Stop the Swine: Georgia Launches Hog Trap Giveaway to Combat Invasive Pigs

Got feral hog problems? You're not alone—and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is stepping in with a new incentive to help landowners fight back. The Hog Down Awards Program is a pilot effort aimed at encouraging “whole sounder” trapping, which means capturing and removing an entire group of hogs—typically females and their young—all at once. It's the most effective way to reduce hog populations because it keeps the rest from scattering and reproducing.

Here’s how it works: Georgia residents who legally eliminate at least 10 feral hogs in a quarter can submit photos (with time, date, and location info) to enter. At the end of each quarter, five participants will be randomly selected to win a professional-grade trap valued at around $3,500. A total of 20 traps will be awarded throughout the year.

Feral hogs cause an estimated $150 million in damage annually to Georgia’s farms, forests, and wildlife habitat—and they can destroy a field overnight. Learn more about the Hog Down Awards Program and how to enter at https://georgiawildlife.com/HogDownAwardsProgram