Texas bringing in the Cajun Navy to fix our hog problem

Seems like this is their answer to our hog over population.

What are you talking about?

The Cajuns can't even take care of their own hog problems. They have just passed legislation to allow hunting after dark come March 1 because their hogs are out of control.

Fake news? Fake post? Explain

Some of us have been here for years...

The only thing I can find mentioning hogs and the "Cajun Navy" is this article and it says nothing about Texas bringing them in to control hogs. It just says if we want to make hunting worthwhile to out-of-staters like them, that we should lower the license fee.
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2018/01/09/texas-must-get-grip-wild-hog-problem

Just how it is that a bunch of boat owners are going to help with hogs is beyond me. It isn't like Texas doesn't have its own boat owners, LOL.

That article is wrought with misinformation. Good journalism is impossible to find these days.

I'm already here! Trying to do my part, in the Cajun Navy ready reserves, special forces unit, stationed at their remote base in Flower Mound.

Me and my bateau during Harvey.

What was incorrect? Not arguing, just want to know your opinion.

Serious question...... when they say estimated $ damages how is this calculated? I know how much they tear up here local. But is it figured by how much it would cost to hire pasture leveling done? How much fuel you burn doing it yourself? Loss of crops at subsidized market value? Ect ect ...... as for the real problem, it’s money. Lots of landowners figuring out you can charge people to come kill them. And if people will pay, they damn sure don’t want to wipe them out. They might not say it out loud, but it’s the truth. The places we hunt here want them gone period. But we’ve had neighbors complain to us that if we’d shoot them all , their grandkids friends ect won’t have any to shoot, and could we back off? Have had other landowners approach us about “guiding” on their property. They’d let us if we shared money. We don’t do that , but glad to help if you’d like. Poison was a good idea, but hunting industry is big business. My prediction is it will get a whole lot worse. Everyone buying i2/thermal now. They’re going to want to use it. Wont be long until “pig hunting leases” start popping up .

Busy right now. Will try to respond later.

Well Midwaytmm, that would be a question for the folks who do damage estimates. The estimates are many years out of date and I believe they predate what is said in the article.



1. Damage estimate years out of date, but that was what is was when last assessed.
2. While pigs can have 2 litters per year? They can actually have 3, but typically have 3 every 2 years in the wild. Litter sizes can go up to 12 from what we have seen based on gutting pregnant sows.
3. It is claimed that pigs are mostly nocturnal. Actually, they are a diurnal animal that has been forced into nocturnal activity due to hunting pressure.
4. 79% of land mass is suitable environment for hogs? I have yet to see any place that wasn't suitable that wasn't flooded.
5. They descended from the hogs of European settlers in the 1500s? Maybe some have, but every colonial group that came since then has brought hogs and free ranged them and they continued to be free ranged in some areas until the 1960s (that I know of) and free ranging allows for hogs to escape. Our ferals are not just from the 1500s.
6. Feral hogs don't have many natural predators? They actually do. We killed off most of them. Wolves, bears, mountain lions, alligators all enjoy eating hogs.
7. The estimate for hogs in Texas, 2-3 million, goes back to 2005. Considering that the rate of growth is around 20% according to biologists, we should have many times that many in Texas, alone.
8. LET's DO SOMETHING? Calling in hunters from other states is just a stupid idea that is being couched in patriotism of the Republic of Texas. First of all, of the states noted, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Oklahoma, and New Mexico all have hog problems of their own that they do not have under control. They need all their own hunters and can't afford to be shipping them off to handle the issue elsewhere.
9. Let's draw on TPWD because this is a game management issue? By law, hogs are not a game animal, but an exotic. TPWD is already involved. They do not need to budget programs to making hunting sustainable. The problem isn't that it isn't sustainable, but that it exists far in excess of what is needed to be sustainable.
10. Build consumer demand for this pork - This sounds like a marketing scheme. We already know about pork. However, such a program will have to come with all the appropriate warnings about pork as well.
11. Lower out of state rates for hunter licenses? I seriously doubt a $48 5 day license is what is keeping out of state hunters away. Charging $10 instead of $48 does little to offset the overall expenses these hunters incur.
12. Build a database of places to hunt hogs include private landowners. Novel idea. Since we are on the reduced cost concept, these would be free places to hunt? Maybe we should open those up to Texas natives first. After all, free places to hunt is something we all want. However, how many landowners are going to open their properties to strangers to go around shooting at night? This is often something accomplished by building trust with landowners. I take it that Art Young, the author, isn't a landowner with a big sign in front of his place that reads "Hunters Welcome. Hunt Hogs Here For Free."

