( KTRS ) The Missouri Department of Conservation say hunters could do more to reduce the population of dangerous feral hogs in the state if they stop shooting them.

Officials acknowledge the proposal sounds odd, but they say hunters who shoot a few of the big, wild hogs interfere with efforts to trap them. The traps can capture nearly all of a hog herd, but, when hunters shoot one of two of the hogs, the others flee and continue to breed and damage natural resources.

The Missouri Conservation Commission will be taking public comments from April 2 through May 1 on a proposal to ban feral hog hunting on any land owned, leased or managed by the state’s conservation department.

If approved, the ban would take effect Sept. 30.