Being 105 degrees here in South TX not a whole lot of hunting happens this time of year. Being adventurous and hating the problem we have with hogs we rented a chopper and got after them in a serious way on Saturday morning!
It started with realizing the helicopter company booked the wrong date and had to scramble someone to us. As a result our 7am lift off turned into 10:30am, about a 30 degree difference in temperature. With all the local pilots in East TX seeding rice fields we had a new guy out of Uvalde...lets just say if our usual pilot flies conservatively Matt flew it like it was stolen. The ride itself was worth the money spent if a shot was never fired. The first two guys went up for about 20 minutes then flagged me down, I thought they needed more ammo or something. The guest informs me that it is my turn, this is where I explained I never go up. My job is to kill the wounded and get as many runners as possible with the an AR from my Polaris. I replied " go back to the house and pick up Steve, he'll wanna go". Reply "Steve threw up, he is done". Mind you Steve has shot hogs from the helo no less than 5 times, he's a veteran. Veterans don't throw up???? So told the guest to go back up. Reply, brief pause..." I threw up...I'm done" Holy S^%$, this guy is military, and he threw up. Well I stay on the ground to be polite and let the others have all the fun BUT you don't have to ask twice if I have the green light. Long story short, the next hour and 15 minutes I shot 40+ hogs and had the RIDE of my life. That bird was sideways, tail down, nose down, up side down..almost. The head leaser told the pilot he flew like he did with him the he did with the 2 other guys the bird was going down because he was gonna shot the pilot in mid flight! I told him when I got in that I did not share those thoughts and he had cart-blanc to fly the way he saw fit. The ranch owner was sitting behind me and hit on the back of the head and said to not encourage him...IT WAS GREAT!

We were able to recover and butcher a lot of them before they spoiled and wound up with about 600 pounds of ground pork for the homeless ministry in our church, thats over 2,000 meals created in 8 hours. We had 12 volunteers from my church's Sportsman's Group show up to add in recovery and do all the processing. It was a great time had by all...well except the hogs.

I used an FN FAL 308 with an Aimpoint and fitted with a brass catcher. I have a bunch of Federal 150gr soft points that do amazingly well and I bought them 4 years ago when we started doing this so they were only 10.99 a box at the time. I bought 400 rounds at the time and wish I had bought 4,000 more. I spent a total 68 rounds to get 40 hogs. All in all it was one of the best times I have ever had.

Perry

Good way to make meat! Sounds like a lot of fun too. Don't suppose you have any photos...

I'm sitting in Mexico right now getting ready to go diving....but I'm jealous I would have traded places with you in a heart beat!!!

Sounds like a blast, literally!!

I'll check with the guys on the ground to see if any pics were taken...I was too busy shooting..

Perry

not to be nosy,but out of curiosity,how much did it cost,ball park, to get the 40 hogs?

Sounds like a fun time. How often is something like this done? Would like to see some pictures if you have them.

Thanks,

Greg

where were you hunting?????

jb
Average cost is 250.00/hr for a 2 seater and 400.00/hr for a 4 seater.

BigChev
we try to do this 2-3 times a year to stay ahead of the population.

Perry

Death from above indeed. You did blast Wagner's Flight Ride of the Valkyrie, I hope?

kamo
Last year as everyone was standing around the chopper getting ready I did crank up Ride on the the lodges outdoor speakers. Everyone got a kick out of that.

Perry

Hey Perry,

Well done!! That is about the only effective way to stay a "little bit" ahead of them. Since they changed the law regarding aerial gunning on hogs, do you still have to get the state permit?

Congrats,

Bob

During debate it was referred to as the "Pork Chopper Bill"

Bill Number: TX81RHB 836 Date: 05-17-2009

ENGROSSED


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

1 AN ACT

2 relating to hunting of feral hogs by helicopter.

3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

4 SECTION 1. Section 43.109, Parks and Wildlife Code, is

5 amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

6 (c) A proclamation or regulation of the commission adopted

7 under this subchapter may not prohibit a person or the person's

8 agent or lessee who holds a landowner's authorization and a permit

9 under this subchapter from using a helicopter to take depredating

10 feral hogs.

11 SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date

12 of this Act, the Parks and Wildlife Commission shall adopt rules to

13 implement Section 62.003(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, as added by

14 this Act.

15 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

So, even with the new law this fall, you will need a permit.

Thanks,

Bob