By: Kristen Tyson,
M.A.
They say there are two types of landowners in Texas: those
with feral hogs and those about to have feral hogs. Which type of Texan are
you? Do you own a parcel of Lone Star soil? Do you have a lush landscape? Do
you live in Texas? Then you are a prime target for feral hogs. As of current
statistics, only about 20% of Texas is without feral hogs. Give it time, and
that number will jump to 100% if current levels of management are maintained.
It is true that hogs have been on the Texas landscape since the early 1500s and
were allowed to freely enjoy the numerous eco-regions that make up Texas. But
with the alarming numbers of feral hogs (estimated at 2.6 million in Texas
alone) and millions of dollars lost to repairing damage caused; let’s agree
that it’s high time we do something serious about it.
Suitable habitat for
feral hogs in Texas is estimated to be at least 79% of the state. (Timmons
et al. 2012)
Texas
laws offer four legal options for reducing feral hogs: trapping, snaring,
shooting and dogging. Generally, the most effective option available would be
to use a corral trap. You can watch our video How to Build a Corral Trap
for Feral Hogs to learn step-by-step how to construct a corral trap.
Landowners have an array of trap designs and gates to choose from, with prices
ranging from $500 to $2000 depending on what you have on hand. This method is
proven and is fairly easy to do, but it requires patience and the use of “best
management practices.”
A demonstration
corral trap for feral hogs; traps that are being used for management should be
larger.
Everyone who owns a piece of land, whether it is .05 acres
or 2000 acres should have a plan in place for how they will be good stewards of
that property; part of being a good steward means taking care of the wildlife
and habitat under your protection. Remember the slogan, “Don’t mess with
Texas?” We native Texans got upset over the rampant littering across our pride
and joy so a plan was put into action to stop the damage being done. To this
day, this slogan has worked well to reduce litter. Now compare that litter
damage to the havoc that hogs are doing to your piece of land. Are you going to
continue to let them mess with Texas? The answer is adamant No. Your next step is
to plan a course of action to stop the “littering” and then after a space of
time, reevaluate if your plan is still working or needs to be revamped.
Remember the song, “This Little Piggy?” This one went to
market, this one stayed home… You get the picture. Much like that children’s
song suggests, not all feral hogs act the same. This is important to know when
preparing to trap, snare or shoot hogs on your property. Some hogs like to
settle near ponds, others prefer your fence line. Or, they may do a bit of both
and see all the amenities your land has to offer. The presence of hogs can be
discerned with a little research on your part. Hog
prints, hair, feces, rubs, wallows and rooting are all evidence that hogs
have been through an area. If you find a trail of hog prints, look around for a
place where you could set your trap, just make sure it is slightly concealed
and placed near their daytime cover. Since everyone seems to enjoy reality
television, set up a game camera so you can watch the sounder on your property.
Get a feel for how many there are and what time they come around. All of this evidence will help you build the
case before you officially trap the hogs. The article High
tech hog trapping discusses how technology can be used in the fight to
reduce feral hog numbers. Start pre-baiting in a designated area to get them
used to feeding at that location instead of around your property. For a better
idea of how to pre-bait and where to bait, read the article Pre-Baiting
and Conditioning Feral Hogs for Trapping. When the time is right, introduce your trap
and put the gate on, while still baiting them. Once the hogs routinely enter the trap to
feed, set the trap to catch. Remember that you are putting a plan into action
and with a little effort, planning and patience on your part, these hogs will
be successfully captured and on to a dinner table before you know it.
Feral
hogs captured in a corral trap.
For free educational programming or technical assistance with feral
hogs please contact us:
Mark Tyson, South and Southeast
Texas, 979-845-4698, mark.tyson@ag.tamu.edu
Our services are provided
free of charge through a Clean Water Act 319(h) non-point source grant from the
Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency