EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

I know some peopple got into hunting to "kill hogs"

Just curious as to what other reasons folks might have to say.

I grew up as a dog person, going to shows and alot of time spent practicing and working the dogs and when I was a kid, I hated it, I was drug all over as far as Colorado to dog trials. My family, the girls did not go hunting anyway it was all obedience, PP, tracking, conformation, feild trials with the dogs, not real hunting. I worked at animal shelters and training/boarding facilities as a teenager and early twenties. I knew folks that hunted with dogs but not till later did I know about hog hunting and was curious. I asked around to go along and most would not let me go, because I was a female, and females will get hurt, that only made me more determined to go along.
I went on several dry runs before experiencing actual baying and catching a wild hog in the woods. I was hooked the first time I was on a succesful hunt. I also got involved in Bay pen trials and did that for a couple years before I got succesful and started really competing, until all my spare time was spent with hog dogs in the woods or in the bay pen, even to the point of calling in sick for work so I did not miss anything. I grew away from the pen dogs and just kept my woods dogs. I know why I like to hunt, I like to be with the dogs, I enjoy watching the young dogs grow and succeed. I love to see someone new, on their first hard hunt and get really excited, to the point they can't stop talking about every minute of excitement too.

WHAT ARE YOUR STORIES? As to WHY?

You hit it on the head, all about the dogs.  From start... to finish.... and all the memories in between.

PURE ADRENALINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D

I still love the feeling of going into a bay, with all the dogs baying and not knowing what you will see.

Krystal, I was lucky in that I was able to meet good people early on that were willing to help me and answer alot of questions.  From these friends I was able to make other friends and meet other good people and even to this day I continue to meet good people that are out there for the same reason that I am.....to watch good dogs work.  You may even know some of those "early" people that helped me along the way  ;)

I hunt for one main reason only.......I LOVE to watch dogs work and produce a specific game.  It amazes me every time I unclip my dogs and we go hunting and of all the critters in the woods they are able to locate, stop and bay hogs.  


For every ying there is a yang though, I really like hogs.  Of all the animals in the woods hogs are some of the smartest, fastest, meanest, hardest animals that walk the face of the earth and I pat my dogs on the head every time they give me the opportunity to put my hands on a hog regardless of the sex or the size.

There are alot of other reasons that hunting is fun and time spent with friends is priceless, but the friends I spend the most time with all agree on one thing and that is that dog work and hog production is what keeps us waking up early and staying up late!!

Matt

I enjoy seeing the dogs work.

I'm with Mike,  its so much fun ridin around not knowing when or where its gonna go down.  But when it does, it's such a rush chargin into a bay and not knowing what your gonna see and how your gonna react to it.  On the other side of the coin, I am very new to owning dogs and it was an awesome feeling to see that when you get to the bay that your dog is in on the action.  I think in the future when they are striking their own hogs that both of these reasons will be my favorites.   ;D  

Oh yeah and ever since Mike and Matt came out that first time I have been hooked.  And believe me.... that was a wild hunt right there. ;D ;D ;)

1. The pure enjoyment of watching the dogs work...from the pups just starting out to the experienced dogs, for me that's a pleasure.

2. The fellowship of family and friends in the woods.

raising pups and watching them grow, and start findin and bayin theyre own hogs,,, time in the woods,, time with friends

basically the same as everybody else lol ;D ;D

Raised with bulldogs and that is what got me into it.  But just as the others I love to watch dogs progress and work no matter if it is PP work, Ducks, Deer, Cows, etc.  But I do ask myself everyday why I feed and have these dogs, but all it takes is to hear them talkin to one and I am easily reminded why they are around!

