Wild hogs have become a nuisance in many areas of the country, including central and southern Indiana. Brian “Pig Man” Quaca, who’s famous for his award-winning TV show “Pig Man, The Series”
on the Sportsman Channel, will share his experiences hunting the invasive species on March 12 & 13 during the National Maple Syrup Festival.
According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the feral pigs trample cornfields, consume vegetation that deer and turkey eat and make it difficult for those game animals to compete for resources in the wild. The hogs also defecate in streams, causing water quality problems.
Smithsonian magazine featured Quaca in a January 2011 article about the devastation and destruction that non-indigenous pigs are causing all across the country. “A Plague of Pigs” explained the ecological and economic impact of the species and the rapid outbreak of up to 6 million hogs in 39 states.
Thirty-eight-year-old Quaca grew up in Texas and began rifle hunting when he was 4. He switched to bowhunting at age 11 and as a teenager was recognized for having a knack for hunting the unwanted hogs. Now he guides hunts at Triple Q Outfitters in central Texas. A customer dubbed him Pig Man, and it stuck. Since the launch of his show in 2009, he has traveled the globe hunting wild hogs and other exotic animals.
Quaca will discuss hunting experiences and tips, and there will be live filming for his television show during the second weekend of the festival.
One of Indiana’s most accomplished outdoorsman, Jay Mellencamp, will join Quaca on the hunt. Tim Burton, owner of Burton’s Maplewood Farm said, “I’m pleased Mellencamp agreed to participate. While there was only one Fred Bear, Jay is cut from the same cloth. He’s a guy who prefers to hunt squirrels with a long bow, something that’s nearly nonexistent today.”
Pig Man will speak at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on March 12 and March 13 at the Medora Conservation Club. Tickets to the festival are required to attend the talk.
The National Maple Syrup Festival will be held March 5-6 and March 12-13 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Burton’s Maplewood Farm, Medora Community School and Medora Conservation Club. Parking is at Medora Community School
Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors ages 65 and older, $6 for children ages 5 to 15, free for ages 4 and younger. (Bring a canned good for local food pantries, and get $2 off admission.)
For more information log onto www.nationalmaplesyrupfestival.com
