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A friend of mine recently came back from vacation to find out what many landowners have had to face over the past two decades.
"Pigs tore my place during our absence," the message said.
Now, my friend has another tool that he can use to minimize the impact of the scourge known as "wild pig".
The Alabama legislature recently passed a law allowing hunters on private or rented land to purchase a preferred license for bait, which allows wild hogs to be hunted (year-round, in light of the day) and white-tailed deer (during the deer hunting season). only) with the help of bait.
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The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) issues the new permit (US $ 15 for resident hunters and US $ 51 for non-residents) through a point of sale selling permits. Hunting and online at https://www.outdooralabama.com.
Hunters who wish to clear the destructive hog herd now can buy the license, but know that it will expire on August 31st. If you want to hunt pork or deer with bait during the 2019-2020 hunting seasons, you will need to purchase a new bait privilege license when it becomes available end of August.
The bait privilege license applies to anyone who hunts these species with the help of bait without exception. This means that hunters 65 and over and hunters under 16 must have a valid bait license to hunt with bait. This also includes people who hunt on their property and who hold a license for life.
In addition, each hunter must have his own preferred bait license to hunt with the aid of bait.
You should also be aware that baiting any wild animal, including white-tailed deer and wild pigs, on public lands is illegal.
Senator Jack Williams (R-Wilmer), who has been dealing with wild destructive hogs for years, sponsored the Senate bill. It was the fourth year that Williams had similar legislation.
"The most important thing in my area is that pigs are destroying your property," said Williams, who operates and operates a nursery in Mobile County. "I am invaded by them in my area. I killed an Easter morning from my porch, in my backyard. They searched my driveway. We are doing everything we can to kill them. We have more opportunities to kill them during the deer season than any other time. "
Williams drew parallels with the way some wild animal forages can also gather animals in tight spaces.
"From my point of view, there is no difference between a group of deer eating stagnant corn or in a trough and white oak acorns with all the deer placed under this tree," he said. -he declares. "We have been eating for years, and I think most people trying to raise deer do that too. We had no problem with that. "
The law contains a provision stating that the ADCNR may suspend the use of the bait privilege license on a county, regional or state basis to prevent the spread of diseases, such as chronic debilitating disease, at home. the wild animals.
Williams said he had received a lot of comments on his Facebook page on the bill and that the majority of the responses had been positive.
"The polls we had before it was favorable were about 84%," he said. And it's a choice. If you do not want to bait, you do not have to. If you own a property, you can indicate in your lease that hunters can not use bait. This is not imposed on you. It's up to you whether you do it or not.
Williams thinks the use of baits illegally has been a common occurrence in Alabama in the past.
"People have been fed anyway," he said. "It just makes a lot of people legal. That's what I see. I do not see him helping corn farmers. I know all the local food stores that sell this product, and they can not get it fast enough during the hunting season. This will not raise the price of corn. This will be the market price. "
Williams also mentioned that for those who choose not to hunt with the help of bait, the definition regulation of the area remains in effect. The zone definition regulation allows for additional feeding as long as the food is more than 100 meters away and out of the hunter's line of sight due to natural vegetation or natural features of the terrain.
Wildlife Commissioner Chris Blankenship said it was not a ministry-sponsored bill, but that the department had worked with Senator Williams to include provisions that help prevent the spread of the disease.
"We wanted the bill to make it clear that the Commissioner of Nature Protection had the power to suspend the bait privilege in the event of the onset of the MDC or other illness" Blankenship said. "It is also stated that the Commissioner may suspend the feeding of wild game in areas where CWD or other diseases may be present. This gives us the opportunity to protect the deer herd in the event of an outbreak in our state. "
Blankenship said the bill had been the subject of much discussion.
"This bill makes it clear to people who want to hunt with bait that they can, as they do in Georgia and other states," he said. "I have also received calls from unfortunate people, who do not think it's a way to hunt."
Blankenship reiterated what Senator Williams said about whether to participate or not.
"It's not a requirement for people to hunt over bait," he said. "It's a tool that people can use if that's what they prefer. Someone who is totally opposed to this type of hunt can hunt as he always has. This is just an option. "
Like Williams and my friend, Blankenship expects significant participation from people who deal with wild pigs.
"This could help us all year to better control the wild pig population," said the Commissioner.
Blankenship stated that the freshwater and freshwater fisheries division of Alabama will continue to monitor closely the deer herd and any trends in harvest rates that may be associated with the use d & # 39; baits.
"The ministry will ensure that this does not harm the wildlife and good health of our deer population in our state," he said. "This is just another factor we will look at when we examine the health of the deer population. With the $ 3 limit and the other seasons and pocket limits, we think our deer population will be doing well. "
Revenues from the sale of the new bait privilege license will be eligible for federal counterpart funds intended to support conservation efforts in the state. These revenues are determined in part by the number of licenses sold. Exempt hunters who purchase a preferred bait license but do not purchase a hunting license will be eligible for federal matching funds.
Blankenship said it did not have any projection on the amount of revenue generated by the bait privilege licenses.
"We really do not know at the moment," he said. "After the first season, we will have a much better idea."
David Rainer is an award-winning writer who has been covering the great outdoors of Alabama for 25 years. Former editor of the Mobile Press-Register's outdoor activities, he writes for Outdoor Alabama, the website of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources of Alabama.
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