Here is how to get paid to hunt wild hogs.

Feral hogs are seen as a nuisance due to the many problems they cause. Such include causing agricultural crop losses, tree and forest losses, and carriers of a number of viral and bacterial diseases.

Rooting and scratches left on trees, fences, and telephone poles are other reasons why hogs are considered a nuisance.

How To Get Paid to Hunt Hogs

In order to control their population, some states like Texas actually pay for these wild hogs to get hunted. Feral hogs are fast breeders whose population requires artificial control like hunting to keep them in check.

According to estimates by biologists and wildlife managers, around 70% of wild hogs will have to be killed to keep their numbers under control.

This Trend isn’t New

One thing to know about bounty programs with financial incentives or prizes is that they’ve been around for decades. Such action is mostly taken to bring the fast-growing wildlife population under control.

For the most part, the nuisance posed is the reason why such incentives are given.

Examples of bounty programs aimed at controlling wildlife include coyote hunting supported by Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources which pays around $50 per coyote killed, Louisiana’s $6 bounty for hunting nutria, and Alberta’s wild boar control efforts which pay around $75 per wild boar killed.

A lot of other efforts such as these have targeted wildlife creatures like raccoons, skunks, and several others.

The aim of hog bounties is simply to protect watersheds. Because these creatures lack sweat glands, they gravitate towards areas with rivers and creeks.

In large numbers, hogs could easily cause damage to stream bed beds, while also causing bacterial pollution. By taking this kind of control action, the hog population is significantly reduced to acceptable levels.

Getting Paid to Hunt Invasive Hog Species

The state of Texas has particularly been hit with growing hog populations with around 2.6 million feral hogs estimated to live in the state alone.

This has prompted several intervention efforts including the setting up of a Feral Hog Task Force saddled with the responsibility of significantly reducing hog populations.

So far, around $37,500 in investment has been made in feral hog bounty programs with significant successes recorded. To counties in Texas known to have initiated these bounty programs are Caldwell and Hays Counties.

First off, the bounty amount is around $5 per hog. However, payment is only made after checks on tails or certified buying station receipts. So, is this enough incentive to make you hunt for some hogs?

Different people will have varying perceptions.

For recreational hunters, hunting hogs for pay will be considered a rewarding activity as they’re also engaging in a hobby. However, persons only drawn to the money may discover it isn’t as much as they anticipated.

This could make them lose interest. So, which of these categories of hunters do you belong to?

  • Feral Hog Bounties have been Doubled by Some Counties

In order to mitigate the menace caused by feral hogs, Hill County, also in Texas has doubled its bounty. This is due to the increasing damage caused by these wild hogs.

Also, doubling the bounty amount was necessary to enable it to compete with neighboring counties.

  • Are Hog Bounties Sustainable?

Feral hog populations will always thrive in certain locations like Texas as long as interventions aren’t made to contain them. While that is true, only a few counties have activated these programs.

However, most interventions have only been short-term which isn’t sufficient to curb feral hog spread.

Hog bounties are sustainable when long-term plans are adopted. Plus, such interventions tend to drastically reduce hog populations.

Getting Paid to Hunt for Hogs isn’t Complex at All

If you love to hunt and live in a location where invasive hog species are rife, it’s likely your county will notice the problem and take steps to address it.

If you haven’t heard of any, you only need to inquire as such a program may already be in existence.

You only need to know the terms of the bounty and how best to take advantage of the opportunity. As discussed so far, the proof is needed to confirm your kills.

The often required proof is the hog tail. Hill County’s hog bounty program was launched in 2014 and has led to the turning in of about 10,000 hog tails!

What’s the Fastest Way to Become a Hog Hunter?

Do you find bounty programs for hogs interesting but don’t have the hunting skills? There are likely to be many like you in the same situation.

If you’re inspired enough, you might want to become a professional hunter. However, we must say this takes time as you need close guidance from a professional hunter.

Also, you’ll have to consume a lot of hunting-related materials online and offline. There are hunting communities you can join to learn the ropes.

What more? You can ask to follow a professional hunter around as they hunt hogs for money. This way, you’re learning on the job.

As a newbie or entry-level hunter, you won’t be as proficient as professional hunters due to the lack of experience and limited skill. However, killing a hog still entitles you to the same bounty amount per tail.

Can Feral Hogs Be sold?

When hunting hogs for pay, all you need to do is show the tails to be paid. However, you’re left to decide what to do with the carcass.

Now, hog meat is delicious and can be prepared to be eaten. However, if you’ve killed several of these, it’s a bit more challenging to consume all of them.

At this point, you’ll be thinking about what to do with them. In a lot of places, selling wild hogs is illegal. This is because such wildlife may harbor diseases. This is clearly an alternative that won’t work.

Getting paid by selling hog meat won’t be possible for most locations.

Not Everyplace Has a Hog Problem

Hog control measures like hunting are only common around areas with a large hog population. Your area might not have a hog problem as such; there are no bounty programs like those in areas with lots of hogs.

Getting paid to hunt for hogs will require finding out if there are bounty programs within your area. These programs offer clear guides on how to proceed.