Boar Hunting in Hancock

[Necromancer]

I had a terrible experience hunting 'wild' boar on a preserve in Hancock, NY and I wanted to share my experience so NO ONE else has to go through anything like this.

 

Pond Ridge Hunts of Bethel, NY is absolutely, positively the kind of operation you should avoid at all costs. They are dishonest and unfair. Here's the skinny;

Two of us went up to Bethel to hunt these boars. We found a review online at Wild Hog Hunters website that was glowing, so we figured they were a decent operation. Although we also found info online describing escaping pigs, damaged property, etc., we decided to give it a try. NY State law will force the closure of boar hunting in the State as of September, 2015, so we figured it was now or never.

Upon booking the hunt, we are told the costs: $500 for a 200 lb. boar and $600 for a 300 lb. boar, etc. Additionally, he charges $90 to skin it out and quarter it. Non-hunting spectators are $45.00.

On the day of the hunt, we arrive at the property. We hike up the hill and enter a large gate into the fenced 200+ acres. We are greeted by piles of garbage (food for the pigs) and about 30 pigs. I fully understand that pigs have to eat, and eat a lot, but the garbage piles are disturbing and the amount of trash (cardboard boxes, plastic bags, produce crates, etc., etc.) would disgust anyone who loves the outdoors as I do. Perhaps more than 100 plastic crates are strewn all around the property and have clearly been there for an extended period of time. Plastic bags (from loaves of bread and other baked goods containers) are scattered EVERYWHERE, smooshed into the mud, blowing in the wind and washing down the streams. The property is filthy. In hindsight, I should have turned around and left but I felt committed at that point to get my pig.

So, the property is supposedly 200+ acres. We walked a total of about 300 yards beyond the garbage piles and bagged two pigs. We had made it VERY clear to the guide, Franco Neves, that I wanted to spend $500 and my friend 'Mike' wanted to spend $600. Franco pointed out pigs that, in his infinite experience, were the size equal to the price we wanted to spend. We shot our pigs and they took care of the gutting and used a tractor to get them down the hill for us. When we arrive at the parking area, the owner eyeballs the pigs and decides to charge us both $600!!! We argue, but he is unwilling to budge. The guide defends himself saying "their size is deceiving." I'm wondering who's being deceived. So, before we go any further we ask; "where's the scale to weigh the pigs?" HA! They found that question funny, since there is NO SCALE! The weight is determined by the owner's eye! That's when we realized this was getting bad and I'm still questioning myself: why didn't I take my pig right then and there and leave? But I didn't.

Ziggy, the owner, lives near our homes in NJ and he offers for $90 each to skin out and quarter the pigs. At this point it's a matter of convenience because I've never skinned out a pig and I don't think my deer butcher ever has either, so we agree. This is like mistake #25 for me at this point!

We proceed at this point to the guide's house because he's also a taxidermist. He has some nice mounts there, but it's far to inconvenient to use him two hours away from home. So we thank him for the tour and decide to use our own taxidermist at home in NJ. Perhaps this created some hard feelings, I can't be certain. Nevertheless, when we took delivery of our pigs two days later, Ziggy now demands $100 each for the skinning and quartering!!! We are disgusted at this point, so we pay him and take our pigs home.

Upon arriving home, I pull the two heads, with full hides attached, out of the Hefty bags that Ziggy had put them in. One of them had a 5"-6" cut right across the face, and the corner of the mouth had been cut as well. WTF! I couldn't help but believe that this was done out of spite since we did not choose to use his taxidermist. As we dig further, we examine the meat we'd been given. The animals were not simply 'quartered' as had been agreed to; they were partially butchered. All the belly meat was missing...that's the bacon for crying out loud! That's all I really wanted and it was gone!!! The tenderloins, the most tender pieces of meat on the animal, were left in place when the pig was quartered; both of them were cut in half!!! The ribs were cut all wrong, the hams were a mess, and there was less than 80 lbs of meat, including bones. How could that be if I was charged for a 300 lb. pig???? This experience was just bad all around.

I'm not typically so naive, and I'm still questioning myself "why didn't you trust your instincts?" I suppose we were caught up in the moment; a couple of guys hunting pigs for the first time, it was a beautiful day, and we were having fun. We didn't want to believe we were being 'had', but that is absolutely, clearly what happened. We were robbed and we paid them to rob us!!! I'm the fool here, I know that. But I sure hope no one else has to experience what we did. STAY AWAY from Pond Ridge Hunts in Bethel, NY.

