High on Hogs: Fair Chase Boar Hunting in the Southeast supports the ethical hunting of wild boar using fair chase standards—the method sportsmen use to pursue other big game animals. A fair chase hunt levels the playing field for predator and prey, encouraging the pursuit of feral hogs without the use of high-tech gear or questionable tactics. With few legal constraints on hog-hunting methods, fair chase offers hunters an option that—in author John Shtogren's opinion—is the best way to hunt wild hogs.
Considered an invasive species, wild pigs are often chased and taken in unsportsmanlike ways, e.g., night sniping with high-tech imaging and aerial gunning with automatic weapons. Such tactics would lead to fines and arrests if used against other game animals. Given that the vast nonhunting public abhors brutality against animals, the wanton-killer image of some boar hunters strains the already tenuous support for hunting in general.
High on Hogs offers a wealth of information on successful fair chase boar hunting from someone who's been there, done that, including: a history of the formidable beast; thirty facts every hog hunter should know; six dominant boar traits that make boars worthy competitors (and how to address each one); the best guns and ammo for every boar, from young sows to hogzilla; the top places to find hogs in the Southeast; a comparison of DIY hunting versus a guided hunt; recommendations for choosing a guide; and culinary advice about how to savor pork "the way it used to taste"—all loaded with high-quality illustrations and contact information.
In the spirit of St. Hubert, the patron saint of hunters and the first advocate of fair chase hunting, High on Hogs encourages boar hunters to treat their quarry with the dignity and respect shown to other fine game animals.
