How Much Does A Feral Pig Cost?

Feral pigs, also known as wild hogs or boars, pose formidable economic and environmental challenges wherever these extremely adaptable animals take up residence. As the invasive swine spread across the United States, their rooting behaviors and voracious appetites cause escalating agricultural damages and ecological disruptions.

This guide goes into the many considerations around the costs of feral pigs, spanning hunting expenses, trapping investments, control programs, niche markets, and the true toll of their destruction. For farmers, ranchers, natural resource agencies, outdoorsmen and ordinary citizens, it is important to see the full scale of costs driven by these prolific invaders to make informed decisions.

How Much Does A Feral Pig Cost?

Feral pigs can cost as little as $0 for hunted wild pigs, up to $1,500 or more for purchased livestock from specialty breeders. Most feral pigs fall between $200 to $800 based on whether they are wild-caught or farm-raised for hunting or meat production purposes.

For many outdoors enthusiasts, hunting feral pigs represents the ultimate challenge. Their wariness, sharp senses and intelligence require skill to successfully hunt. For these thrills, hunters are willing to invest considerable time and money pursuing wild hogs.

Guided Hunts on Private Ranches

Hunting preserves with guaranteed opportunities to bag feral pigs are popular but expensive options. These ranches charge $400-$1,200 per day for guided hunts including amenities like lodging, meals and equipment rental. Prime destinations include Texas, Florida and Hawaii.

For those serious about finding trophy-sized boars, hiring an expert guide greatly improves the odds of success. Still, the costs add up quickly.

DIY Hunting on Public Lands

With ample public lands across the southern U.S., DIY hunting for feral pigs is also an option. However, required licenses and permits can cost $25-$50 per state. Investing in your own gear like rifles, scopes and night vision equipment also requires significant upfront funding.

Access to good hunting areas is free on public land. But you need to research regulations, scout locations, and invest in equipment. Bait like fermented corn can help draw pigs in for $10-$15 per bucket. For most, the rewards of self-guided hunts offset these DIY costs.

Helping Control Overpopulations

Beyond sport, hunting feral pigs helps landowners and wildlife agencies reduce environmental damage and limit population growth. Each successful hunt removes a reproductive threat. Some states even pay bounties of $5-$20 per pig as incentives. Not cost-effective for individual hunters, these programs reward sportsmen for helping control feral swine populations.

According to a report from Farm Progress, the average price for live feral pigs ranges from about 20 cents per pound for animals under 100 pounds to as much as 60 cents per pound for larger swine. This pricing structure reflects the variability in demand and the market’s focus on size and usability.

Another source, Farm Bureau, discusses the broader hog market but does not provide specific prices for feral pigs. However, it emphasizes that market conditions can influence prices significantly, particularly as demand fluctuates.

A detailed analysis from the USDA AMS Livestock Report indicates that feeder pig prices have recently ranged from approximately $54.00 to $99.00 per head. While this report focuses on traditional feeder pigs, it provides context for understanding pricing dynamics in the swine market.

Additionally, an article on Pig Progress highlights the growing issue of feral pig populations and their management, noting that control measures are being implemented across various states, which can also impact pricing due to increased demand for removal services.

Factors Determining Expenses

Wild pigs carry a multifaceted price tag based on their diverse interactions with landscapes, wildlife, agriculture and people. Main elements influencing costs include:

• Hunting – Guided hunts, licenses, equipment, and travel for sport hunting feral pigs.
• Trapping – Investments into corrals, box traps, snares and professional trappers to capture pigs.
• Damage – Repairs of destroyed crops, infrastructure, and sensitive environmental areas savaged by pigs.
• Control – Funding for federal, state and local feral pig population control initiatives and eradication programs.
• Prevention – Fencing, repellents and other measures used to deter feral pigs.
• Livestock – Direct costs of raising pigs for niche meat markets or hunting enterprises.
• Research – Studies on feral pig biology, movements and control methods to reduce impacts.
• Administration – Management of feral pig control policies, hunting regulations and eradication programs.

Trapping Wild Pigs

Trapping is an essential tool for large-scale control or removal of wild pigs. Both DIY and professional trapping have associated costs based on scale.

Purchasing Traps and Building Enclosures

Sturdy corral traps must contain entire sounders of pigs. Prefab trap systems cost $300-$500 on average. Building homemade traps from fencing requires an initial investment in materials like panels, t-posts and gates. Bait like soured corn lures pigs into traps.

Setting traps is labor-intensive. Time spent scouting, preparing sites, checking and re-baiting traps represents an additional cost consideration.

You might also like our articles about the cost of prairie dogs, hippopotamuses, or spider monkeys.

Hiring Professional Trappers

For major feral pig problems, hiring trapping experts can be worth the higher costs of $1,000-$2,500 per job. Professional trappers use specialized equipment and techniques to maximize efficiency. Their efforts may remove dozens of pigs in a single visit. Coordinating trappers during peak damage periods provides major relief to landowners plagued by pigs.

