Coping with Feral Hogs -- Selective Shooting

Photo of feral hogs under a feeder by Orly Botello

The posts below are from Texas A&M. Both are recommended practices when shooting feral hogs.

Selective Shooting

Shooting is a popular tool for managing feral hogs. It allows managers to see immediate effects, in some situations there is little preparation needed, and there is almost no cost of setup due to the fact that most managers who use this tool already possess a firearm. However, there are drawbacks to this tool. The greatest limitation is that in most cases, shooting can only remove one or two pigs at a time. 

In situations where only one or two pigs are shot out of a group, the remaining pigs will work to avoid popular shooting areas and times. For this reason, you should never shoot pigs in an area you plan to trap in the near future or in an area where you are already trapping.

Even though there are limitations to this tool, it can be an important component of a good management plan. Selective shooting can be a great way to finish off a sounder (or group of pigs) that was only partially removed through trapping. 

Shooting can also be an effective tool when feral hogs are first seen on a property in very small numbers. Additionally, when paired with accessories such as suppressors, thermal imagery, or night vision, shooting can allow managers to remove final hogs that have successfully avoided other management efforts.

Legally, feral hogs in Texas are designated as exotic livestock which means that ownership falls to the landowner. This means that the state does not impose any bag limits, possession limits, or closed seasons. If the landowner grants permission, feral hogs can be shot on private property and a valid hunting license is not required. However, Texas game laws do require that hunter’s education requirements are met before shooting a feral hog (for both instate and out of state hunters). 

To meet current hunter education requirements, one of the following mush be true:

• You were born on or before September 1st, 1971, and are therefor exempt.
• You were born after September 1st, 1971, have completed a hunters education course and have proof of completion.

For more information on these requirements, check out Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Hunter Education page or their Exotic Species Regulation page. 

Feral hogs can sometimes be confused with the native game animal Javelina. For more info on the differences between feral hogs and javelina, check out our identification page.

Correct shot placement is important to ensure the process is quick and humane. For feral hogs, it is very similar to other large game species. One important exception is that boar hogs possess a shield or dense tough layer of tissue under their hide that covers their shoulder area. 

The purpose of the shield is to protect males from the tusks of other males, but it can also allow a pig to survive poorly placed shots with low-caliber rifles. To increase your chances of success when shooting feral hogs, use a high-caliber rifle just like you would when hunting other large game. 

For information on how to safely handle or dispose of hog carcasses, see blow.

Carcass disposal

Proper carcass disposal practices are an important part of any kind of animal management. These practices ensure that resources are not contaminated and minimize the chances of spreading diseases. 

When managing feral hogs in Texas, there are three primary options for disposal: harvesting the meat, safely disposing on the landscape, and selling to a buying station prior to death. Because each option has different considerations and requirements, managers should make a plan before catching or dispatching any animals.

No matter which option is selected, managers should minimize their contact with the carcass as pigs can carry diseases that are transmissible to humans, pets, and livestock. When moving a carcass, sturdy gloves should be worn whenever handling feral hogs. For further protection, managers can construct a hog puller to help move carcasses with even less physical contact.

Feral hogs that appear healthy prior to being shot can be consumed by humans or pets after being heated to 165° Fahrenheit. 

Prior to that, feral hogs can carry diseases that can be transferred to humans, pets, and livestock. Managers should wear gloves, glasses, and a mask when butchering a feral hog to prevent any accidental exposure to the pig’s bodily fluids. It is also important that managers, processors, and chefs remember to wear gloves and thoroughly disinfect workspaces even when preparing feral hog meat in their kitchens. 

Even if the meat has been frozen, feral hog meat can still carry transmissible diseases until it has been thoroughly cooked to 165° Fahrenheit.

If managers choose not to consume feral hog meat, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has published information on the proper disposal of livestock carcasses. Important factors to consider are placing the carcass in an area where it cannot contaminate water sources and where other livestock and pets cannot access it. 

This protocol can also be useful in disposing of bones and organs that are not harvested for cooking and consumption. Because feral hogs can carry and transmit diseases that are fatal to dogs, uncooked bones, meat, and organs should never be given to pets.

A final option for managers is selling feral hogs to a buying station. While transportation of feral hogs to another location for release is illegal, managers can take pigs to a buying station to sell for meat processing. The Texas Animal Health Commission keeps a map of approved and active buying stations, but it is best to call in advance for specific protocols. 

Selling pigs for meat is typically only compatible with trapping since buying stations require the animal to be alive upon arrival. Depending on the trap type used, a livestock trailer can be parked at the headgate and pigs can be loaded from there. 

It is recommended that modifications for pig transportation are created in advance so that managers do not enter the trap with live pigs.

I want to thank Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Coping with Feral Hogs for the information above. 

Tom Correa