Currently there is no statewide funded control program for feral hogs. State Rep. Jim Pitts successfully sponsored a bill the last legislative session that allocated money for control of the animals in Ellis, Hill and Navarro counties. To date, Pitts's is the only state-funded control measure for feral hogs. What is needed is a statewide feral hog control program similar to the one that exists for beaver control, Loven said.
Feral hogs compete directly with whitetail deer for food.
While whitetail deer are browsers, preferring forbs and such things as acorns and hickory nuts. Feral hogs are not picky browsers and will eat anything, including the preferred food of whitetail deer. For crop farmers, the chief annoyance of feral hogs is the damage they do to crops. Feral hogs will root up young seedlings. The conference will also include sessions on cotton, grains, beef, horticulture, and horses.