ABSTRACT
The wild pig (Sus scrofa) invasion in North America has become increasingly dynamic over the last few decades, facilitating interactions across nearly all levels of organization (i.e., ecological, social, economic, and governmental). The situation, such as degree of impacts, management implications, and stakeholder involvement, has rapidly evolved, not only regarding proliferation of the species across the United States, but also in our comprehension of the issues associated with wild pigs (West et al. 2009). While most wild pig issues are typically associated with ecological and economic impacts, there are complex social, cultural, political, and legal implications as well. This has resulted in a highly variable and often polarized dichotomy of professional and public opinions on wild pigs; opinions that foster an equally variable spectrum of legislative and management responses. This multidimensional nature (Bevins et al. 2014) and increasing complexity (West et al. 2009), accompanied by shortfalls surrounding state management and authority, has resulted in a patchwork of laws and policies; many of which are unique to each state (West et al. 2009; Appendixes 11.1–11.5). While most laws and policies are conceived with intent to reduce or regulate wild pig populations by limiting activities such as hunting, their capture and release, and transportation (Centner and Shuman 2015), others are designed to pacify the public and other factions such as hunting communities, private industries, and special interest groups. Laws and policies occur through various hunting regulations such as license requirements, bag limits, and weapon restrictions, as well as through commercial ordinances such as relaxed private land regulations and facility operation requirements or standards (e.g., high-fenced shooting operations, slaughter or processor facilities). Some laws and policies are even miscellaneous products of legislative action passed in response to rapidly developing conflicts among state agencies, private industries, and the public. 246These circumstances create a highly complex and controversial environment around the wild pig issue in North America, both from scientific and legal perspectives. 2015–2016 State Hunting Regulations for Wild Pigs in the Southeastern United States State State-Listed Game Species Listed Name State Hunting License Required Season Bag Limit Weapon Restrictions Night Hunting Legal Source State State-Listed Game Species Listed Name State Hunting License Required Season Bag Limit Weapon Restrictions Night Hunting Legal Source AL Yes Game Animal – Feral Swine Yes Yes N/A
Private land: No
Public land: Yes, subject to applicable regulations during current season in progress
Private land: Yes
Public land: No
Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest 2015–2016: Requirements, Fees, and Season Dates AR No Public Nuisance – Feral Hog Yes Yes N/APrivate land: No
WMAs: Yes, Yes, subject to applicable regulations during current season in progress
Private land: Yes
Public land: No
Laws and Regulations Governing Feral Hogs in Arkansas 2015 FL No Wild Hog No Yes YesPrivate land: No
Public land: Yes
No Florida 2015–2016 Hunting Regulations GA No Feral Hog Yes Yes N/APrivate land: No
Public land: Yes, subject to applicable regulations during current season in progress
Private Land: Yes
Public Land: No
2015–2016 Georgia Hunting Seasons & Regulations SC No Feral Hog/Wild Hog Yes Yes N/APrivate land: No weapon restrictions during daylight hours
Public land: Yes, subject to applicable regulations during current season in progress
Yes; on private land from the last day of February to July 1 South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Rules & Regulations Hunting & Fishing July 1, 2015–August 14, 2016 TN No Destructive Species - Wild Hog Yes Public land: Incidental take; wild hog control season on 2 WMAs (dogs only) N/A Yes, subject to applicable regulations during current season in progress Yes; landowners with a granted exemption from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency 2016 Tennessee Hunting & Trapping Guide VA No Nuisance Species – Feral Hog/Wild Hog Yes Yes N/A No Yes Hunting & Trapping in Virginia July 2015–June 2016 WV Yes Boar/Wild Boar Yes, residents only; also requires a big-game stamp Yes Yes Yes; subject to applicable regulations of current season in progress No West Virginia - Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary- July 2015–June 2016 2015–2016 State Hunting Regulations for Wild Pigs in the Northeastern United States State State-listed game species Listed name State hunting license required Season Bag limit Weapon restrictions Night hunting legal Source State State-Listed Game Species Listed Name State Hunting License Required Season Bag Limit Weapon Restrictions Night Hunting Legal Source CT No N/A N/A Hunting Prohibited N/A N/A N/A 2016 Connecticut Hunting & Trapping DE No Feral Swine N/A Hunting Prohibited N/A N/A N/A 2015–2016 Delaware Hunting & Trapping ME No N/A N/A Hunting Prohibited N/A N/A N/AMaine Hunting & Trapping: The official 2015–16 State