Other bad elements:
On the company brochure are a few images, one of a hunter with a revolver kneeling over his dead pig. This surprised me and I asked Ziggy a couple of weeks before the hunt "what weapons can we use?" and he said to bring anything we wanted. Huh. Although he has nothing to lose by suggesting that, any hunter bringing weapons into NY State could become a felon very quickly, depending upon the weapons. Bringing a handgun into NY State could have earned me silver bracelets and long vacation. Coincidently, NY State game wardens were on the property, in the parking area, to greet us at the conclusion of our hunt. That was a surprise.  Had I been carrying a revolver, or AR-15 for example, I wouldn't be spending Christmas with my kids this year, that's for sure. Know the law: it's your responsibility.

A third friend came along as a non-hunting spectator. We discussed that with the guide and Ziggy, the owner, BEFORE we proceeded into the woods. $45 is the cost for a spectator. This was all VERY clear. I asked this third friend to carry my shotgun up the hill for me, as a backup to the crossbow I was carrying. At the end of the hunt, Ziggy demanded $100 from my friend as the standard fee for an 'unsuccessful hunter' on the grounds that he was carrying a weapon but didn't shoot anything. Total bull@#*&.

STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY. And tell everyone you know to STAY AWAY from Pond Ridge Hunts, based out of Bethel, NY with hunting grounds in Hancock, NY.

[Curmudgeon]

USDA Animal Control was killing escaped pigs in Hancock last winter. I can't recall the name of the operation but from what I read in the Hancock paper, the same people had a place in Bethel. The escaped pigs did thousands of dollars worth of damage to a farmer I know down there.

 

[TopGun270]

http://www.scdemocratonline.com/sports/2012June/01/sports3.htm

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[greensider]

it wont matter soon the state is closing all the boar hunting in ny even the canned hunting they do not want them in the state

[Four Season Whitetail's]

it wont matter soon the state is closing all the boar hunting in ny even the canned hunting they do not want them in the state

Yup thats nice..Another law telling us what we cant do.. Now we cant hunt the animals but no biggie, we cant carry the gun to kill them anyways.

This is why some do things a little different on their own properties regardless. Some will sit back and take the reaming giving out by the state and others will do what they think is best regardless of what others say and enjoy their life and property in Ny.while they still can.

[malesi1]

Sounds like a total cluster F...Make sure to leave negative reviews on every site you can find. You also may want to consider small claims if you are so inclined...Sounds like the damage to the animals was intentional and would be hard to explain.

[Curmudgeon]

Yup thats nice..Another law telling us what we cant do.. Now we cant hunt the animals but no biggie, we cant carry the gun to kill them anyways.

This is why some do things a little different on their own properties regardless. Some will sit back and take the reaming giving out by the state and others will do what they think is best regardless of what others say and enjoy their life and property in Ny.while they still can.

 

FSW -

 

This is just another knee jerk reaction. Think this through. This is a harmful, invasive species. My farmer friend in Hancock has already endured tens of thousands of dollars in damage from this guy's pigs. I hope he takes him to court. The caretaker of a seasonal home there showed up last summer to maintain the lawn and found NO LAWN, just pig damage.

 

If your deer escape, they just pollute the gene pool. When these pigs escape they ruin the habitat for native plants and wildlife - including deer. They have no place in New York.

 

From: http://feralhogs.tamu.edu/frequently-asked-questions-wild-pigs/

 

28. How do they interact with other animals? Any they hang with or avoid?

Most other wildlife species don’t associate with wild pigs. The less mobile (lizards, toads, snakes) may end up being their next meal, while others (e.g., white-tailed deer) typically vacate the immediate area when wild pigs show up. They can be competitors with native species for certain food supplies such as acorns and limit the availability of those food sources for less aggressive native species.

 

I told a DEC guy last week that if I saw one while hunting, I would shoot it. He said that would do no harm. They just don't want the sounders broken up. That's why they put the no kill rule in place.

 

BTW -  A deer farm in Edmeston has lost 24 fallow deer and some whitetails. I was told that there are no rules re any whitetails with ear tags in Edmeston. They are Saskatchewan stock - more genetic pollution. The owner placed an ad looking for people to kill his feral fallows then pay for them.

