Cuero hog contest

[mspeed]

18th Annual South Texas Wild Hog Hunting Contest

Texas AgriLife Extension Service in DeWitt County is sponsoring the 18th Annual South Texas Wild Hog Hunting Contest on Feb. 3-5.

This year's contest will be dedicated to the memory of James Koenig, of Cuero, who passed away in the December. James was one of the founding fathers of the contest.

Divisions and entry fees are as follows: team hunting with dogs, $160; individual hunting with a gun and without dogs, $70; individual hunting with a bow and without dogs, $70 and individual trapping hogs, $50.

Cash prizes will be paid out to the top 10 places in the dog divisions and the top three places in the gun, bow and trapping divisions.

Places 11 through 20 in the dog division will receive prizes donated from local businesses. Contestants in the trapping division will be able to sell their live hogs at weigh-in.

There are also cash jackpots in each of the divisions.

All contestants will automatically be entered in these jackpots. The jackpots include: winner-takes-all for heaviest dressed hog (dog teams, gun hunters and bow hunters); winner-takes-all for heaviest live hog (trappers only) and winner-takes-all for total head count (dog teams, gun hunters and bow hunters).

In addition to these jackpots, contestants have the option to throw in another $10 toward the longest tusk jackpot.

Pre-registration is being accepted this year. Pre-registration must be received in the DeWitt County Extension Office by Feb. 1.

Pre-registrants must provide a valid email address for any updates regarding the contest.

All teams and individuals not pre-registered must have a representative present at registration from 5 to 6 p.m. Feb. 3 at the Friar Ag Center in Cuero.

The contest is open to wild, feral hogs hunted or trapped in any county in Texas and only during the period from 6 p.m. Feb. 3 through noon Feb. 5. Hogs cannot have been previously trapped, kept or held for the contest.

Contest weigh-in times will be from noon to 2 p.m. Feb. 4 and 8 a.m. to noon Feb. 5.

Hogs must be brought to the Friar Ag Center no later than noon Feb. 5 in order to be eligible for competition.

If you are interested in participating in this event and would like a copy of the flyer and rules, call the DeWitt County Extension Office at 361-275-0816.