TX allows feral hogs to be shot from the air - a new horror for liberals
A new Texas law allowing feral hogs to be shot from the air is expected to be a windfall for helicopter-chartering firms
By WILLIAM PACK
STAFF WRITER
June 26, 2011, 11:26PM .
Jerry Lara San Antonio Express-News
Jimmy Meyer flies with his brother, Joseph Meyer, of Flying J Services, over a cultivated field in search of feral hogs. They are hired to eliminate wild hog populations.
New legislation aimed at reducing Texas' massive feral hog population also is expected to put some sizzle in the state's helicopter services sector and create a new breed of hunter-tourist.
The legislation, nicknamed the "pork chopper bill," will allow hunters to pay landowners and helicopter companies to climb aboard a helicopter to shoot and kill feral hogs and coyotes.
In a pro-hunting state like Texas, it is expected to draw sizable interest, which could keep the copters flying more often than they did before.
Previously, landowners were prohibited from accepting payment from hunters to shoot the beasts from the air. The legislation has been signed by the governor and will take effect Sept. 1.
Helicopter companies in the state are gearing up to handle the new business.
"I've had people contact me from Alaska who want to come down to do it," said Dustin Johnson, owner of Cedar Ridge Aviation in Knox City in North Texas. He plans to charge $600 an hour per person, but that hasn't tempered interest.
"It's definitely going to boost business," said Mike Morgan, president of Vertex Helicopters in Houston, who could add two copters to his fleet because of the anticipated growth. "We get 10-15 calls about it a day at times."
Joseph Meyer, owner of Flying J Services in Jourdanton, was more reserved about the outlook. While he expects his business to grow by about 20 percent, liability and cost issues associated with the new service could keep it from booming, he said.
"It's going to help the farmers more than it's going to help our industry," Meyer said.
Texas has the biggest feral hog infestation in the country, with close to 2.8 million hogs and they are reproducing rapidly, wildlife officials said. The hogs use their noses to root up fields, destroy fences and tear down crops. They also have attacked fawns and other vulnerable animals.
Studies suggest the wild hogs could be responsible for more than $520 million in agricultural damage a year in Texas.
"I hope there is huge demand," said state Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, who authored the legislation. He is also a rancher and has experienced the damage that hogs and coyotes create. "The whole purpose is to get rid of the hogs."
Not a sporting activity
While the new law will open up the sector to hunters, officials took pains to keep the activity from being viewed as a sporting hunt, which is disallowed by federal law when aircraft are involved. The state currently authorizes aerial hunting of pigs only to control the damage they do to property, an exception allowed in law. The new legislation retains that limitation.
But helicopter operators are concerned about collateral damage that could result from the new legislation: damage to the aircraft .
With hunters unaccustomed to shooting from aircraft, the copters themselves could be shot and even taken down by an irresponsible gunman. Some companies are setting up safety courses for their new hunting customers to go through to reduce risks.
Vertex, for instance, has established a full-day training course costing $350 that all of its hunters will be required to take on aerial hunting safety.
"We don't want any Joe off the street jumping into my aircraft and starting shooting without some kind of training," said Morgan. "I want everyone we send out to come back home safely."
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