problem with it. Big whoop-ti-do, so a man killed a helpless defensive animal simply by pointing a gun at it and pulling the trigger. Color me unimpressed. Take down that boar with your bare hands and then we'll talk.

BTW, not all hunters eat what they kill. As a matter of fact, many don't.

[lizzybeth]

Don't feel bad Mabel I feel the same way. If you choose to hunt that's fine (although I wish people wouldn't) but I don't want to see the pictures of your kill. Keep them for yourself and your buddies.

I've never understood what pleasure someone could get out of killing a defenseless animal for sport. Maybe hogzilla was too big and dangerous to relocate but they could have shot him and been done with it. No need to plaster pictures everywhere.

[BAD_BUTTERFLY]

In our area if a hunter kills a deer, etc. And doesn't want it for the meat he can take it to our local butcher shop and they cut it up and deliver the meat to local food pantries in the area so families don't starve to death. I guess I am a bit partial as I am looking at the front end of a deer sitting in our recliner waiting to be put up on the wall. Just imagine if someone would hit one of those in a car on the road. People thought hitting a deer was bad.

[oceanblueeyes]

Don't feel bad Mabel I feel the same way. If you choose to hunt that's fine (although I wish people wouldn't) but I don't want to see the pictures of your kill. Keep them for yourself and your buddies.

I've never understood what pleasure someone could get out of killing a defenseless animal for sport. Maybe hogzilla was too big and dangerous to relocate but they could have shot him and been done with it. No need to plaster pictures everywhere.

Lizzy,

Most hunters do not trophy hunt. They hunt for the meat only. And even if they do they give the meat away to homeless shelters or other non-profit organizations. Deer is one of the healthiest meats one can eat. Do you realize that if hunters do not hunt the deer will become overpopulated, sickly and carry more diseases? Do you not read about the horrible wrecks that are caused by deer? This happens when there are too many deer and the deer herd is looking for food and a less congested area. They die and they kill human beings in the vehicles too. A woman and a little girl lost their lives last year in my county when a deer crashed through their windshield.

The DNR has even increased the amount of deer that can be shot yearly per person due to the overpopulating problem.

I certainly trust my husband and my son when processing our deer meat much more than a slaughter house that kills hundreds of animals a day and has many problems with contamination such as e-coli.

Hunters are a vital part of keeping our planet working in tandem.

This dangerous boar would have been photographed whether he was dead or alive. When they think a record may have been broken it always makes the news. I am glad they killed him. Better him than some innocent child out in the yard playing unaware he was close by. Imo.

IMO

Ocean

[Missouri Mule]

MissouriMule, they sound pretty brutal the way you're describing them--are they really spreading thruout the US? Here in south and central florida I think they used to be around but there has been so much real estate development that we never hear about them anymoreThey sure are. One of my neighbors has trapped nearly 20 in his back yard. The neighbor across from him had his beautiful yard just torn to pieces. He finally had to install an electric fence around the perimeter to keep them out.

I first heard about this from a local woman who said that they were just tearing her long driveway all to pieces. I didn't think much about it until I saw the neighbor's lawn. My wife saw one come out of the creek near our home but it quickly retreated. I would have no reluctance about shooting it on the spot. Most states have year round hunting to get rid of these things. They want them dead. Here is what they are doing in Wisconsin.

“Feral pigs are exotic, non-native wild animals that pose significant threats to both the environment and to agricultural operations,” according to Bryan Woodbury a wildlife biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources. “These free roaming pigs can be found across a wide variety of habitats and are highly destructive because of the rooting they do in search of food.”

http://www.biggamehunt.net/sections/Wisconsin/Feral_Pig_Numbers_Increasing_10250506.html

And let me also say, that you don't want to tangle with one of these things; even a domestic hog. They are quite dangerous. If they will eat their own, they wouldn't have any reluctance to taking a chunk out of your leg or arm either. The wild ones are called four legged fire ants in Texas. I used to think the armidillos were a problem. That is until I saw these monsters. You don't want them.

Dec. 14, 2006, 2:16AM
Feral hogs like 'four-legged fire ants'
Feral hogs are multiplying at alarming rates and causing million of dollars of damage each year across Texas


By SHANNON TOMPKINS

Texas holds the nation's largest population of feral hogs, the atavistic progeny of domestic swine lost, escaped, released or otherwise loosed into the wild.
Most hunters see this as a blessing.

But almost all landowners, wildlife biologists, land managers and natural resource experts consider it a curse.

"There's not much middle ground when it comes to feral hogs," said Billy Higginbotham. "You either love them or hate them."

While he heartily agrees wild pigs make great quarry for hunters — the animals are smart, wary, abundant, can be pursued using many hunting methods and are incomparable on the table — Higginbotham's bottom line on feral hogs is not complimentary.

"They're four-legged fire ants," said the wildlife specialist with the Texas Cooperative Extension Service...

(snip)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/outdoors/tompkins/4401459.html

[lizzybeth]

Oceanblueyes, I live in an area that has alot of deer. I understand just because I don't approve of hunting doesn't mean it should be outlawed. I just wish there were a more humane way to weed out some of the deer population. We just had a new thing where for a few days each year hunters could hunt bear in the Great Dismal Swamp. So many hunters wanted to hunt that they had to have a lottery. Do I believe that any of these hunters were going to eat the bear after they killed it? Nah, they wanted to have their picture taken with it and possibly stuff it and have it in their office/home. We had a guy upstairs here at the office that was a hunter and had a bear rug, dear head on the wall and a stuffed bobcat. I doubt very seriously he ate or donated the meat of any of those animals.
If you're hungry, fine, kill a deer and feed your family. Otherwise I think they should be left alone.
As far as Hogzilla, yeah, he needed to be removed whether by hunters or relocated. I don't disagree with that. I have alot of respect for animals, wild and domesticated. I just don't like seeing people display their dead bodies as if they've really accomplished something...killing a more than likely defenseless animal. Give Hogzilla a gun and make it even. Most of the hunters now a days use so many gadgets the animals don't even have a chance just using their natural instincts.
Sorry, for the rant. I just can't believe that the hunters are all out there for the good of the human race. Saving us from deer.

[Amraann]

Peter you do not see as many ferral hogs because state agencies in Florida remove them.
You do not read much about the removal in the news because as you can see from comments above its not a popular thing to do.
The truth is that a ferral hog is dangerous.
Moreso then the gators we read about. Not only are they an exotic creature not meant to be here ... They are violent.
For the record fresh sausage is yummy!!

[oceanblueeyes]

Oceanblueyes, I live in an area that has alot of deer. I understand just because I don't approve of hunting doesn't mean it should be outlawed. I just wish there were a more humane way to weed out some of the deer population. We just had a new thing where for a few days each year hunters could hunt bear in the Great Dismal Swamp. So many hunters wanted to hunt that they had to have a lottery. Do I believe that any of these hunters were going to eat the bear after they killed it? Nah, they wanted to have their picture taken with it and possibly stuff it and have it in their office/home. We had a guy upstairs here at the office that was a hunter and had a bear rug, dear head on the wall and a stuffed bobcat. I doubt very seriously he ate or donated the meat of any of those animals.
If you're hungry, fine, kill a deer and feed your family. Otherwise I think they should be left alone.
As far as Hogzilla, yeah, he needed to be removed whether by hunters or relocated. I don't disagree with that. I have alot of respect for animals, wild and domesticated. I just don't like seeing people display their dead bodies as if they've really accomplished something...killing a more than likely defenseless animal. Give Hogzilla a gun and make it even. Most of the hunters now a days use so many gadgets the animals don't even have a chance just using their natural instincts.
Sorry, for the rant. I just can't believe that the hunters are all out there for the good of the human race. Saving us from deer.

Hi Lizzy!

I do understand your rant lol as you call it but I do not agree with how dismal you paint it. The thousands of poor cattle and pigs that are killed daily are certainly not treated as humanely when they are killed in a slaughter house as a hunter who drops the deer with no forewarning to let the animal even know they are in danger. It is over before they knew it. In slaughter houses you can hear the cows and pigs protesting as they are herded in to be slaughtered.

I beg to differ, many trophy hunters do donate the meat, bear, deer or otherwise to those who are in need of it.

Do you realize that the more the hunter can insure his weapon accuracy it is much better for the animal as it leaves less room for mishots? We are a hunting family and have been for decades. One deer, one shot, that is it. I am not sure what you mean as "gadgets". Most hunters use a rifle and a scope.

It has nothing to do with being hungry! :laugh: The deer meat is a very healthy meat and far better to eat than cow or pig. Even though our family eats all kinds of meat (chicken, beef,pork, seafood and of course deer meat)

Well respectfully I think you are wrong Lizzy, the hunters have been here for hundreds of years and they are valuable in making our planet work. If the hunters stops hunting then the DNR will have no choice but to shoot the deer themselves to insure that the herds do not become overpopulated, invading our highways and become hungry or diseased.

And I have always been amazed through the years at how many missing people, who have been murdered, were found by hunters who go where others dont go, even LE.

IMO

Ocean

[Amraann]

Excellent Post Ocean!!!


We have many many friends who are hunters and none of them "trophy" hunt.
I did know one person who "trophy" hunted.. My Friends hubby.
He went to Africa to do so. The meat was given to the locals and the hide would be sent back here. Which took many months and cost a fortune and IMO helped the economy there.
Since the beginning of humankind people have hunted. For food or for warmth of the fur or to prove they could.
It was a natural balance. Somehow people have forgotten that.
Instinct dictates that humans behave a certain way. Its sad that as society "grows" we remove ourselves further from our fundimental origins.
I wonder if in doing so it causes more of the chaos and crime we read here.

[lizzybeth]

We'll just have to respectfully agree to disagree Oceanblueyes. I do agree with you though that it is more humane to shoot an animal (on the condition you kill it with the first shot) than it is to have one killed in a slaughterhouse.