baggin_bucks
Active Member
I hope they can get rid of them. They are one distructive animal. Fun to hunt though.
Danno
PMA Member
How my ancestors...
in Fulton County Illinois got rid of them (and wolves)
Fulton County
Transcribed and Contributed by Fulton County host, Janine Crandell
Visit the Illinois Trails Fulton County web site
The wild animals infesting this county at the time of its settlement were the deer, wolf, bear, wild-cat, fox, otter, raccoon, wood-chuck or ground-hog, skunk, mink, weasel, muskrat, opossum, rabbit and squirrel; and the principal feathered game were the quail, prairie-chicken, and wild turkey. Several of these animals furnished meat for the early settlers; but their principal meat did not consist long of game. Pork and poultry were soon raised in abundance. The wolf was the most troublesome animal, it being the common enemy of the sheep. It was quite difficult to protect the sheep from their ravages. Sometimes pigs and calves were also victims of the wolf. Their howlings in the night would often keep families awake, and set all the dogs in the neighborhood to barking. Their yells were often terrific. Says one settler: ”Suppose six boys, having six dogs tied, whipped them all at the same time, and you would hear such music as two wolves would make.” To effect the destruction of these animals the county authorities offered a bounty for their scalps; and besides, big hunts were inaugurated for their destruction and “wolf hunts” are prominent among the memories of the early settlers. Such events were generally turned into a holiday, and everybody that could ride a nag or stand the tramp on foot joined in the deadly pursuit. A large circuit was generally made by the hunters, who then closed in on every side, driving the hungry wolves into the center of the corral, where they were dispatched. The return home with the carcasses was the signal for a general turn-out, and these “pleasure parties” are still referred to by old citizens as among the pleasantest memories of early life in Fulton county. Many a hungry wolf has been run down on the prairies where now is located a town or a fine farm residence. This rare old pastime, like much of the early hunting and fishing the pioneers indulged in here, departed at the appearance of the locomotive. ["History of Fulton County", published in 1879, page 322]
WOLF HUNTS: "Canton and vicinity had a grand one in 1842, when the center of the arena chosen was that high point of prairie northwest of Canton, since occupied by Overman's nursery, and known as Overman's Mound. It is estimated that 5,000 men that day encompassed an area about 20 miles in diameter, -- men enough to make the line unbroken, and they must have gathered up every wolf within that immense circle; the number they enclosed and dispatched was eleven. The dogs accompanying the hunters were of course numerous enough to dispose of all the wolves without any assistance from gunners, -- indeed shooting could not be allowed. Another wolf hunt, occurred in 1845, when only two wolves were killed." ["History of Fulton County", published in 1879, page 516]
WILD HOGS: When the earliest pioneer reached what is now Fulton county game was his principal food until he had conquered a farm from the forest or prairie, - rarely, then from the latter. As the country settled game grew scarce, and by 1850 he who would live by his rifle would have had but a precarious subsistence had it not been for "wild hogs". These animals, left by home-sick immigrants whom the chills or fever and ague had driven out, had strayed into the woods, and began to multiply in a wild state. The woods each fall were full of acorns, walnuts, hazelnuts, and these hogs would grow fat and multiply at a wonderful rate in the bottoms and along the bluffs. The second and third immigration to the county found these wild hogs an unfailing source of meat supply up to that period when they had in the townships contiguous to the river become so numerous as to be an evil, breaking in herds into the farmer's corn-fields or toling their domestic swine into their retreats, where they too became in a season as wild as those in the woods. In 1838 or '39, in Banner township, a meeting was called of citizens of the township to take steps to get rid of wild hog. At this meeting, which was held in the spring, the people of the township were notified to turn out en masse on a certain day and engage in the work of catching, trimming and branding wild hogs, which were to be turned loose, and the next winter were to be hunted and killed by the people of the township, the meat to be divided pro rata among the citizens of the township. This plan was fully carried into effect, two or three days being spent in the exciting work in the spring. In the early part of the ensuing winter the settlers again turned out, supplied at convenient points in the bottom with large kettles and barrels for scalding, and while the hunters were engaged in killing, others with horses dragged the carcasses to the scalding platforms where they were dressed; and when all that could be were killed and dressed a division was made, every farmer getting more meat than enough for his winter's supply. Like energetic measures were resorted to in other townships, so that in two or three years the breed of wild hogs became extinct.
