Alternate Income From Your Land - Feral Hogs

Many people may have land that in the future, as their financial resources permit will become their homestead and a place of refuge. Finding ways to make this land profitable until it's ultimate purpose can be attained should be a vital aspect of your preparations. There are probably many ways to do this and this is but one example of something you can do to derive alternate income from your land. Through the sale of trapping and hunting rights for feral hog populations on your property you can generate additional income for yourself in these difficult economic times.

Texas has one of the largest feral hog populations in the United States. The numbers of feral hogs in the state vary from about a million to quite possibly as many as several million. The problem is that there is really no accurate way to count them. Texas has had feral hogs for a very long time and the number of feral hogs continues to increase at a remarkable pace. Feral hogs are also found in numerous other states in the United States. Feral hogs cause a huge economic impact on the agricultural industry and huge amounts of property damage in many areas. They can damage crops through their rooting activities and cause numerous other problems.

Feral hogs are extremely difficult to eliminate or control because they can live almost anywhere and reproduce quickly and in large numbers. Female feral hogs start breeding at a very young age and can produce as many as four or five litters in just a couple of years. The gestation period is approximately four months and the litters can have as many as a dozen.

It’s even legal to shoot, trap, or catch pigs with dogs in Texas. You can even do this day or night. You will also need to have a valid hunting license along with the property owner’s permission. If the feral hogs are doing damage to your property or you are working for the property owner you won’t even need a hunting license.Probably the most effective manner of catching feral hogs is by the use of traps.

Most feral hogs travel in large groups known as sounders. Small box traps are cheap and inexpensive and are easy to move and transport and a more common means of catching feral hogs. If you have a small number of feral hogs on your property these small traps will probably be more than adequate. Even larger traps can be made with utility panels (4 x 4 inch mesh type) and can be used to catch greater numbers of feral hogs.

For more information on things like traps, finding someone to trap your feral hogs, or other questions concerning the wildlife in your area you can contact your local state’s wildlife biologist.

Contact information for the State of Texas can be found here:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/

Another resource for information can be found here:

http://southwestfarmpress.com/mag/farming_trapping_hunting_best/

Hope you will find this information of value in finding alternate sources of income.

BTW, feral hogs can also be quite tasty if properly prepared.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker