New Texas bill could loosen hog-hunting laws
Wild hogs have been grabbing headlines for years, and they are likely grab a few more as their populations continue to explode.
Also referred to as feral hogs, wild swine are believed to number between 1.9 million and 3.4 million animals in Texas alone, according to the results of a high tech study recently completed by Texas A&M researchers.
In addition to providing what is believed to be a reliable estimate on wild pig numbers, that study identified as much as 79 percent of Texas' sprawling 170 million-acre landscape as viable feral hog habitat. Furthermore, the study says feral hogs are using the available habitat to breed like rabbits, with the overall population increasing by 18 to 20 percent each year.
Interestingly, researchers also firmed up something about feral hogs that just about everyone already knew. Then they slapped an eye-opening explanation mark on the end.
Wild pigs are among the most destructive nuisance species on the planet. The study says one wild pig can do as much as $200 in damage per year by rooting up pastureland, crops, lawns, golf courses and such as they rummage for worms, grubs, acorns and other goodies that pigs like to eat.
Do the math. If there are 3.4 million wild hogs in Texas, the price tag in annual damage could be as high as $680 million, which does not include collateral damage the animals cause when competing with deer, turkeys and other wildlife for valuable food and range.
And it is not just a rural problem anymore, either. Wild hogs are now encroaching on metro areas, as evidenced by a recent trapping operation that captured 250 feral hogs inside the city limits of Irving.
Bottomline: Feral pigs are living high off the hog in Texas. Moreover, they represent a serious problem that probably won't be going away anytime soon.
Dire as the problem may seem, however, researchers say it is not too late to get it under control.
"Landowners remain the first line of defense since Texas is 95 percent privately owned land," said Dr. Billy Higginbotham, a Texas Agrilife Extension Service specialist based in Overton. "This means arming the public with the best management practices and using various legal control methods to abate the damage by reducing feral hog populations."
Higginbotham pointed out that a 2006-07 study funded by the Texas Department of Agriculture showed that agricultural damage caused by hogs was reduced by 66 percent in two years using control efforts.
Of all the legal ways landowners use to combat wild hogs, trapping and shooting have proven to be the most effective by far. Now state representative Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, hopes to broaden the hog-control toolbox with new legislature that will allow landowners to take the fight to the air. Milller authored HB 716, also referred to as the "pork chopper" bill, which would authorize hunters to legally shoot feral hogs and coyotes from helicopters.
Texas landowners are currently allowed to hire professional companies to shoot hogs from the sky with permits and licenses issued by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Aerial control has proven especially effective on open range populations across the Panhandle, Cross Timbers and parts of the Brush Country. The problem is the price can be so steep that some landowners see the measure as cost prohibitive.
The pork chopper bill passed by an overwhelming 137-9 vote in the Texas House on April 4, but it now must pass in the Senate to become official. Several senators have shown favor for the bill, including Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville.
Nichols says the bill would allow landowners to lease their lands out for helicopter hunting, "providing them an affordable and effective option to both control the destructive feral hog and coyote populations."
Karen Kolb, Miller's chief of staff, says the bill would require landowners to continue using permitted and licensed helicopter operators for hunting hogs and coyotes. However, they could defray the cost, and even make money, by charging individual shooters.
"The bill would allow landowners to sell seats on the helicopter to cover the costs and help cut down the hog populations at the same time," Kolb said.
John Mast of Nacogdoches has extensive experience in using helicopters to control hog numbers. Mast owns and manages a 30,000-acre ranch in Briscoe County in the Texas Panhandle. Once a year he hires an aircraft company to fly the property and shoot hogs and predators such as coyotes from the air.
"It's very effective," Mast said. "We will normally kill 100 or more hogs in a 10-hour day. We've done that for several consecutive years. It's not eliminating the hogs, but it definitely helps control the numbers."
The cost? Mast says it can vary depending on whether the helicopter offers two seats or four. On average the bill runs about $4,000 per day.
Mast pointed out that aerial control is equally effective for controlling coyote populations.
"If your coyote population gets out of control you have really got yourself a problem," Mast said. "Coyotes kill fawns and they kill calves. The way I see it, the coyotes are more of a problem than the hogs are."
David Ivy has accompanied Mast as a designated shooter on several of the hog-control shoots. Ivy says the helicopter flies low to the ground, usually 20 yards or so. He said shooters normally use 12-gauge shotguns loaded with 00 buck shot to do the job.
"Once you find them they can't hardly get away," said Ivy. "The country out there is wide open, so you can pretty much see everything that moves. I don't see it being that effective in East Texas, though. There are way too many trees and too much brush where they can hide in this neck of the woods."
Matt Williams' e-mail address is mattwilliams@netdot.com.
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