Shooting Pigs from Choppers?

The Vicksburg Post had and article about the great state of Texas that may let hunters shoot pigs from choppers. A state lawmaker is proposing to allow ordinary Texans with rifles and shotguns to shoot the voracious, tusked animal from helicopters. For years, ranchers in the Lone Star State have hired professional hunters in choppers to thin the hogs’ fast-multiplying ranks. Now the state wants to bring more firepower to the task by issuing permits to sportsmen. The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee, and its chances of becoming law are uncertain. But if approved, the program could be the first of its kind in the nation. Some other states, like Gov. Sarah Palin’s Alaska, allow aerial shooting, but only to control predators such as wolves.
An estimated 2 million wild hogs are causing $52 million a year in crop damage in Texas, according to agricultural experts. Pigs that they are, they eat just about anything including the carcasses of their own brethren and tramples crops.

The pasture-wrecking porkers are causing trouble well beyond farms. Authorities in Texas are reporting an increase in collisions between hogs and cars, while golf courses and suburbs are increasing finding turf uprooted by hogs.

With that said, here in Mississippi we need to eradicate these hogs that are at the famous Christmas Place Plantation and Hunting Club right now. This weekend Bob and I have been invited by Rex to come up and help shoot these porky critters. Hopefully, we will make a good shot as Phillip did on his weekend hog hunt at the Tejon Ranch in California. Do we need to hire a chopper? What do you think?

Phillip pictured here with his sow after a shot in the forehead at 10 feet! Congrats Phillip!