High on Hogs supports the ethical hunting of wild boar using fair chase standards—the method sportsmen use to pursue other big game animals. A fair chase hunt levels the playing field for predator and prey, encouraging the pursuit of feral hogs without the use of high-tech gear or questionable tactics. With few legal constraints on hog-hunting methods, fair chase offers hunters an option that—in author John Shtogren’s opinion—is the best way to hunt wild hogs. Considered an invasive species, wild pigs are often chased and taken in unsportsmanlike ways, e.g., night sniping with high-tech imaging and aerial gunning with automatic weapons. Such tactics would lead to fines and arrests if used against other game animals. Given that the vast nonhunting public abhors brutality against animals, the wanton-killer image of some boar hunters strains the already tenuous support for hunting in general. High on Hogs offers a wealth of information on successful fair chase boar hunting from someone who’s been there, done that, including: a history of the formidable beast; thirty facts every hog hunter should know; six dominant boar traits that make boars worthy competitors (and how to address each one); the best guns and ammo for every boar, from young sows to hogzilla; the top places to find hogs in the Southeast; a comparison of DIY hunting versus a guided hunt; recommendations for choosing a guide; and culinary advice about how to savor pork “the way it used to taste”—all loaded with high-quality illustrations and contact information. In the spirit of St. Hubert, the patron saint of hunters and the first advocate of fair chase hunting, High on Hogs encourages boar hunters to treat their quarry with the dignity and respect shown to other fine game animals. John A. Shtogren is an award-winning outdoors writer who resides in Virginia and has been hunting wild hogs in various parts of the country for over 30 years. His new book, "High on Hogs," is about fair chase boar hunting in the Southeast, and he firmly believes the lack of legal constraints can often paint a black eye on hunting in general... He believes common sense and care must be always used when presenting a hunting scenario to the public. "High on Hogs" is an informative and enjoyable read which covers every aspect of wild hog hunting, including hunting arms and proper ammunition and even what parts of the country have the highest number of wild hogs. Shtogren also delves into the natural body armor... that develops around a mature hog's ribcage and protects its vital organs... It can also do a dandy job of deflecting bullets that are not properly constructed to effectively penetrate through the body armor. Yep, folks, a fair chase hog hunt sure works for me! - Tom Lounsbury Outdoors and Thumbnet Freelance Outdoors Writer Shtogren passionately encourages the ethical hunting of wild boar using fair chase standards... Pushing deeper into the 136-page book complete with full color photos, the author effectively covers anything you would need to know about boar hunting. I mean everything: from how to get close enough for a shot, the proper guns and ammo to use, where to find wild boar, how to set up a do-it-yourself hunt on public land, tips for going on a guided hunt and how to prepare wild boar for the table. I enjoyed Shtogren's book... His writing style is informative and entertaining. - Chris McCotter, Book Review Excerpt from Woods & Waters Magazine 5/31/25 John A. Shtogren is a lifelong hunter and award-winning outdoors writer. He received a Daisy Red Ryder BB gun on his eighth birthday and learned to wing-shoot cabbage moths in the family vegetable garden. Later he prowled the northern Michigan woods—Hemingway country—for grouse, deer, and bear. For a decade he was the editor of The Virginia Sportsman magazine and frequent contributor to Virginia Wildlife, the publication of Virginia's Department of Wildlife Resources. His writings won numerous awards from the Virginia Outdoors Writers Association. He has been an advisor to the Virginia Feral Hog Task Force, which spearheads the state's effort to control its feral hog population. He took his first hog on the Virginia coast three decades ago and went on to hunt hogs throughout the Southeast and as far south as the Tex-Mex border. In addition to writing High on Hogs , he is widely published on the topic of leadership development, including Skyhooks for Leadership . He is currently working on a new book with a working title of Hog Hunting in the Far West: Fair Chase in New Mexico, California, and Hawaii.