The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) has begun accepting a new round of applications for its Wild Hog Control Program (WHCP).
The application period will remain open until Wednesday, February 15. All Mississippi counties are eligible for the application period.
In Mississippi, wild hogs cause more than $60 million in damages annually. Through the WHCP, MDAC provides “smart” wild hog traps to landowners and managers for the control of wild hogs on private agricultural and forestry lands in Mississippi.
MDAC also provides 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.
“The next trapping period will coincide with the upcoming crop planting season. I urge farmers that have experienced historical agricultural loss from wild hogs to submit an application,” Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson said. “We want to work with farmers and their neighbors to prevent crop loss by supplying the correct trapping equipment and technical guidance on how to successfully trap wild hogs.”
Applications must be completed and submitted online. 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 are asked to work together to submit one application.
Traps will be available for one-month intervals, dependent upon use and success. One trap per 500 – 1,000 acres is recommended, depending on landscape and land use.
