AgGrad99 said:
I call BS on the farm...What land owner on earth, would willing take these pigs?
Yet the reason we are in this situation today is the landowners that brought them to Texas to put on their ranches for exotic hunts!
Over 120 hogs trapped in Katy
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Last: 19 days ago by oldschool87
Yet the reason we are in this situation today is the landowners that brought them to Texas to put on their ranches for exotic hunts!
Managed tree farms in Katy since the early'90's. City of Katy animal control would come trap the pigs for us on the tract where HEB now sits on I10 at Pin Oak road-if 120 have been trapped…that's a start!
I miss the old Katy too. I could make a quick duck hunt and be back at home office and working by 9:30 or so. Those days are long gone.
I miss the old Katy too. I could make a quick duck hunt and be back at home office and working by 9:30 or so. Those days are long gone.
O.G. said:
Yeahhhhhh, can verify. That, "going to a food bank" or "donating to the homeless" is MAYbe 1-2% of it, the rest will end up in a hole.
I believe only trapped and actually living hogs can be donated and must be processed through a USDA inspected facility.
We looked into donating the hogs we shot years ago and that's what we were told. Also none of the places would take trapped hogs. I don't blame them for not wanting to mess with them.
BQ92 said:AgGrad99 said:
I call BS on the farm...What land owner on earth, would willing take these pigs?
Yet the reason we are in this situation today is the landowners that brought them to Texas to put on their ranches for exotic hunts!
Well the pigs have been here a couple hundred years before barbed wire. And that high fence ranches would take them to sell to clients has worked well for some.
But they do go thru high fences.
There used to be a ton of pigs that would travel up and down the bayou right there where Woodcreek is now located. I know exactly where those tree farms you are talking about were... looks like the last bit of them was just bulldozed for something else recently.
Regarding the ducks/geese - my last goose hunt in Katy was a 6 man limit where Rooms to Go is located (give or take a few hundred yards). Now I have to head down to El Campo or further south.
Regarding the ducks/geese - my last goose hunt in Katy was a 6 man limit where Rooms to Go is located (give or take a few hundred yards). Now I have to head down to El Campo or further south.
I remember when Fry Rd was at the edge of Earth.
BQ92 said:AgGrad99 said:
I call BS on the farm...What land owner on earth, would willing take these pigs?
Yet the reason we are in this situation today is the landowners that brought them to Texas to put on their ranches for exotic hunts!
I thought the feral hogs were brought here by the Spanish as a food source a few hundred years ago?
Koko Chingo said:O.G. said:
Yeahhhhhh, can verify. That, "going to a food bank" or "donating to the homeless" is MAYbe 1-2% of it, the rest will end up in a hole.
I believe only trapped and actually living hogs can be donated and must be processed through a USDA inspected facility.
We looked into donating the hogs we shot years ago and that's what we were told. Also none of the places would take trapped hogs. I don't blame them for not wanting to mess with them.
If there were a "system" in place to feed wild hogs to the homeless and food insecure people, it would be a great thing......but the government(s) would get involved and it would go to hell in about 5 minutes.
in 1980, my family lived in a tiny little old town called Brookshire that was about 10 miles of nothing but fields and silos away from another tiny little old town called Katy that was just starting to get a few new housing developments despite the oil bust at the time. Boy did that escalate quickly!
Now there is almost no gap between Brookshire and Katy
I remember when the Katy freeway was
BoerneGator said:
Consider digging a post hole 2-3 feet deep to pour the slop in. It'll take them much longer to get the last kernel of corn, which will attract the maximum number of hogs to your trap, but you'll have a good sized hole rooted out.
Not my idea, but a really good one is to throw Milo. It takes a lot more time for them to get it. They will get it all, but that's the point, they love it and makes for good amount of pigs in a trap.
Second Hardest Workin Man on Texags
We live in that gap...and being squeezed from both sides. Spend most of our time at the farm in Fayette County now. Will put Katy house on market within the next year or so - north side of I10 (if any Ag is looking in that area and not in a hurry-would be happy to give a good Ag a good deal)
This is a cute story and all. And most of the Katy Karen's will be happy to not see as many on neighborhood ring cameras and such for their social media.
