To many outdoor enthusiasts, feral hogs are an exciting animal to hunt. Some consider them trophy animals worthy of being mounted by a taxidermist to adorn their game room wall for admiration and memories of the hunt. Feral hog meat can also be quite tasty and is often leaner than domestic pork.

Feral Hog Control - Hunting
The feral hog is not classified as a game animal in Oklahoma or Texas but a hunting license is required to hunt them in both states. Some hunting techniques result in the live capture of feral hogs and subsequent transportation of those hogs within the state or across state borders. Currently Oklahoma laws regarding transportation of feral hogs within the state require blood tests for brucellosis on hogs six months of age or older only if there is a change of ownership. Hogs, domestic or feral, transported into Oklahoma, are required to have a blood test for pseudorabies if they are under six months of age and blood tests for pseudorabies and brucellosis for hogs six months of age or older. A veterinarian certificate and permit are required regardless of age.
(See also: New Feral Hog Legislation in Oklahoma - December, 2000 article)

Texas law requires all hogs brought into the state to be domestic with appropriate blood tests. Transportation within the state is legal provided they are moved directly from the premise where they were trapped to a slaughter facility or feral swine slaughter holding facility. They may also be transported directly from where they were trapped to a livestock market for sale only to slaughter. Feral hogs may also be transported directly from where they were trapped to a game preserve provided they test negative for brucellosis and pseudorabies within 30 days prior to movement.

Domestic hogs are occasionally raised as free-ranging animals, particularly in southeastern Oklahoma and eastern and central Texas. Generally, free-ranging swine found in other parts of these states are feral and not considered livestock. However, where feral hogs are hunted, a reasonable effort should be made to be sure the population is feral and landowner permission is granted before hunting.

Hunting is probably less successful than trapping in terms of controlling feral hogs. However, hunting and trapping combined can prove to be a very effective combination for control. Hunting can be effective throughout the year and in many areas is becoming a popular sport as well. Some landowners are receiving as much as $1,500 for a guided trophy hog hunt with an average of $200 per hog. Landowners who do not wish to lease their land can still use hunting as a tool for control and may even opt to barter with hunters for other services.

Above: Using trained dogs to hunt and catch feral hogs provides a unique sport as well as a means to help control problem feral hogs. Once caught, hunters can move in to dispatch of the hog or tie it up and remove it as well as any problems it may have caused. Photo: Randy Reed Below: Feral hogs can be, and often are, successfully hunted with mules and dogs. Captured hogs can be sold for slaughter or butchered at home.

There are many ways to hunt feral hogs, which include hunting from tree stands or blinds, still hunting, and hunting with dogs. Stand hunting and still hunting are probably the two most popular methods of hog hunting; however, hunting with dogs is becoming increasingly popular. Aerial hunting, as well as the use of snares, are very effective means for controlling hog populations. However, Oklahoma or Texas state laws may prohibit one or both of these methods, and in some cases, special licenses are required.

Feral hogs taken while stand hunting are most commonly incidental to deer hunting. Stand hunting can be done over baited areas or in areas with abundant sign such as rootings, wallows or trails. Still hunting also can be done in baited areas or in areas with abundant sign. This method may be more successful due to the hogs' mobility. Too often hunters make the mistake of hunting areas hogs are no longer using. Hogs are a formidable game with gun, bow, primitive firearm or hand gun.

Feral hog hunting with dogs is a relatively new sport to many areas of Oklahoma and north Texas. But dogs have been used in pursuit of feral hogs for years in other parts of these states. Trained dogs have proven themselves to be efficient at catching feral hogs. Like trapping, hunting hogs with trained dogs has been a proven way to remove feral hogs from suburban areas, golf courses and other populated areas where discharging a firearm may be illegal. Hunters using dogs generally ride horses or mules in order to keep up with the dogs. Most hunters have dogs that track and eventually bay the hog and/or dogs that catch the hog. Often catch dogs are led by the hunters until the other dogs bay the hog and are then released to go in and catch and hold the hog until the hunters arrive.

The disadvantage to any type of hunting is that if pressure is intense, hogs may shift their home range areas, causing them to leave the property, or change their activity periods to night. Night shooting or hunting with dogs at night then become the best hunting methods. Night shooting should be done only with the explicit permission of a game warden. Intense hunting pressure needs to be considered if trophy fees are collected for feral hog hunting due to the possible shift in activity periods or home range.