Decatur, TX - Wise County Messenger

ALL AROUND WISE, Decatur, Texas, Thursday, March 5, 2009 15WISE OUTDOORSBy LUKE CLAYTONIt’s been said that thereare two types of ranches inTexas; those with hogs andthose about to get them.Wild hogs create an estimated$400 million in annualdamage to agriculturalcrops, hay meadows andrangeland in Texas alone.Hogs, domestic and wild,are highly prolific. Sowsbreed at 6 to 8 months andlitters range from 5 to 10piglets. Considering thathalf of a litter are sows, it’seasy to see the number ofhogs that one breeding sowcan propagate in a matterof a few months. There isno doubt that keeping theirnumbers in check is of primaryconcern to everyone,but hunting them from helicoptersby paying clients? Ion’t think so.Texas Parks and WildlifeTPWD) is being asked toormulate rules for huntnghogs from helicopter.t’s been legal to controlog numbers via helicoptersince 1996. Through theend of last year, a little over1,000 permits were grantedfor controlling wild porkersith the use of choppers.I have no problem withroperly permitted landwnerscontrolling hog numerson their ranches fromhe air. It’s not sporting, butwhen trained shooters andvery experienced chopperpilots are involved, shootinghogs from the air canbe an efficient, albeit expensivemeans of reducing theirnumbers and the damagecaused by the gregariousporkers.Present laws prohibitcharging a recreational(guide) fee for hunting hogsfrom the air. If the new lawis adopted, “guided” huntsfrom helicopter will be legal.If this proposal becomes law,I can see all kinds of resultingproblems. Let’s assumea qualified helicopter pilotbooks a hunt with a coupleguys to go on an “air” hoghunt. Chances are prettygood this will be the firsttime either flew in a chopperCONTROLLING HOGS — Wild hogs like this one can do great damage to the habitat andtheir numbers must be kept under control, but not by paid hunters shooting them from ahelicopter.and definitely the first timethey did any shooting fromthe air. Granted, a few mighthave been machinegunners on a chopperback in the VietNam era, but thevast majority willbe “sportsmen” outlooking for a bit ofexcitement.Imagine the mishapsthat couldoccur when folksbegin bangingaway at runninghogs from the air.Adrenaline levels would behigh; the potential for accidentsvastly outweigh thebenefits. What would happenwhen an excited clientis tracking a running pigthrough his rifle scope inheavy cover, banging awayand kicking up dust aroundthe fleeing porker. Shootingat running game requiresintense concentration, evenwhen shots are taken atground level. After a fewmissed shots at the runninghog, a cow or horse appearsin the line of sight. Will theshooter have time to reactor, being caught up in theexcitement of the moment,continue shooting?I’m all for hunting wildhogs and I fully understandthe necessity to control theirnumbers but, to my way ofthinking, trapping or huntingthem with dogs is farmore reasonable and muchsafer than allowing anyonewith the guide feeto shoot them fromthe air. I truly believethat once thisproposed legislationis thoroughlystudied by TPWD,it will never becomelaw. If it does,I would suggestmaking sure thedeer lease you willbe hunting nextyear does not allowshooting hogs, or anythingelse, from the air. I certainlydo not wish to have to worryabout someone from abovespreading rounds over themesquite flat where my bowstand is situated, especiallywhen I’m in it!Just for fun, imagine someof the conversations thatcould occur between the‘hunters’ and chopper pilotsif this ridiculous idea did becomelaw:“Here, hold this cold one,CLAYTONI ‘think’ I see a hog downthere.”Or, “You’ll have to keepthis thing more steady. Here,take this shotgun, I thinkI’m gonna be sick!”Or, “Do you allow grenades?”Or, “Do we still get chargedthe full rate if you aren’table to get the pigs to slowdown enough for us to hitthem?”Or, “Do you do the fielddressing, or do we, once weget back on the ground? Bythe way, how do we find thehogs we’ve shot? Everythinglooks the same from up herein the air!”Or, “Did you say it’s OK toflip this thing on fully auto?I’ve been wanting to give it atry on something running!”Or, “Does meat processingcome with the price of these‘chopper hunts’?”■Listen to Outdoors withLuke Clayton radio showeach week at www.catfishradio.com.WatchmenTired Of FeelingSick And Tired?Concealed Handgun ClassesClass Begins April 19must pre register• Buy• Sell• TradeConsignments Welcome!• New & Used Guns • Reloading Supplies • Gunsmithing • Bluing1691 W. US Hwy. 380 • Bridgeport • 940-683-1777MoviesSTARTFriday, March. 6Movies & Times Subject To Change!!!Movie Line 940-627-5522Fri ....................................................................................... ......... 6:50..........9:40Sat ...........................................................................2:00 ............. 5:00..........8:00Sun ............................................................................................... 2:00..........6:00Mon - Thur .....................................................................................................7:00Confessions Of A ShopaholicFri ................................................................................................ 7:10..........9:30Sat ......................................................2:10 .............4:40 ............. 7:10..........9:30Sun .....................................................2:10 .............4:40 ............. 7:10Mon - Thur ................................................................................... 7:10TakenFri ....................................................................................... ......... 7:15..........9:30Sat ......................................................2:15 .............4:45 ............. 7:15..........9:30Sun .....................................................2:15 .............4:45 ............. 7:15Mon - Thur .................................................................................. 7:15Coming March 13 “Race to Witch Mountain”FM 51 South, Decatur • 940-627-5522 • Box Office Opens at 1:30 p.m.$7 Adults ~ $5 Seniors, Children 11 & under & Matinee • www.plazacinema3.comHEALTHY LIFESTYLEPROLONGS LIFEIf women need any more encouragement to maintain a healthylifestyle, new research shows that doing so has a substantially largerimpact on survival than any single factor. While women may have heardall this before, it bears repeating that stopping smoking, maintaininga healthy weight, eating a healthful diet, and getting regular physicalexercise significantly reduce the risk of dying from any cause,particularly heart disease and cancer. Adhering to the advice to adoptthis combination of lifestyle factors should empower women byreinforcing the notion that their longevity is largely in their own hands.Once women understand that they have control over their lives in thisrespect, they can largely control their destinies.We are there for you when it’s time to make those importanthealthcare decisions. Whether its routine pap tests and mammogramsor questions about diet and exercise, our caring staff is here to help. Forfurther information, call WISE OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGYP.A at 940-626-8008. The office is conveniently located at 1713 SouthFM 51, Ste. 201, Decatur. New patients are welcome.P.S. According to the study mentioned above, women who neversmoked, ate a healthy diet, did not become overweight, and remainedphysically active experienced a 55 percent reduction in their overallrisk of death.Forrest lost 140 pounds and addedyears to his life with the LAP-BAND ®People who struggle with their weight often sufferfrom Type 2 Diabetes, hypertension, back pain,asthma or sleep apnea.Weight Loss Surgery has been proven to improveor resolve these and other serious healthconditions.ATTEND AFREE SEMINARSat., March 7 at 10 a.m. orWed., March 11 at 7 p.m.Seminars held atWise Regional Health SystemFit-N-Wise Boardroom609 Medical Center Drive • Decatur940-626-4683 to registerAfterFind out how weight loss surgery canhelp you take control of your health.Call 940-626-4683 to schedule aconsultation, or visitwww.MyBariatricSolutions.com.Wise Regional Health System