But the rest of us know how long it takes for 120 new hogs to be born in and around Katy.
But the rest of us know how long it takes for 120 new hogs to be born in and around Katy.
O.G. said:Koko Chingo said:O.G. said:
Yeahhhhhh, can verify. That, "going to a food bank" or "donating to the homeless" is MAYbe 1-2% of it, the rest will end up in a hole.
I believe only trapped and actually living hogs can be donated and must be processed through a USDA inspected facility.
We looked into donating the hogs we shot years ago and that's what we were told. Also none of the places would take trapped hogs. I don't blame them for not wanting to mess with them.
If there were a "system" in place to feed wild hogs to the homeless and food insecure people, it would be a great thing......but the government(s) would get involved and it would go to hell in about 5 minutes.
I agree 100%. If we could process and donate the feral hogs that were shot - The outdoor board could start the first ever non-profit to actually feed every hungry Texan whether they are low income or just want some BBQ pork. I don't know if the name 'Quality Pig Killing Center' would get approved as a place to process the meat.
While I am having a little fun with my statement above, the sentiment is actually true.
Here is something that that absolutely blew me away:
I have read that we need to eliminate somewhere around 65% - 70% of the feral hogs just to keep the numbers the same because they breed so quickly. I Googled how many people face food insecurity in Texas. I also looked up A&M AgriLife's estimated feral hog population.
When you do the math of about 25 to 27 pounds of protein needed per person per year killing just enough feral hogs to keep the hog population stable would end the food insecurity issues for low-income families for the state of Texas by giving them the meat.
Great idea but somehow, guv would step in and screw it all up.
So so so many cooking competitions.... couldnt this be another facet.... another category.
SGrem said:
This is a cute story and all. And most of the Katy Karen's will be happy to not see as many on neighborhood ring cameras and such for their social media.
But the rest of us know how long it takes for 120 new hogs to be born in and around Katy.
They are coming from George Bush Park.
Did a charity shoot at ASC and there was freshly rooted ground all along Westheimer.
That median has been pig rooted since they finished construction of it in the '90s or early 2000's.
That's basically it, just need it for hogs.
ttha_aggie_09 said:
There used to be a ton of pigs that would travel up and down the bayou right there where Woodcreek is now located. I know exactly where those tree farms you are talking about were... looks like the last bit of them was just bulldozed for something else recently.
Regarding the ducks/geese - my last goose hunt in Katy was a 6 man limit where Rooms to Go is located (give or take a few hundred yards). Now I have to head down to El Campo or further south.
I have property on Woods Rd and have a video from 2010 of about 10,000 snow geese right beyond our fence. Crazy how much this area has changed.
Yep, know it well…. Twin wood has taken over now.
Friend of a friend of mine from HS dad ran a hunting club with a bunch of property near you back in the day.
Friend of a friend of mine from HS dad ran a hunting club with a bunch of property near you back in the day.
Whitetail said:
Free range grass fed (possibly organic) domestic pork is delicious.
I had a family friend who traps feral hogs and then feeds them for a few weeks and he says it makes them taste much more like farm-raised pork.
I oversee the City of Dallas' feral hog trapping program. We have reached the point that we simply monitor and get the traps in when we get reports or sign in an area. We have whole wetland systems that 7 years ago, you could see pigs or damage nearly every time you went out. Now, we haven't found a track in 3 years.
To get there, we've (my contractor with heavy oversight) trapped just over 5,000 pigs. In the early days, we were running 13-18 20-30' corral traps at any given time. Our goal was to always try and take out the entire sounder at one time. Generally this averages out to about 7 pigs at a time, but we've gone 50+ on multiple occasions. Now, we might have 3 traps running at any given time. We know where the pinch points and corridors are. I make no bones about it, all our pigs are sent to Frontier Meats or an approved holding facility. There is no serious discussion of trying to feed the homeless. For a municipality, that is simply opening too much of a liability. I will not approve the males going to a "hunting preserve with an approved fence", too much of a PR nightmare. I will not approve any recreational hunting. Our operation is strictly land management, reducing damage to property and equipment. Recreational hunting ultimately doesn't remotely touch the number of pigs removed that I need gone, and is actually counter productive to our trapping efforts....and a PR nightmare. Don't get me wrong, I love popping hogs. But, we also make it no secret, when we catch pigs, they are ultimately dead. Period. One thing I did was push the story in media so hard in 2015/2016 that now it is basically a non-story. I am extremely media friendly, but I will not take media to a trap that actively had pigs, and absolutely no shared photos with piglets.....I do whole classes on manipulating audiences based on presentation photos.
