LET'S GO HOG HUNTING

THE FERAL HOG IS A VERY DESTRUCTIVE ANIMAL KNOW FOR DESTROYING CROPS, GREEN FIELDS, AND DEER HABITAT. THEIR NUMBERS ARE STEADILY INCREASING AND MUST BE CONTROLLED.
IN THE EARLY MORNING OF MARCH 2ND 2009, A DAY AFTER MOTHER NATURE PUT A BLANKET ON SNOW ON PARTS OF ALABAMA, AHEA MEMBERS AND FRIENDS FROM ALL AREAS OF THE STATE HEADED TO SOUTHERN SPORTSMAN LODGE IN TYLER, ALABAMA.
THEIR PURPOSE WAS TO SPEND A FEW DAYS HUNTING FERAL HOGS ALONG WITH SPENDING TIME WITH OTHER AHEA MEMBERS AND THEIR FRIENDS.
AROUND 11 A.M. WITH SUNNY SKIES AND TEMPERATURES AT 52 DEGREES, EVERYONE BEGAN TO ARRIVE WITH GREAT EXPECTATIONS OF A GOOD HUNT AND A GREAT EVENT.
PRIOR TO EATING LUNCH WE WERE VISITED BY MEMBERS OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDLIFE AND FRESHWATER FISHERIES. CHRIS JAWORORSKI
( LOWDNES WMA BIOLOGIST) AND MARISA LEE (HUNTER EDUCATION REGIONAL COORDINATOR) TO SHOW US THE MOST LIKELY PLACE TO HUNT IN ORDER TO KILL A WILD HOG, ALONG WITH GOING OVER LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS. WE WERE TOLD ONE CRITICAL THING; A FERAL HOGS SMELL IS EXCEPTIONALLY WELL AND TO ALWAYS KEEP THE WIND IN OUR FACE.
AFTER BEING SERVED A DELICIOUS SOUTHERN LUNCH, 27 HUNTERS HEADED OUT ON THE AFTERNOON HUNT.
UPON DRIVING THRU LOWDNES WMA TO OUR HUNTING LOCATIONS, WE ENCOUNTERED FLAT GROUND WITH PLANTED OAK PLANTATIONS, BOGS, SWAMPS, SLOUGHS, AND PALMETTOS. PERFECT HABITAT FOR A PIG. THERE WERE CRITTERS EVERYWHERE AND SOME SOUNDS , AS IF WE WERE IN THE AMAZON, WE'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE.
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Let's Go Hog Hunting
By Barry Hagan

Southern Sportsman Lodge, Tyler Alabama

Primordial Woods. Large, unseen animals, were heard trompling about in the mossy undergrowth.

Fellowship of the Hog. A somber time of...Just kidding.
If you have never done this sort of thing, you have
missed one of life's greatest pleasures...and a darn good feed!

There are those who eat sausage and those who do not. Terry Harbinson is the man who does.     

     AS DAYLIGHT FADED AND DARKNESS FELL, WE BEGAN OUR
JOURNEY OUT OF THE WOODS TO RETURN TO THE LODGE.
THE DAY HAD ENDED WITH EVERYONE SAFE AND ONE HOG HAD BEEN KILLED. TERRY HARBINSON HAD TAKEN A NICE BLACK BOAR WHICH
FIELD DRESSED 148 POUNDS. GOOD JOB TERRY! WE ARRIVED TO A WONDERFUL SUPPER AND RELAXED TO A CASUAL ATMOSPHERE FOR
THE NIGHT TELLING OUR STORIES.
THE NEXT MORNING WOULD HOPEFULLY PROVE TO BE ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL DAY. OF COURSE A HUNTER HAS TO BE FED. NO PROBLEM. SCRAMBLED EGGS,GRITS, BACON, SMOKED SAUSAGE, SAUSAGE PATTIES, BISCUITS WITH BUTTER AND JELLY AND COFFEE AROMA FILLED THE LODGE SIGNIFYING IT WAS TIME TO EAT. WE, TYPICAL OF ANY HUNTER, MUST EAT BEFORE EMBARKING ON SUCH A HUNT. SO EAT WE DID.
GREAT BREAKFAST!
WE ALL LEFT FOR THE MORNING HUNT. SOME WENT TO THEIR PREVIOUS HUNTING SPOTS WHILE OTHERS WENT TO NEW LOCATIONS. AT LUNCH A FEW HAD BEEN SEEN BUT NONE HAD BEEN TAKEN. THE WILD BOAR / HOG WAS PROVING TO BE AN ELUSIVE ANIMAL AFTER ALL. WE ALL TRIED EVERY TACTIC (DIFFERENT HUNTING LOCATIONS ) WE COULD TO FIND
THIS ANIMAL, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THE PIG HAD WON.
AT SUPPER WE WERE HONORED WITH THE PRESENCE OF RAY METZLER
( HUNTER EDUCATION COORDINATOR ) AND HIS FAMILY ALONG WITH MARISA LEE JOINING US. THEIR TRULY AN ASSET TO HUNTER EDUCATION IN ALABAMA, AHEA, AND A PART OF OUR FAMILY.
A FEW HUNTED WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH NO LUCK. MANY WISHED THEY COULD STAY LONGER.
OVER THE YEARS, AS AHEA MEMBERS, WE SEE NAMES AND EMAIL ADDRESSES BUT ARE NEVER ABLE TO CONNECT IT WITH A FACE AND ACTUALLY MEET THESE PARTICULAR PEOPLE. AT THIS EVENT WE WERE ABLE TO MEET THESE PEOPLE, SOCIALIZE, TELL OUR STORIES, AND REALLY GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR ASSOCIATION AND IT'S MEMBERS.
WE ALL BEGAN OUR TRIP HOME WITH GAINING A FEW POUNDS AND WONDERFUL MEMORIES THAT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
WE'D ALL LIKE TO THANK DAVE LYON AND HIS STAFF FOR THE
EXCELLENT FOOD, ACCOMMODATIONS AND SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY AT SOUTHERN SPORTSMAN LODGE.  WE WILL BE BACK!