Posted on 04/04/2013 5:55:29 PM PDT by SJackson
If you had to pick the single most controversial issue in America the past few months, the AR would no doubt be at the top of that list. And if you had to characterize the media’s position on the subject, it would without hesitation be unfavorable.
Given those facts, it was surprising when CNN ran an exclusive online video on March 22 with a semi-positive focus on the use of ARs for hog hunting in agrarian Georgia. The segment ran on Anderson Cooper 360 and featured interviews with Jim Pritchard, a Georgia farmer, and Hal Shouse, owner operator of hogSWAT, a local hog hunting outfitter that utilizes ARs and night vision optics.
As the segment points out, feral hogs number around 5 million in the U.S. and do an estimated $1.5 billion in damage each year. Farmers encourage outfitters like Shouse to host hunters on their property to help alleviate crop damage done by the rapidly multiplying hordes of wild hogs. With nightly hog hunting excursions for paying customers, Shouse said the use of ARs and standard 30-round magazines are a practically useful tool.
Victor Blackwell, the host of the segment, asked Shouse why the AR is at the center of such a heated issue: “When you say AR and 30-round magazine, that’s a political hot button.”
“Sure it is, because people have decided to make it [an issue],” Shouse explained. “Tragedies happen, but the weapon didn’t create these tragedies. Sick individuals used this weapon, this tool, and they did something destructive with it, something ugly. That’s all you can say about it.”
Blackwell also asked, “Who needs this weapon outside of the military or someone who wants to kill someone else?”
“You know ‘need’ is a big word. You don’t need a lot of things that you choose to use because they make your job easier. I could do this with a single shot weapon, sure, I just wouldn’t be nearly as effective. But I don’t want to. I’m a legal, responsible gun owner, I’ve evaluated all the different weapons out there and I decided this weapon is what makes sense for me and my company,” Shouse said.
Wouldn’t you want a beefier cartridge for hunting hog?
He can keep me oversupplied.
/johnny
Lots of guys use the AR for hogs here in TX.
There are rounds that would work better and you can get AR uppers in all kinds of calibers, but for an open shot, 5.56x45 should be sufficient.
At today’s prices I would use 5.45x39.
“Wouldn’t you want a beefier cartridge for hunting hog?”
I’ve killed plenty of hogs with the .223. If you do a half-way decent bit of shot placement you’ll drop ‘em in their tracks.
Recently watched some video of a guy doing some pig hunting from a helicopter with a .223. Eight shots. Eight dead pigs.
MMMM...bacon!
Jager Pro thermal hog hunting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EymHKsaOpRg
They were shooting at Candy Crowley?
BTW, my godparents were named Jackson and were Jewish.
In fact, they named me. I didn't know Rooster was an old Jewish name.;-)
Yup, and that AR really lets you place them accurately.
Would curing feral hog meat make it safe to eat?
I eat the heck out of it. I follow USDA rules for handling and processing. Including curing and cooking.
/johnny
What do they taste like?
What do you expect pigs to taste like? We've got a lot of acorns around here, so they've got a decent amount of fat, and in that way (by my book) they are better than the lean storebought crap.
/johnny
Ok.
I just only see people make sausage of it and was wondering, why not Ham? or Bacon?
Chicken.
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