I have consulted with a lot of cities on feral hog management. Most do not like being as transparent as I am (sort of), they want to either say nothing or dance around the pigs die issue. To that end, so will reach out to the HSUS. They do actually have a large property in East Texas, with an approved fence. They managed to get listed as an approved holding facility, but once there, they live out their days. As a wildlife biologist, I will not endorse that idea.
Trust me, I get lots of well intentioned offers to "help".
To get there, we've (my contractor with heavy oversight) trapped just over 5,000 pigs. In the early days, we were running 13-18 20-30' corral traps at any given time. Our goal was to always try and take out the entire sounder at one time. Generally this averages out to about 7 pigs at a time, but we've gone 50+ on multiple occasions. Now, we might have 3 traps running at any given time. We know where the pinch points and corridors are. I make no bones about it, all our pigs are sent to Frontier Meats or an approved holding facility. There is no serious discussion of trying to feed the homeless. For a municipality, that is simply opening too much of a liability. I will not approve the males going to a "hunting preserve with an approved fence", too much of a PR nightmare. I will not approve any recreational hunting. Our operation is strictly land management, reducing damage to property and equipment. Recreational hunting ultimately doesn't remotely touch the number of pigs removed that I need gone, and is actually counter productive to our trapping efforts....and a PR nightmare. Don't get me wrong, I love popping hogs. But, we also make it no secret, when we catch pigs, they are ultimately dead. Period. One thing I did was push the story in media so hard in 2015/2016 that now it is basically a non-story. I am extremely media friendly, but I will not take media to a trap that actively had pigs, and absolutely no shared photos with piglets.....I do whole classes on manipulating audiences based on presentation photos.
I have consulted with a lot of cities on feral hog management. Most do not like being as transparent as I am (sort of), they want to either say nothing or dance around the pigs die issue. To that end, so will reach out to the HSUS. They do actually have a large property in East Texas, with an approved fence. They managed to get listed as an approved holding facility, but once there, they live out their days. As a wildlife biologist, I will not endorse that idea.
Trust me, I get lots of well intentioned offers to "help".
DTP02 said:Whitetail said:
Free range grass fed (possibly organic) domestic pork is delicious.
I had a family friend who traps feral hogs and then feeds them for a few weeks and he says it makes them taste much more like farm-raised pork.
We did this back in the early 2000's. Had an old horse barn and they converted it with sheets of plywood to make pens. Fresh water and a somewhat clean pen does wonders I guess. The food, I don't know if that was as big a difference maker. But we had to hold them and check them for wounds, or else the facility would not buy them and claim they were dog bites. We didn't get them back but we didn't get paid for that pig either. Always figured they sent them anyways. Hears all kinds of stories about the process, but I just got tired of doing it, a lot of work and if you can't get money from folks you are trapping for the selling is not good enough to make a good profit. It was a good time with some good friends though. Rolling through town with a sounder of 15 pigs was always a hoot!
Second Hardest Workin Man on Texags
They are effing pigs. Who cares? They are a scourge. I have no clue if ranchers bringing them in for exotic hunts or if simply they escaped from farms is the reason that they are a scourge, but the scourge must be dealt with.
Shane '91
They have been here for a long time. Not sure if it is expanding population or what but there is just more of them now than back in the 80's. I think back in the 80's and earlier the predators got them more often and kept them in check. Don't know, but they are are a scourge for sure!
Second Hardest Workin Man on Texags
Whoa! are we just going to ignore the fact that Ursus has graced us with his presence?
O.G. said:
Whoa! are we just going to ignore the fact that Ursus has graces us with his presence?
I was waiting for this.
I do occasionally pop up. Since going to the city, I stay extremely busy.
So how we got where we are....
