Just returned from Allendale county, SC.

[Liquid Amber]

I just returned from a week's bowhunt in South Carolina and here is the "good, bad and ugly."  I've hunted this same property each fall since around 1990 and have watched the changes 24 years have brought.

Good - The trapping and removal of 20 coyotes in February paid a dividend as the place was literally running over with fawns and does compared to the previous three year lows.  It will become an annual deal and looks to be the best management solution to the 50% fawn mortality contributed to coyotes by studies down in the Savannah River Plant, just up stream.  

Bad - I cannot believe the amount of trespassing occurring on this large property....bowhunters[deer/hogs], relic hunters and dog hog hunters.  Folks being dropped off on roads and picked up after dark and folks coming in off the Savannah River.  

Ugly -  The dog hog hunters realize their activities haven't gone unnoticed and took evasive matters.  According to the two Game Wardens who were on the property during our hunt, hog hunters using dogs are having their dogs' voice boxes surgically altered to reduce/eliminate barking, are attaching tracking devices on the dogs and using knives and spears to kill the hogs their dogs catch.  I cannot personally fathom the extremes some folks will go to kill a feral hog.

[MikeNova]

I live in Columbia look me up next time your around. I went on one of those knife and dog hunts before it was fun;however; it was in March and nothing was in season so we didn't bother anyone else.

[Hawkeye]

That is sad to hear, Cliff.  Sounds like Paradise lost...

This life has never been perfect, but it makes you long for the "good old days"...

[OBXarcher]

The club I'm in is a dog hunting club. I joined just to have a place to hunt hogs in the summer  
Only met a couple of them. Not impressed. Pretty sure they kill more bud lite than deer from what I see in the woods.

[MCNSC]

I know what you mean, I found evidence last year of dog hunters coming in from the river on some property I get to hunt some. The bad thing is I spent several days hunting this area of the property near the river thinking I was getting away from any hunting pressure only to find out folks were coming in from the river with dogs and running coons or hogs.  Also another place they would turn out their dogs right on the property line.

[Liquid Amber]

"I cannot personally fathom the extremes some folks will go to kill a feral hog."

I should have written "illegally kill."

[MCNSC]

I know what you mean, I found evidence last year of dog hunters coming in from the river on some property I get to hunt some. The bad thing is I spent several days hunting this area of the property near the river thinking I was getting away from any hunting pressure only to find out folks were coming in from the river with dogs and running coons or hogs.  Also another place they would turn out their dogs right on the property line.