Bryant,
I hear you....
I took some time off from hunting this year. To the point that people I used to hunt with twice a week don't bother calling to ask if I am in for the hunt anymore, they already know my answer.
Hog dogging for me is a hobby, and I have had several hobbies in the past that I no longer participate in. I have always maintained that when it is no longer enjoyable, I'll find something else to do. This year, I picked up a rope. Been roping 3-4 days a week, and having a blast. A good friend and I own the cattle, the roping pen that is only 500 yards from my house, horses, etc... We don't have to worry about landowners, deer hunters, other hog hunters backdooring, dogs getting hurt, ... Not to mention, I was spending on average $200.00 per hog hunting trip. ( tank of diesel, dinner for Mandi and I, and some drinks for the hunt), and hunting multiple times a week.
I didn't sell out, but I did sell down. Then sent some of my dogs to be hunted by friends. Heck, I've even had some of my friends hunting my places to keep the landowners happy. Now that the cooler weather is coming, I am thinking more and more about turning the dogs out.
Only problem now is how to deal with the a-hole landowner that has a 200 acre place right in the middle of almost 12k acres of prime hunting property that I have had for years. Seems the two landowners are feuding, and I don't want me, or my dogs in the middle of it.
You are a level headed guy, so I am not telling you anything you don't already know, but... Don't do anything rash, like getting rid of everything. Tracking systems, equipment, boxes, etc don't cost anything to sit on. It won't hurt the dogs to have a six month break either... just maintain, then after some time away from hunting, see if it's still worth it.
