Meeting the challenges of wild boar hunting in a modern society: The case of France

Abstract

Modern hunting is an ambivalent practice, torn between leisure and labor. Nowhere are these conflicting dimensions better manifested than for wild boar—a simultaneous game and pest species in many countries. Here, we consider the sociological, political and cultural phenomenon of wild boar hunting from a change perspective, starting at its historical roots to future implications concerning the changing demographics, drivers, needs and practices of a modernizing hunting community. Using the case context of France, we present an approach to deconstructing each component of wild boar hunting firstly, and subsequently the external forces that change the nature of hunting. The objective of this manuscript is to discuss of the wild boar optimal harvesting to be applied in changing social and ecological environment. Findings show that the challenges facing wild boar management will likely intensify in the future, especially under the spotlight of a controversial public debate.

Drivers of wild boar abundance and hunting effectiveness in southern Tunisia

“…Management of wild boar has recently focused on facilitating high hunting pressure to regulate population size (e.g. Apollonio Vajas et al 2023) reported that hunting is the main cause of wild boar mortality and therefore a feasible way to modulate its population dynamics (see also Quirós-Fernández et al 2017). In this context, some authors raise that more knowledge on various aspects of wild boar ecology and hunting dynamics are needed to develop effective population control strategies.…”