Marksmen Hired To Shoot Feral Hogs From Helicopters In Louisiana

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has hired marksmen to shoot feral hogs from helicopters flying over two wildlife management areas in south Louisiana.

Spokesman Bo Boehringer says he's been told one helicopter squad can kill as many as 300 hogs in a day.

Officials estimate there are more than half a million feral hogs loose in Louisiana.

They'll be flying this week over three sections of the Sherburn Wildlife Management Area and the marshes south of U.S. Highway 90 in the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area. Each section will be covered by a single helicopter. The Pearl River Wildlife Management Area is in St. Tammany Parish.

Sherburne is in Iberville, St. Martin and Pointe Coupee parishes.