Many amusing anecdotes are related of adventures among the "wild hogs". Esquire W. H. Smith of Banner township relates the following incident: "I had gone to help one of my neighbors catch and mark some hogs that were running out in the bottom. He knew where his hogs ran, and we had no difficulty in finding them. Our dogs were called into requisition, and we had dogs then trained to the business, and soon I had a shoat down and was marking it when I heard a shout of warning, and looking up I saw my companions making for the nearest trees while a herd of wild hogs, led by a powerful boar, was rushing through the grass and was almost on me. It was no time for argument I saw, and like my neighbors, I 'stayed not on the order of my going, but went at once to the most convenient sapling, up which I found my way with a celerity that would have astonished those who know me now, and I was not in a hurry to come down until the herd had left." ["History of Fulton County", published in 1879, pages 222-223]
in Fulton County Illinois got rid of them (and wolves)
Fulton County
Transcribed and Contributed by Fulton County host, Janine Crandell
Visit the Illinois Trails Fulton County web site
The wild animals infesting this county at the time of its settlement were the deer, wolf, bear, wild-cat, fox, otter, raccoon, wood-chuck or ground-hog, skunk, mink, weasel, muskrat, opossum, rabbit and squirrel; and the principal feathered game were the quail, prairie-chicken, and wild turkey. Several of these animals furnished meat for the early settlers; but their principal meat did not consist long of game. Pork and poultry were soon raised in abundance. The wolf was the most troublesome animal, it being the common enemy of the sheep. It was quite difficult to protect the sheep from their ravages. Sometimes pigs and calves were also victims of the wolf. Their howlings in the night would often keep families awake, and set all the dogs in the neighborhood to barking. Their yells were often terrific. Says one settler: ”Suppose six boys, having six dogs tied, whipped them all at the same time, and you would hear such music as two wolves would make.” To effect the destruction of these animals the county authorities offered a bounty for their scalps; and besides, big hunts were inaugurated for their destruction and “wolf hunts” are prominent among the memories of the early settlers. Such events were generally turned into a holiday, and everybody that could ride a nag or stand the tramp on foot joined in the deadly pursuit. A large circuit was generally made by the hunters, who then closed in on every side, driving the hungry wolves into the center of the corral, where they were dispatched. The return home with the carcasses was the signal for a general turn-out, and these “pleasure parties” are still referred to by old citizens as among the pleasantest memories of early life in Fulton county. Many a hungry wolf has been run down on the prairies where now is located a town or a fine farm residence. This rare old pastime, like much of the early hunting and fishing the pioneers indulged in here, departed at the appearance of the locomotive. ["History of Fulton County", published in 1879, page 322]
WOLF HUNTS: "Canton and vicinity had a grand one in 1842, when the center of the arena chosen was that high point of prairie northwest of Canton, since occupied by Overman's nursery, and known as Overman's Mound. It is estimated that 5,000 men that day encompassed an area about 20 miles in diameter, -- men enough to make the line unbroken, and they must have gathered up every wolf within that immense circle; the number they enclosed and dispatched was eleven. The dogs accompanying the hunters were of course numerous enough to dispose of all the wolves without any assistance from gunners, -- indeed shooting could not be allowed. Another wolf hunt, occurred in 1845, when only two wolves were killed." ["History of Fulton County", published in 1879, page 516]
WILD HOGS: When the earliest pioneer reached what is now Fulton county game was his principal food until he had conquered a farm from the forest or prairie, - rarely, then from the latter. As the country settled game grew scarce, and by 1850 he who would live by his rifle would have had but a precarious subsistence had it not been for "wild hogs". These animals, left by home-sick immigrants whom the chills or fever and ague had driven out, had strayed into the woods, and began to multiply in a wild state. The woods each fall were full of acorns, walnuts, hazelnuts, and these hogs would grow fat and multiply at a wonderful rate in the bottoms and along the bluffs. The second and third immigration to the county found these wild hogs an unfailing source of meat supply up to that period when they had in the townships contiguous to the river become so numerous as to be an evil, breaking in herds into the farmer's corn-fields or toling their domestic swine into their retreats, where they too became in a season as wild as those in the woods. In 1838 or '39, in Banner township, a meeting was called of citizens of the township to take steps to get rid of wild hog. At this meeting, which was held in the spring, the people of the township were notified to turn out en masse on a certain day and engage in the work of catching, trimming and branding wild hogs, which were to be turned loose, and the next winter were to be hunted and killed by the people of the township, the meat to be divided pro rata among the citizens of the township. This plan was fully carried into effect, two or three days being spent in the exciting work in the spring. In the early part of the ensuing winter the settlers again turned out, supplied at convenient points in the bottom with large kettles and barrels for scalding, and while the hunters were engaged in killing, others with horses dragged the carcasses to the scalding platforms where they were dressed; and when all that could be were killed and dressed a division was made, every farmer getting more meat than enough for his winter's supply. Like energetic measures were resorted to in other townships, so that in two or three years the breed of wild hogs became extinct.
