Record number expected for Cooktown Hotel Hog Hunt

A record number of hunters will converge on Cooktown to tackle a feral pig population locals say is out of control, and getting worse.

The Cooktown Hotel Hog Hunt begins Friday, September 29. Picture: Supplied

A record number of hunters is expected to converge on Cooktown to tackle its exploding feral pig population from Friday.

The Cooktown Hotel Hog Hunt is an annual event which organiser and Top Pub owner Paul Harris says targets the out of control feral pig population.

Last year 7.5t feral pigs were killed.

“It’s a great event for the environment and great for the community,” Mr Harris said.

Officials weigh pig carcasses at the Cooktown Hotel Hog Hunt in 2022. Picture: Supplied

“The pigs do so much damage and pollute the water.

“We’re expecting 400 punters, which would be the biggest participation so far.”

Mr Harris said Cook Shire Council endorsed the event.

“It’s a shame no state departments provided event sponsorship. They told us the council had a fully-funded pig eradication program, which is nonsense,” he said.

Hog Hunt 2022 officials Jed Grey, Josh Wilson, Brendan Short, Abbey Rogers, Denicka Danaher, Frog Danaher, Ash Little and Sarah Benstead. Picture: Supplied

Cook Shire mayor Peter Scott said any claim from the state government that biosecurity and feral pig management was adequately resourced in Cape York was “stupid”.

“We’re the largest shire council in Queensland, and we’ve got one or two biosecurity officers for the whole area. To say we’re adequately provisioned is absolute nonsense,” Mr Scott said.

“We need a lot more funding support … biosecurity up here, the management of feral weeds and animals, is absolutely inadequate.

“The (Hog Hunt) is a great boon for our economy.

Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott said biosecurity operations in Cape York were inadequate. Picture: Brian Cassey

“It’s strongly supported by the locals … any additional support is very welcome and necessary.”

Traeger MP Robbie Katter said he submitted a request for event support to the office of agriculture minister Mark Furner but the request was denied.

“The state government has a dismal record on biosecurity, including pigs. Anyone in the Cape knows it’s becoming a bad joke,” Mr Katter said.

“If environmentalists want to get excited about reef run-off, go and look at one of the biggest causes: feral pigs. They’re spilling over the edges everywhere.

“Feral pigs are having an impact on multiple levels, mostly economic. The industry reckons about $20m is needed to curtail the problem.

Traeger MP Robbie Katter said $20m was needed to curtail the feral pig problem in Cape York. Picture: Supplied

“When there are others out there who want to do your job for you, you should embrace that.”

A Biosecurity Queensland spokesman said co-ordinated landscape management programs could apply for support through the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative.

“On this occasion, the eligibility criteria for access to this particular funding was not met,” the spokesman said.

“The Queensland Government assists local government, industry and the community to comply with the general biosecurity obligation by providing information on best-practice management, undertaking research and development, and seeking potential biological control agents.

“The Cook Shire Council has a biosecurity plan that supports the management of feral pigs.”

Originally published as Record number expected for Cooktown Hotel Hog Hunt