Wild boar hunting numbers rise sharply

More than one million wild boars were hunted and killed during the 2025-2026 hunting season in France, according to data from the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB). This number, 1,015,429, marks a 15.3 percent increase compared to the previous season, showing a steady rise in the practice.

Regional differences in hunting activity

Aurélie Barboiron, an administrator at the OFB, noted that the increase in wild boar hunting varies greatly by region. Some departments, like Gard, Loir-et-Cher, and Ardèche, saw higher harvests, while others, such as Maine-et-Loire and Lot, experienced declines. Despite these differences, Barboiron emphasized that the overall population of wild boars is not at risk of decline.

Population growth over two decades

Wild boar hunting has increased by 2.2 times in the past 20 years, even as their population has grown significantly. Éric Baubet, an OFB expert, estimates the wild boar population in France to be between 1.5 and 2 million. This growth is attributed to factors such as high reproduction rates, milder winters, and human activities like the release of farmed animals by hunters in the 1970s.

Economic and safety impacts of wild boars

Wild boars have caused significant agricultural damage, with hunting federations responsible for up to 100 million euros in annual costs. In 2025, the French national rail company, SNCF, recorded 1,400 collisions with wild boars, a 27 percent increase from the previous year. In response, hunting seasons have been extended in many areas to help reduce these impacts.

Other game species show varied trends

Alongside the rise in wild boar hunting, the harvests of fallow deer and deer increased by 13 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively. However, other species like mouflons, chamois, and roe deer saw decreases in their hunting numbers, indicating a mixed trend across different game species.