Many amusing anecdotes are related of adventures among the "wild hogs". Esquire W. H. Smith of Banner township relates the following incident: "I had gone to help one of my neighbors catch and mark some hogs that were running out in the bottom. He knew where his hogs ran, and we had no difficulty in finding them. Our dogs were called into requisition, and we had dogs then trained to the business, and soon I had a shoat down and was marking it when I heard a shout of warning, and looking up I saw my companions making for the nearest trees while a herd of wild hogs, led by a powerful boar, was rushing through the grass and was almost on me. It was no time for argument I saw, and like my neighbors, I 'stayed not on the order of my going, but went at once to the most convenient sapling, up which I found my way with a celerity that would have astonished those who know me now, and I was not in a hurry to come down until the herd had left." ["History of Fulton County", published in 1879, pages 222-223]
K
Kat
Guest
Re: How my ancestors...
Interesting bit of history Danno. I enjoy reading the olde-style writing. Interesting too, is the way they used the word "infesting..." to describe all of the animals that were there before the settlers were.
Concerning the hogs, I agree they are bad news. I talked to a guy from Alabama a few years ago and he said hogs were so thick there that in some areas people couldn't let their kids play out in the yard because of the danger.
Interesting bit of history Danno. I enjoy reading the olde-style writing. Interesting too, is the way they used the word "infesting..." to describe all of the animals that were there before the settlers were.
Concerning the hogs, I agree they are bad news. I talked to a guy from Alabama a few years ago and he said hogs were so thick there that in some areas people couldn't let their kids play out in the yard because of the danger.
blake
Life Member
[ QUOTE ]
Anyone on the site in SW Iowa aware of this piggy problem?
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, we apparently have a wild hog problem in SW Iowa and NE Missouri. How big of a problem appears yet to be determined. There are unconfirmed reports of sighting just a few miles SW of Clarinda in the College Springs and Coin area. Two years ago one was shot by a farmer friend of mine in Elmo, Mo, which is not very far south of the Iowa border.
The hog problem was address by the DNR and some local farmers at a meeting that I went to a while back. At that time the DNR thought that the hogs had escaped from a private hunting preserve here in SW Iowa. Initially the DNR thought they were only dealing with a dozen hogs, at the time of the meeting they thought the actual number was far greater that they had anticipated. The DNR made no bones about, they want them dead. They also expressed fears that getting rid of the hogs could very well be an up hill battle.
Anyone on the site in SW Iowa aware of this piggy problem?
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, we apparently have a wild hog problem in SW Iowa and NE Missouri. How big of a problem appears yet to be determined. There are unconfirmed reports of sighting just a few miles SW of Clarinda in the College Springs and Coin area. Two years ago one was shot by a farmer friend of mine in Elmo, Mo, which is not very far south of the Iowa border.
The hog problem was address by the DNR and some local farmers at a meeting that I went to a while back. At that time the DNR thought that the hogs had escaped from a private hunting preserve here in SW Iowa. Initially the DNR thought they were only dealing with a dozen hogs, at the time of the meeting they thought the actual number was far greater that they had anticipated. The DNR made no bones about, they want them dead. They also expressed fears that getting rid of the hogs could very well be an up hill battle.
