Although the feral hog is not a Native American species, they have succeeded to populate its states easily. An estimated 3 million of these menacing pigs are ravaging through the state of Texas. The Lone Star State is estimated to endure damage worth $50 million annually at the hands of feral hogs, forecasts the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The impact of their voracious appetite and wild identity is reflected, especially, on:
- Agricultural produce
- Forest cover and ecosystem
- The Texan landscape
- Water quality
- The health of livestock
- The population of native species
The Local Land and Services Act, 2013 proclaimed that feral hogs fall under the category of “pest animals”. Thus, the act recognizes the urgent need to suppress their ever ballooning population.
Management of Feral Hogs
Some of the methods used to manage the wild hog explosion are:
- Mass shooting programs
- Hunting
- Exclusion with fencing
- Trapping and eradication
Out of these, trapping is the most efficient and effortless technique. It is also relatively affordable.
Traditional vs. Round – Drop Feral Hog Trap
Feral pigs are naturally blessed with a sharp wit. Over time they have become “trap smart”. They readily recognize traditional traps and avoid them. Moreover, puny traps that capture only a couple of pigs at a time give the by bystanders of the sounder a long-lasting lesson. And it becomes close to impossible to trap them with the same technique in the future.
This is when round-drop feral hog traps come to play. It’s a highly efficient trap with a design that can outsmart even the Einstein of the hog gang. The super strong structure can be suspended up to 36 inches above the ground, out of the pigs’ sight. So, they walk into it absolutely unalarmed.
The generous size of the trap makes it possible to capture entire sounders of feral pigs at a single go. While the swift capture mechanism does the caging job within the blink of an eye; leaving the gang with no time to escape.
3 Steps to make the traps succeed
1. Location
Location plays a key role in the success of a trap. You must look for an active area bustling with evidence of feral swine activity. Some of the signs to scout for are:
-
- Rooting
- Track marks
- Wallows
- Low lying areas near water sources like rivers, springs, and creek bottoms
- Wetlands
- Forest edges
2. Pre-baiting
Entice the sounder with their favorite edibles regularly over a period of time. If they continue to visit the spot to feast on the laid bait, you know it is time to set up the trap. Make sure that it is the feral hogs that are eating the food and not other animals and rodents. Moreover, get a round drop trap that can be assembled quickly and easily so the hogs do not get cautioned.
3. Baiting
After erecting the trap, create a trail of bait into the cage. When it comes to their effective baits, here are their favorites:
-
- Fermented corn
- Acorns
- Milo
Our 12’ Round Drop Feral Hog Trap is an effective ad affordable way of solving the hog problem on your land in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Call to order yours today: 979-661-1535 or 979-270-2161.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes an effective feral hog trap?
The most effective hog traps feature 360-degree access and are large enough to capture an entire sounder at once with swift capture and retention mechanisms. The trap should also be easy and quick to assemble on site. Finally, it should be sturdy and built for many years of use.
What bait should I use for feral hogs?
Some of the best baits to lure in these wild hogs are corn fermented in beer, Kool-aid or simply water (it has a pungent sour smell that wards off other intruders like deer); acorns (best used when not in season); milo, and fermented grains like rice or wheat.
How do you trap a feral pig?
The steps to follow for a successful capture: 1) Pre-bait consistently to get the hogs accustomed to the spot and the baiting ritual; 2) Set up a good quality trap quickly without being obtrusive; 3) Bait for at least 3 days after erecting the trap; 4) Make the capture; 5) Report or shoot humanely.
What do you do after you trap a feral hog?
Once the hogs are trapped, euthanizing them as humanely as possible should be one’s priority. Make it quick and quiet to avoid raising any panic. Employ at least a .22 caliber rifle to shoot. Don’t slide the barrel through the mesh, hogs can charge at it causing massive damage. Take a frontal shot at the center of the forehead or an oblique shot behind the ears for a quick humane death.