of Maine Hunting & Trapping Laws and Rules
MD No N/A N/A Hunting Prohibited N/A N/A N/A Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping – 2015–2016 MA No N/A N/A Hunting Prohibited N/A N/A N/A2016 Massachusetts Fish & Wildlife Guide to Hunting,
Freshwater Fishing and Trapping
NH No Feral Boar, Feral Hog, Wild Hog Yes No Yes Yes; subject to applicable regulations of current season in progress NoNew Hampshire Fish and Game Department Hunting &
Trapping Digest September 2015–August 2016
NJ No Feral Hog Yes Yes N/A Yes; subject to applicable regulations of current season in progress No 2015–2016 New Jersey Hunting & Trapping Digest NY No Eurasian Boar N/A Hunting Prohibited N/A No NoNew York Hunting & Trapping – 2015–2016 Official
Guide to Laws & Regulations
PA No Feral Swine/Wild Boar Yes No N/A Yes; subject to applicable regulations of current season in progress NoJuly 1, 2015–June 30, 2016 Pennsylvania Hunting &
Trapping Digest
RI No N/A N/A Hunting Prohibited N/A N/A N/AState of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Hunting Regulations for 2015–2016 Season
VT No N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A2016 Vermont Hunting, Fishing & Trapping Laws and
Guide - Fish and Wildlife Regulations
2015–2016 State Hunting Regulations for Wild Pigs in the Midwestern United States State State-Listed Game Species Listed Name State Hunting License Required Season Bag Limit Weapon Restrictions Night Hunting Legal Source IL No Feral Swine, Wild Pigs Yes No N/A N/A NoIllinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations
2015–2016
IN No Wild Pig No No N/A N/A N/AIndiana Hunting & Trapping Guide – 2015–2016
Regulations Guide
IA No Feral Hog Yes No N/A No Yes 2015–16 Iowa Hunting and Trapping Regulations MI No Nuisance Species - Feral Swine Yes No N/A No No 2015 Michigan Hunting and Trapping Digest MN No Feral Swine N/A Hunting Prohibited N/A N/A N/A 2015 Minnesota Hunting & Trapping Regulations Handbook MO No Feral Hog No, except during deer and turkey seasons No N/A N/A, except during deer and turkey seasons NoA Summary of Missouri Hunting and Trapping
Regulations 2015–2016
OH Yes Feral Swine, Wild Boar Yes No N/A Yes; subject to applicable regulations of current season in progress Yes Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulation 2015–2016 WI No Unprotected Species - Nuisance Wild Hogs, European Wild Hogs, Russian Wild boars Yes No N/A Yes; subject to applicable regulations of current season in progress Yes Wisconsin 2016 Small Game Hunting Regulations 2015–2016 State Hunting Regulations for Wild Pigs in the North-Central United States State State-Listed Game Species Listed Name State Hunting License Required Season Bag Limit Weapon Restrictions Night Hunting Legal Source CO No N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/AColorado Parks and Wildlife – 2016 Colorado Big
Game
KS No Feral Hog N/A Hunting Prohibited N/A N/A Yes 2016 Kansas Hunting & Fur Harvesting Regulations MT No N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2016 Montana Hunting Regulations NM No Unprotected Species – Feral Hog No No N/A Yes; subject to applicable regulations of current season in progress No 2015–2016 New Mexico Hunting NE No N/A N/A Hunting Prohibited N/A N/A N/A 2015 Big Game Guide – Nebraska ND No N/A N/A Hunting Prohibited N/A N/A N/A2015–2016 North Dakota Guides to Hunting
Regulations
OK No Hog, Feral Swine Yes Yes N/APrivate land: No
Public land: Yes, subject to applicable regulations of current season in progress
YesOklahoma Hunting: The Official 2015–2016 Oklahoma
Hunting Guide
SD No N/A N/A Hunting Prohibited N/A N/A N/A South Dakota 2015 Hunting and Trapping Handbook TX No Exotic Animal - Feral Hog Yes No N/A Yes; subject to applicable regulations of current season in progress Yes Texas 2015–2016 Hunting Seasons WY No N/A N/A Hunting Prohibited N/A N/A N/A 2016 Wyoming Game and Fish Department Regulations 2015–2016 State Hunting Regulations for Wild Pigs in the Western United States State State-Listed Game Species Listed Name State Hunting License Required Season Bag Limit Weapon Restrictions Night Hunting Legal Source AZ No N/A N/A Hunting Prohibited N/A N/A N/AArizona Game and Fish Department – 2016–17 Arizona
Hunting Regulations
CA Yes Big Game—Wild Pig, European Wild Pigs and their hybrids (genus Sus)Yes;
Wild pig tags also required
No N/A Yes; Subject to applicable regulations of current season in progress No California 2015–2016 Mammal Hunting Regulations ID No N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Idaho 2015 & 2016 Big Game Seasons & Rules NV No N/A N/A Hunting Prohibited N/A N/A N/A Nevada Hunting Guide 2015 OR No Invasive Non-native, Introduced Species - Feral Swine Yes No N/A Yes; subject to applicable regulations of current season in progress No 2015 Oregon Big Game Regulations UT No N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2015 Utah Big Game Regulations WA No Deleterious Exotic Wildlife-Feral Pigs N/A N/A N/A N/A N/AWashington 2015 Big Game Hunting Seasons &
Regulations
