A new round of applications for the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce’s (MDAC) Wild Hog Control Program (WHCP) will be accepted beginning Monday, August 1.
The MDAC plans to use the WHCP to provide “smart” traps to landowners and managers for the control of wild hogs on private agricultural and forestry lands in Mississippi.
In addition, the MDAC will provide the training necessary to use the “smart” traps and technical guidance regarding the most effective methods to trap and control wild hogs on private lands.
“We are entering the third year of the program and demand for traps is growing,” said Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson. “This demand is a result of more landowners learning about the success of our program and needing assistance to help fight this nuisance animal. On August 5 at the Ag and Outdoor Expo, I will announce how my agency will be expanding the Wild Hog Control Program through a new partnership that will provide more assistance to landowners.”
Trap applications must be completed and submitted online at www.mdac.ms.gov/whcp. Submitted applications will be evaluated based on the number of acres available for trapping, historical agricultural losses caused by wild hogs on the property, and current trapping efforts on the property.
A cooperative application is encouraged for small acreage, meaning adjoining land managers of small parcels should work together to submit one application. Traps will be available for one-month intervals, dependent upon use and success. One trap per 500 to 1,000 acres is recommended, depending on the landscape and land use.
The application period will close on Monday, August 15. All Mississippi counties are eligible for the application period.
