South Carolina is one step closer to permitting the hunting of feral hogs via helicopter.
The South Carolina House of Representatives voted Thursday to approve the 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. The district includes North Augusta and southern Edgefield County.
Feral hogs are a major problem for South Carolina’s farmers, Hixon said recently.
The South Carolina Wild Hog Task Force says there are approximately 138,000 feral hogs in the state.
“Farming is very expensive now,” Hixon continued. “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 House voted 111-0 to approve second reading of the bill Wednesday.
Among those voting in favor were Hixon and S.C. Reps. Bart Blackwell, R-Aiken, Bill Clyburn, D-Aiken, Melissa Oremus, R-Graniteville, and Bill Taylor, R-Aiken.
The bill was amended before the House voted to approve second reading.
The amendment changed the number of acres required from 1,000 to 500 contiguous acres. It also added a provision that hunting hogs for sport or profit is not allowed and makes doing so a misdemeanor.
Hixon introduced the bill Nov. 16.
The House’s approval sends the bill to the Senate.
If approved by the Senate, the bill would go to Gov. Henry McMaster to be signed into law or vetoed.