Given that Art Young wants various listings for things, I take it that he is not a hog hunter himself. Some of the information he is requesting is already available online.

13. I found it interesting that Art Young wants to cut license fees to the limited number of out-of-state hunters, but wants TPWD and anyone else to budget programs to help these hunters come to Texas. First, if you want to make hunting less costly, why would not extend such an offer to locals, first? Second, if you are cutting license fees and such to make hog hunting more desired, where is the money going to come from to fund these efforts to bring in more hunters? You can't cut funding and spend more money and expect to have a sustainable program.

Why not? The state can request money from the Federal govt. which will borrow more from China, and the next generation will pay for it. Happens all the time. I'm not saying it's a good plan.

It is an interesting paradigm on the Nutria infestation in La and hogs here, big difference I guess is most of the Nutria damage isn't scattered far and wide like we have with hogs. The fur trappers and a tail bounty have done a better job of checking the population vs here which is interesting given most everyone eats pork. Louisiana tried stimulating demand to eat Nutria by getting John Folse and other chefs to get on TV and cook 'em on his show, come up with recipes, etc. At the end of the day, people could smell the rat in that strategy.

There are alot of people, including landowners in Texas trying to make $ on the hog problem. It's definitely a problem for some but not all. There's universal hatred of nutrias back home.

I would think that more interest by the state in stepping up interest in shooting/trapping/etc. would help as it has done in La. I'd take a minute to whack a few tails if there was somewhere reasonably close to bring them if I could get $ for each. I don't know enough about the regulation on meat sales to comment. I also don't think the cost of an out-of-state license is a deterrent for anyone to come down.

I just don't want the poison route to get any traction!

I do not think we have a hog problem. Everyone wants hogs, they are good for $$$.
I have seen too many farmers belly ache about hogs destroying crops, when I have offered to come help they start talking price per gun, per hog, per night, etc. I asked one why he didn't trap the hogs, he admitted hunters will pay more than his losses. I really do not think that many "really" want to completely get rid of them. We decided that we no longer wanted hogs, we fenced them out (yes this is possible) 9 years ago. Then aggressively trapped and killed those that were left, and haven't seen one since, on this side of the fence.

On a personal level many may want them gone, the big picture is that it is quite a lucrative industry, in the billions of $.

I don't pay to hunt hogs. All my properties are people that want them gone.

It is not sustainable if being if sustained on credit. Far too many people don't understand this.

Good reply's guys

So many areas to talk about. Seems to me Hogs are a Cash Crop. If people will pay to hunt them , then its business. Personally, I wouldn't pay a dime to hunt them but that's because I'm not mad at them enough to stay up all night to maybe see one. I have 2 places near Lake Fork I can go any time for free but all game cameras pictures show them midnight to 4:00am. I'm not going to do it.

I think the article I was referring to was the big cities RE; Dallas, where the hogs are tearing up golf courses, parks, places where you really cant set up a hide with a high power rifle.

My beef was "Dallas" brining in people from Out Of State to kill them, when we have a few million hunters in the area who would do it. Cajun Navy, made themselves "famous" with Harvey. So "They" must be the only ones who could cure the hog problems in Urban areas. BS

Apparently Dale Hansen (Dallas sports reporter) should have called for backup. He broke his ankle chasing hogs off his property in Waxahachie Tuesday night.

