“Hogfather” and “Hoginator” to speak

at Bass Pro Shops on wild hog hunting

     California wild hog hunting experts Jim Matthews and Durwood Hollis will be presenting a series of hog hunting seminars throughout Southern California this summer and fall, including a five-hour classroom at Bass Pro Shops in Rancho Cucamonga in August.

     Matthews,who was dubbed “The Hogfather” by Forbes Small Business magazine, is a long-time Southern California outdoor writer and publisher of California Hog Hunter, a quarterly newsletter on hunting wild pigs. Matthews’ weekly newspaper package on hunting and fishing is syndicated in 11 daily newspapers.

     Durwood Hollis earned his “Hoginator” moniker by being one of the state’s most successful public land pig hunters, killing dozens and dozens of hogs on public land. Hollis is also a prolific hunting writer, having his work published in all of the nation’s hunting and shooting magazines. He has also written five books, including Hunting North American Big Game (Krause Publications, 2000), which contained an extensive chapter on the pursuit of wild boar.

     Between them, Matthews and Hollis have nearly 100 years of hog hunting experience, and they’ve long ago lost count on how many pigs they’ve taken.

     Wild hogs have become one of the most popular big game animals in California with the annual sporting kill of hogs rivaling the state’s deer harvest.

     “Even with the growing interest in hog hunting, many sportsmen still have no idea how to go about setting up a hog hunt or what’s needed to be successful. These seminars — and especially our five-hour workshop — will provide new hunters the tools to become successful, and veteran hunters will learn about the latest techniques, ammunition, and hottest public and private land spots,” said Matthews.

     The Bass Pro seminar is a $100, five-hour workshop, and it will be held beginning 10 a.m. Saturday, August 23. This is an intensive hog hunting education program. It will cover public land hunting and guided hunts in greater depth that the shorter sessions, and there will be much, much more. There will be extensive segments on hog hunting techniques, reading hog sign, calls and calling, shot placement with rifles and bows, back-pack hunting and gear, maps and GPS reading and use, tracking of wounded game, and extensive information on field care. This will be a multi-media presentation.

     In addition, Ron Gayer, a Tejon Ranch hog guide and one of the staff writers on California Hog Hunter, will also join Matthews and Hollis for this workshop. He will cover all aspects of the guided hunt and how hunters should prepare for hunting with guides. Dennis Phillips, who does public relations work with Bushnell, will give a special presention on GPS use.

     Matthews and Hollis also debunk some myths about wild hogs, and there is always a Q&A session at the end of the presentation for hog hunting questions.

     “Wild hogs are available throughout much of the state. They are intelligent, wary, challenging animals. They ‘eat’ better than domestic pork. Best of all, we can hunt them year around,” said Matthews. “It’s no wonder they’re replacing deer as our number one big game animal.”

     The five-hour, in-depth hog hunting workshop is $100 (with junior hunters 18 and under and spouses from the same household just $50). Included in the price is a one-year subscription (or renewal) to the California Hog Hunter quarterly newsletter and a copy of Bob Robb’s book Hunting Wild Boar in California. Everyone will also be eligible for an extensive door prize drawing, including a grand prize, Howa Model 1500 Ranchland Compact rifle in .308 with a 3-9x42 Nikko-Sterling Nighteater riflescope.

     You can only sign up for the five-hour workshop here by following the link to the registration form or by calling California Hog Hunter at 909-887-3444 and paying with a credit card. There is limited seating and the spots are filled first-come, first-serve, so early registration is recommended.

Flyer for All-day $100 Bass Pro Shops Seminar (PDF)

Registration Form for $100 Bass Pro Shops Seminar (PDF)

2008

Seminar Schedule

     California Hog Hunter staff writers are conducting a series of hog hunting seminars throughout California this year. There are two types of seminars:

     1) Short one to 1 1/2-hour events that cover the basics of public land hunting, guided hunting, and ammunition selection. These usually have a nominal fee.

     2) Five to six-hour in-depth workshops that cover hunting techniques, hog sign, tracking wounded game, GPS and map use, shot placement along with cartridge and ammunition selection, glassing and binoculars, back-country hunting and gear, field dressing, skinning, and field boning of game, and more. Price includes a one-year subscription or renewal to California Hog Hunter, Bob Robb’s book Hunting Wild Boar in California, and a great raffle with at least one hog hunting rifle as the grand prize.

     Space is limited in all classes, so early registration is recommended. Check the list below about sign-up information, but for all the longer fee workshops, registration forms are here on this web site.

     If there isn’t a session near you, feel free to give us a call or send us an e-mail (odwriter@charter.net) and suggest a location and contact, and keep checking our web site for additions or changes in the schedule.

August 23 

$100 Hog Hunting Workshop from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (1 1/2-hour break at lunch) Saturday, August 23, at Bass Pro Shops in Rancho Cucamonga. Instructors are Jim Matthews, Durwood Hollis, and Ron Gayer. To reserve your spot, download a registration form here or call California Hog Hunter at 909-887-3444 and pay with a credit card.

Additional dates will be added soon, with classes coming at the new Sportsman's Warehouse in Victorville, Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises in Corona, and Second Amendment Sports in Bakersfield.