Wild Boar in France in April, legal?

TASR12

Well-Known Member
To those either in France or in the know:

I'm visiting family in France (Dordogne) in April, 2 questions:

1) Friends have a serious boar problem and have had for a couple of years. The local chasse has failed to manage/make an impact on the population. Would it be legal to take some boar at that time of year on their few acres in an effort to protect the land?

2) Am I correct in thinking .308 is now legal in France? Googling it only brings up posts from 2011, and before, stating mil calibres are illegal. For some reason I think .308 was made legal at the back end of last year?

If the answer to the first and then the second is yes I may have to look at taking the rifle to help them out?

Cheers,

Tom.
 
To those either in France or in the know:

I'm visiting family in France (Dordogne) in April, 2 questions:

1) Friends have a serious boar problem and have had for a couple of years. The local chasse has failed to manage/make an impact on the population. Would it be legal to take some boar at that time of year on their few acres in an effort to protect the land?

2) Am I correct in thinking .308 is now legal in France? Googling it only brings up posts from 2011, and before, stating mil calibres are illegal. For some reason I think .308 was made legal at the back end of last year?

If the answer to the first and then the second is yes I may have to look at taking the rifle to help them out?

Cheers,

Tom.

Tom,

I can't answer point 1 but point 2 I can. .308 is now legal for hunting in France.

Stan
 
To those either in France or in the know:

I'm visiting family in France (Dordogne) in April, 2 questions:

1) Friends have a serious boar problem and have had for a couple of years. The local chasse has failed to manage/make an impact on the population. Would it be legal to take some boar at that time of year on their few acres in an effort to protect the land?

2) Am I correct in thinking .308 is now legal in France? Googling it only brings up posts from 2011, and before, stating mil calibres are illegal. For some reason I think .308 was made legal at the back end of last year?

If the answer to the first and then the second is yes I may have to look at taking the rifle to help them out?


Cheers,

Tom.

Answer to question:

1) No... not least because the boar season closes in the Dordogne on 28th February 2014 and doesn't open again until August (Battue) and June (Approche and Affut)

Also, Have you got a Permis de Chasser? Have you liaised with the local hunt authorities and do you/can you meet all the other legal requirements for hunting, even when Sangliers are in season?

2) Yes... you are correct in thinking that .308 win is now legit for hunting in France, as of last September.

So sorry, but you can't easily, lawfully "help" your friends out... it doesn't really work like that in France... But get in touch with the local hunting association and they'll maybe advise you regarding what you might do next season.
 
Tamus,

Thank you, I was aware the season ends at the end of Feb but didn't know if dispensation for out of season management existed given the damage and lack of action so far.

As for your other points, in sum - yes. If only I was going to be around next season.

Thanks for the detail,

Regards,

Tom.
 
With regard to the boar season, does the 28th of Feb' relate to "driven boar", or shooting boar, period ?

The driven boar season generally runs to the end of Jan/Feb, depending on country, but shooting from a seat/stalking seems to be much later.

I've been offered shooting from the seat, admittedly in Croatia, over the next few months.
 
With regard to the boar season, does the 28th of Feb' relate to "driven boar", or shooting boar, period ?

The driven boar season generally runs to the end of Jan/Feb, depending on country, but shooting from a seat/stalking seems to be much later.

I've been offered shooting from the seat, admittedly in Croatia, over the next few months.

I quoted for the Dordogne departement and there the date I gave for boar applies to all hunting techniques.

If you want the specifics for other departements or quarry, and they do vary, check from this list: http://www.oncfs.gouv.fr/Chasser-da...es-douverture-de-la-chasse-2013-2014-news1535
 
You can't easily just turn up and help them I'm afraid. The way it works outside of recreational hunting is that the Prefet (sort of regional governor) can declare boar to be vermin but that still doesn't allow anyone without a Permis de Chasser to shoot them, it just extends the season and removes gender/age quotas. Otherwise, the Lieutenant de Louveterie can conduct what they call "battues administratives" to reduce numbers, for which they draft in hunters and hounds from the surrounding areas.

The thing with all this is that in France, hunting associations are responsible for managing game populations and have to reimburse farmers for any damage to crops. This is partly because back in the day they argued that they performed an important regulatory role, so this was officialised. Since then, boar numbers in particular have exploded, the bills keep increasing, revenues fall as numbers of hunters decrease, and many hunting associations are facing bankruptcy as a result. Especially now that grain prices are high. It's a not a system that works very well anymore.
 
Tamus, good link thank you.

Pine Marten - thanks for the detail, the pigs will keep doing the damage then.

Cheers,

Tom.
 
Hi TASR12,

Tamus and Pine Marten are absolutely right.
Not a lot you can do.
If your friend as got to much trouble with boar, the only legal thing he can do is calling the Lieutenant de Louveterie. He is the only person allowed to intervene.
He can organised a "Battue" as Pine Marten said, but he can as well shoot the boar himself if needed at night. for that he need the authorisation of the mayor "Maire" of the village.
Check as well if the boar is on the list of the pest "Nuisible" in Dordogne, in that case you can call the "association des piégeurs agréer".
Otherwise just tell your friend to buy some electric fens and wait for June to stalk them.
Cheers,
David
 
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