Wild pigs are a very serious issue. Here in PA, a number of EurAsian boars escaped a farm and got wild. North central PA to be exact. They quickly bred, and bred, and bred, and established a wild population overnight. Their destruction to any area they spent time in was undeniable. I saw it myself while doing clear cutting work for Grouse habitat restoration. They murder crops and forests. Its actually scary to know how much damage they can do overnight, if you value nature. They tear the understory of the woods out by its roots. Often only taking a few bites before tearing another seedling out. They behave like forestry mowers. Theyre often riddled with parasites and worms of many varieties, and they're NASTY. They dont need to be provoked either. You can give them theyre space and still have problems. They go ape on planted crops at every chance they get. They become become very elusive in a wooded setting and almost imposssible to manage. PA Game Commission decided to issue an all out no closed season, kill em all bulletin after a short period of time. A warden i spoke to while clear cutting for regen on state land warned me as an outdoorsmen. He said at the time they were the biggest threat to PA's wild habitat, and encouraged me to shoot any i see and to be safe, dont handle the carcass.
I was invited to do a helicopter pig hunt. I said no. First, it doesnt appeal to me. Second, its very expensive. The helo companies make a ton of money. The ranchers pay them BIG dollars to kill off the wild pigs that are ruining their crops and business, then the helo companies charge even bigger money for 1 hour shooting sprees for clients. Im not talking $100 an hour either. Im talking much more expensive. The numbers I forget.
Nugent is a whacko. He works to portray sportsmen as blood thirsty wolves that lust for the taste of fresh warm blood. Thats not the case. Those types do exist, but they are the oddballs and are generally shunned by respectable outdoorsmen. I hunt, you all know that by now. Many wont agree with that hobby. Thats ok. Thats what makes the world go round. But I will say this about how I hunt. I do a lot of ruffed grouse hunting. Mostly because I enjoy the woods in the fall, and find peace ad relaxion in walking the young forests and thickets with my pointer watching her work diligently to scent, lightly approach, and with all the discipline she has, point the grouse in perfect silence in an attempt for me to have an opportunity to flush the bird abd shoot it. More then half the time, i dont shoot them. My thrill came from watching my dog do what runs so deep in her blood and brings her so much joy. Often times I dont shoot them because while we have located grouse, I may believe that the area we are in doesnt hold a strong population that can spare any birds for my dinner table.
The other hunting I do is similar. Deer for instance. I often find myself satisfied by the fact that I was able to use my wits to match their even stronger senses, and get close to them. Sometimes i kill one for my freezer. Often times I smile at having had the chance but let them mosey on their way having never known I was there. What Im trying to say is that for anyone reading this, who opposes hunting, dont ever watch ted Nugent and think that his behavior is a good picture into sportsmen as a whole. I dont apologize for the fact that i hunt, and didnt explain my style in an attempt to justify myself. I just wanted to clear the air for anyone that would think that I as a hunter behave like Ted.