Feral hogs can ruin months of food plot preparation in a single night. As fall approaches, East Texas landowners and deer lease holders are working to reduce hog numbers, protect habitat for native wildlife and prevent property damage.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension estimates the state has millions of feral hogs, which cause extensive agricultural and property damage each year.
“Pigs in my yard is an inconvenience, but for someone making a living off the land, it is much more serious. The wildlife definitely suffers from non-native pigs, but farmers and ranchers, as well as the product they provide, feel the monetary impact. With the price of fuel and machinery, a big sounder of pigs can completely destroy a crop or hay field overnight,” Jeremy Meredith with East Texas Hog Control said.
For local hunters, reducing hog activity before deer season also means limiting competition for available food.
“Leading into deer season, feral pigs will definitely be on the move. As temperatures cool down, pigs venture farther from water sources in search of forage. Acorns will be falling and corn feeders will be running, putting pigs in direct competition with deer and other native wildlife for food. The drought this season has been tough on natural browse that deer depend on,” Meredith said.
Hog damage can also become more noticeable as hunters prepare food plots for the fall.
“The damage pigs cause for hunters begins to increase as food plots are planted and fresh dirt is turned over. Pigs love a freshly plowed field as it allows for easier rooting,” Meredith said.
Under Senate Bill 317, authored by state Sen. Bryan Hughes of Mineola and passed by the Texas Legislature in 2019, residents and nonresidents may hunt feral hogs on private property without a hunting license when they have authorization from the landowner. Hunter education requirements still apply to those who are required to complete the course. Hunting on public land is subject to separate licensing and permit requirements.
Hunters and landowners have several options for limiting hog activity around deer feeders and food plots. Feeder pens can restrict hog access while allowing deer to reach feed, while larger corral traps can be used to capture multiple hogs at once.
Meredith, who has helped develop open-source do-it-yourself trap controls, said small box traps can make future trapping more difficult if some members of a sounder remain outside the trap when it is triggered.
“Small box traps or manually operated traps are less effective and can educate pigs outside the trap when triggered. For hunters looking to remove sounders before deer season, I recommend investing in a large professional trap or a DIY pen-style trap with cellular control, maybe sharing the cost with fellow hunters, or checking local social media for those that offer professional removal,” Meredith said.
Meredith said effective hog control is less about a last-minute effort before deer season and more about continuing management throughout the year.
“I’ve proven year-round management works using large cellular-controlled traps because I see it on my own hunting areas. I feel like landowners and hunters alike could really reduce feral pig numbers, but it comes down to hard work and determination. To make a real difference, it takes year-round management and scouting” Meredith said.