Wild Hog Control Program opens May 1–15

Mississippi program offers smart traps and training to reduce feral hog damage on private land

The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce has opened applications for the Wild Hog Control Program, offering trapping support to landowners in Stone County and across South Mississippi.

The current application window runs from May 1 through May 15, 2026.

The program provides “smart” hog traps, along with training and technical guidance, to help landowners control feral hog populations on private agricultural and forestry land. Traps are deployed in designated focal areas identified through the application process.

Applications are evaluated based on acreage available for trapping, documented agricultural damage, and existing efforts to control hog activity.

Wild hogs continue to impact working land across the region. Landowners report damage to crops, pasture, and timber stands, along with soil disruption that can affect long-term land use.

Because hog populations move across property lines, isolated trapping efforts can be difficult to sustain. The program is designed to support coordinated control in areas where damage is ongoing.

Additional application periods are scheduled for Aug. 1–15 and Nov. 1–15, 2026.

Landowners can apply through the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce website during open enrollment periods here.