Using exclusion fencing to prevent feral hog access at feeding stations

December 16, 2025

Written by graduate student Ryland Wieding

Domestic pigs were introduced into the United States in the 1500s by Spanish explorers as a reliable food source. Those pigs, along with others brought from Europe and released into the wild, established the original feral pig population. Today, there are an estimated 3 million feral pigs in Texas causing significant agricultural damage totaling over $670 million annually, and landowners have reported spending an additional $130 million in control costs.

Feral pigs are the most prolific hoofed animal in North America, and the success of their rapidly growing populations comes at the expense of native wildlife. They are intelligent animals that have learned to exploit standard wildlife management practices. For instance, baiting white-tailed deer and various exotic livestock species (axis deer, fallow deer, aoudad, etc.) is legal in Texas. It can be done year-round to attract animals to an area for hunting. Like these target species, feral pigs have become accustomed to utilizing feeders as an easily accessible food source. Because feral pigs are aggressive, they often dominate other species and push them away from feed. This also occurs at feeding stations, which provide pelleted feed and other high-protein food sources to improve body condition and antler growth. Both feeding practices provide an easy meal for invasive feral pigs, and landowners and hunters should consider installing exclusion fences to prevent them from accessing feed intended for other species.

Feral Pig Barriers

Exclusion fencing can be used to protect investments in supplemental feed at feeders and feeding stations. Size, cost, and overall effectiveness should be considered. Welded-wire utility panels are typically 16 feet long and available in various heights, with 50 inches as the standard. One study found that 20-inch-tall fences partially excluded feral pigs from feeders; however, 28–34-inch hog panels completely excluded them. Adult feral pigs have been recorded jumping much higher than this when motivated to escape from corral traps, so occasional breaches may occur. One study showed deer fawns could not reach feed when fences were 33 inches tall. If this is a concern, cut two-foot slits in the top of the panels to reduce the height by 6 inches and aid in fawn accessibility. 

Table 1: Exclusion Fencing Height vs. Effectiveness and Inclusion

Recommendations

We recommend using 34-inch hog panels to exclude feral pigs from feed. The 30ft x 30ft circle is reasonable and consistent with published studies, and this will allow for ample space within the enclosure and reduce overcrowding of deer. Exclusion fences should decrease the amount of feed being wasted, saving the user money.

Conclusion

Exclusion fences may have initial costs associated with materials and labor, but will last for many years with maintenance. Ultimately, the decision falls on landowners, managers, and hunters to implement this practice. In the long run, it pays for itself in savings related to feed that would been otherwise lost to wild pigs. “No more easy meals for feral pigs,” should be the mantra for the ardent deer hunter.

To learn more about feral pig management and capture methods, visit the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute website, or view our free feral pig Extension resources at bit.ly/m/feralpigextension. Please contact us at nri@tamu.edu with any questions or concerns.

Works Cited

Friesenhahn, B. A. 2021. Assessing space use, resource selection, and crop damage of wild pigs in an agricultural landscape (Order No. 28866392). Thesis, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.  

Long, J., J. Cathey, L. Redmon, and R. Lopez. 2025. Managing Feral Pigs on Small Acreage Properties and Metropolitan Areas. Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute ENRI-007.

Pound, J. M., K. H. Lohmeyer, R. B. Davey, L. A. Soliz, and P. U. Olafson. 2012. Excluding feral swine, javelinas, and raccoons from deer bait stations. Human-Wildlife Interactions 6:169–177.

Russell, A. 2024. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service study shows toxicant effective tool to reduce feral hog populations. AgriLife Today. <https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2023/08/31/toxicant/>. Accessed 11 Sep 2025.  

Timmons, J., J. Rattan, T. Campbell, D. Long, B. Higginbotham, D. Campion, M. McFarland, N. Dictson, and J. C. Cathey. 2011. Using fences to Exclude Feral Hogs from Wildlife Feeding Stations. AgriLife Extension L-5533.

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