Kents wild boar

[grandad of the woods]

So according to Google, Kent has the largest population of wild boar, ................. Ummm can't say IV ever seen one in Kent but none the less is there anyone in Kent that are actively shooting wild boar in Kent ?

 

[Andrewslater]

Knew of some guys that were shooting them fairly regularly in appledore area but fair few years ago. Not sure if they shot them out or if they are still around.

 

[nun_hunter]

Small pockets pop up every now and again but they get shot out quickly.

 

[grandad of the woods]

Shame be nice to see them again and well same as everyone be nice to have ago at hunting them

 

[sikamalc]

The Boar population in Kent is just about wiped out.
Most of the Boar that escaped from an estate near Tenterden moved to Beckley woods. There they established a thriving population, which I saw with my own eyes several times, due to be invited by an aquantance of mine, who wrote a book called Wild Boar in the UK, the story so far.

It is a an FC wood and within a few years they were being shot on a regular basis by various individuals, some with authority, and some without, who usually live in caravans.
The population has now crashed, and one hardly hears of Boar in Kent now.

Myself and a group of friends were at the initial meeting in Maidstone regarding Wild Boar, which at the time was mostly rumour regarding their being in the UK. The first video tape taken by Derek Harman, showed some 20 Boar on one forest track, when at the time government employee had just finished a report on wild boar distribution in the UK. His maintained that there was no issue with Boar numbers, and that the overall UK population was around only 100 animals. He was clearly miles out with his report.

 

[old 30-06]

A couple of years ago I learnt that there were some boar around Romney Marsh area. Unfortunately the boar sold for a pound a pound, and were quickly shot out.

 

[nun_hunter]

No closed season, no (meaningful) restrictions on calibre, no restrictions on using NV means lawfully they can be shot 24/7 by almost anyone with an FAC and plenty of people without.

I heard intel a few years ago about poaching with crossbows and snares by a known individual in Brede High Woods.

East Sussex is made up of tiny parcels of land that individually can't sustain a boar population forcing the boar to move around and get shot at wherever they go. By all accounts rhe only safe (maybe not from poaching) place is all of Paul McCartney's land around Peasmarsh.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

I hear the farmers around his estate are fuming because he offers the safe refuge and the surrounding farmers provide their food and get the fields damaged. Hey-ho a vegan without the ability to connect the dots.

 

[Jon P]

Wild boar sound great on your hunting Permission until they turn up and start turfing the pasture land- great in woodland though- it will test you and your land owners friendship to the full , until they either move off or you knock a couple down.

 

[nun_hunter]

I hear the farmers around his estate are fuming because he offers the safe refuge and the surrounding farmers provide their food and get the fields damaged. Hey-ho a vegan without the ability to connect the dots.

I'm not surprised but that is pretty much the basis of UK land ownership. You can do what you want on your land within the constraints there are. This was a big driver for people to leave the UK hundreds of years ago and set up colonies elsewhere and establish millions of acres of public land.

 

[sikamalc]

A couple of years ago I learnt that there were some boar around Romney Marsh area. Unfortunately the boar sold for a pound a pound, and were quickly shot out.

I live there, never heard or seen of any. And I also stalk the estate they escaped from in 1987.

 

[timbrayford]

No closed season, no (meaningful) restrictions on calibre, no restrictions on using NV means lawfully they can be shot 24/7 by almost anyone with an FAC and plenty of people without.

I heard intel a few years ago about poaching with crossbows and snares by a known individual in Brede High Woods.

East Sussex is made up of tiny parcels of land that individually can't sustain a boar population forcing the boar to move around and get shot at wherever they go. By all accounts rhe only safe (maybe not from poaching) place is all of Paul McCartney's land around Peasmarsh.

Good for McCartney!

 

[Acerforestry]

I've worked in woodland and forest all over Kent and East and West Sussex for years, I'd ike to say i've seen one but unfortunately not. I think the data on this is a little unreliable

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Good for McCartney!

My old neighbour in Dover was in a pub in Peasmarsh maybe back when he was working on the tunnels electrics anyway in walked Joe Cocker who said I am bored S##tless up at the big house does anyone want a game of cards? He told me it was a good evening.

 

[nun_hunter]

I've worked in woodland and forest all over Kent and East and West Sussex for years, I'd ike to say i've seen one but unfortunately not. I think the data on this is a little unreliable

I saw a boar outside Pembury hospital nearly 11 years ago but that's it. I haven't spent much time out in the woods around the east sussex and Kent border so may be some small groups left.

 

[SussexSteve]

Still boar being shot around my village just not in the numbers we were shooting them 10-15 years ago. I am technically just over the border though in East Sussex.

 

[boar & deer]

I see boar fairly regularly in Kent in not going to say exactly where but not on my ground but I do still shoot 4-5 a year on my ground in east sussex not the numbers there was but numbers on my ground have stayed constant in the last 5 years

 

[old 30-06]

sikamalc, I am very certain of my info. A good friend of mine had an invite and went down there with a 22-250. My friend saw a large one quite close, but was too frightened to pull the trigger. I am led to believe that when the boar at that location were hard to find this person "expanded" his boundaries to include neighboring properties, and with the use of night vision and sub-sonics, carried on regardless. The motivation was money as it was £1 a pound whole animal.

 

[sikamalc]

sikamalc, I am very certain of my info. A good friend of mine had an invite and went down there with a 22-250. My friend saw a large one quite close, but was too frightened to pull the trigger. I am led to believe that when the boar at that location were hard to find this person "expanded" his boundaries to include neighboring properties, and with the use of night vision and sub-sonics, carried on regardless. The motivation was money as it was £1 a pound whole animal.

I have no doubt there are still a few Boar about on the Kent/East Sussex border. BUT nothing like there were a few years back.

Beckley wood was one of their main stongholds, an FC wood which was not on the main roads as such. This is bordered by Paul Mcartneys estate, which is a no go area, or at least was, back in the day.
Beckley was regularly shot by two people, one of whom was/is an FC ranger. After some trouble, the shooting rights for pidgeon shooting was let out to the KWA. I have no idea who shoots it now if anyone, but it has been clear felled quite a bit, I hear, and as I said the area was open to poaching.

Derek Harman, (no relation to me, and the author of the book Wild Boar in the UK, the story so far) showed me around the wood some years back, and at that time he was taking TV crews into Beckley and showing them Boar. At this time, which would have been about 18 years ago, Derek estimated around 400 locally. However, as I understand it they are much reduced in numbers now as they have been over shot in many areas. I have not spoken to Derek for sometime. I have NEVER seen one on the Romney Marsh, and that's after some 13 years of living here.

I am not doubting your word, but the population was over shot from the get go, in my opinion, and there are no where near the numbers there once was. Even the town of Rye used to celebrate Wild Boar return. Not anymore, as their numbers are so low.

 

[tiny tim]

It's a shame such an iconic animal is so pressured...