GTW
FEATURE
and their personal testimonies of how
detrimental the feral hog problem was for
their community. As quickly as the farmers
could put seed in the ground, the hogs
would come in at night and root, cause soil
damage and seed loss. Th is cost one farmer
$20,000-plus in crop loss; in addition to
other costs related to labour, wear and tear
on equipment and replanting.
Shane and Marty knew they needed to
do something, so began their grassroots hog
eradication eff orts right after the state began
to allow the taking of wild hog at night.
Th is is how Rougarou Hog Control (out
of Pineville, LA) made it a mission to help
local farmers and thecommunity tackle the
eradication problem as best they could.
In the beginning, Shane and Marty used
night vision optics in their hog eradication
endeavours. Once Shane Kessler secured a
Prostaff position with ATN Corp., he was
able to obtain the thermal resources needed
to further this outfi t’s eff orts. Rougarou
Hog Control is setting new remediation
records that rival even the state’s helicopter
eff orts. Th is crew is getting ready to hit their
personal best, putting down their 1,000th
feral hog!
Today, Rougarou has grown and is
now a group of six dedicated individuals
who protect close to 70,000 acres. Th ese
individuals donate their time, money and the
mental/physical aptitude required to endure
the long evening hours needed to protect
the agricultural crops/land of these central
Louisiana farmers.
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The following are just a few of the
personal testimonials of the farmers Shane
Kessler and his group have helped within
their agricultural community…
“Shane and his crew have done a
phenomenal job for me! I farm 2,500 acres
comprised of many smaller fi elds that are
surrounded by habitat, and the hog damage
last year was extensive. Th ey have removed
at least 100 head and the damage this year is
minimal so far!”
CLIFF VARNADO
“I farm in Natchitoches and Red River
Parish, Louisiana. In the past 10 years I
have seen a continuous increase in wild hog
population. Over the years we have tried
trapping, helicopters, and local hog dog
hunters to help reduce the hog population.
In February of this year, I was contacted
by Shane and Marty with Rougarou Hog
Control about hunting on my farm land to
help reduce the hog population and decrease
hog damage. Because of their eff orts, I did
not have to replant corn on my acreage this
year and I always have to replant due to hog
damage! Shane and Marty were professional,
respectful of my time, land and crops
and diligent in their eff orts. I have since
recommended them to my fellow farming
neighbours and friends. Rougarou Hog
Control’s equipment and hunting tactics
are top notch, they are true professionals.”
JOLLEY NASH
ATN
“I’d like to thank ATN for equipping
Rougarou (Shane) with gear! Shane and
his team have had unbelievable success
eliminating pigs on my property. Th ey have
really saved me tens of thousands of dollars
this year. Shane and his team have proved
to be effi cient and very trustworthy. As a
row Page 3 crop farmer (corn, cotton, and
soybeans) and a rancher, I appreciate a group
like Shane’s that is steady and eff ective. I am
also a supervisor for our local soil and water
conservation board. We have some success
helping our co-operators with trapping and
aerial gunning but Shane’s persistence has
made him champion for eradication eff orts
in 2018.”
PATRICK CHURCHMAN
“ATN Corp. is a very proud supporter
of Shane Kessler and Rougarou. We are
overjoyed that we could be of assistance and
help this group with the tools necessary
to help alleviate some of the damage the
farmers have been subjected to in Louisiana.”
JAMES MUNN CEO, ATN CORPORATION
If it wasn’t for the dedication, hard work
and unwavering determination of the guys
at Rougarou, there would be an additional
1,000 hogs in the state of Louisiana
wreaking havoc on both famers and
residents.
ATN Corp
www.atncorp.com
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