*Spanish explores introduced....yep long time
*Various Russian and Mongolian hogs brought in for European like game experience.
*Pre-1954ish, most people still live in the country. During this time, it was common to notch ears and let them run. Round them up as needed.
*As people moved to the city, the hogs were left. Some expansion, especially in SE.
*Mid 1990's, hunters in Texas started feeding deer more year around, surprise, feeding more than deer.
*then for about a decade trapping and releasing hogs for increased hunting opportunities was a thing....surprise, worked almost too well
Then throw in "management" strategies that while fun, and kill lots of pigs...at the time, but actually encourage forced dispersal.......aka helicopters.
So how we got where we are....
*Spanish explores introduced....yep long time
*Various Russian and Mongolian hogs brought in for European like game experience.
*Pre-1954ish, most people still live in the country. During this time, it was common to notch ears and let them run. Round them up as needed.
*As people moved to the city, the hogs were left. Some expansion, especially in SE.
*Mid 1990's, hunters in Texas started feeding deer more year around, surprise, feeding more than deer.
*then for about a decade trapping and releasing hogs for increased hunting opportunities was a thing....surprise, worked almost too well
Then throw in "management" strategies that while fun, and kill lots of pigs...at the time, but actually encourage forced dispersal.......aka helicopters.
I did not get to Texas till 76' and every ranch, lease or private had feeders running all year long and some sort of food plot. It's been interesting watching the progression.
Second Hardest Workin Man on Texags
ursusguy said:
I do occasionally pop up. Since going to the city, I stay extremely busy.
So how we got where we are....
*Spanish explores introduced....yep long time
*Various Russian and Mongolian hogs brought in for European like game experience.
*Pre-1954ish, most people still live in the country. During this time, it was common to notch ears and let them run. Round them up as needed.
*As people moved to the city, the hogs were left. Some expansion, especially in SE.
*Mid 1990's, hunters in Texas started feeding deer more year around, surprise, feeding more than deer.
*then for about a decade trapping and releasing hogs for increased hunting opportunities was a thing....surprise, worked almost too well
Then throw in "management" strategies that while fun, and kill lots of pigs...at the time, but actually encourage forced dispersal.......aka helicopters.
I can add to this list, one minor detail. Some of the populations in certain areas had some...."help" in the 80s and early 90s to sell hunts...
I can count on my fingers and toes the number of javelina I shot in just ten years. Funny how we thought they were a problem eating our corn. From about mid 80's to now, the pigs...I cannot begin to get close but it's over a thousand. And then there are the guys that are super serious about saving property and crops and they kill a thousand a year!
Second Hardest Workin Man on Texags
Koko Chingo said:O.G. said:Koko Chingo said:O.G. said:
Yeahhhhhh, can verify. That, "going to a food bank" or "donating to the homeless" is MAYbe 1-2% of it, the rest will end up in a hole.
I believe only trapped and actually living hogs can be donated and must be processed through a USDA inspected facility.
We looked into donating the hogs we shot years ago and that's what we were told. Also none of the places would take trapped hogs. I don't blame them for not wanting to mess with them.
If there were a "system" in place to feed wild hogs to the homeless and food insecure people, it would be a great thing......but the government(s) would get involved and it would go to hell in about 5 minutes.
I agree 100%. If we could process and donate the feral hogs that were shot - The outdoor board could start the first ever non-profit to actually feed every hungry Texan whether they are low income or just want some BBQ pork. I don't know if the name 'Quality Pig Killing Center' would get approved as a place to process the meat.
While I am having a little fun with my statement above, the sentiment is actually true.
Here is something that that absolutely blew me away:
I have read that we need to eliminate somewhere around 65% - 70% of the feral hogs just to keep the numbers the same because they breed so quickly. I Googled how many people face food insecurity in Texas. I also looked up A&M AgriLife's estimated feral hog population.
When you do the math of about 25 to 27 pounds of protein needed per person per year killing just enough feral hogs to keep the hog population stable would end the food insecurity issues for low-income families for the state of Texas by giving them the meat.
You're correct on your percentages to keep the population in check.
But, I'm not so sure I'd be keen on sausages from nasty old sow Buford and Cletus gut shot and let lie in a field for a day or two before processing.
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