In Missouri, Don't Hunt Feral Hogs, Report Them
Groups combine forces to battle spread of feral hogs in show-me state
Late last year, an announcement from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) that citizens should refrain from hunting troublesome feral hogs because it was not helping control the problematic population of wild pigs in the Show-Me State left some sportsmen scratching their heads. Instead, the MDC encouraged hunters and farmers to report feral hog sighting and incidents to the department for possible trapping and permanent removal.
Indeed, the order was a distinct departure from what Missouri and other game agencies had historically recommended to control the fast-breeding and destructive hogs-gone-wild.
“Feral hogs are highly adaptable and easily avoid trapping efforts when hunters encroach into their occupied area,” explained Matt Bowyer, MDC’s wildlife regional supervisor for the southeast region. “We’re learning from other states that hog-hunting actually increases the spread of populations by pushing them into new territories and making their movements less predictable.”
At its regular meeting on June 24, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved changes to the Wildlife Code of Missouri that would prohibit the hunting of feral hogs on conservation areas and other lands owned, leased, or managed by MDC.
The new regulation prohibiting hog hunting on MDC areas does not apply to private property. The effective date of the regulation change is Sept. 30. For Missourians afield during a prescribed hunting seasons and in possession of the proper permits, such as an unfilled deer or fall turkey hunting permit, the incidental take of feral hogs is still permitted.
The agency announced this week that together with its partner organizations and individuals, it is already seeing the benefits of grant funds designated to help fight the invasive feral hog population. Paired with the banning of hog hunting on conservation areas, this marks progress in the fight against feral hogs according to John Burk, a regional wildlife biologist with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF).
“A frustrated landowner who’d experienced significant damage to his bean and hay fields, was able to benefit from a new remotely operated Boar Buster feral hog trap,” Burk said. “The trap was deployed and within four hours, 11 hogs were captured and removed from his land.”
Burk explained why trapping is the preferred method of feral-hog management, versus hunting.
“Hunting feral hogs gets a few here and there but hogs respond quickly and negatively to hunting pressure and this often gets in the way of trapping,” Burk explained. “Trapping is better because it removes entire sounders, not just one or two hogs.”
Tony Jaco, MDC’s private lands regional supervisor for the southeast region, said the partnership with other agencies in the feral hog fight, and the assistance available to private landowners is key to success.
“Over 90 percent of Missouri land is privately owned, which is why it’s vital we work with private landowners, as well as other wildlife organizations, to help get hogs off the whole landscape,” Jaco said. “Win or lose, we’re in this together and we have to win for the sake of our native wildlife resources.”
Organizations that have partnered together in Missouri’s fight against feral hogs include MDC, NWTF, Quail Forever, Quality Deer Management Association, Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation, Missouri Corn Growers Association, Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Pork Association, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri Agribusiness Association, Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, Missouri Farm Bureau, and Missouri Farmers Association. The contributions of this group are improving MDC’s capability of reducing feral hog populations to manageable levels.
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