Program aims to decrease feral hog numbers

The hunt is on. Feral hogs have wrecked havoc on Texas land and rooted profits out of farmers' and ranchers' hands. Texas AgriLife Extension Service estimated that annual economic damage caused by feral hogs is $500 million. So' last year Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) decided to add some extra incentive for hunters and landowners to come together to reduce the ever-increasing population of feral hogs. According to the TDA website, the 'Hog Out' program is designed to encourage counties across the state to make a concentrated and coordinated effort to reduce the feral hog population and the damage they cause. All counties that submitted a notice of intent to participate began capturing and counting hogs Oct. 1 and will continue to do so through Dec. 31. The five counties that earn the most number of points through the capture of the feral hogs and education programs put on during this period of time will be awarded monetarily. According to the TDA, the highest-scoring county will be awarded $20,000; the second-highest will be awarded $15,000; the third highest will be awarded $10,000; and the fourth- and fifth-highest will be awarded $7,500 each. Points are earned toward the grant in two ways. One is educational programs on feral hog abatement and the other part is the actual taking of the feral hogs either by shooting or trapping...more