I do not see hogs as a cash crop. I used to not mind them in fact enjoyed having something more to hunt. Now, I'm tired of them tearing up my land. I only have 30 acres and don't see big money to be made off hunters. I do not live on this land and question allowing hunters I don't know being on it. Can't imagine there aren't lots of others like me. Neighbors around my property run cattle and don't want unknown hunters on there place either. Can't imagine there aren't lots of others like them. Seems to me hogs are a problem, not a gold mine. If I'm mistaken, please explain how I can make money off the hog infested property I own, my family sure could use it.

Well, it is both.

30 acres isn't much to work with. For your situation, I would consider setting up a feeder and stand in a location where a shooter would not be apt to shoot off your property (which could be easy given its small size, and illegal) and wait for the hogs to start showing up. Once they do, sell hunts for one weekend a month so as to not over pressure the hogs away from your property. Charge $100 per hunter plus 2 bags of corn or a night of hunting and if they don't have hogs come in the first night (your game camera will tell you if anything showed up or not), let them hunt the second night for free. Assuming you have hogs coming regularly and sell the one hunt per month, you could be making in profit territory in just a few months.

Ideally, set up your stand where the prevailing winds will be in the hunter's favor, ideally 50-100 yards away for rifle hunters.

Or, set up a stand 15-20 yards away and market it to bow or pistol hunters.

Don't see hunts when you don't have any hogs showing up on camera. Have images on hand to show hunters the hogs you have coming in to the feeder.

I have not thought about doing that, but I bet I could sell an every other weekend hunt for two on my place and still have them coming in every night. Have them hunt on Friday night and then if they don't get a shot opportunity, let them hunt for free Saturday night. As you said the camera's will tell if the hogs came in and they were asleep in the stands. lol. I could use an extra $400 a month and I could use getting rid of some hogs.

The feeder/ambush zone is in place and has proven effective for years. No problems there. The problem is, and is the same for those with cows, is the concern of selling a hunt to some trigger happy dumb*ss. Would also be problematic getting keys to paid hunter at a place that is 2.5 hours away from my home. I guess I could lease to dfw only hunters, but what a liability to take on. I'm nervous.

There are a ton of guys here in Texas on FB looking for single night hunts with no frills. Join Texas Hog Assoc group. Don't charge more than $100 for a hog only that tears up your land costing you money or you will be chastised as part of the problem.

Reckon I'd need to have a legal contract signed to protect my behind. Reckon a bloodsucker attorney would need to be hired to draw it up, wouldn't you think?

I would say so if charging money. Plus you need lease license from TPWD which is cheap. Might not be worth it but only you would know that. There is a lack of just places to hunt hogs in hopes of harvesting a pig outside fully guided outfitted hunts with food and lodging. There are also a bunch of lazy folks who don't try to find hunts and just complain they have no place to hunt and it cost $700 for a hog. We have a few affordable places on here already.

No matter the price, day hunts always invites the unknowns of who is actually going to show up and while some knotheads are self-evident when you meet them, many you won't find about until they're out there with a firearm on your place.

I believe that's the advantage of leasing to a person. You know what you're getting every time. Maybe not for the first few encounters, but definitely less risk than new folks each and every time.

You can certainly reduce those risks with restrictions to bows/shotguns/subsonic only, etc.

You asked how you could make money. I told you. That you live 2.5 hours away from your 30 acre gold mine is unfortunate. I take it that you aren't going to drive down each time and show the hunters the property and explain safety concerns, boundaries, etc. That you are worried about "dumb*ss" hunters and liability is now something that you understand that other landowners have to deal with. Then there are the issues of contracts and lawyers, the latter of which you apparently don't like. So the bottom line for you is that you are pretty much screwed if you want to make money off your own property primarily because it will be too much hassle for you because of the distance and because you probably aren't willing to cut your profits with the appropriate liability insurance.

People do make good money with leases and day hunts. I don't think you are going to be one of those people, however.

I agree and therefore I stand by my statement "Seems to me hogs are a problem, not a gold mine." No doubt some make money selling hunting rights. I'd bet more Texans are hurt by hogs rather than helped.