We’re happy that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp agreed with our concerns and vetoed $200,000 allocated for a “feral hog eradication incentive program” in the state budget. The program was described as a “bounty” in news reports.
Follow this link to read about Rooting for Pigs’ letter to Gov. Kemp asking for a veto of this wasteful appropriation: https://capitol-beat.org/2026/05/fat-in-georgias-budget-may-have-saved-their-bacon/
Wildlife biologists agree that bounty programs are an ineffective method of population control for wild pigs and other wildlife. A study of a bounty program at Georgia’s Fort Benning in 2007-08 found that the numbers and density of pigs did not decline during the program. There were several reasons for this, including that participants preferred to kill “trophy” animals (large male pigs), whereas killing female pigs has a greater potential to affect the population. In addition, bounties create an economic incentive that encourages some participants to cheat the program.
According to the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District, in southwest Georgia, “Bounties are not likely to decrease the feral swine population and could potentially actually increase populations,” if pigs are illegally moved to new areas by people hoping to collect a bounty. The District added, “Bounty systems have proven ineffective in other states and can be extremely costly.”
(photo credit: A curiously colored wild pig in Camden County, Georgia. Photo by Jim Ferrari/iNaturalist.org)