2009 Tdha Contest Rules (sample viewing)

Here are some things I thought about the rules.....They are just my opinion but here goes.

The first one is being required to show a hunting liscence to contest officials. I know the actuall law regarding this can be interpreted in different ways. But It does say that you do not need a licsence to hunt hogs if you are the land owner or agent of the land owner. Well, in every situation when I go hunting I am acting as the agent of the land owner in an effort to reduce the hogs on the place. So if a person does not need a liscence to be legal why do they need one to enter the contest?

Also about the knife and dog only. I understand why yall think this will help make the contest more fair(meat quality, unfair advantage, ect), But I dont necesarily agree. Some people might think that baying and shooting hogs is easier or has an advantage over the knife. But thats not necessarily so. I think allot of those beliefs are based on missinformation and a lack of understanding because they have never tried it. Sure there are trade offs but in reality it is not that much greater of an advantage and sometimes is a disadvantage. If you are worried about the meat quality then make it a rule that there must be one clean shot only for the hog to be entered. One clean shot is easy when the hog is bayed and you can get close, but not so easy from a helicopter or when shooting at a hog flushed from a field. It would also emiminate the use of some of the high powerd rifles, shotguns that would not leave a single or clean shot even with proper placement. Besides if people want to waste thier time trying to drive hogs out of a feild, let them. They would have a much better chance at big hogs and winning the competition, if they would bay the hogs with dogs. Also just my expereince, the hogs we end up catching with dogs, the meat is all bruised by the dogs, while the gun shot hogs have bruise free meat. Unless you shoot the hog to many times or have bad shot placement gun shot hogs will always produce better meat than dog caught. I think you are limiting the ammount of meat produced(your ultimate goal if i am not mistaken) by excluding dog and gun hunters, my self included. It is also worth considering that TDHA claims to support all dog hunters in Texas and that rule does'nt necessarily portray that message.

Also, if you really want to curb the cheating cut the prize money down. I believe if you keep it at a reasonable level.....enough to cover the cost of participating and pad the pockets a little bit, that is more than enough, expecially with the buckles and other items added in. Just donate the rest or use it for the TDHA. I think that will help you attract more people that understand the cause (Donating meat). Not to mention I am a firm beleiver that you will never please everybody. I am willing to bet that you will have a similar ammount of complaints no matter what rules you decide on. You can never please all the people and the complainers will always find something to complain about. Not to mention the ones that are hollering about cheating are probly the ones that did a little cheating them selves.

Thats just my 2 cents. I would like to participate in the contest but I wont loose any sleep over it if I don't. I hope this years contest is a sucess for yall.

Waylon