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Natchez native hunts exotic animals
Published Sunday, May 11, 2008
NATCHEZ — Growing up in Natchez, Jason Wisner was used to whitetail deer hunting.
But after he got married and moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, he found another type of hunting that piqued his interest.
So now it’s out with the whitetail and in with exotic animals.
Wisner has been hunting and leading hunting expeditions for exotic animals in Texas for the past few years, In November he killed the animal he’s coveted most, a Barbary Sheep, also known as an Aoudad,
“I grew up hunting whitetail but when I moved to Texas I found out that whitetail hunting is extremely expensive,” Wisner said. “I found that exotic hunting was much more affordable. Over the last three years I’ve done a variety of exotic hunting.”
There are numerous exotic animals, including many species originally from Africa, in Texas, such as the Aoudad, bison, zebras and Scimitar-horned Oryx.
These animals were brought to Texas from Africa and other continents and now mainly live on hunting ranches, although there are several free-ranging species across the state.
“The Scimitar-horned Oryx is originally from Africa but is more populous in Texas than in Africa now,” Wisner said. “These exotic animals thrive here.”
And it was the variety of animals that really attracted Wisner to the sport.
“If you go on a hunt, you not only harvest an animal, but you can see two dozen other animals,” Wisner said. “There’s such a variety of species, it’s fun to not only hunt, but to observe all the other animals you come in contact with.”
The type of hunting is also different than typical deer hunting. Instead of sitting in a deer stand in the woods or over a food plot, exotic animal hunters use the African style spot and stalk.
Hunters will spot an animal from a distance with binoculars and stalk it until they get close enough where they are comfortable taking a shot.
While much of the hunting takes place in high fenced ranches, Wisner said that doesn’t make it easy by any means.
“You still have to battle the snakes, hogs, cacti and the Texas sun,” Wisner said. “There’s a lot of obstacles to overcome.”
And Wisner says that type of hunting is a great way to get beginners involved in the sport.
“It’s easy to get hooked on (this type of hunting),” Wisner said. “I took a novice hunting recently for a Corsican Ram and he had a blast. I feel like I’ve created a guy who will hunt for the rest of his life.”
Wisner said he hopes his love of exotic hunting carries over to others, especially his friends back in the Miss-Lou.
“I feel like it’s a great thing for people to be informed of the affordable variety of hunting that’s less than a day’s drive away,” Wisner said. “This is something that I would like to see catch on (in the Miss-Lou) because it’s a great hunting community.”
Comments
Posted by thelorax (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Glad it is his cup' o tea. Shooting just for sport is cruel to me, if you need food , fine, but as a sport, just plain tacky.
Posted by kingstown (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Big Wizz!!
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What would you do with a zebra? Is there zebra season?
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now that's a big ole boy right there!
fire...zebras? "Yea, we're cooking up some zebra on the grill today...yall wanna come on over?" "I want the leg, I want the leg!"
thelorax...not trying to be mean, but if these people didn't hunt for sport, the critters would over-populate the country. I heard a story recently about a fox packing a baby away. Don't remember where, but they're practically begging people to help reduce the number of foxes.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
kpage ty for the invite but, it is Mothers Day and i better go see mom or else....I do not like the else from my mom bless her...It is her 89th birthday as well....Her kids were grown and then she adopted me talk about a GREAT mom.....
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is to all the mom's.....I would say Mother's but there is a diffrence....
A mom is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.
~Washington Irving
Posted by thelorax (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Funny thing is kpage, back in the older times people only hunted for food, ... not for sport, you sure didn't hear about overpopulation back then. I think getting your jollies hunting down animals for pure thrill is a sick thing. But.... that imo.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Reach deeper into the story. Another young Natchez native that had to leave here to work somewhere else. Some of the best hunting in the country or state is here, should have started that biz here.
Posted by kingstown (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yep. had to do it myself.
Posted by wonderingirl (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 9:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does he have to keep his car windows rolled up while traveling through the Safari Park until he picks out what animal he is going to shoot and kill? How close do you have to get to a zebra to get that good shot that you're comfortable with? What an adrenaline rush that must be!?! I've heard of exotic animals in high fenced enclosures, but they were called zoos. This is about as much of a sport as dog fighting in my opinion.
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 1:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it is cruel. And I agree with wonderingirl...I would not call hunting "fenced in animals' a sport even.
Heck, whats next, fishing out of a large aquarium?
Posted by Bobaloo (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 3 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Like shooting ducks in a barrel. Like hunting in a petting zoo. Drive thru hunting. Lame.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe I didn't read the story well, but these critters are locked up in a fenced area? Yep. It said "high-fenced". OK yall. You're right. I don't agree with hunting critters in fenced-off areas. This is cruel. I thought all these animals were out in the wild. Hmmmm.
Posted by npc (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
These fenced in AREAS in Texas could be 50,000 acres or more. If you think you can find an animal on 50,000 acres easily you are badly mistaken. I lost my cat the other day in my neighborhood and it is only about 50 acres. 50,000 acres could be considered out in the wild. If someone took you to the middle of 50,000 acres and dropped you off and didn't come back. Their is a good chance that you wouldn't make it home. Especially in Texas.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Find an animal on 50,000 acres...shoot, here in Jackson they can not even find a murderer in 10,000 acres, much less a big animal like that doodad........J/K..hope he enjoys it....
Posted by wonderingirl (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Most of these places have guides that take you on the hunts and often you are guaranteed a kill. The article also stated that on a hunt you may see two dozen other animals while pursuing your chose species. As far as 50,000 acres, even in the wild a crocodile knows to wait by the water source and sooner or later they will come.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, they put out feed boxes and maintain watering "holes" for the animals. Then you pays your money and takes your shot. The guides know where they are, just like guides for hunting camps know where the big whitetail bucks are. That's their job. To kill to eat or protect is natural, to kill to brag about it is cruel.
Posted by GopherBaroque (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 7:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That guy should have to track the animal and meet it in hand to hand face to face combat. NO guns or knives allowed.
Posted by ihatepotatoes (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 7:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Look around you. These things exist in Natchez. There are at least three in the kingston area. I do not agree with it, BUT if you eat a hamburger you are just as guilty as the guy hitting the cow in the head with the hammer!
Posted by GopherBaroque (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 7:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What's more I can't believe that The Natchez Democrat still publishes and glorifies this usless "sport."
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