Wild Boar, (or feral hogs)

Posted by Greybeard on Oct 18th, 2007 in News and weather, Shootist | Comments Off

Ok,  just in case anyone out there takes offense to the idea of me wanting to use my new AR to hunt wild boar  (feral hogs) in Michigan:

Take into account,

*The feral hog population in Michigan is growing very quickly.  *The Michigan DNR is very concerned about this growth.  *The DNR say’s the hogs present a major problem for wildlife and agriculture. *There are now, a least 45 counties in Michigan, with a feral hog problem.  The DNR say’s “Once feral hogs get a foothold,  they are impossible to eliminate”. 

Feral hogs weight between 100 to 150 lbs,  with very large boars going over  300lbs. Their attitude has been described as similar to that of a JUNK YARD DOG!  Sows are capable of breeding at 18 months old,  and can have 4 broods a year. Litters average between 4 and 6 piglets each.  You do the math.   They will eat ANYTHING,  ground nesting birds, their eggs, and their young, (Turkey, Grouse, Woodcock, etc.),  any small mammals including Whitetail fawns, (and in  extreme cases small human children).  And most agriculturally importantly is their ability to destroy huge patches of feild crops, hay, corn, beans, etc.  Plus, they seem to have insatiable appetites!! 

To top it off,  they are known to habor and spread disease,  particularly diseases know to infect humans.

The DNR suggests that if you’re out hunting, and see a wild hog,  that you eliminate it immediately.  Afterwords they request that you call them and report the kill.

So far, I’ve not determined the exact legallity of hunting them.  I’ve read nothing about specifically hunting just the hogs.  I assume you must have some sort of hunting license, even though there is open season on them.  Bottom line,  if I get a line on a nearby area with a feral hog problem,  I think I’ll talk with the conservation crew,  learn the legal methods,  and offer the  services of my newest aquisition.

~~>GB

Where’d the water go??

Posted by Greybeard on Oct 17th, 2007 in Fishing, News and weather | Comments Off

Well today -would- have been a good day for that last Perch fishing trip,  unfortunately,  the river was down so far that my boat was stuck on the bottom..  I’ve read that Lake Huron is slowing draining out,  through the St. Clair River,  through Lake St. Clair,  through Lake Erie, and on,  out to the Atlantic.  Could this be the explaination why the water is down so far???  It’s definately going somewhere!!

Hopefully,  the wind and tides will shift enough to bring the water back, deep enough to free my boats.

Living here full time for over a year now,  I’ve noticed that whenever we get rain, (not very often of late) the water level in the river,  and the Bay,  goes down.  Can someone explain that??  (It rained yesterday)

Hopefully, someone will figure out where the water is going, and how to stop it.  If that doesn’t happen soon,  Lake Huron,,,  ALL of our Great Lakes, are in big trouble.   AND, to top it all off,  I’ve heard that one of our idiot presidential candidates, is a proponant of piping (more?) water from the Great Lakes,  out to the western half of the US..

On another note:

Our dinner meat today consisted of Wild Boar,  roasted with peppers and onions.  Had it been mystery meat,  I would not have thought it to be pork.  It had a very slight flavor of liver and onions,  but was actually much better.   I’m thinking that if I find a place to hunt them,  I’ll probably find room in my freezer for the meat.   

 

~~>GB

Rain on Da Bay today

Posted by Greybeard on Oct 16th, 2007 in News and weather | Comments Off

Yep,  for the first time I can remember in a long time,  it rained all day today.  Not that you’d know it, to look at the river,  it’s lower than I’ve seen it this year.  The old Searay is sitting quietly with it’s skeg stuck in the riverbottom mud!  Hopefully the water will come up enough for us to consider going out after Perch tomorrow,  it looks like it might be a nice day.

~~>GB

Perch Fishin’

Posted by Greybeard on Oct 15th, 2007 in News and weather | Comments Off

I think we may have missed out on one of the last few good day’s for Perch in Northern Saginaw Bay.  It looked like it was going to rain all day,  so we went into town to take care of some business.  As it turned out,  the morning was overcast but calm and cool,  but by the time afternoon rolled around, the wind had come up enough to kick up the waves. 

I’m giving the boats and the dock,  another 12 to 14 days in the water.  Then it’ll be time to pack ‘em in.  There’s nothing in the river worth shore fishing for right now,  so it looks like we’re waiting for that last good day out on the Bay or for the ice to come in.  (EEEWWW!)

The HHR is still in break-in mode,  no hot rodding,  but,  I’m seeing a pretty steady 33mpg on the indicator.  So far, I’m liking it better than my Sonoma.  More room,  better gas mileage,  and it smells new. 

Hang in there,

GB

Do Not Call registry

Posted by Greybeard on Oct 11th, 2007 in News and weather | Comments Off

I just re-registered our phones on the National Do Not Call registry .  It seems that very soon,  all cell phone numbers are going to be release to telemarketers.

In other news,  we just bought a new Chevy HHR.  Why I can’t exactly explain, considering what a lemon my last GM product was, (2002 GMC Sonoma).  I’ll do a little driving review after a couple of weeks.  So far,  I’m seeing 33 mpg on the in dash information screen.

~~GB