South Carolina is one step away from permitting the hunting of feral hogs by helicopter.
The South Carolina Senate voted Thursday to approve third and final reading of S.C. Rep. Bill Hixon's bill allowing the hunting of feral hogs via helicopter on properties larger than 500 acres.
Hixon represents House District 83 which includes North Augusta and southern Edgefield County.
The Department of Natural Resources will issue permits.
Feral hogs are a major problem for South Carolina’s farmers, Hixon said earlier this year.
The South Carolina Wild Hog Task Force says there are approximately 138,000 feral hogs in the state.
“Farming is very expensive now,” Hixon said. “To plant an acre is tremendously expensive because of the chemicals, the cost of the seed, the cost of diesel fuel and wear and tear on your tractor.”
When a farmer loses an acre of a crop of soybeans to feral hogs, they’re out five times as much money, Hixon said.
“It’s just a way I thought these people that’s got these big plantations, corn fields, these big peanut fields could get out there and start trying to cut down the population (of hogs),” Hixon said.
The Senate approved the second reading of the bill 39-0 April 18.
The senators voting in favor included S.C. Tom Young Jr., R-Aiken; S.C. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield; and S.C. Sen. Nikki Setzler, D-Lexington.
The South Carolina House of Representatives approved the bill March 7.
The bill has been enrolled for ratification as an act. After ratification, it will go to Gov. Henry McMaster to be signed into law or vetoed.
The large margins of passage in both parts of the General Assembly — the House approved the bill 111-0 on second reading — indicate the General Assembly could have the votes to override a potential veto.
