Saturday Hunt

Went down to hunt a farm where the pigs had moved in. This farmer along with 3 others had around $100,000.00 in crop damages last year. I know this because the Crop Adjuster is a life long friend of mine. This wouldn't be much of a problem if the insurance paid off every year but they can only  claim hog damage once on their policy. Anyway we got a late start and caught a good sow after about 30 minutes. I took the Stag BD, Airedale Scout, one of my yearling pups out of (Blacky and one of my Jagds) and Campo, Plott hound from Whitedeer Kennels in Texas. Had a couple Curs belonging to a friend too. We turned out and the Curs and Plott yelped showing hot scent. The Stag and Airedale drove in and they ran her about 2-3 hundred and caught her right off. My bud's back went out about then and we turned back out in the same place thinking we might of missed one but nothing. The pup was right there pulling hair, his first hog. So we called it a day as the bad back started giving a lot of trouble and I didn't want to carry him out lol. Anyway stopped back by my farmer friends place where they were building a trap, put my two scents worth in  on the design they were rigging. He said the hogs problem had really became apparent the past year and I agree. This particular area has a lot of federal land bordering it and so far they won't let us run dogs there so the hogs have a perfect scenario of food and sanctuary. Gonna be a big problem in the next few years as traps and dogs are not gonna slow the breeding down. I just smiled inside with this knowledge but I really feel for the farmers. Another example of Government saving the environment with their regulations. I have lobbied with them to open up a season for dogs during the spring planting time as the hogs will root up the seeds and pluck and eat the young shoots coming up. Another farmer in that area had to replant several hundred acres of beans last year because of the hogs. We hunt this area hard when the corn matures mostly at night to keep hem out but it is becoming futile. I don't want them to go away completely but with dogs being able to hunt on the Federal and State land it would help a bit during those times.

Digging through old pics I thought you might enjoy

Airedales Delivered

Went up to Viola yesterday with Rhodri to pick up three pups from Andy Loughlin from Missouri. He had a litter of Airedales from Matt Thom's and Henry's Redline Airedale Jingo and his Heidi. I really wanted one of these as they are bred as working dogs through and through but I have plenty to deal with at the moment. Rhodri is taking one and sending another to a Hunt Master friend down in Georgia. These pups go back to some really fine hunting Airedales and are mostly from Henry's Sandhill Line. I apologize for not taking more pics of them all but I brought one home for a hunting buddy of mine and took a few before he picked her up. She was my pick of the three although they were all great looking pups. Also there's a few pics of Henry's two Border Terriers, Bullet and Komegan. I also include a few of my Rednose Pit and the new Bandog puppy which I have finally named "Dugga Boy" which is an African name for "Old Buffalo" his eyes reminded me of the eyes of Cape Buffalo. I think it fits him too.

 Dugga Boy

 Bullet

 Bullet and Komegan

 My boys

 Dugga Boy and the Airedale mixing it up

 JIngo

Heidi and below one of the pups

New "Running Catch" Bandog Pup

New Bandog pup and our Red Nose Pit

Sire

Sire and Son

 Another pic of the Sire

Got this pup yesterday, he's 10 weeks 24lbs. The Sire is a great all around dog that has been used on hogs as well as a home/personal protection worker. He's big but very athletic and outgoing animal.
Hope this pup takes after him.

Few Hogs We've Caught

Cold Weather Supplement

Went by a friends butchering operation today and picked up about a hundred pounds of beef bones and trimmings. I freeze it and thaw some out every week to supplement with. My Buddy, Spry lets me hunt his farms and raises and butchers about 16 steers a week. The meat is classified as free range natural beef and is sold to restaurants only, fantastic stuff!