Joey

i was sitting at my girlfriends house and her cousin pulled up with about a 300 pound boar, with dogs in a box in the back of the truck and i said, "what'd shoot it with?" and he said he didnt shoot it he stuck it. i couldnt beleive it i had never heard of anyone around here doin that. so looked it up on the computer saw some videos and realized that is what i want to do. it all started out killin the hog cause i get that adrenaline rush everytime i hear a bay, also like to see the dogs grow and see the stuff they have accomplished. UGLYDOG i cant beleive they wouldnt let you go cause you were a girl. thats what our pick up line for girls were, "you want to do some hog doggin" i guaranteed that will catch a city girls attention  ;D

krystal, simple question for a great thread! my feelings mirror a lot of those already said. i am a born and raised "city boy" myself. didn't do any hunting, and not much fishing as a kid. got into it as an adult. and although i enjoys all things outdoors now, hog doggin stands apart from everything else. every time i rush into a bay, it's dang near as exciting as the first time! the whole unpredictable nature of this type of hunting, never knowing for sure just what might be waiting. and of course the dogs! their abilities simply amaze me. the whole teamwork aspect of it all too. we need them, and in the end they need us; and together we put hogs on the ground! and last there are the great people you get to meet and hunt with. i have met some really great friends thanks to hog hunting.
put all those things together and it just seems crazy not to hunt!

Great thread!! For me its all about the family, friends, dogs, and ADRENALINE ;D 

I have several reasons that I hog hunt.

1.  Getting to see good dogs work, which I can appreciate regardless of the job the dogs do. I can appreciate any dog that does its job WELL. Hogs, cattle, obedience, blood trail, etc.

2.  Adrenaline, night before last we were in the woods, and talking about how neat it would be to have a heart monitor that would chart our times in the woods. From the first bark, to our arrival at the bay.

3.  The "unknown"  -  You just never know what your dogs have found until you get to the bay, it could be a 100# sow, or a 250# boar with some ivory.  It's like scratching a lotto ticket.

4.  Quality time - Family, friends, and getting to see parts of Texas that you will never see from the highway. The feeling I get when our 7 and 10 year old daughters ask to go hog hunting with us, is hard to explain.   Or seeing Mandi head to a second bay and have the hog legged before a catch dog even shows up! They are memories I hope to never forget. 

Fellowship, watchin the dogs, and the unkown of what they got bayed in the bushes 5 steps from you :o.

ADRENALINE + THE UNKNOWN = MORE ADRENALINE :o

Ditto on every point. 

.....cause somebody has to feed the ticks and mosquitoes around here! ;D

What else can you do year round that

• is challenging (both mentally and physically)
• allows you to prove and test yourself in so many ways
• is good cardiovascular exercise
• allows for quality time with family and friends
• is a constant learning experience
• allows you to be outdoors in God's wide open spaces
• can test your emotions to the limit
• is legal

Put all that aside and it's still just plain fun, and I love those dogs.--John

I agree with what others have said.

First and foremost, I enjoy spending time together in the woods with my son (and in another year or so, both my boys).  He's at the age that every one of our hunts will be a memory that will stay with him a lifetime.  I have never (and won't ever) push my boys to enjoy what I enjoy, but it thrills me that they are growing up passionate about the outdoors.  It's hard to get into much trouble in the woods or holding a fishing rod, and there are VERY few weekends that we're not in the woods or on the water.

Other than that, I enjoy watching my dogs and especially the young ones.  I can go to the woods and not even catch a hog and come home thrilled as to the show my dogs put on for me.  Nothings more pleasing than watching young dogs really start getting their game together.

As far as background, I was introduced to hog-dogging about 16 years ago by my wife's cousin (who is now a game warden in South Texas).  I have always been an outdoors enthusiast, and was invited on my first dog hunt shortly after my wife and I met.  I became addicted, and got my own dog (noticed singular) soon thereafter.  Hunted for many years with that dog and rifle.  Saw a guy driving down the road one day with a hog dog sticker on his window and I followed him into a parking lot.  Starting talking and he invited me to go hunting.  The next weekend I was introduced to two things I had heard about, but never personally experienced (or even desired to experience) which were go-yonder type dogs and hunting behind catchdogs.  From that moment, I was re-addicted and started all over with another style which I enjoy greatly.  I still get the adrenaline rush, and get all giddy inside ever time I hear one open up!  When I stop getting that feeling, my gear will be for sale.

i have to agree with every comment, that has been made.  to me, it is about the dogs. l love to watch a dog hunt, be it birds or hogs.
i hope before i am to old, i will get to see a jaguar hunt with dogs. i have hunted bob cats with dogs. it is fun, but not like the bigger cats would be.

