The reasons we hunt

First off she is your Mom, so don't argue, that is never ever a way get your point through to someone, much less your Mother.

My mother, believe it or not is was against hunting hogs with the dogs. Before Thomas and I were married I had moved back home for six months, with my dogs. She was absolutely horrified that I would come in with tired, sometimes injured (but content) dogs. This women trained and showed dogs most of her adult life and taught other folks to work their dogs. So she understood the aspect of a "working dog" but not totally, and definitely not killing animals that weren't going in the freezer, she would not eat the meat I caught either. Trying to argue the point was mute, and only caused more strife in my relationship with my Mother, and I was grown person.

through my persistance, She soon saw for herself the the dogs desire to load up and go, and calm and content they were after a hunt, in other words "Happy dogs" that you can't get from a dog that is exercised and worked for several hours on a trial field or an obedience ring. She saw for herself how much pride I took in my animals and the care I took of them, most importantly the relationship I had with my dogs spoke for itself. Dedication and responsibilty will speak much louder than words most times.

I would also bring up conversations with facts and statistics about the damage that hogs cost, the billions of dollars every year that are done to the livelyhood of farmers, ranchers, and our Forrest and the depravation that hogs do to native wildlife species of animals and ground nesting birds. Hogs are not consider wildlife and they are not native. They will never be extinct, not if you hunted them every day. Wildlife Biologist have proof that you will have to get rid of 70% of the hogs in an area every year just to maintain the population, from taking over.
People that are hunting- in the woods are outside getting exercise, fresh air and a true appreciation for the outdoors, not reading about it and looking at pictures about it. Youth that are in the woods are not in front of a video game, a TV or a computer, letting life pass them by. They are not in a gangs, on drugs in the streets, or stealing cars and in jail. But rather building character and memories that will last a lifetime and hopefully influence them to be a better steward of the land and wildlife for the next generation, and know what is omportant to pass on to their own children.