Feral hog hunting OK during deer, turkey seasons at Mark Twain National Forest

Dec 9, 2019 @ 11:20am

Most Missouri public land agencies had banned feral hog hunting back in 2016 because it was interfering with trapping efforts by federal and state agents.

But hunters will be able to take feral hogs during the rest of the deer and turkey seasons at Mark Twain National Forest.

Park public affairs officer Cody Norris says this change is the product of a lot of work over the last few months.

After it was originally suggested that the forest shut down all opportunistic feral hog shooting, Mark Twain has tweaked its regulations to allow hunters with a permit during deer and turkey seasons to shoot down any feral swine they may see.

As part of combating the feral hog problem in southeast Missouri, Norris says the department of conservation is looking at doing something similar.

The MDC will not be able to put in feral hog hunting regulations for public land until it goes through the state’s processing.

Nothing changes for private land owners, who are allowed to hunt feral swine invading their land.