Aerial gunning

USDA, getting it done! They killed 250 in the last 2 days in Hardaway and Autaugaville out of a helicopter. Pretty productive!!

Scroll down this page to first video!
https://www.facebook.com/BachAndDevosForestryAndWildlifeServices/?ref=bookmarks

Seems not to be that interesting but total is 335 confirmed killed and 65 more solid hit but not able to verify dead as of today-Thu, Fri and Sat. One more morning tomorrow. 153 confirmed kills in Hardaway in 4-2 hour flights and 182 confirmed kills in Autaugaville in 7-2 hour flights. Seems like the best way that I have seen so far to put a dent in the pig population. Close to 400 kills in 3 days of gunning!!! Another video on the page.

That is a good lick but it will only work in large ag fields or wide open marsh land. I've wanted to try it but the price to go on one of those hunts is extremely high for my taste. LoL

The hardaway site had pretty much some clearcuts and small greenfields with the rest wooded, pine and hardwood. They killed more than half in the woods. The Autaugaville site had more open land. That was kinda the experiment to see if it would work in wooded environments - it did great!

58 more this morning in 2 hours flying makes 240 confirmed kills for Autaugaville. Well over 450 dead hogs in 4 days killing.

That killed 300+ in two days last year around our old place in Mississippi. 18 year old CRP/WRP. It'll put a dent in the population in a hurry. Glad to see them taking action here in Alabama.

That is wacking and stacking damnit boy.

Good job!

I wish I had been in that chopper.
I bet that is fun!!!

Looks fun! I saw where you are catching some flack on facebook from the "professionals"!

Everyone watching wished they were in the chopper
Regarding the "professionals", it has been my experience that those who's first instinct is to scream "liar, liar" only do it because they lie regularly themselves. They think others would lie like they do. I have had both negative and positive posts from the hog doggers, its a personality issue, not a technique issue!! Anyone who wants to see hogs gone from the landscape should support ways to do it. And there are lots of good ways! Dogging, trapping, night shooting, etc, and choppers!

Not all of them! LOL

I have fun hunting and killing hogs!
And, so do most of my friends.

And, I bet that is a fun way to do it!!

I know the spot they were at in hardaway

Sounds like something the special forces could use for training.

What was the cost of flight time and pilot?

I think that's awesome!
The comments from a couple of those guys are more entertaining than aldeer. It sounds as if the dog hunters are angry that someone else is killing "their" pigs.

Hogwild- what are these guys upset about? They charge for wild pig control and this is taking their business away or what? I thought you might have some insight from a dog hunting viewpoint.

ive done it in south texas, itd be hard to doit on a broad scale here in bama but down there its so flat with no trees its easy. but even there if you buzz property a couple days in a row pigs learn the sound of tha chopper an they'll quit jumpin. an it takes awhile for them to forget to. so you can kill a lot quick but its less and less everytime until eventually youll just go out and want see any, then you think you gotem all land an go kill 7-8 more cornin roads. its like a never ending story. tho some people doit commercially an I heard one fellow selling hunts an I think he said its like $1k per hour.

It's more than $1000 a hour. The hunt I called about was $1800 per hour with no lodging or meals. I would love to try it but I can't see paying that much for a hour.

I am uncertain of why they were upset?

Maybe they just felt like it was 'their' hunting area and they were killing hogs they could hunt?? Kinda like deer hunters getting angry with farmers for using depredation permits??

Or, they were being fed some false, or conflicting, info concerning the numbers of hogs killed?

I am not real sure?

10-4, just curious.

I'm all for hog killing, however it gets done.

It is more complex than it appears on the surface.

Traditional Methods of hunting, whether it be guns, dogs, archery, etc, should be fully utilized before supplementing them with alternative methods.

That is just my opinion, though.

Most do not realize that most all of these 'new' methods are expensive. Therefore, they are primarily done 'for profit'. They are NOT viable means for the average Joe or the most hunting clubs. The cost is exorbitant AND it is not a one-time Hit It & Quit It. It is a process that will need repeating for many years.

