Ohio House Passes Bill Banning Hog Hunting

The changes outlined in Ohio’s House bill are designed to diminish hunting pressure in order to make eradicating the invasive wild hog easier. (Photo provided by WildMedia)

The Ohio House of Representatives has passed a bill that prohibits hunting and importing feral hogs, but that still allows landowners to shoot the swine without a hunting license or depredation permit as long as they notify the Ohio Department of Natural Resources within 24 hours. As is the case in many states that have passed similar legislation, the goal of the bill is to discourage recreational pig hunting, and also to reduce hunting pressure on pigs, which makes them more difficult to trap and eradicate.

According to wtrf.com, House Bill 503, which was passed on June 12, also puts an end to the risky practice of garbage feeding of swine and prohibits transporting or possessing wild live boar or feral swine.

“These nuisances are known carriers of diseases that are dangerous to both humans and livestock, such as African Swine Fever,” State Representative Bob Peterson said. “If African Swine Fever was contracted into our commercial pig population, it would cost Ohio around $2.5 billion.”

Each violation outlined in the bill carries a penalty of a 1st-degree misdemeanor, but importing, transporting, or possessing feral swine carries a 5th-degree felony. Feeding feral swine garbage can result in a civil penalty of $500 with a maximum penalty of $1,000 for additional violations.

House Bill 503 awaits further consideration from the Ohio Senate.