Abbeville’s claim to fame used to be that Jefferson Davis spent a night in the town as he was fleeing Union forces prior to his capture and imprisonment, and that was once the focus of the town’s annual public gathering.

But times have changed and Abbeville is now known far and wide as the home of the Ocmulgee Wild Hog Festival. Ashburn gets its inspiration from fire ants. Camilla celebrates Gnat Days. So why not hogs?

They’re an invasive species, after all, and wreak havoc on our native ecosystem.

An estimated seven million of the unwieldy European imports roam the country, from Oregon to North Carolina, with populations scattered throughout other parts of the country.

But they’re most prevalent in the South, and hunting them is a longstanding tradition. It’s very popular in the thick swamps that radiate in all directions from the Ocmulgee River near Abbeville.

Technically, the hog in question is the Eurasian or Russian Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) and it’s one of the most widely distributed mammals on the planet, due to its introduction in places not original to its range in Europe and North Africa.

Innocently enough, settlers brought them to America as soon as America was settled, for a readily available food source, but things quickly got out of hand.

Since modern science frowns on introduced and invasive species, there are no limits on hogs for hunters, as there are for most species.

There are multiple varieties in existence today because the species readily cross breeds with domesticated stock. Ironically, the wild boar is also the progenitor of the pigs we raise for pork today.

Abbeville became the de facto center of hog hunting in Georgia in 1955, the year the late Boo Addison began hosting an annual Wild Hog Bar-B-Que to kick off the state legislative session, a tradition that continues today.

The Addison family follows Boo’s footsteps today, literally and figuratively, guiding hunts in the area and teaching many newcomers the particulars of the sport.

One of the highlights of the Ocmulgee Wild Hog Festival is the baying competition, which starts early, and really shows off the skill of these specialized dogs.

Baying, or keeping the boar at bay, refers to the dog cornering and harassing the hog, barking loudly to bring in the hunters. Wayne Wilson ran this event for many years.

There is no abuse to the animals in the baying competition.

It’s actually amazing to watch a small but tenacious dog come face to face with a wild boar.

Back to Abbeville…the county seat of Wilcox County since its formation in 1857, the town was sited along the Ocmulgee River to take advantage of its bustling trade.

The Ocmulgee Wild Hog Festival is one of the biggest events in the area and the town’s population of around 2700 probably reaches 10-15,000 from the influx of visitors from all over.

It’s truly one of the most unique festivals in South Georgia and you should try to visit at least once. There are great vendors and entertainment, and you’ll probably run into someone you know. People really do come from all over to witness this fascinating event.

It’s held the Saturday before Mother’s Day every year at Lion’s Club Park in Abbeville.