These experts may charge:

• Initial consultation fees – $250-$500
• Per pig removal prices – $75-$150 per animal
• Flat rate per trapping job – $500-$2,500 or more

Relocating Feral Pigs

Capturing and relocating live feral pigs is extremely challenging. Trapped pigs may be relocated to controlled hunting preserves. But regulations, biosecurity protocols and transportation expenses make relocation expensive.

The process requires approval and permits often exceeding $100. Pigs must be inspected and cleared by veterinarians, adding medical fees. Transporting wild pigs humanely also necessitates customized trailers or equipment. Even permitted relocations can cost hundreds of dollars per pig. As such, relocation is rarely a financially viable solution for most pig problems.

Price of Feral Pig Damages

The most problematic cost associated with feral pigs comes from the extensive damages they cause. As populations expand, so do associated economic impacts.

Destruction to Crops and Infrastructure

Feral pigs are voracious omnivores that damage fields, pastures and commercial crops. In the U.S. alone, wild pigs cause $1.5 billion in agricultural damages annually. They destroy planted seeds, trample fields, and spoil vast amounts of food. Feral pigs also break irrigation lines, foul water sources, and degrade fences.

Farmers must constantly repair infrastructure and replant ruined fields. Preventative measures like electric fencing require significant investments as well. For many farmers, wild pigs represent a costly, unending battle.

Harming Natural Areas and Wildlife

Feral pigs compete with native wildlife for resources and degrade sensitive environmental areas like wetlands, riparian zones and forests. Their rooting and wallowing behaviors alter fragile habitats. $800 million is spent fixing these environmental damages each year in the United States. Controlling pigs is essential to preserving natural ecosystems.

Turning Pigs into Profits

Despite being a costly nuisance, feral pigs generate income in some niche markets. As their populations grow, so do business opportunities.

Wild Boar Meat Processing

Although not a staple meat, wild boar sells for $4-$8 per pound, to gourmet restaurants, upscale grocers and food distributors. Better quality meat often fetches higher prices. As consumer interest in wild meats grows, feral pigs offer opportunities for meat processors. However, care must be taken to ensure meat is free of parasites and diseases.

Pet Food and Bait Industries

Lower-grade feral pig carcasses are widely used by the pet food industry as a protein source. Tens of thousands of wild pigs are processed into feed annually. Feral pigs are also used in boar-scented baits to attract wild pigs for trapping or hunting.

Hunting Tourism

Popular among sportsmen, hunting feral pigs generates tourism income for rural areas. Hunting preserves and guided hunts cater to enthusiasts while providing additional revenue streams for landowners with pig populations. When sustainably managed, these ops offer environmental and economic benefits.

Controlling Wild Pigs

With feral pigs spreading rapidly across 35+ states, agencies and landowners are urgently seeking ways to curb populations. But effective control requires significant coordination and funding.

Government-Funded Eradication Programs

Recognizing the threats from invasive wild pigs, the USDA has funded pilot eradication programs in certain states. Focusing efforts strategically can eliminate isolated populations before they expand. However, these initiatives cost $100 million or more in sustained multi-year efforts. Stopping pigs requires persistent, large-scale actions.

Community-Led Trapping Efforts

Coordinated community trapping events can make progress controlling localized pig populations. By sharing resources, expertise and labor, landowners distribute costs. But without sustained pressure, pigs rebound quickly. Ongoing trapping is essential.

Challenges of Complete Eradication

Despite efforts, completely eliminating feral pigs is extremely unlikely given their prolific breeding capabilities. Once established, pig populations are almost impossible to wipe out. While control programs reduce damages, perpetual management is required to keep wild pigs in check. This represents an enduring economic cost.

Final Words

Sustained, strategic control efforts are needed to limit the skyrocketing costs of feral pig populations. Understanding these expenses helps agencies, landowners and hunters make informed decisions when dealing with wild hogs. While problematic, feral pigs will remain an economic reality for the foreseeable future.

Answers to Common Questions

How much damage do wild hogs cause in Texas?

Texas suffers the most feral pig damage, with direct costs estimated at $400 million annually. Pigs degrade crops, pastures, and fragile environments across the state. Despite control efforts, their populations continue rising 5-10% per year in Texas, exacerbating costly impacts. Ongoing strategic hunting and trapping is essential to protecting agriculture and ecosystems.

What is the best practice for feral pigs?

The best practice combines different methods into an integrated pest management plan. Lethal control via regulated hunting and professional trapping reduces populations. Fencing, repellents and guard animals protect valuable crops and property. Gathering data, monitoring pig movements, and adaptively managing efforts enhances success over time. Sustained diligence is crucial for cost-effective control.

How large can pigs get?

Feral pigs can reach 250+ pounds, with boars being larger than sows. Under ideal conditions with abundant food sources, boars may exceed 450 pounds. However, in heavily hunted areas their wariness makes reaching advanced age and weight unlikely. Trophy-sized pigs over 300 pounds are rare. But wild pigs continue growing their entire lives, so mammoth-sized outliers are biologically possible.