Six men have been arrested for their roles in catching wild hogs in Texas and transporting them to their home state of Louisiana for hog-hunting contests, which they won.
All six men were charged in Louisiana with criminal conspiracy and fraud. Two were also charged with violating interstate commerce; one was charged with obstruction of justice, and another was charged with hunting with a suspended license.
The competitions were the Dingler Wild Hog Roundup in Bienville Parish Feb. 9-10, and the Swamp Time Hog Hunt in Caldwell Parish March 14-16.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries stated Wednesday that agents learned during an investigation that the men had entered hogs caught in Texas as part of their contest tallies.
One of the men, Nathan Granger, 34, of Vinton, turned himself into the Bienville Parish jail on June 4, since he did not participate in the Caldwell Parish competition.
The other five turned themselves into both jails on June 7. They are Trace Davis, 30, of Longville; Hunter Webb, 27, of Pitkin; Colby Bushnell, 26, of Dry Creek; Davy Haymon, 35, of Pitkin, and Don Pollard Jr., 40, of Pitkin.
Contest rules stipulated that hogs could be caught only in Louisiana during the competition windows.
The fraud charge can result in a $3,000 fine and one year in jail. Criminal conspiracy and interstate commerce violations could add significantly to the mens’ punishment.
The obstruction of justice charge, for Davis, carries a fine of up to $10,000 and five years in jail.
Hog-hunting competitions are allowed as a means of controlling feral pig populations. The animals, which multiply rapidly, cause extensive damage in agricultural areas.
–Feral hog image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons