How do you support Hog Hunting?

[cantexduck]

 Due to recent actions, I have been thinking about the ways we each support our right to hunt hogs with our dogs. I have been called many names the past few days due to my recent actions. A few people have said that it will be the downfall to hunting hogs with dogs. It may be, who knows.
 What do YOU do to support the sport? We have one group/assc. in Texas that fights for our right to hunt with dogs. I think the the least we could do is send in our 20 bucks. All the recent attacks on pet ownership should tell us something. No one else is going to fight for our rights. We have to be vocal and active in this fight. At the very least, every dog hunter in the state should be  a member of the TDHA. You can bitch and moan about new laws governing the way you hunt and keep your dogs  but if you just stand on the sidelines with your arms crossed casting stones, you have no one but your self to blame.
  The laws over the way we keep and breed our dogs extends to all dogs and dog hunters. My birddogs are effected, my mom's dogs(house dogs) are effected. We need to do more then we are now. I am guilty of it as well as most people reading this. I have not been hunting hogs with dogs for life but I have been hunting behind a lab my whole life. It is time to step up to plate.

[Circle C]

Join/support TDHA
I have gone to a couple of Trailblazer's events. One in San Antonio, the other in Athens.
helped put on Wounded Warrior hunt that made front page news in small town Texas
Called representatives voicing my opposition to specific bills being discussed.
Having hunting dogs and hogs in the truck several times a week leads to people asking questions about them. I always take the time to educate people on the dogs and their use in helping to control the hogs.

[Dirtydog]

I have only been into hog dogs for a few years now but i do believe it needs all the suport it can get.
I am a member of TDHA.
I have made calls to my Representative.
I have not made it down town yet to show my face with Mr Mason (been trying) which i feel guilty about since it is just 30 min. away. but i will !
I make sure to treat all the landowners with respect and be a cautious hunter.
I have taught several non dog hunters about the positives & effectivness of dog hunting.
I TREAT ALL MY DOGS LIKE THEY ARE MY CHILDREN ! ONLY THE BEST CARE FOR MY PACK !

[cantexduck]

Chris and Jason,
  Thank you for the replys.

 Am I asking a dumb question?

[Txmason]

Mike,
No dumb questions.
Most just do their thing with out supporting to whole.

Wish this was a topic that all would get into.

Now you see what I'm up against when going to hearings and the Sentor ask me how many paid members does TDHA have?  I tell him we have about 350 active paid members in Texas and he states, "Out of the 10,000 dog owners and hunters only 350 support TDHA."

What do I say then?

[cantexduck]

Mr.Mason,
  That was the point of this thread. At the VERY LEAST every dog hunter in this state should support the one Assoc. that fights for our rights. I am guilty of "just paying my money". No longer. It is time we get involoved to fight this. I am working on getting the TDHA linked with Delta Waterfowl. It hasnt been an easy fight but I am working on it.

[catchrcall]

I am an active tdha member and on the board of directors.  i go to as many trailblazer events as I can, and as chris says I try and answer any questions about the dogs and equipment that we use, and be a good ambassador to the sport.  I call and write representatives when bills come up.  As often as I can I take new people hunting with me, which right now isn't as often as I'd like, but hopefully it will increase. 

[TrueBlueLacys]

I am a member of TDHA. I have tried my best to use my professional skills as a journalist, marketer and PR rep to support their mission, though it has been an extremely rough month at work and personally, so I'm way behind on that. I also helped establish a association for working Lacys and run the web site, forum and blog that openly promotes them as hunting dogs. I'd like to work that angle a little more, that the State Dog of Texas was actually created to work hogs in the Hill Country during the 19th century. Being the state dog has hurt the the breed by encouraging people to buy or breed them as a rare pet, but I'm hoping we can turn that around and use their status to support hunting dogs in Texas. If anyone has ideas about that, let me or Monteria know.

I TREAT ALL MY DOGS LIKE THEY ARE MY CHILDREN ! ONLY THE BEST CARE FOR MY PACK !

I think this is one of the most important things people can do. I understand that I'm in the minority in treating my dog like my kid, but every hog hunter should keep their dogs healthy and happy. The condition of your dogs speaks volumes when it comes to proving to the public and lawmakers that we are responsible citizens who care about our sport.

I'd really love to see an award at next year's Hunt for the Hungry for the best conditioned dog. Maybe do separate categories for catch dogs and bay dogs. You could set up it like a bench show, participation optional, but judge it on the condition and health of the dog rather than their conformation. They do this in endurance horse racing and dog sled racing all them time. It would really show that this isn't just about killing pigs, it's about working with our dogs too.

