Future of County’s Hog and Coyote Bounty Program Debated

Feral hogs cause incredible damage to fields and pastures in Fayette County. Some crop producers here suffer tens of thousands of dollars in losses each year due to the hogs. But whose problem is it - private property owners or the County government?

One local citizen, Ken Dernehl of La Grange, raised that question at last Thursday’s Commissioners Court meeting. Dernehl said local taxpayers shouldn’t subsidize the County’s hog bounty program.

“Sure, hogs and coyotes are a problem for some in the County,” Dernehl said. “Fire ants are also a big problem. Is the County going to provide free fire ant bait to landowners?”

Fayette County pays hunters a $5 bounty for every hog they kill. Hunters must turn in a pair of ears to collect the bounty. They County also offers a bounty for coyote ears. Commissioners budgeted $40,000 in this year’s budget for the hog and coyote bounties. The County has paid out $14,000 in bounties so far this year.

“Appraised values for Fayette County taxpayers have increased as much as 20 percent this year,” Dernehl said. “People are struggling to pay for food and gas. Is it fair for County taxpayers to continue paying for what is essentially a private landowner problem?

“There are bigger needs in the County budget that need to be met,” he added. “The cost of fuel, road materials and everything else has skyrocketed. If you are serious about cutting the fat from the budget, it is my opinion the bounty program should cease to exist and this money be used to address more pressing issues.”

Dernehl spoke during the meeting’s public comment period. Commissioners accepted his comments but did not discuss the issue or take any action since it was not on the regular agenda.

The topic came up again when Commissioners Court met on Monday, July 20, for a special workshop meeting for next year’s County budget.

“Do we want to cut the budget for the feral hog program or do we want to keep it?” Weber asked. “We go through this every year. There are pros to it, and there are cons to it. We budget $40,000 for it.”

“Does it work?” asked William Bernsen, a former Republican candidate for Fayette County Judge who was at Monday’s meeting.

“People collect it because we pay it,” said Pct. 3 Commissioner Harvey Berckenhoff. “If we didn’t pay it, people would still shoot them or put out a trap.”

“People say, ‘I don’t have any hogs, so why do I have to pay as a taxpayer?” Weber said. “I don’t know if it’s helping.”

Weber asked whether the County should cut the program considering current economic challenges.

“Before we cut it, call our county extension agents and ask them the dollar amount of damages they cause,” said Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom.

“They’re going to tell you it’s astronomical,” Weber said.

“It is,” McBroom said. “It becomes a problem if your neighbor is not hunting them. They’re living on your neighbor’s land and coming over to tear up your’s. So it’s an added benefit if you can eliminate the population.”

Pct. 4 Commissioner Drew Brossmann suggested that the proliferation of wildlife exemptions for property taxes may have increased the hog problem. Landowners who make their property more attractive to wildlife also attract feral hogs. Weber said landowners who stock their deer feeders with corn year-round contribute to the hog problem as well.

Commissioners only discussed the bounty and did not take any final action.