Most of these properties that you see these large numbers of hogs coming off of are exclusive properties with restricted access. Usually belonging to, or being leased by, extremely wealthy individuals or groups. These areas are also brood areas that furnish hogs to all of their neighbors! LOL
Same as I have been saying for years!

A landowner or hunting club has to decide how much they are willing to spend to work on their problem. Just like lime and fertilizer, hogs and coyotes are items that these individuals have to decide if their budget will allow them to address them.

While good traps are costly, they last for years and thus that brings the price per year down.

It all goes back to the old saying about the difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.

Yep!
Because I do not own a dog that I would take $2500 for!

The hardaway killing was at frank Thomas property.

Poor folks........ barely can afford to pay attention.......

Helicopter came back today for one more day flight. 2 flights in Autaugaville yeilded 67 dead pigs and one flight in hardaway yeilded 22 pigs, all confirmed dead. 307 confirmed in autauga and 175 in hardawsy total



Many of these landowners were participating in some hog trapping and/or research on hogs with the USDA animal damage. Some had a $$ contract, some didn't but allowed the USDA to try this aerial gunning experiment out on their places that adjoined these others to make one large zone. The actual cost to do this is to be determined.



I disagree that "traditional methods" should be used first. ANY method that can kill LOTS of pigs with little money, effort and/or time should be used first. When the poison program is worked out, I will use that as well. Anything that kills pigs in large numbers is fine with me.

If the State gets serious about the problems pigs are causing, maybe they or the Feds will get a helicopter, certify some gunners and kill them for free on anyone's land that has them - also fine with me.



Yes Cole, you do know ONE of the approximately 10 properties in Hardaway that were gunned on. See if you can guess the other 9. It's not a secret otherwise it would not be posted on aldeer!

haha yeah. I did know it was over a good bit. It's pretty cool. I think they shot again today. I just know of that one and another just because I talked to them recently.

I wonder what the actual cost per dead hog was?

Sorry, gobbler.......I normally agree with most everything you say:post.

But, I just do not think that feral hogs eating up the groceries put out and planted for the deer and turkeys is a Government problem that the taxpayers should be forced to pay for.

Ahhh, the dilemma This is a hard one for me also. My Libertarian bent tells me the same. I encourage landowners to use costshare programs for longleaf, etc, but don't agree with this "welfare" program and wish it didn't exist. I see the reasoning to encourage planting of a native tree that has environmental and historic value though. Pigs however are very environmentally destructive and controlling them is cost prohibitive to many folks, farmers and such. They impact severely my ability to burn correctly for other target species and also for non target species and non game. They eat EVERYTHING so directly impact not only the vegetation but lizards, turtles, songbirds, not to mention quail/turkey eggs, fawns, etc.

IN general I hate government welfare programs for rich or poor but understand the need for some. I would love to not have them but if we do, programs to eradicate fescue, bermuda grass, kudzu, cogongrass, privet, hogs, housecats, etc would be on my list.



I am hoping they can tell us that shortly. I do think you will see more of this in the future.

It is not the Control that I am against. I am all for it! I am NOT a fan of poison, though.....

And, the irony of the 'welfare' plight is that it is almost ALWAYS the people that can afford it the easiest that get the benefit of these hog eradication plans. They do not allow any access to their properties. But, they will accept all the tax dollars that the Public will allow to be contributed!

if somebody figured out how to eradicate PRIVET id volunteer a lot of my free time to help make it extinct of the face of the planet. I HATE PRIVET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It actually funny that although most (not all) will participate in a govt cost share program, most would like to see them gone as well. They just work in the system that is available. If the govt is throwing out free $$, most will take it. Some who get it would like and are working to get the programs shut down. Farmers are one of the biggest welfare recipients in the country.

I totally agree.

And, I also agree that if we allow the Govt to give our money away, folks would be crazy not to take it!!

Wish I could get some instead of being a net contributor!

Amen, brother!!!

To those that know how to play the system, it can be a big money maker and be right out of the taxpayers pockets.