California Loosens Feral Hog Hunting Rules

California governor Gavin Newsom has signed a new law designed to help reduce the state’s estimated 400,000 feral hogs.

Senate Bill 856 passed with unanimous support in both the state Senate and Assembly and will allow licensed hunters to kill an unlimited number of the wild pigs. The new law also lowers the tag prices for hog hunting and seeks to legalize the hunting of wild pigs at night. The law also prohibits the intentional release of a pig to live in the wild.

“I commend the governor for bringing us a step closer to controlling our destructive wild pig population, which is exploding across California,” said State Senator Bill Dodd of Napa in a press release. “These non-native, feral animals are endangering sensitive habitats, farms, and wildlife. By increasing opportunities to hunt them, we can reduce the threat to our state.” According to Dodd, invasive wild pig populations have taken root in 56 of California’s 58 counties. He says that the removal of all remaining pig hunting restrictions will allow for better population control and habitat management.

While the bill gained unanimous support from state legislators, significant opposition came from the hunting community. Rick Travis, legislative director for the California Rifle and Pistol Association (CRPA), said the new law would reduce money for conservation since it reduces pig hunting license feeds. He also worries about a rise in poaching that may come with unregulated night hunting.

Nationwide, states are aggressively seeking ways to control the rapidly expanding feral pig population. The pigs were found in 544 counties 40 years ago but were present in 1,915 counties in 2020.