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Feral hog hunting banned on Missouri public land
Beginning this fall, it will be illegal to hunt feral hogs on public land in Missouri. The state’s Department of Conservation is banning the practice as part of its effort to eradicate them. Wildlife Division Chief Jason Sumners says hunting the wild pigs causes them to scatter, making it challenging to trap large herds.
“Most of our [feral hog] populations are relatively isolated in small pockets,” said Sumners. “Now, there may be thousands of pigs in some of those populations, but they are certainly not spread across the state at this point in time.”
Sumners says the animals damage property, compete with wildlife for food and carry diseases that can spread to livestock.
Missouri State Representative Robert Ross (R-Yukon) says the ban is counterproductive.
“They came at this from the angle that ‘government knows best’ and they’re basically dismissing a lot of these local individuals who are working to keep this population under control,” said Ross.
The ban goes into effect September 30. Violators can be fined and lose hunting privileges.
Can not figure out how not hunting feral hogs will keep them from spreading. Killing them where ever they are found seems the best way to get rid of them or at least limit their spread.