Hunting and killing may help with the feral hog population numbers, but it’s not the solution to this disastrous problem, according to John Tomecek, associate wildlife professor and extension wildlife specialist at Texas A&M University. Hunting spreads hogs across the landscape.
Feral hogs move in groups called sounders. The best way to get rid of them is to get rid of a sounder all at once. This can be accomplished with a corral trap. Shooting them from a helicopter or hot air balloon is okay if you can kill the whole group at once.
Source: KUT, April 7, 2022. Link. If we were to go out and hunt them, I liken it to taking a dandelion and blowing on it. You’ve just spread the infestation all across your yard,” said Mike Wefer, wildlife division chief for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
INSIGHTS: Feral hogs cause more than $1.5 billion dollars per year in damages, according to USDA, and this estimate is old. They’re now in more than 36 states and Canada. A major concern is the possibility of the hogs carrying and transmitting African swine fever.