Texas hunters have been hog hunting for decades, but the feral hog population has continued to rise. Now, hunters too will be going up—up in the air! Yep, Texas’ feral hog population will now have to contend with helicopter hog hunting in Texas. In an all-out attempt to liberalize the take of wild pigs, the Texas state government has helped Texas ranchers launch all-out aerial warfare against feral pigs tearing up their property.
Though helicopter hog hunting had been allowed for some time under state permit, the new legislation allows landowners to rent out seats on helicopters used to hunt feral hogs and coyotes by air. In short, operators conducting hog hunts can legally charge for recreational hunters to jump on board, lock and load, and shoot hogs from a helicopter.
The passage of this legislation is sighted on the problem of two million feral hogs loose in Texas. In the past, feral hogs and coyotes were primarily only an issue in rural areas, but now it is starting to be a problem in urban areas. Coyotes have been living in greenbelts around cities for decades, but now officials are seeing cases where feral hogs are coming into backyards and endangering pets and young children.
Damage and losses caused by feral hogs and coyotes amounts to about $400 million in damage to crops, property and fences each year. In addition to indirect losses caused by hogs and coyotes, they both cause direct loss to agricultural producers. Both hogs and coyotes prey on young lambs and goats, in addition to white-tailed deer fawns. There are also concerns that feral hogs and coyotes harbor several diseases that transfer readily to domestic livestock and humans.
Landowners can currently apply for a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department permit to conduct aerial helicopter hog hunting and hire a helicopter company and professional shooter. However, the recently-passed bill helps defray the cost by allowing landowners to sell the passenger side of the helicopter to qualified recreational hunters looking to take aim at Texas’ wild hogs and coyotes.