Southern Tradition in Pennsylvania

It was just breaking daylight when Wanda was getting up to get us all started on yet another Monday morning.  After a very busy weekend that included a youth pheasant hunt none of us were in any hurry to get going.   The youth hunt consisted of 25 young hunters that were at our bird hunting preserve hunting pheasants on the first day of the PA youth season. After the weekend excitement we could not imagine anything topping it on this Monday morning.  Little did we know that what was about to happen would indeed be even more exciting.  As I lay awake in bed trying to convince myself that I should roll out, I hear the back door open and the dogs run outside and begin barking aggressively.  Several moments later I hear Wanda say that the pig that she had been telling me about was out there again.  Not being one to pass up an opportunity for some fresh pork or an adventure I jump up and got dressed to look for myself.  The rumor with the neighbors was that it is a pot bellied pig but with one glance I could clearly see that it was not.  Having gone wild bore hunting years ago I recognized this pig as being one of the wild verities.  Figuring that it had escaped from one of the hunting preserves that are in the area I contemplated shooting it.  If I shoot the pig I would have to butcher it myself and I never butchered a pig before and beside I had to get to work, so I decided that if I could catch it live I could take it to the butcher shop.  I got a good mark on where the hog was standing and decide I could put Caesar my Drahthaar on the track and find it if the hog got out of sight.  I headed for the garage to get the 4-wheeler a lasso and some rope.  With plans of hogtying this animal I headed back to the house to get Caesar.  As luck would have it the hog was just heading across our back yard so I quickly let Caesar out and pointed to the hog.  Before I could give a command he was on his way in hot pursuit. I was hoping that he could hold it until I get a lasso around it and subdue it. 

            Caesar quickly caught up with the pig and attempts to take it down by grabbing the neck.  With the pig at full speed and the neck too thick skinned and with nothing to hold onto Caesar decided to grab the only thing in reach and that was the tail.  Hanging on and trying to gain footing the pig and Caesar headed across the field.  At first it appeared that Caesar was slowing it down enough for me to catch up but I quickly realized that I was too slow and out of shape, so I headed back for the 4-wheeler.  By the time I caught up, both Caesar and the pig was several hundred yards across the open field.  I managed to head them off and turn them back toward the house.  Somewhere along the way Caesar decided that he was getting nowhere hanging onto the tail, so by the time I caught up he had moved to the ear.  Holding the ear definitely proved to be more effective but with the pig now spinning trying to throw Caesar off it was difficult to get the lasso on it.  I tried the head, the feet, anything that looked available at the moment.  After many attempts I finally got the lasso around its neck but it did not tighten down until after the front legs slipped through.  With Caesar still trying to bring down the 120 lb pig the wild animal was slipping through the lasso.  First the thighs then one leg slipped completely out.  I figured it was not going to hold much longer so I worked my way up the rope so I could grad hold of the hind feet. 

So there I was holding both hind legs of a 120 lb semi wild hog and Caesar still trying to drag it to the ground.  After giving the down command several times Caesar finally obeyed, backed off, and laid down.  There I was holding this pig's back feet and somewhere along the way I had dropped my rope.  Fortunately I ended up a hundred yards or so from the house and within sight.  Wanda, still looking for the cam recorder expecting an AFV moment anytime, sees my dilemma.  She walked out back and asked if there is anything she can do.  I yelled back that I lost my rope and to bring me another.  As bad luck would have it the fist rope she found was a thick boat rope.  I soon realized that this rope was not going to stay tight on a kicking pig's thick boned legs.  By this time my hands were getting weaker and not able to hold on much longer, so I had Wanda get the lasso that had fallen off and put it around the pigs neck and pull it tight.  As she put the lasso around the pigs head she saw the tusks and says, this is no pot bellied pig.  I agreed as I got a hold of the lasso rope in one hand while holding a hind foot in the other.  Not being sure what the pig would do I have Wanda move back behind a hay bail before letting go of the foot.  With 4 feet back on the ground the pig makes a break for it.  I quickly managed to wrap the rope around my arm before it slips completely through my hands.  Seeing the possible escape Caesar is once again on the attack.  I managed to get Caesar back down and with the pig pulling backward it keeps watch on both Caesar and myself.  It was apparent that we were going to have to devise another plan.  Wanda asked if I thought it would fit in one of our large dog kennels, I figured it was worth a try so she headed to the garage still in her night rode and rubber boots to get a kennel.  With the 120 lbs steadily pulling and every now and then lunging backward the rope is cutting off the circulation to my hand and even though Caesar is down he is on pins and needles waiting for his chance to go at the animal again.  Wanda soon returns and quickly sets the kennel behind the pig and after several attempts the pig is backing in the kennel.  With the pigs head not quit in, it feels the back wall of the kennel and decides it does not like this and starts heading forward. I grab the door and swing it shut, forcing its head back in the kennel and latching it closed.  With the animal tightly fitted into the kennel both Caesar and I can finally relax.