Wow, I didn't know there were any bears in TX. Now, as far as one in The Woodlands area, I'd have to see the results of a drug test before I'd believe that.

The feral hogs do get big around here. An aunt and uncle of mine have a fairly large ranch and they are everywhere out there. One day he's out riding checking a field for dove hunting and surprised a couple of dozen feral hogs. He always had an SKS with him and as he grabbed it they took off running. He lined up on the one in front, and also the largest and shot him. Then he lined up on the second largest and shot it. On the third pull of the trigger the SKS was jammed.

The first, largest hog got up and ran into the brush. Virgil tried to unjam the SKS, but it was a bad jam. So he went back to the house, got another rifle, a Ruger revolver in .44mag, and my aunt, and went back. The second hog was down dead, so he found the blood trail for the first one. The trail disappeared into a hole (tunnel) in some very thick brush. After looking around a bit, he convinced my aunt (I kid you not!) to take the handgun and CRAWL INTO THE HOLE IN THE BRUSH TO FIND THE HOG!

She did find the hog, 18 feet in and dead. Anyway, AFTER dressing the hog out it still weighed better than 300 pounds. My freezer was full of sausage that year.


Another animal I didn't think was in Texas (except far east TX) is Beaver. A couple of weeks ago I saw 2 dead beaver on a county road just west of Belton. So to hear that bear are making it back is pretty cool.