Hog hunting is a popular pastime for many hunters looking to take on a challenge, and is a sanctioned control method in a number of states with mounting hog populations. Despite the allure for hunters, tracking and taking feral hogs, which are considered a harmful, invasive, and dangerous species, comes with a number of risks. Take a look at these hog hunting safety tips to ensure a safe and productive hunt. New to hog hunting? Check out our hog hunting tips for beginners.

It’s no secret that feral hogs are hard to take. With an estimated population of 2.6 – 4 million in Texas alone, feral hogs are an invasive species wreaking havoc on native crop and wildlife, and their rapid rate of reproduction, nocturnal nature, and adaptable diet make them a difficult species to slow down.

Two bills currently pending approval in the Louisiana House of Representatives aim to loosen the hunting regulations surrounding feral hog hunting, with the ultimate goal of reducing the escalating feral hog population in the state.

Rural Missouri is being plagued by a “dark force” according to one landowner: feral hogs.

Rural Ozark County landowner Mark Eisenmann told the Ozark County Times that feral hogs are overtaking the farmland in Ozark, leading landowners – fearful for both their safety and their crop – to join forces with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) to “eradicate” feral hogs in the state.

Feral hogs have become an increasing problem in the United States in recent years, with population growth outpacing containment efforts. Texas, which has the largest feral hog population in the U.S., is home to nearly 2.6 million feral hogs, and the annual population growth is estimated at 21%. Other states such as Louisiana and South Carolina have also seen an uptick in feral hog population growth in recent years, prompting the creation of entities such as the South Carolina Wild Hog Task Force.