By: Dan Gaskins, Extension Assistant
When choosing a trap type for wild
pigs, some people are drawn to box traps because of their lower price tag. But
are they really a better deal? A box trap can only capture 1-2 adult pigs at a
time while a corral trap can capture entire sounders of pigs. Let’s look at the
costs of each of these traps. I found the estimated prices for the following
through a simple web search for “box traps for sale” and in the fencing section
of a chain farm supply store.
Box Trap:
·
4’x4’x8’ Trap: $380
If 2 pigs are caught, the cost is
$190 per pig.
Corral Trap:
¡ 4
20’x5’ utility panels- $200
¡ 15
t-posts, 6’- $85
¡ Pre-built
gate- $225 (I found this on the same site as the box trap. See http://overton.tamu.edu/files/2013/02/GUILLITONE-STYLE-WILD-PIG-TRAP-GATES-Banta-Model.pdf
for a simple cheap design that you can build yourself)
¡ Other
materials ($20)
¡ Total
cost: $530
If 3 pigs are caught, the cost is
$176.67 per pig. If 10 pigs are caught, the cost is $53 per pig.
Research suggests that each wild
pig is responsible for about $200 annually, so both traps can pay for
themselves on their first catch, but the corral trap is a better economic deal
even if it only catches one more pig! If a group of 10 is caught (which is a
smaller-sized sounder), you are getting a net profit of $147! Corral traps are
capable of capturing large numbers of pigs, getting more “bang for your buck”.
Also, they are constructed out of materials many landowners already have on
hand; the above is assuming buying all new materials. Corral traps are also less
likely to “educate” pigs and make them trap shy because the whole group is
captured. In the end, corral traps are a better value, despite the higher initial
investment, and are a better method of trapping wild pigs.
The hyper-linked resource document below will provide you with quick access to many of our online feral hog resources including publications, fact sheets and videos.