Wild Boar in Southern France

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MidlandsPaperPuncher

Well-Known Member
One of my friends grew up shooting in Southern France, and has not shot since he moved to the UK.

He goes back every autumn to do a bit of property maintenance (mostly repairing the damage boar have done), and we realised I could head over with him and we could go hunting.

The thing is, I've had very little luck finding out what the rules are when it comes to what I can and can't take with me. I know night vision and thermal clip ons are out, but I don't know about silencers, brakes, scopes etc.

I'd appreciate any insight people can offer!
 
I’m pretty sure it’s not just a case of turning up and hunt as you will need a permit issued by the French.Is your friend a member of a Hunting club in his area?A lot of areas in France are controlled by hunting groups even if you own the land.
 
starr shot said:
I’m pretty sure it’s not just a case of turning up and hunt as you will need a permit issued by the French.Is your friend a member of a Hunting club in his area?A lot of areas in France are controlled by hunting groups even if you own the land.
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Indeed - I know I need a Permit de Chasse, for which I need to provide my FAC showing I can use my rifle for Deer/Boar. The issue I haven't found an answer for is can I take my moderator with me?

Excellent question re: hunting clubs - I will ask him to investigate what the deal is around his way.
 
Moderators are fine in France - in fact you do not even need permission for one. For some strange reason they are rarely used though - especially for driven boar. I would prefer to use one rather than hearing protection but they are not allowed in Switzerland. A friend just keeps his in France for when he visits.
Visitors permit for France is easy to obtain, just apply to the local hunting association ( you can find the regional ones on line) and they will issue you with one - supposed to be for 1,3 or 5 days but I get one for the year each year. Use your firearms license as UK does not have a hunting license.
Need to check who has hunting rights though - often the local town / village hunt will have the rights over all the ground in the area. Only excluded is specifically asked to be.
 
Dhindes said:
By the way - you can often join the local hunts for driven days. The hunting association near my place in the South charges around 30-50 euro for the day !!!
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Excellent! I shall get my friend to inquire - he's had hunters pursue boar onto his property in the past, there's a good chance he already knows who to speak to about this.
 
In most of the South of France driven hunts include boar and roe. Some also hold reds. Driven hunts are usually very cheap or even for free. It´s a very social hunt and in most of the villages the local hunting club holds the hunting rights for the village land and organices them in the weekends. Most of them have a "hunting house" where they get together early in the morning and after the hunt for a meal. I have attended a few and and the ambiance has always been fantastic. Difficult to find someone who speak English (or Spanish in my case). Boar and roe density varies a lot from one place to another.
 
Check out your rifle calibre first as I believe France des not permit military calibre's i.e. .308/7.62 etc
 
You need to apply to the local Federation de Chasse for registration as a hunter on their system. Example, ours is fdc66.fr 66 being the department number. Here I have educated them that there is no hunting permit in the UK, and they accept an FAC or shotgun cert.

You then need to apply for an annual or temporary validation for the days you want to hunt and take insurance, this has to be with a French company and is inexpensive, around 20 euros for a year for the insurance. This is all easy to do online.

You will then need to get invited to hunt by the local ACCA, Association de Chasse Communale, which is usually free or a token charge, if that exists in the area. If not you have to pay the Chasse Privée if they have the rights.

In most areas indepent stalking is not allowed without permission from the prefect, hunting is driven every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and you take part with the ACCA or Chasse privée.

The hunting rights belong to a property owner for 150 metres around the property, otherwise you have to be in the ACCA or Chasse privée to hunt outside the 150 metres.

Voilà
 
Pighunter said:
You need to apply to the local Federation de Chasse for registration as a hunter on their system. Example, ours is fdc66.fr 66 being the department number. Here I have educated them that there is no hunting permit in the UK, and they accept an FAC or shotgun cert.

You then need to apply for an annual or temporary validation for the days you want to hunt and take insurance, this has to be with a French company and is inexpensive, around 20 euros for a year for the insurance. This is all easy to do online.

You will then need to get invited to hunt by the local ACCA, Association de Chasse Communale, which is usually free or a token charge, if that exists in the area. If not you have to pay the Chasse Privée if they have the rights.

In most areas indepent stalking is not allowed without permission from the prefect, hunting is driven every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and you take part with the ACCA or Chasse privée.

The hunting rights belong to a property owner for 150 metres around the property, otherwise you have to be in the ACCA or Chasse privée to hunt outside the 150 metres.

Voilà
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Excellent news Pighunter, thank you for such a detailed reply! My friend owns quite a large property so we may well be able to shoot within the confines of said land, but I think we would also both very much enjoy tagging along with the local ACCA, it will likely be run by people my friend grew up with.
 
Pighunter said:
.

The hunting rights belong to a property owner for 150 metres around the property, otherwise you have to be in the ACCA or Chasse privée to hunt outside the 150 metres.
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How does that work? A property may be several hundred acres, and will border onto other people's property. Surely you can't shoot on 150 metres of your neighbours' ground? And they'd be shooting on 150 metres of your ground?
Or do you mean 150 metres around the dwelling house, regardless of the overall size of the property?
 
Evidently not detailed enough!

When I say property, yes that is the house. I have 65 acres and can do my own thing within 150 metres of the house, but have to be a member of the ACCA to shoot on the rest.

Those are the rules here, but I am sure that as everything is so complicated here in France, there could be regional variations.

Anyway, it sounds as if your friend is well placed to get all the necessary sorted.

I have template emails for getting the right paperwork and registration in french if they would be useful.
 
Wish we could shoot wild boar in Turkey, they are everywhere day and night, waiting for the bus and there were eight within 10 yds, eating at the local cafe, and they stand looking at you.
 
The idiots who feed the stray cats are also feeding the boar, as they are under five they travel for free on the bus.
 
Taff said:
Wish we could shoot wild boar in Turkey, they are everywhere day and night, waiting for the bus and there were eight within 10 yds, eating at the local cafe, and they stand looking at you.
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crazy not to make the most of that situation, B&B and a little money for the area
 
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