After a while I would think that getting a '200" buck' would become more of a pocketbook exercise and lose the meaning (i.e. skill, persistence, uniqueness) of what it takes to truly find and shoot an animal like this in the wild.

William, you and I couldn't afford this buck!  I figure upwards of $10,000.

That's a pretty good hog...225 kg (500 pound) wild hogs are not uncommon around the States.

While I would have concerns on how well it would hold-up to beatings by wild hogs, my other question would be what would happen to the animals that feed on the carrion after it dies (vultures, coyotes, raccoons, possum, etc)?  This poison has to get into the bloodstream, and if it gets into the bloodstream it can get ingested by other varmints.

While I have no particular aversion to these kind of varmints they also clean-up our messes.

I haven't hunted Cass County for a number of years, but I can tell you that there have been some restocking efforts for eastern wild turkeys there.  Have hunted in neighboring Red River County to the NW of you and there's a decent population in that county.  Gene probably has a point - that wildlife biologist works with private landowners as well, and if you can give him a general idea where your lease is you might be surprised at what he can tell you.  I've talked with them out in WTX and they've been helpful out there. 

Let us know how you do.

I agree...their chests and body shape do not look like feral boars.  And, they didn't act like wild boars either...after they got shot they just kind-of addled away.

I'm sure no biologist, but turkey populations appear to be cyclical, and aside from the typical things in WTX that can cause wild game population variations we've seen them very dependent on predator pressure.  My suggestion is if you're not seeing turkey, the first things to start looking for are coyotes, bobcat, cougars, or the like. 

I think the lack of respect for private ownership goes far beyond a individual's ownership of hunting land and relflects a larger problem...look at the level of vandalism against homes, buildings, railroad cars, vehicles, gravestones, and all that.  There can be several things that drive that beyond a misplaced creative ability: envy, anger, greed, etc.

And, I certainly agree that there are many excellent city hunters out there.  How that will continue past a couple of generations looks up in the air to me.  Most of the good city hunters I know have either lived in the country or had a high level of access to it during their formative years.  Maybe if they can get their children out they too will carry on a sufficient level of understanding.  That's our hope anyway.

But the point Ryan made about TPWD is well-founded.  Someone who can't balance the needs of both hunters and landowners, along with a real understanding of wild habitat outside of what they learned in a book is a rapidly declining commodity.  Plus, you're now starting to see solid evidence of an 'animal rights' mentality springing-up at TWPD.  Get their magazine sometime...its unmistakable.  And, I don't know a single animals rights activist that grew-up in the country.  Now some folks that grew up that way don't hunt, and that's fine.  Hunting's not for everybody.  But the difference between a non-hunter and an animal rights activist is one prefers not to hunt while the other will adamantly try to take the right to hunt right away from you.