Year of the Pig

Year of the Pig is a personal journal of one avid hunter's pursuit of wild pigs in eleven American states that have significant populations--Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, California, and Hawaii. Tying his mission to the Chinese calendar's "Year of the Pig" (2007), Mark J. Hainds journeyed from longleaf stand, cypress swamp, privet hedge, and oak/hickory forest to titi, saw palmetto, valley oaks, and blue palms, using a range of legal weapons--black-powder rifle, bow and arrow, hand knife, high-powered rifle--and various methods to stalk and kill his crafty quarry. Known for their intelligence and almost human "street smarts," feral hogs are challenging prey, often thwarting less-experienced hunters. Non-native to the Western Hemisphere, European pigs originally arrived to the southeast with De Soto's Spanish entrada, to the California coast aboard Russian fishing trawlers, and to the Hawaiian Archipelago on the outriggers of South Pacific islanders. In all these virgin habitats they have wrecked havoc to some degree or another, and, in many places, are considered pests, primarily because of their omnivorous eating and rooting habits that destroy fragile native species and agricultural cropland. Despite their phenomenal reproductive rates--one sow may produce three litters of 10-12 piglets each year--the author discovers that some ecosystems have, over time, stabilized the invader and, with good population management and hunting limits, a proper balance may be maintained. Attractive to hunters and adventure readers for its sheer entertainment, Year of the Pigwill also be valuable to farmers, land managers, and environmentalists for its broad information and perspective on the topic. "Local foodies" will appreciate the directions on preparation and cooking of feral pork. So few books currently exist on hog hunting that it is believed this book will satisfy a burgeoning market as wild pig populations spread and become accepted hunt quarry in all 50 states. Mark J. Haindsis Senior Research Associate with Auburn University and Research Coordinator for the Longleaf Alliance located at the Solon Dixon Forestry Center in Andalusia, AL. He travels widely giving presentations on various aspects of forestry and has published several technical papers, most notably, "Distribution of Native Legumes in Frequently Burned Longleaf Pine--Wiregrass Ecosystems" ( American Journal of Botany: 86(11): 1606-1614, 1999). Hainds is a dedicated hunter and outdoorsman, from childhood.

Mark J. Hainds is a research associate with Auburn University and research coordinator for the Longleaf Alliance located at the Solon Dixon Forestry Center in Andalusia, Alabama. He travels widely giving presentations on various aspects of forestry and has published several technical papers, most notably, Distribution of Native Legumes in Frequently Burned Longleaf Pine-Wiregrass Ecosystems in the American Journal of Botany.