Can you bear another boar article – or are you ‘bored’ with seeing them? Wild boar (javali) are becoming a nuisance in Portugal, as these big creatures are roaming wild and digging up agricultural areas better than a JCB could do it. Their overpopulation is causing them to be an unwanted presence in rural and even tourist areas, and currently, the boar population here is estimated to be close to 300,000 – a huge amount.

Adult males can reach 100 kilos – that’s a lot of pig. For comparison, one of my dogs is a male of the giant breed Rafeiro do Alentejo and already weighs half that, 50 kilos, so a fully grown male boar with tusks could easily rip him apart if provoked.

Families of 20+ boar can invade properties and can re-landscape a small farm in one night. A fully-grown male might be strong enough to move rocks that a man couldn’t possibly move on his own, and they can run relatively fast. Although they appear shy, they are still wild animals, and their unpredictable behaviour could pose a risk to the public. Like many other wild animals, wild boars will only attack if they are cornered, threatened or provoked, and if females have young, they will be aggressively protective.

We shouldn’t forget that the threat of African swine fever is in Europe too, and so far it is already in northern Italy – which is another good reason to control the spread of these creatures.

And they can be hunted.


Hunting

Briefly, in Portugal, local hunters congregate in various-sized groups called 'montaria' and hold driven hunting days with beaters and dogs. Apparently, wild boar hunting in Portugal may also be done from a ‘blind’, throughout the year, and is allowed for 10 nights each lunar month - 8 nights before a full moon, the night of the full moon and the following night only. The ‘blind’ shooting area can be baited with food and can be occupied before dusk until early morning. Comprehensive information is available from various sites online.


Licences Required

No hunting of anything can be done without a licence, and this is a complicated process that should be researched carefully. Hunting licences require passes in both a theory and practical exam, and both are overseen by The Instituto de Conservação da Natureza e das Floretas (ICNF), being held all year round, and you can apply online, or register at the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forestry (ICNF) service desks. Under the law, licences are valid up to the age of 65 and require a health certificate (Atestado Médico). Candidates may not take the practical exam until they have passed the theory exam and must be over 16 years old on the day of the theory exam, in addition to various other permissions required, hunting insurance (Seguro de Caçador) is required for hunters using firearms to a minimum of €100,000.

How to know where hunting is allowed?

However, you can’t just rock up in your car and hunt wherever you feel like it. Hunting tours can be arranged, and there are sites on the internet that will give more information. The ICNF could be contacted for further information on authorised wild boar hunting anywhere.

People who enjoy walking, hiking or those just out walking dogs in the country should be made aware of the signs you might see along the way, which are to do with hunting areas. The images here are important to understand if you are out and about in wild areas, in case you end up off the beaten track, as stray bullets can travel further than you think, so don’t put yourself (or your dog) in the position where you may become injured. Thursdays, Sundays and bank holidays are hunting days, and in some areas on Saturdays too. Boar hunting season starts this year from October 2024 to February 2025, so outside this period you are safe to roam, but if you accidentally happen to meet any boar, stay calm, keep a safe distance, and back away slowly. Try to reach higher ground if you can, such as a boulder, car, or even climb a tree if you can manage it!

Author

Marilyn writes regularly for The Portugal News, and has lived in the Algarve for some years. A dog-lover, she has lived in Ireland, UK, Bermuda and the Isle of Man. 

Marilyn Sheridan