The Listening Rock is the quarterly news letter of the T.B.H.A. Our newsletter gets its name from a high place in deep in the Appalachian mountains where generations of bear hunters have often stood to listen to their hounds in hot pursuit. Most mountain bear hunters have such places where they go in order to found out what's going on with their pack.

The goal of The Listening Rock is to keep you stay informed of current TBHA news, matters of concern and pertinent educational material relation to bear hunting with hounds in Tennessee. Look for quaterly updates during the months of March, June, September, and December.

HOGWASH: TWRA "ROOTS OUT" HOUND HUNTERS

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has dealt the hog hunters of Tennessee a stiff blow. Most of you will already know the details of this debacle by now so I will not belabor the finer points of the issue. If you are not aware of the current situation that has been created through the declassification of the wild hog as a big game animal then I encourage you to go the TWRA website (or read the 2011 Regulations) and inform yourself.

Houndsmen from all over the state are working hard to reverse the matter and the TBHA is doing everything it can to assist them. We stand united with hog hunters who wish to see this mess corrected. Unfortunately this is not the first time houndsmen have been slighted by the TWRA.

A few things for you to keep in mind as you converse with interested parties over this issue:

• 1. The TWRA is convinced that wild hog populations are at epidemic levels. However, they openly admitted in a recent meeting that they have no scientific means of determining the exact numbers of hogs in the state of Tennessee. Their campaign to sway the general public that an epidemic exists is more propaganda than fact. It is true that certain farms are having trouble but no state-wide epidemic exits. Certain documentaries on TV have convinced the uneducated viewer that we are facing a "HOG BOMB". Let me just ask you to walk outside and see if a Godzilla sized herd of hogs is invading your neighborhood. The TBHA is very sympathetic with landowners who are having damage due to hogs, but we do not believe hog populations are epidemic across the state.



• 2. The TWRA has laid blame for the increase and spread of hog populations at the feet of hunters. They theorize that hunters have transported and stocked hogs in order to create greater hunting opportunities. Interestingly, the TWRA admitted in a recent meeting that in their history only two people have been caught transporting/stocking wild hogs. Either this transporting/stocking activity is insignificant or the TWRA isn't very effective in catching the perpetrators. Either way is seems ridiculous to us to make this the "straw man" in such a vainly constructed argument. THE REAL PROBLEM IS NOT THAT HUNTERS HAVE RELEASED HOGS. THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT HOUND HUNTERS HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOWED ENOUGH OPPORTUNITY TO KILL HOGS.



• 3. The TWRA uses the possibility of wild hogs spreading disease to advance their agenda. However, they have shown little proof of this being a substantial problem in the state of Tennessee. In fact, we've seen ZERO proof that wild hogs are any real threat to Tennessee's domestic hog farmers. Even if wild hogs were a threat the solution would still be more hound hunting, not less.



• 4. The TWRA has said their "Eradication Plan" is based on similar methodology being used in Kansas. It was well stated in a recent meeting that there are too many variables between Tennessee and Kansas for this to be an accepted matter of policy. We've got to have TWRA personal who can do better than using a mid-western model as an excuse for such unnecessary drastic measure. There is a reason we do not hunt squirrels with bazookas. There should also be reason enough for the TWRA to not establish such drastic policy as complete eradication in our state.

If you are a hog hunter with questions or solutions we encourage you to contact the TWRA and voice your concerns in this matter. Even if you are not a hog hunter you still have a stake in the issue. We would also like to make it clear that we are not anti-TWRA but rather disagree with them on this particular issue. Their positive policies and efforts are appreciated.

If you wish to speak to the TBHA about this issue please contact K.P. Cooper, who is a TBHA Director especially devoted to the interests of hog hunters. Email me for K.P.'s phone number at hvplotts@embarqmail.com.

TBHA Hall of Fame Nominations

We are presently taking nominations for the TBHA Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony last February was one of the best hunting related events that I've experienced. There is a downloadable form on the website - www.tnbearhunters.com. Or you may request one by giving us a call or through snail mail.

Submitting Information for The Listening Rock:

Members of TBHA may submit related information and articles for consideration by sending them to the TBHA mailing address:

TENNESSEE BEAR HUNTERS ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 762
GREENEVILLE, TN 37744-0762
OR

Email to Tracey Jones who serves as the association's reporter at hvplotts@embarqmail.com. Space will be limited and all submissions need to directly relate to the TBHA objectives for the newsletter.

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