Texas -

On March 1, 2009, the Texas Dog Hunter’s Association Hunt for the Hungry Tournament collected over 28,000 pounds of pork for needy families in Texas, making it the largest charity hunt in the United States.

Feb. 27 2009, 73 teams of four hunters and their hog dogs spread out across the Lone Star State in search of wild pigs. The hunters teamed up with 101 landowners who needed the destructive animals removed from their property. Feral hogs are an issue for ranchers, farmers and homeowners alike. Rooting and wallowing activity can destroy agricultural land and disrupt delicate ecosystems. They eat and trample crops and the eggs of ground nesting birds. Wild hogs can also transmit disease such as Psuedorabies and Brucellosis to domestic animals. For many landowners, dog hunters are an essential component in their efforts to control these pests.

Dry and windy conditions across the state made hunting the Tournament difficult, but 34 teams made it in to the Wild Board Expo  in Hallettsville, TX, for the official weigh in on March 1. The hunters donated 267 hogs totaling 28,657 pounds. The fresh meat was processed on-site by volunteers and distributed through Hunters’ Harvest to hungry Texans.

The TDHA Hunt for the Hungry was more than a charity event. Though the focus was on helping others, it is also the richest hog dog contest in Texas. The weight of each team’s five heaviest hogs was added together for the main competition. This year, Team Jeff and Brandon from Yoakum, TX, brought in 1,003.4 pounds, beating Team HHK from Victoria, TX, by less than 10 pounds. Jeff and Brandon were awarded over $3,000 in cash and prizes, including a handcrafted championship buckle. Teams second through tenth places received checks.

There were also four main bonus contests. Teams with the biggest boar, biggest sow, longest tusks and most hogs in a stringer each won $350. The TDHA gave an additional bonus to the highest placing team comprised of all TDHA members. This year the honor went to Team J-K Hog Hunters. TDHA also presented Mr. Douglas Mason, president, with a commemorative buckle in honor of his lifetime commitment to dog hunters.

 2009 Hunt for the Hungry Results

Champions – Jeff and Brandon from Yoakum – 1,003.4 pounds
Second Place – HHK from Victoria – 995.4 pounds
Third Place – Lee County Boys from Dime Box – 959.2 pounds
Fourth Place – Fat Boy Outfitters from Lexington – 836.6 pounds Fifth Place – Running Boar Outfitters from Caldwell – 804.6 pounds
Sixth Place – J-K Hog Hunters from Boling – 754.8 pounds
Seventh Place – Hog Wranglers from Belton – 710.8 pounds
Eighth Place – Big Nasty Hog Dogs from Wharton – 707.8 pounds
Ninth Place – S&S Capture from Hallettsville – 697.2 pounds
Tenth Place – Dogs Gone Wild from Cat Springs – 696.8 pounds

Biggest Boar – HHK at 250.2 pounds
Biggest Sow – Jeff and Brandon at 239.8 pounds
Longest Tusks – Texas State at 3 1/8”
Most Hogs in a Stringer – J-K Hog Hunters with 23 hogs
Best in TDHA – Wild Boar USA with 608.4 pounds

2009 Hunt for the Hungry Statistics

Teams hunted with 374 dogs and the average team used approximately 16 dogs during the weekend. Teams owned 694 dogs and teams owned an average of 29 dogs each.

140 properties were hunted, representing 101 individual landowners

Counties hunted in:
Aransas, Atascosa, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Burleson, Caldwell, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, DeWitt, Dimmit, Fayette, Fort Bend, Goliad, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hays, Irion, Jackson, Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, Liberty, Live Oak McMullen, Mason, Medina, Milam, Nueces, Reagan, Refugio, Robertson, Waller, Washington, Wharton, Victoria

Counties lived in:
Austin, Bastrop, Bell, Bexar, Brazoria, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Colorado, DeWitt, Ellis, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Harris, Hays, Jackson, Kleberg, Lampasas, Lavaca, Lee, Live Oak, Mason, Matagorda, McLennan, McMullen, Medina, Montgomery, Refugio, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Travis, Waller, Washington, Webb, Wharton, Williamson, Wilson, Victoria

The TDHA would like to thank all of the generous sponsors and volunteers who made the Hunt for the Hungry Tournament possible. Please join us next year when we help Texans in need and celebrate dog hunting at the 2010 TDHA Hunt for the Hungry Tournament!

2009 Hunt for the Hungry Sponsors

Oakridge Ranch Wildlife Management Association
National Lacy Dog Association
Double J Exotics
Caraway Ford
Hunters’ Harvest
TX Mason Catahoulas
WJ CPR & First Aid
Wild Boar USA and Ugly Dog Ranch
MG Inc. Farm Service Center
Aaron’s
Ashtin's Taxidermy and Smoliks Skull Shop
Cabela’s
C’mere Deer
Deer Feeder Helper
Gun Dog Supply
Kershaw Knives
Magic Media
Magnum Telemetry
TexasHogControl.com
Tracker
Tri-Tronics
Wildlife Materials
Los Dos Robles, LLC
South Texas Oil Field Maintenance
Branyon Family
Stark Family
Wood Family

With today’s economy, more and more Texans are in need of food.  TDHA is looking to increase the amount of pork processed and donated to those in need in 2010.  They are already hard at work planning the 2010 Hunt for the Hungry Tournament and can use your help to make this contest feed more Texans!!  If you are interested in becoming a sponsor and/or making a donation, both of which are tax deductible, please contact us at www.tdha.org  or for more information about the Hunt for the Hungry and how you can help protect the rights of dog hunters in Texas.

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