Remember, many of these laws are to prevent animal abuse, so if we can prove this is a positive thing for our dogs, that helps us approach the opposition on their level.

[TexasJ]

As a TDHA member, I have paid my dues for two years.  The only thing I do is talk to anyone I run across who dog hunts about joining. I try to relay the importance of the assosciation and what's at stake.  Am I the type of person who would / could contribute at a much higher degree? Yes.  I plan on contributing more in the future.

[txmaverick]

I am a member of the TDHA, have called, emailed and faxed lawmakers.
Tell everyone I know that owns a dog about the laws and TDHA.
Tell all landowners where I hunt about the laws and TDHA.
Take alot of kids and first timers, latly i have had 2-5 kids or first timers on every hunt it seems.

Wish I could join Mr Mason in Austin but just cant get away from the everyday job to make that happen.
Say lots of prayers.

[BarrNinja]

Well guys Im ashamed to say that I fall in the category of not doing much at all in support of hog hunting. I have been so isolated from other like minded hunters that I haven't given any thought that my whole way of life could change with the whip of a pen. I've just hunted hog dogs and did my own thing wile old hunting buddies either moved away or just petered out in the sport.
I have note supported TDHA nor did I even know of it until just a few months ago and Ive been hog hunting  for 23 years! Yeah I know so dont say it!
The best thing I have done in the past is educate any one that will listen to me on the subject. I try to maintain my integrity in the field with my dogs the same as I do in business and other walks in life.

Maybe we could start by finding other dog hunters like me(the uninformed) and start informing. How many more are out there like me that don't even know of TDHA or even ETHD for that matter. Of the top of my head - bay dog competitions, and dog swaps would be a good place to seek them out. How? I dont know. Public announcements maybe, flyer's?

As for treating your hunting dogs like your own kids? I will say this and know one will change my mind on how I feel so Im not inviting anyone to try. Ive proved it way to many times to myself already.
We raise our kids with love, teaching them right from wrong in every thing, meeting their needs the best we can, correcting them when the dont do right, praising them when they do, keeping them healthy all the wile forming a good loving parent/child relationship. Not friends. Parent/child. Right?
Raise a hunting dog the same way (NOT LIKE A PET OR A STEP CHILD) and you will have a better dog in every way hands down! Their drive to please combined with their drive to hunt will push a good dog into the elite category every time and they will be happy and walk with pride and confidence.

All I need is a good dog now.  

Ill see what I can do about joining TDHA tomorrow.

Great subject cantexduck! Thanks


 

[Russ]

I didn't make it the Expo this year to re-new First $25 the bill collectors can't grab you know I'm signing back up ASAP.

And like said, be respectful, be Courteous, be kind. Let the Anti's dig they're own hole, they don't need our help doing it. If we take the high road and support Mr. Mason and ones like him and show them we're a unified front..... Boys we can make a difference in no time flat.

[Dexter]

no i  have not joined TDHA yet  but will
i have just yesterday called all the comittee members and  voiced a no on hb634
i made around 30 calls to friends and family to call our state senator
and regularly send e-mails and call to our state rep.
  and ill be the first to tell you i need to do more
     Dexter

[jls41]

I am an avid member and supporter of TDHA as well as a director on the board.  Along with catchrcall, I attend Trailblazer events to educate children and adults, nonhunters and hunters, about TDHA and what this organization stands for.  We make every effort to portray dog hunters in a positive light at these events. 
I contact my representative on both the state and federal level on issues that I feel are important to our present cause and those for the future generations.

The more members we can generate - from ALL areas of the dog hunting world - the more unified we will look to legislation - the more pull we can have regarding our for or against votes.

This is a great topic!!

[BarrNinja]

A stupid question from the uninformed..........What exactly is a Trailblazer event?

[Circle C]

http://www.easttexashogdoggers.com/forum/index.php?topic=778.0

This should give you an idea.  Throughout the year there are Trailblazer's events around Texas.

[Txmason]

Trailblazers event is a fun day for youth that US Sportmen Alliance puts on and we go and show the youth about dog hunting.  We take dogs and equitment for them to see plus pictures.

[BarrNinja]

Thanks guys.

What a great idea!

[Dirtydog]

i cant beleive so far over 300 people have read this thread and less than 15 of those support doggin. what a shame ! it realy is becoming a dying heritage.

[cody1offroad]

What can we do up here in oklahoma to help our sport be preserved i would like to help