Edited November 22, 2014 by Curmudgeon

[Four Season Whitetail's]

FSW -

 

This is just another knee jerk reaction. Think this through. This is a harmful, invasive species. My farmer friend in Hancock has already endured tens of thousands of dollars in damage from this guy's pigs. I hope he takes him to court. The caretaker of a seasonal home there showed up last summer to maintain the lawn and found NO LAWN, just pig damage.

 

If your deer escape, they just pollute the gene pool. When these pigs escape they ruin the habitat for native plants and wildlife - including deer. They have no place in New York.

 

From: http://feralhogs.tamu.edu/frequently-asked-questions-wild-pigs/

 

28. How do they interact with other animals? Any they hang with or avoid?

Most other wildlife species don’t associate with wild pigs. The less mobile (lizards, toads, snakes) may end up being their next meal, while others (e.g., white-tailed deer) typically vacate the immediate area when wild pigs show up. They can be competitors with native species for certain food supplies such as acorns and limit the availability of those food sources for less aggressive native species.

 

I told a DEC guy last week that if I saw one while hunting, I would shoot it. He said that would do no harm. They just don't want the sounders broken up. That's why they put the no kill rule in place.

 

BTW -  A deer farm in Edmeston has lost 24 fallow deer and some whitetails. I was told that there are no rules re any whitetails with ear tags in Edmeston. They are Saskatchewan stock - more genetic pollution. The owner placed an ad looking for people to kill his feral fallows then pay for them.

Yes and you watch when they repopulate natural in the wild Ny state will be the first one to make them a new game animal and add on fees and new permits. Take a look at states that made them game animals?

[DirtTime]

OK, let me say this before anyone takes my head off, I am asking questions, not making a judgment.

 

I was unaware that you could book a bore hunt in NY. They aren't even native here are they? So it would be a fenced hunt?

 

I do know they are a very destructive animal, and breed worse then rabbits ( that was a wise crack, not a statement ). So, if let loose they would populate an area/s pretty fast. Read a story last year that even coyotes don't mess with them as a general rule.

 

While I have no qualms about NY having more game to hunt, I am not sure this would be a good game animal to have roaming around.

But, yeah, if they did get into the environment, NY would offer us another tag charge and limit the number we can kill.

[Four Season Whitetail's]

OK, let me say this before anyone takes my head off, I am asking questions, not making a judgment.

 

I was unaware that you could book a bore hunt in NY. They aren't even native here are they? So it would be a fenced hunt?

 

I do know they are a very destructive animal, and breed worse then rabbits ( that was a wise crack, not a statement ). So, if let loose they would populate an area/s pretty fast. Read a story last year that even coyotes don't mess with them as a general rule.

 

While I have no qualms about NY having more game to hunt, I am not sure this would be a good game animal to have roaming around.

But, yeah, if they did get into the environment, NY would offer us another tag charge and limit the number we can kill.

I know plenty of place down south and Texas that have them on their properties and when spread out do not cause the kind of destruction many talk about. You also know that pigs have been in and around Cicero swamp for years and they have not repopulated like the DEC would like you to believe. Sometimes people believe everything they are told without knowing the true facts.

If they did the rabbit thing as you say, They would have made it 60 miles north to my farm by now.

 

Just like the safe act..The state running over people rights. No difference!

Edited November 23, 2014 by Four Season Whitetails

[Curmudgeon]

I know plenty of place down south and Texas that have them on their properties and when spread out do not cause the kind of destruction many talk about. You also know that pigs have been in and around Cicero swamp for years and they have not repopulated like the DEC would like you to believe. Sometimes people believe everything they are told without knowing the true facts.

If they did the rabbit thing as you say, They would have made it 60 miles north to my farm by now.

 

Just like the safe act..The state running over people rights. No difference!

 

So, coyotes are big problem but wild boar and feral pigs are not? No wonder people harass and bait you. You aren't making any sense.

 

Edited November 23, 2014 by Curmudgeon

[Four Season Whitetail's]

So, coyotes are big problem but wild boar and feral pigs are not? No wonder people harass and bait you. You aren't making any sense.

