Published: March 12, 2009 10:34 am      

House passes feral hog measure

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma House has declared open season on feral hogs, adopting legislation that would authorize sharpshooters in helicopters to bag the field-shredding animals.

The House passed the

measure today after its author, Faxon Republican Don Armes, said the feral hog population is growing along the Red River in far southern Oklahoma as well as other areas of the state.

Armes says the hogs root up crops as their herds spread, devastating rural farms and posing a possible health risk. The animals can weigh up to 400 pounds and have been known to act aggressively toward people when cornered.

House members voted

87-12 for a bill that authorizes the state Department of Agriculture to issue permits to property owners who already have a big game commercial hunting area license to manage "depredating animals," such as feral hogs and coyotes.

The measure now goes to the Oklahoma Senate for a vote.