Private landowners can now hunt hogs at night

During a recent hog and deer damage meeting for farmers and hunters in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, representatives from Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) discussed a rule change to benefit farmers experiencing wild hog damage to their crops.

It is now legal in Florida to hunt wild hogs at night with a gun and a light on private land without a hunting license.  FWC requires notice before the hog hunt is initiated in your fields. FWC officers are continuing to patrol and may come to check night hunters with guns and lights in the field.

A permit is needed for a landowner or their designee to take depredating wildlife (beaver, bobcat, fox, possum, rabbit, raccoon or skunk) at night with a gun and light.

A permit is not required to take wild hog, coyote, armadillo, black or Norway rat, and house mice, with a gun and light during non-daylight hours. Florida laws still prohibit the sale of wild hogs and transporting of live feral swine.

by Crestview News Bulletin