Feral hogs are not native to Texas. As most landowners know, wild pigs can cause a lot of damage and wreak economic havoc around farming and ranching operations. The blackland prairie ecoregion of Central Texas is well known for providing quality soils for crop production, but feral hogs negatively impact the farming operations found there. Although regular hog hunting activity occurs in this area, it does not occur at an intense enough level to limit hog populations.
The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) land surrounding Granger Lake and the Granger Wildlife Management Area (WMA), which are located just northeast of Taylor, are no different. The area is accessible for hog hunting to the public, but even archery equipment is no match for the ever-moving hog population found there. The USDA Wildlife Services personnel have attempted to alleviate damage caused by feral hogs to grain crops surrounding a wildlife management area for the past 12 years.
The hogs are damaging primarily corn and milo crops which border the 12,000 acre Granger WMA owned by the USACE and managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Numerous methods have been attempted to lower the hog population and reduce the amount of damage suffered by the area farmers. Methods employed by Wildlife Services have included live hog trapping, shooting, snaring, dogs, aerial hunting, spotlighting, and the use of infrared and night vision equipment.
The success and results of these methods have been varied and are influenced by a number of limiting factors including cover, public use, and somewhat limited access to certain properties. Hunters know well that feral hogs can be difficult to hunt, but population reduction takes more than just hog hunting. Trapping, snaring and aerial shooting must also be a part of of hog population management, but local habitat and topography can influence control efforts and success.
I am new to Killeen TX and I am Retired VET looking to hunt some hogs. I would like to find out any information and prices to take my kids out two daughters and my son (all adults now). Any information would be greatly appreciated.
It is a shame they won’t let the public deploy those same tools against hogs. I was told that snaring is not allowed on public hunting land by tpwd. I don’t think they actually want to control hogs
Bucky, the public can use the same tools on their own property or properties where they have permission. Landowners can work with Wildlife Services to have their properties flown for hogs. Farmers especially are not too concerned with recreational hunting when it comes to hogs, they only want the hogs dead so they can harvest crops. Also, TPWD does allow people to fly land for hog control, but you need an aerial wildlife management permit. I don’t know the details, only that such a permit does exists.