The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $11.65 million in 14 projects to help farmers, ranchers and private landowners trap and control feral swine as part of the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program. This investment expands the pilot program to new projects in Texas, as well as Alabama, Hawaii, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma and South Carolina.
This pilot program is a joint effort between USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). This second round of funding is for partners to carry out activities as part of the identified pilot projects in select states.
“These awards enable landowners to address the threat that feral swine pose to natural resources and agriculture,” NRCS Acting Chief Kevin Norton said. “The projects we have identified will be key to addressing the feral swine problem.”
Similar to the first round, NRCS will provide funding to partners who will provide financial assistance, education, outreach and trapping assistance to participating landowners in pilot project areas. All partner work will be closely coordinated with the APHIS operations in the pilot project areas. Between the first and second round of funding, there will be a total of 34 active projects across 12 states for the life of the 2018 Farm Bill.
Each project is unique, and additional information about the expectations for individual projects can be found at www.nrcs.usda.gov/FSCP.
These new pilot projects and areas were selected in coordination with NRCS state conservationists, APHIS state directors and state technical committees to address issues and damage in areas with high densities.
Pilot projects consist broadly of three coordinated components: feral swine removal by APHIS; restoration efforts supported by NRCS; and assistance to farmers and ranchers for feral swine control provided through partnership agreements with non-federal partners.
Projects are planned to conclude at the end of September 2023.
What happen with Ga.?
I live in Nevada and we dont have a problem but I heard California was having a problem. Even having to pulling food of the shelfs that had been contaminated with Eco lie. So im a sport hunter and know people that would love to have a fresh killed wild Hog. Anyway I called and pretty much you cN hunt so many hours and its 400 dollars WOW is there a problem or not
Why don’t you have sportsman work with the USDA and make money buy issuing licenses and bringing money into the communities and land owners instead of tax payers footing the bill.
There are so many hogs/feral pigs in Texas you only need landowner permission to hunt them. We typically see groups of 15 plus on cameras. One moma will raise 6 piglets to maturity and can have 3 litters a year.
I would buy one and pay a few $ to shoot some hogs. Great call.
Just, eat them.
Hey just wanted to let you all know as a hunter that if we the people that hunt could have controled hunts on public land in texas more people would take part in helping control the population of the. Problem of the farel swine problem . But people are more interested in making money off of the sport of hunting them if we had access to public land and we were allowed to place bait in these areas in a controled manner maybe more people would hunt them . I know I would be interested in doing something like this . And would could donate the meat to the less fortunate people in the country . All it takes is a few honest hunters . That’s just my thoughts thanks
I agree if these farms are having pigs wrecking havoc on the property maybe they should schedule free pig hunts instead of trying to make a buck off the problem. There would be a lot of really good meat to donate to so many people that could use it.
Or you could stick with the idea of taxpayers money fixing a problem that could be helped out for free with responsible hunters and trappers. There should be no boundaries on the method of take of an invasive species baiting night hunting whatever. Just post an add that says free pig hunt first com first serve. See how many hunters show up to help with the problem an not one dime out of the taxpayers pockets.
I think if landowners are charging people to come hunt hogs they shouldn’t be given any money from the government to help control them. If your charging $2000 for a 4 day hog hunt then you don’t want them eradicated bad enough. Either allow access for hunters to take care of the problem or don’t receive federal money.
I agree John. If I could just get someone to pay me I would hunt hogs all day every day and trying to eliminate the problem. That’s what this funding should be is for hunters like us that want to help with the problem. Donate the meat as you say. But if I could have a full-time job hunting pigs I would do it. Doesn’t have to be outstanding pay.
Why don’t you used the meat to help support the food bank
Non-federal partners are who?
Certainly the folks here don’t understand the issue with hunting, we have 3 groups of hunters no charge to them and they consist of 15 hunters coming at different times. Unfortunately they have not killed one hog. Most of these hunters don’t realize the hogs move at night and they also rotate areas and travel to multiple areas that the deer hunters have corn feeders. The hogs currently dig up 1 acre a night in our pastures. Hunting is a good single option but not real effective. We need to trap large quantities in all areas.
Absolutely the hunters don’t realize each sow has an average of 2.3 litters per year with an average of 10 live piglets per litter. You have to kill 15 pigs per sow per year just to maintain zero population growth. Trapping and poisoning are the only true controls available to get close to effective control. Sadly most hog hunters are not farmers or ranchers and while they see and recognize the damages they are not paying the actual financial costs associated with feral swine damages. Ultimately hog hunting with traditional hunting strategies and effort will not result in true results.
William where do you live ? If your close enough to east Texas you can contact me for help. Feel free I’m experienced with hunting and trapping….
William my buddies and I have equipment to hunt at night.. Where are you located if your interested
I wanted to hunt hogs while visiting my daughter in Texas 3 years ago.
All contacts I made through county extension offices and farm co-ops sent me to fee based hunts. And they were expensive.
Advertising across the country for hunters to get on a list or a lottery to hunt on public and private land (even a small fee like $25) would kill hundred of thousands of the hogs at little or no cost to the taxpayers.
I am so on board withlettng hunters do their thing. It’s always red tape that gets in the way. The only concern I have would be someone to test the meat like they do for CwD. Feral hogs might have brucellosis or other nasties that need to be looked at. When all that is done then hunt away.
That’s why the hunting public must be educated and conservation efforts put in places. Government agencies can help with the education and disposal logistics. There are other opportunities to take advantage of this public feral problem.
I’m with William Payne. These critters can’t be hunted out of existence. 11m is peanuts spread across that many states. They wreck our fields, impact deer and other wildlife and plow up our yards. If they start tearing up enough golf courses you’d see some real efforts.
Strategy should be eradication and extinction, not just control.