I was born in to it my dad has hunted bear & lions and hogs all of my life he carried me to my first bear tree when I was just a little shaver and I have had a passion for hunting with dogs ever since then. I enjoy hunting with my friends or by myself it doesnt matter to me as long as I have a dog or two along. I like the excitement of hog hunting as much as anything but I have just as much fun whether i am hunting bear, lions, hogs, or wild cattle.

Well I had heard of hog hunting with dogs from my wife, because her dad did it for so long and always thought he was NUTS, I mean, out in the woods with dangerous animals and sticking them with knives or tieing them up? Your CRAZY
Well I got an american bulldog and just loved the hell out of him and still do (he's almost 3 now) and heard they was supposed to be good hog dogs, well come to find out, the guy I used to play in a band with was hog dogging so we kinda got into it together, Ive been into this sport a little less than a year and I am ADDICTED

Well said by Critter......those are all good reasons why hunting hogs with dogs is a great thing to do.

When I started hunting hogs It was'nt really my decision.  My dad started taking me allong as soon as my mom would let him when I was about 5 years old.

But I contunue to hunt hogs these days because the #1 reason is the dog work.  Good dog work is what makes me obsessed with hog dogs.  I dont consider it a good hunt unless we get some good dog work done.  Doesn't matter if we got hogs or not if its sorry dog work but we manage to stumble on a cripple hog its still not a good hunt.  Cur dogs workig is what its really all about for me.  If it was'nt for cur dogs I dont think I would be quite as ate up with hog hunting as I am. The #2 reason I hunt hogs is becasue I have too.  My uncle could'nt farm if we did'nt protect his crops not to metion the other farmers who we hunt for, and the ranchers too, hogs are not as big a threat to ranchers but they are still a pest. The #3 reason is for the traditon and time spent with family and frends. 

Waylon 

I cant, not have dogs is the only reason I hog hunt. But I also wont keep a worthlesss dog.   It doesnt feel right to me without dogs.  If it wasnt hogs it would be coons, cats, or coyotes.  I just choose hogs because it is year round and it helps others. 
  The adrenaline left a long time ago.

Very interesting, I am feeling the same lately... just not the same "buzz" that it used to be.    But I still go because I enjoy watching the dogs work.   Went out tonight and never struck a thing, but had a great time watching my dogs hunt their butts off.    Makes you proud when you drop your dogs down and even if you're on a desert island with no hogs, your dogs "believe" that there is one because you've taught them to.

One word- FUN!!!!! ;D

  This may be a little different slant given that I do not hunt with the guys every hunt. But my husband and daughter are in the woods with our dogs every chance they get ! I have been many times on both successful
hunts and dry runs. Watching the dogs do what it is they love is probably first and foremost the best part of hog doggin' . When it is to help a rancher/farmer out (or Golf course, subdivision ect) it is always a good feeling knowing you & your dogs have helped someone out and had fun doing it.

I`m not addicted to the thrill..that just isn't my nature BUT I am a junkie for the stories that my daughter tells when they get in. It amazes me how vividly she recalls every second of the night... an accurate account of each dogs performance, everyone on the hunts comments and silliness through out the night...and then that obvious change in tone that comes when she describes the bay. It is in her eyes, the joy working the dogs brings her, the thrill of the bay, the ride that comes with the stick...

Kass is 13 and has several serious health issues that keep her out of so much but she found her strength in dog handling and hog hunting. She has been in the woods now for over 3 years and is as good at it gets ! From training to hunting she does it all...and it's awesome. In this day and age for a teenage girl who likes pink and to be prissy at times, to take to something like hunting with dogs...it is a saving grace for a parent. There are so many other things kids can get into these days...

I still go from time to time and love watching the dogs & my kiddos... really there is no other hunting/sporting event that an entire family can go do and have so much fun along with their best friends, the dogs! Running Hogs with Dogs is where its at when you're a family of country folk & dog people :)

~Mis

the adrenilaine rush you get !  the people you get to meet and new friends you make ! watching the dogs work from starting the track to getting the hog stopped ! being with people who have the same intrest  ! and just being in the woods with people you enjoy being around !