MO Feral Hog Update

[Johnsfolly]

I'm pretty sure that posting this will bring on a number of anti-MDC comments but seems to me that this eradication efforts seem to be working.

 

Missouri Feral Hog Elimination Partnership removes more than 9,800 feral hogs More than 54,000 feral hogs have been eliminated off private and public lands since 2016. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Feral Hog Elimination Partnership (the Partnership) removed 9,857 feral hogs from the landscape in 2021, making the total number of feral hogs eliminated more than 54,000 since 2016. The Partnership is made up of 13 federal and state agencies along with numerous agriculture and conservations organizations. “I’m really proud of the progress that the Partnership trappers have made,” said the Partnership Incident Commander Jason Jensen. “In 2021, we covered over double the number of acres and worked with double the number of landowners. Despite the increased effort and efficiency, the number of hogs removed was down by nearly 3,000 hogs. We anticipated we’d get to this point but not necessarily this quick. This is a positive indicator of the progress being made and a declining hog population. “ Partnership employees were able to assist 1,308 landowners and scout more than 3 million acres for feral hog damage last year. The top counties where feral hogs were removed include Iron County with 1,940 hogs, Wayne County with 1,329 hogs, and Reynolds with 1,268 hogs. “I want to say a big thank you to all of the private landowners in Missouri that allowed Partnership staff to access their properties to remove feral hogs,” said Partnership Incident Commander Travis Guerrant. “Without private landowners continued support and cooperation our progress toward elimination would be much more difficult.” Feral hogs range spans across at least 35 states, including Missouri. Feral hogs are primarily found in the southern portion of the state and across at least 17 counties. Efforts made by the Partnership have resulted in a 48.5% decrease in the number of watersheds occupied by feral hogs in Missouri since 2016.  “Field reports from Partnership employees indicate feral hogs are becoming harder to find and that sounder sizes are decreasing, suggesting that elimination efforts are having a positive effect in reducing hog populations in the state,” Jensen said. Looking Ahead The Partnership plans to continue to work with landowners who need help with feral hog problems. They also aim to expand the use of aerial resources such as helicopters and drones to find feral hogs. If you need help with a feral hog issue or would like to report feral hog damage, please do so by reporting it online at www.mdc.mo.gov/feralhog or call 573-522-4115 ext. 3296. The Missouri Feral Hog Elimination Partnership (the Partnership) removed 9,857 feral hogs from the landscape in 2021, making the total number of feral hogs eliminated more 54,000 since 2016. Feral hog removals have increased dramatically until peaking in 2020. Removals in 2021 were the lowest since 2018, which indicates the effects the Partnership is having on hogs. The Partnership uses USDA APHIS Wildlife Services unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) drone to effectively to scout for feral hogs.

[Ryan Miloshewski]

Good deal. I still fear it's an unwinnable battle, but kill all you can.

But anybody who advocates for hunting for them hasn't done their research. Every other state that's put bounties or seasons on them has had a population explosion. And the idiots in the Ozarks want to run their dogs after them, like they do deer, and chase them all over and spread their population out. I saw some rooting in Gasconade county this spring, which is pretty far north.

[Johnsfolly]

25 minutes ago, Ryan Miloshewski said:

Good deal. I still fear it's an unwinnable battle, but kill all you can.

I tend to agree. They are so productive with up to three litters a year. Very hard to keep up with that reproductive rate.

[Dutch]

So far so good.  We haven’t seen any sign of them down in Stone County yet.

[fshndoug]

There are plenty of pigs in Missouri they are called litterbugs

 

[fishinwrench]

They certainly aren't stupid.   We had a group of at least 4 around our place a couple years ago, they rooted up a power line clearing and tore up a neighborhood dog that got after them.  A guy up the road shot just one and nobody has seen the others since.   They either move away from pressure at the first sign of it, or they get real-REAL good at keeping hidden.

[Ryan Miloshewski]

I was hunting Shannon County two springs ago and had a herd(?) of hogs walk up to within 40 yds of me. Counted 42 of them. Big boar in there and several sows with piglets. The destruction they do is unreal. I walked about 4 miles that day and some of the areas were just destroyed by their rooting. USDA/USFW have a bunch of traps set up down there. But with people hunting them, like FW said, they just get spooky immediately and flee to find new areas to mess up. I've done a couple articles on the topic. Eye opening to see how horrible they are and what a battle it is for everyone. 

[Johnsfolly]

2 minutes ago, Ryan Miloshewski said:

I was hunting Shannon County two springs ago and had a herd(?) of hogs walk up to within 40 yds of me. Counted 42 of them. Big boar in there and several sows with piglets. The destruction they do is unreal. I walked about 4 miles that day and some of the areas were just destroyed by their rooting. USDA/USFW have a bunch of traps set up down there. But with people hunting them, like FW said, they just get spooky immediately and flee to find new areas to mess up. I've done a couple articles on the topic. Eye opening to see how horrible they are and what a battle it is for everyone. 

When we lived in FL we often would see pig damage sometimes up to a 1/4 acre or more of upturned dirt.

[JestersHK]

At my buddies ranch in Crawford county we have a serious problem on the lower ranch with hogs.  MDC has 2 traps set and they encouraged us to hunt and kill them when we can so that's what we've been doing.   They killed 15 in one day tracking in the snow.  I think they've trapped 30 or so this year. 

I've been hunting them in the dark with thermal and night vision.  They def are smart and I've watched them use creek beds to move away from us instead of the fields.

We have multiple sounders on the lower 900 acres, but that area down there is raw and was uninhabited for a long time.  The lands a mix of 50 50 woods and fields and I'd say a good 70% of the fields are destroyed from rooting...

 

 

 

 

[Jerry Rapp]

just curious, are the trapped ones killed or relocated?  I live in the heart of Iron County.  I am not a hunter or hiker, but spend a lot of time outdoors.  I have never seen a wild hog except for dead ones in the back of trucks.