Shooting wild boars is difficult due to crowds in forests | Inland

According to Koffeman, there are currently about 5000 wild boars in the Veluwe. There are way too many. Nature is damaged by too large numbers of boars. That is why nature managers set a desired maximum number each year, the so-called target level. This position must be achieved by shooting in the winter months. “But we can be happy when we arrive at about 2000 animals in the spring,” said Koffeman.

The wildlife manager notes that there are not only many more walkers and cyclists in the woods, but that they also come earlier and earlier, possibly precisely to avoid crowds. “The crack of dawn is a good time to shoot. But our hunters already hear and see groups of recreationists. That is very frustrating. ” Mountain bikers also cross through the forest and thus disturb the habitats of the animals.

The provincial hunters are studying alternative ways to shoot more pigs. “An additional problem is that there are a lot of acorns and beechnuts because of the dry, hot summers. The evers have more than enough to eat and do not come to bait. We hope that the forest fruits will be used up by the end of winter, so that we can then increase the pressure a bit. ”

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