The discussions were long, but the farmers of the FDSEA and JA unions announced that they had obtained power trap wild boars throughout the department following a new meeting with the Dordogne prefecture and the Hunting Federation on November 29.
Until now, during the given period, between April 1 and August 14, the trapping of wild boars was only permitted in around a hundred communes in Dordogneaccording to a map established, each year, depending on the damage caused by wild boars declared (97 in 2024). “Not all farmers necessarily declared the damage, because the process is complicated,” indicates Yannick Francès of the FDSEA, which explains that the map could change from one year to the next.
A complementary means
From now on, farmers in Dordogne will be able to install traps at home, no matter where they are in the department. The prefecture authorizes, from 2025, trapping in the more than 500 communes of Dordogne, between April 1 and August 14, for all farmers who have followed the training. It was an old request farmers who denouncefor several months, increasingly significant wild boar damage to their crops.
Testing of this measure, considered “complementary” to hunting, began in 2021 with the posting of three traps in places considered critical. Last year, out of 12 traps installed during the period between April 1 and June 30, around a hundred wild boars were taken.
The Dordogne hunters took 21,000 wild boars last year and at the same date, this year, there are 1,500 more wild boars taken compared to last year. It is estimated that 30,000 would have to be killed each year to regulate the wild boar population which has doubled in the last ten years.
The Dordogne Hunting Federation paid 700,000 euros in 2023 to repair the damage caused by wild boars in crops.
One day training
After this decision, farmers who want to be able to trap wild boars on their plots will have to undergo training. This is a one-day training course organized by the Hunting Federation and the Dordogne Chamber of Agriculture. This trainingsupported by the Chamber of Agriculture, will be free for farmers.
The Pigeon classified as pest
The wood pigeon now passes into the category “of a species likely to cause damage”particularly for market gardening and in sunflower fields. The classification of the woodpigeon as “pest” will allow farmers to hunt it all year round to protect crops.
