GON Staff | February 1, 2026
Wild hogs remain one of Georgia’s most destructive invasive species, rooting up crops, damaging wildlife habitat and costing landowners millions of dollars each year. The good news? Georgia hunters are uniquely positioned to be part of the solution.
The Hog Down Awards Program from the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division turns responsible wild hog harvest into a chance to win a whole-sounder feral hog trap valued at approximately $3,500. To qualify for the drawing, a hunter must lawfully harvest 10 wild hogs during a program period. At the end of each quarter, five winners are randomly selected, with each receiving a whole-sounder trap.
Whole-sounder trapping is an especially effective method because it removes entire groups of wild hogs rather than leaving survivors that can become more difficult to manage. With a new quarter now underway, there’s no better time to get involved. Consider joining the fight to control Georgia’s wild hog population—while earning recognition for the work you’re already doing in the woods.
To enter the program, hunters must lawfully harvest 10 feral hogs in Georgia during a quarterly period and submit photo documentation as proof. Road-kill hogs, spoiled carcasses and live hogs do not count. Photos must clearly show at least 10 dead hogs and include the date, time and location data. Submissions may be made only after the full harvest is completed. For every additional 10 hogs harvested, a hunter may submit another entry.
Entries are submitted online and must include the hunter’s contact information, the county or counties where the hogs were harvested, the method and date of take and a DNR customer number or hog control permit number. Hunters must certify that all information is accurate and that all hogs were taken legally.
Entries must be submitted by noon on the day after each quarter’s final date. Duplicate or shared photos are prohibited, incomplete entries will be disqualified and individuals may win only one trap per quarter. Winners are also required to complete two follow-up monitoring surveys—one after receiving the trap and another one year later.
The program is open only to eligible Georgia residents. DNR employees, government personnel controlling hogs in an official capacity, their immediate family members and nonresidents are not eligible to participate.
For complete rules and entry instructions, visit the Wildlife Resources Division’s Hog Down Awards Program page https://georgiawildlife.com/HogDownAwardsProgram.
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