 

If i ever have packs of pigs running around like i did yotes then i would deal with them also. Like i said. Pigs have been in some areas for years and years.in Ny state! Do you see many?  Many Pics?  Dead on highways?  Thousands of hunters in the woods, you been hearing any words on sightings?  Didnt think so?  Ny is not Texas or any other warm states. Pigs could not and dont thrive here like in warmer climates. Ny would be an awesome pig hunting state, If the state had a clue how to manage them. As is shown with their work on Whitetails in most areas of the state... They would blow it!

 

As you have seen..People lose to facts most times they try to bait me and 99.9% of the harassment comes from pure Jealousy on their part and i love every second of rubbing it into the losers that do. 

[jjb4900]

If i ever have packs of pigs running around like i did yotes then i would deal with them also. Like i said. Pigs have been in some areas for years and years.in Ny state! Do you see many?  Many Pics?  Dead on highways?  Thousands of hunters in the woods, you been hearing any words on sightings?  Didnt think so?  Ny is not Texas or any other warm states. Pigs could not and dont thrive here like in warmer climates. Ny would be an awesome pig hunting state, If the state had a clue how to manage them. As is shown with their work on Whitetails in most areas of the state... They would blow it!

 

As you have seen..People lose to facts most times they try to bait me and 99.9% of the harassment comes from pure Jealousy on their part and i love every second of rubbing it into the losers that do. 

Jealous of what? now that's funny......hahahahaha!!

[Doewhacker]

I'm jealous of his yellow/gray mullet.

By the way Fsw, I hear Russia has boars and they do well in cold temps. Oh and

CWD

[Four Season Whitetail's]

I'm jealous of his yellow/gray mullet.

By the way Fsw, I hear Russia has boars and they do well in cold temps. Oh and

. 

CWD

Yeah Right...Do Well...Over populated? Causing major problems? No because they dont thrive,,they Survive and are controlled. No grey yet but i can see why you would like the full head. A post like this coming from you?  No Shocker!

 

Im glad you guys like these rules/laws that state puts on landowner rights...Its kinda why i laugh everytime i hear yas bitchin about the Safe Act....Im glad to see yas feeling the pinch a little yourselves...Cant wait for the next round to hit.

[RSRAINS]

BRING ON THE PIGS.

 

AS I AM A BETHEL Resident and would enjoy the hunt with my new crossbow.

 

BRING ON THE PIGS!!!!!!!

[burmjohn]

I'm confused. Was it in bethel or Hancock cause they are miles apart

[Doc]

Im glad you guys like these rules/laws that state puts on landowner rights...Its kinda why i laugh everytime i hear yas bitchin about the Safe Act....Im glad to see yas feeling the pinch a little yourselves...Cant wait for the next round to hit.

Can't wait for the next round to hit???? Aren't you just a prince. Damn.....You run into all kinds on these forums.

[gfdeputy2]

wild Boar can & do thrive in cold climates. We have wild pigs here in NH

stated in a preserve & over the years a lot have escaped luckily hunters have kept them under control.

quite a few years ago one was shot over 75 miles north of the preserve & roughly 1 hour from the Canadian boarder

[Curmudgeon]

I'm confused. Was it in bethel or Hancock cause they are miles apart

 

The same guy has 2 locations. The company is officially in Bethel but the fenced hunting enclosure is in Hancock.

 

As far as "bring on the pigs", why don't you go to Spain and hunt something really wild? Or, take your crossbow to Hancock before the state bans the beasts. NYS is doing the right thing by banning wild boar from NYS. If landowners have rights, protecting our property from harmful invasive species should be on the list.

Edited November 24, 2014 by Curmudgeon

[biggamefish]

hogs have been in ny for years just like the mountain lion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   

 

Right!

[Four Season Whitetail's]

Can't wait for the next round to hit???? Aren't you just a prince. Damn.....You run into all kinds on these forums.

Sucks when you are on the other end of the poker huh?  Hope you enjoy like a few already have for years.  You think shit dont roll both ways but i guess you are just the hypocrite that does not care as long as it does not have anything to do with you..

 

Well that dont have anything to do with me so ..no big deal..Right?

[virgil]

I misread the title of this thread- thought it read 'Whore hunting in Bangkok'.

[sampotter]

Virgil- not much different than hunting behind a fence.

[virgil]

I'm sure you're right.  But, probably a lot more dangerous.