Is there really a feral hog problem?

[Blake F]

I just need to vent a little.....Here is a true story for ya'll.

Went to Qwik Kar in Burleson today and got my oil changed. There was a guy in there, with a flatbead ranch looking truck, so while waiting in the waiting room, I struck up a conversation with him. Turns out he is a rancher and farmer in Hamilton County. I asked him if pigs where an issue out there (I was in a suit and tie so he thought I was a true city boy) and he started ranting and raiving about how hogs are terrible. Saying that they cant even grow corn anymore because its just a waste, hogs even tear up their alfalfa fields, run off deer, kill calves, just a HUGE problem that is costing them so much money. So after really getting him talking bad about the hogs and all the problems, I pulled out my business card holder, gave him by business card (VP of a community bank) and told him that was my job, then I pulled out my "Wild Hog Removal" card and told him this is what I do on the weekends, free of charge, and I would love to come out.......Guess what the guy said "Oh, we dont want anyone out there, all you do is run them to my neighbors and that doesnt help".....I COULDNT BELIEVE IT!!!! I even called the guy out on it by telling him he just told me how much money these hogs supposedly cost him and then he turned around and told me he didnt want anything done about it.....All I have to say is "wow"

Ok, I am done.....Still looking for places to hunt, and so is everyone else.....

[NechesBobcat]

Well atleast you weren't the one that walked away looking like a dumb@$$. You can't fix stupid.

[tmatt]

That is when you tell him that he needs to give you hi neighbor's info or talk to his neighbor for you so that you can keep them off of his place also. Then you give him references to contact to prove that you can get it done.

[djhogdogger]

In this guys defense. We are friends with several farmers and the hogs are a huge problem and do cost them a lot of money each year. Most of these guys won't let anyone hunt their lands unless it is family or someone that they know and trust because so many people claiming to want to help them with the hog problem create more problems by: tearing up roads after a rain, littering, causing problems with the neighbors by treaspassing, cutting fences, leaving gates open, bringing their outlaw buddies along, ect... The list goes on. But you get the idea.

You really cant blame them for being so cautious. Most of these guys put out their own traps and have the farm hands shoot any hog on site. We are lucky enough to be able to hunt one of the properties but we protect it like a new born baby.

[M Bennet]

just remember hogs need places to breed

[DangerZone]

In this guys defense. We are friends with several farmers and the hogs are a huge problem and do cost them a lot of money each year. Most of these guys won't let anyone hunt their lands unless it is family or someone that they know and trust because so many people claiming to want to help them with the hog problem create more problems by: tearing up roads after a rain, littering, causing problems with the neighbors by treaspassing, cutting fences, leaving gates open, bringing their outlaw buddies along, ect... The list goes on. But you get the idea.

You really cant blame them for being so cautious. Most of these guys put out their own traps and have the farm hands shoot any hog on site. We are lucky enough to be able to hunt one of the properties but we protect it like a new born baby.

X2

[Txmason]

Think, bigger farms and ranches have Insurance and most have crop insurance.  I hunted a rice farm that each year the Goverment paid him his profit check for his losses, he looked forward to this check.

It's also true that you might just move them to the neighbors so with out corropation from all the hogs will just move on and #'s grow.   Seems that hunters and property owners can't work together.

[brushycreek]

Landowners in my part of the woods call me to come hunt their places. But I guess some are different

[halfbreed]

there are alot of differences . alot of the land owners i know had sustained more damage from the hunters and 4 wheelers than the hogs . outlaws and poachers . it is hard getting your foot in the door now a days . and you can't blame them . had my own fences cut and property damage from the outlaws in our sport . and i didn't need anybody helping me with hog control . i was doing just fine killin my own hogs on my own property .

[TShelly]

The estimated annual destruction of hogs to the Texas Economy is between $$$450-650 million dollars a year; with most of this being crop destruction.. With the feral hog population being estimated between 2-4 million and increasing at am almost exponential rate I would say that Texas does indeed have a hog problem

[cantexduck]

Yes and no. They do damage but at the same time bring money to the state. It would be impossible to get an accurate dollar amount on damages. This year no corn was made near me due to drought. Look at who figures out the amount of damage,government. They tear crops up,we all know that.
  I don't blame landowners not wanting people on their land. Some people want to make money on selling hunts,some gave been burned in the past. 

[3Whoghunter]

Yea man I get that alot around my parts. Farmers all over the newspaper and tv crying about hogs and the damage they do but don't do anything to cut em back. Oh well is my attitude now they ain't worried bout it they get the pay out on insurance. They just want something to bitch about. My uncle is a farmer he is the same way I don't bother em anymore