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Traps Built Tough To Catch Wild Hogs
Growing numbers of feral hogs in Southern states have boosted sales in the past few years of hog traps manufactured by All Seasons Feeders in San Antonio, Texas.
"It's an epidemic," says Chris Traugott, the company's general manager. Wild hogs have two litters a year, and there are more of them than game hunters
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Traps Built Tough To Catch Wild Hogs MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Pest Animals 31-4-30 Growing numbers of feral hogs in Southern states have boosted sales in the past few years of hog traps manufactured by All Seasons Feeders in San Antonio, Texas.
"It's an epidemic," says Chris Traugott, the company's general manager. Wild hogs have two litters a year, and there are more of them than game hunters can control. The hogs tear up land, destroy crops and kill game birds, eggs and even fawns.
All Seasons Feeders sells two traps, one that sets on the ground and one on wheels. The 200-lb., 4 by 8 by 3-ft. tall pens are framed with angle iron and covered with hog panels on the sides and cattle panels on top. A door on one end has a cable and spring so hogs can get in, but not out. Traugott has heard of traps catching 14 hogs at a time.
Hogs are attracted to the pens by bait. Plain corn works great in South Texas, Traugott says, though some people add other aromatic ingredients. The traps are best set out in the open; hogs seem to be more wary of them when they're hidden in the brush.
After they are caught, the hogs are killed. Though large hogs (they grow up to 600 lbs.) aren't suitable for food, hogs less than 150 lbs. are good eating, Traugott says. All Seasons Feeders also sells a game crank with an 800-lb. winch that attaches to the back bumper of a truck. It lifts the hog for field dressing, then swivels to set the hog in the pickup bed.
Because of the demand for wild boar in Europe, some hog trappers prefer the hog trap on wheels. Crank the pen down to the ground to trap the animals; crank the pen up and it's ready for the road. After the hogs are trapped, they can be delivered live to a processing plant and sold for export.
The company has sold the traps for about 20 years, Traugott says, adding that the design is very simple and hasn't really changed because it works well. "These traps are mainly for population control and easy pork sausage," Traugott adds with a laugh.
The basic hog trap sells for $349 and the hog trap on wheels runs $1,395. Dealerships are available.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, All Seasons Feeders, 8424 Highway 87 East, San Antonio, Texas 78263 (ph 800 841-1720; ctraugott@allseasonsfeeders.com; www.allseasonsfeeders.com).
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