Feral Pigs/Wild Hogs

Hogs Destroying Private Property

Question: Hogs are digging up my yard. What can be done?

Answer Wild hogs (also called the wild boar or feral pig) are legally defined as wildlife. Wild hogs occur throughout Florida in various habitats, but prefer moist forests and swamps and pine flatwoods. They are omnivorous (eat both animal protein and vegetation) and feed by rooting with their broad snouts. They may cause great damage of the understory and leave an area looking like a plowed field.

Nuisance hogs may be trapped using pens with trap doors and baited with acorns or old corn. Trapped animals may not be released on public land. Live wild or feral hogs may not be transported without a swine permit from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (see http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/ai/main/forms.shtml ).

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) allows trappers to take destructive or nuisance wildlife from private property. Be advised most trappers will charge a fee for their services. To find a trapper in your area, visit the FWC website.
If you wish to hunt wild hogs with landowner permission on private property, you can hunt wild hogs year round. There is no bag limit or size limit for wild hogs.

On Wildlife Management Areas, wild hogs are considered legal game and may only be taken during specific seasons.
If you wish to hunt wild hogs at night with a gun and light, you will need a gun and light permit. Permits are available online. For more information contact your FWC regional office. Regional office contact information.