(1) There is established a beaver and wild hog control program which shall be developed by the Beaver and Wild Hog Control Advisory Board created in Section 49-7-203 and administered by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce with the advice of the board or administered by a federal agency or agencies under an agreement with the board for that purpose. The program shall be limited to the control or eradication of beavers and wild hogs only on private lands or public lands, excluding federally owned lands but including lands whereupon easements are granted to a federal entity. The board may employ any personnel as is necessary to implement its duties to administer the program and set the salary of the personnel subject to State Personnel Board guidelines.

(2) Any state, local or private funds available to the board to fund the program shall be used to match federal funds available for such purpose. The board may execute any agreements with any agency of the federal government as are necessary to obtain federal matching funds to finance the beaver and wild hog control program. State funds may be expended for wild hog control only by a specific line-item appropriation by the Legislature for that purpose.

(3) Nonfederal funds to help finance the program may be obtained by the board from the following sources:

(a) Appropriations by the Legislature; state funds may be expended for wild hog control only by a specific line-item appropriation by the Legislature for that purpose.

(b) Contributions from participating counties;

(c) Charges on participating landowners; and/or

(d) Contributions from any other sources for such purpose.

(4)

(a) Any county in the state desiring to participate in the program during its fiscal year shall contribute an amount established by the Beaver and Wild Hog Control Advisory Board for such purpose from any funds available in its general fund. The amount established by the advisory board shall be the minimum annual contribution required for a county to participate in the program. The minimum required contribution must be approved by three-fourths (¾) of the advisory board members present and voting. In addition, a county may contribute an amount in excess of the minimum required contribution for administration of the beaver and wild hog control program in that county from any revenues available. The board shall establish the due date for the payment of contributions by counties.

(b) The sum of county contributions may be matched by nonfederal funds available to the state for the beaver and wild hog control program.

(5) Participating landowner means any person, corporation or association owning land in this state and taking part in the beaver and wild hog control program.