When Virginia author John A. Shtogren sent me his new book High on Hogs, Fair Chase Boar Hunting In The Southeast I had no idea what to expect. It’s been a bit since I’ve hunted boars. I’ve been three times.
I discovered along the way, though, that what we were we doing wasn’t really fair chase hunting as the animals were actually confined. I’ll leave the ethics of hunting to each of you. I know where I stand, and it is for a fair chase.
There’s no mistaking where Mr. Shtogren stands on the subject. In the first page of the preface, he thanks Ted Nugent for irritating him enough to write this new book.
“I never thought I’d thank Ted Nugent for a damn thing, but I have to thank him for this book. He made me do it. He pissed me off.”
Shtogren proceeds to explain how Nugent’s Pigman: The Series, Let There Be Pork episode that features shooting hogs from a helicopter on Texas ranch using an automatic rifle inspired him.
Needless to say the author takes Nugent to task on the ethics of boar hunting with a number of sayings his father taught him including, “I learned from my old man and his hunting buddies that there is a clear difference between right and wrong in the field, pretty much as there is in the rest of life once you face up to it… you don’t shoot ducks paddling in the decoys, you don’t pot-shoot a partridge in a pine tree, you leave be the buck at the birdfeeder…”
Shtogren passionately encourages the ethical hunting of wild boar using fair chase standards—the method sportsmen use to pursue other big game animals.
“I’m pushing for us to choose to hunt wild boar fairly, with the respect it deserves as a worthy game animal.”
Pushing deeper into the 136-page book complete with full color photos, the author effectively covers anything you would need to know about boar hunting. I mean everything; from how to get close enough for shot, the proper guns and ammo to use, where to find wild boar, how to set up a do it yourself hunt on public land, tips for going on a guided hunt and how to prepare wild boar for the table.
I enjoyed Shtogren’s book, once I got past the initial negativity. His writing style is informative and entertaining. You may have recognized his name as a frequent contributor over the years to Virginia Wildlife Magazine which have won him numerous Virginia Outdoor Writer awards. He has also been an advisor to the Virginia Feral Hog Task Force, which spearheads the state’s effort to control feral hogs.
You’ll find the book available on Amazon.
