Great News From Shiloh Ranch!!!
Hogs
Contributors to this thread:
As many of you already know, we have spent the past 15 months fighting some anti hog hunting legislation here in Oklahoma. Unlike northern states where hogs have escaped captivity, they were introduced to many southern states via Spanish explorers and more recently in Oklahoma during land rushes in the early 1900s when settlers brought their livestock with them. As recently as 2007, hogs were still being turned loose to forage on acorns and other mast crops, and then rounded up in the fall after fattening up for slaughter. Some of these animals escaped domestication and became the feral hogs we are now killing. With the population of feral hogs now numbering around a million animals, they have become a nuisance species of almost biblical proportions.
For the past sixteen years, we have made a living by trapping these nuisance animals and relocating them onto our fenced ranch to be killed by hunters. This has been a win/win situation for the state of Oklahoma. We are helping to rid the state of a nuisance animal while bringing revenue into the state. Fortunately, by Gods grace, a few of our legislators saw the positive impact we are having both on the state's agricultural industry and the economy.
We were told we could never win this battle against the Pork Council, the Farm Bureau and the Department of Agriculture...all of whom accused hog hunters as being the source of the feral hogs, even though their presence had been documented by the Noble Foundation for decades before sport hunting facilities existed in this state. When House Bill 1104 was introduced in early 2015, there were only six of us who stood as the only voice in opposition. Well with God on our side, HB1104 was finally defeated! I can't tell you how much work, money, anxiety and sleepless nights we went through this last year, but I can tell you that we give God all the glory for seeing us through this battle. We can finally catch our breath again and get back to procuring pork, as it should be! Thank you so much to all of you whom have sent letters or made phone calls on our behalf. You have no idea how much we appreciate your support and words of encouragement. I hope we can repay the favor should you ever be faced with a similar battle. If nothing else, we've learned a tremendous amount about how our law making process works, and more importantly, about the power of prayer.
Now, I'd like to get back to work and share some more of what exciting new changes we have going on here at Shiloh Ranch...
Glad to hear that your efforts paid off!!
Well, I'm happy that short sighted people were not successful in hurting your livelihood. We have a huge hog problem here, but I fail to see how hunting hogs in an enclosure is gonna add to it. Every dead hog is a hog no longer destroying property. Makes no difference how it dies or where. The problem here started long ago with not only the natural proliferation of hogs expanding their range, but people helping them out by transporting to places with no hogs and turning them loose to breed and multiply. It's still legal to trap and transport to a " pen " or to slaughter, but not to turn them loose. I think the horse is out of the barn though...............
Great! I sure do like good news. Here in Missouri the Department of Conservation is closing all hog hunting on public ground. Claiming it scatters them and makes it hard to trap them. Big government always thinks it has the answer.
It's always nice when your hard work pays off. Congrats!!!
Good news for you guys! Send me a trapper... :)
Great news! Congrats!
Mark
Outstanding news! I know how much that means to you, Cheryl and the rest of the hog outfits in Oklahoma. Congrats on staying the course and educating the legislature.
I raise a wild boar porkchop in your honor!
See you in 30 days for massive amounts of pork procurement! On to Porkapalooza 10!
Hamicus Procurus
So glad it worked out well for you guys!!! Congrats!!
Very good news...Congrats on your victory!
Fantastic! Congrats for all your hard work!
Well done! Way to fight the good fight!
Cheryl and Matt, that is great news, and thanks for your efforts.
You must be wrong about the time of introduction though, b/c Hugh Glass encountered them in the early 1800's. I saw it in the movie "Revenant" ..... lol
The only bad news about this post is reading "exciting new change" and not knowing what they are. Checking bowsite every half hour at work wears me out:)!!
Great work that you achieved in OK.
We fought the Farm Bureau in VA for years before finally winning. The Farm Bureau was opposed to hunting on Sundays in Virginia.
We found that farm bureau is anti small business in farming, agriculture and recreation. They need to stick with selling insurance (which they are in the red) instead of trying to play political games. Personally, I wouldn't do business with FB if they were the only insurance on earth.
Matt
Thank you everyone! We are blessed to have so many good people like you all that we can call friends.
Here's one of the new improvements we've made to make your hunt a more pleasant experience. We've traded in the Kubota for this six-seater Kawasaki Mule Pro FXT. Now we can pick everybody up in one trip and not leave anybody waiting out in the dark for us to come back out. Not only is it bigger, but if you've had your kidneys shaken loose in the Kubota, you'll appreciate how smooth the ride is on those rough trails!
You can "fight city hall" and win. Congrats that your efforts and hard work paid off. Always like to see "David" beat "Goliath."
Oh, man, a pimp pig hauler!!
Comfort and style!!
Nice ride, can't wait to try it out! Congrats and hello Colby!
Matt I agree with your assessment of the current Farm Bureau model. They were my insurance carrier from my first day of driving until 1989, since then, well. There's better insurance, and better farm lobbies, for the small farmer.
And I believe my son was the first one to get blood on your new ride! Thanks Matt, we had a good time there.
Chuck, yes he was. I'm just about over it though! We enjoyed having both of you!
Matt
Our next bit of good news is the most exciting. We now have a new guide and ranch manager, with his wife and son , working here on the ranch. I don't have a picture of Colby and Jennifer yet, but here's their son Wesson. Wesson is our future Junior guide and ranch hand! Isn't he a doll?! Colby and Jennifer have been doing an awesome job of making sure the camp and guest house are clean and stocked up before your arrival, and help with all aspects of the ranch. Make sure you remember to tip them to let them know you appreciate not only the good service, but all the work they do behind the scenes to assure you have a good hunt.
Welcome to Shiloh Ranch Colby, Jenn and Wesson!!!
New Junior Guide? Sounds like INbowdudes retirement job is in serious jeopardy! Welcome to Shiloh Colby and Jennifer and look forward to meeting you next month for Porkapalooza 10.
More good news. Welcome Colby, Jennifer and Wesson.
Welcome Wesson and your Mom & Dad, Jenn and Colby. Look forward to meeting you.
Wow, junior guide indeed. Welcome all!
Great news!
Shoot Str8 and stay safe
Jeff
Usually when the Government gets involved in something and tries to control it, Everyone suffers. That is really great news to hear that HB 1104 was defeated!
That's so true Lindell. On another note, we're happy you made it through last weeks tornado but are very sorry for the loss of your friend. We are keeping you and your friends family in our prayers.
Here's a picture of Colby, Jenn and Wesson at church last weekend. You all will love this couple as they are good people who work hard to make sure you are taken care of while here at Shiloh Ranch. Colby has hunted his whole life and isn't afraid to jump in and help you in any way he can. He can track, skin, quarter and most importantly, is fun to hang out with. When you meet him make sure to ask him about his bull riding and hog catching adventures! We're blessed to have this family here on the ranch and look forward to a long future together with them!
Good news...looks like you got a couple that could be invested for the long haul can't think of better people to learn the business from. Hope all is well your way and you are starting to dry out, look forward to meeting new hands in January!!
Lucas
...another few years and you'll be able to turn Wesson and Kai loose on the property.
Man, that would be some adventures!
22 days and counting down until Porkapalooza!