"Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ land managers plan to hold a series of hog hunts on District land this fall and winter to help reduce the wild hog population.
Beginning at 9 a.m. on Oct. 11, prospective hunters can purchase permits for these hunts on the District's web site at "WaterMatters.org/hoghunts/(Feral Hog Hunts)":/hoghunts. Permits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through 5 p.m. on Oct. 25, or until they are sold out. The cost is $50 for each permit.
"Wild hogs(Feral Hog FAQs)":/recreation/hoghunt/faq.html, which are not native to Florida, feed by rooting with their broad snouts and can leave an area looking like a plowed field. They prey on native wildlife, compete with native species for food and transmit diseases to other wildlife, livestock and humans. Additionally, hogs may facilitate the spread of exotic plant species by transporting seeds and/or providing germination sites through rooting.
The District allows hogs to be controlled through hunts when the damage they cause is at unacceptable levels. Damage from hogs is occurring more frequently and with increasing severity.
Here's where and when the hunts will be held:
"Upper Hillsborough Preserve–Alston Tract(Alston Tract Hunt Information)":/recreation/hoghunt/alston.php
Pasco County
Nov. 16–18 and Jan. 11–13
"Conner Preserve(Conner Preserve Hunt Information)":/recreation/hoghunt/conner.php
Pasco County
Feb. 15–17 and March 2–4
"Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve(Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve Hunt Information)":/recreation/hoghunt/halpata.php
Marion County
Nov. 16–18 and Feb. 22–24
"Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve–Hampton Tract(Hampton Tract Hunt Information)":/recreation/hoghunt/hampton.php
Polk County
Dec. 7–9
The District-managed properties will be temporarily closed to the public during the hog hunts. Only permitted hunters will be allowed access.
In addition to obtaining a permit online, maps and hunting rules of the areas where the hunts will take place are available on the District's web site.
This is the third consecutive year for the hunts. Last year's hunts removed hundreds of hogs from six different tracts of land throughout the District.
Beginning at 9 a.m. on Oct. 11, prospective hunters can purchase permits for these hunts on the District's web site at "WaterMatters.org/hoghunts/(Feral Hog Hunts)":/hoghunts. Permits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through 5 p.m. on Oct. 25, or until they are sold out. The cost is $50 for each permit.
"Wild hogs(Feral Hog FAQs)":/recreation/hoghunt/faq.html, which are not native to Florida, feed by rooting with their broad snouts and can leave an area looking like a plowed field. They prey on native wildlife, compete with native species for food and transmit diseases to other wildlife, livestock and humans. Additionally, hogs may facilitate the spread of exotic plant species by transporting seeds and/or providing germination sites through rooting.
The District allows hogs to be controlled through hunts when the damage they cause is at unacceptable levels. Damage from hogs is occurring more frequently and with increasing severity.
Here's where and when the hunts will be held:
"Upper Hillsborough Preserve–Alston Tract(Alston Tract Hunt Information)":/recreation/hoghunt/alston.php
Pasco County
Nov. 16–18 and Jan. 11–13
"Conner Preserve(Conner Preserve Hunt Information)":/recreation/hoghunt/conner.php
Pasco County
Feb. 15–17 and March 2–4
"Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve(Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve Hunt Information)":/recreation/hoghunt/halpata.php
Marion County
Nov. 16–18 and Feb. 22–24
"Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve–Hampton Tract(Hampton Tract Hunt Information)":/recreation/hoghunt/hampton.php
Polk County
Dec. 7–9
The District-managed properties will be temporarily closed to the public during the hog hunts. Only permitted hunters will be allowed access.
In addition to obtaining a permit online, maps and hunting rules of the areas where the hunts will take place are available on the District's web site.
This is the third consecutive year for the hunts. Last year's hunts removed hundreds of hogs from six different tracts of land throughout the District.