Hog near South Wales?

[Alpha Mule]

I'm interested in going after hog in/near to Forrest of Dean or anywhere in South Wale.

I know they are a problem and I know their numbers are increasing. I have the option for a slot on my ticket (FEO said at renewal that he's perfectly happy to swap my .243 for heavier caliber - if I have a perm for boar or large deer).

I can't afford to pay for deer, so am looking for pointers getting boar as pests. I'm close enough to travel, but a bit far to go blind prospecting.

I'm very familiar with door knocking and know it works (eventually), but would appreciate any advice from those in the area.

[kiffy]

Well i think theres still some on the loose thatbsome ***** released near maesteg last year

[eddoakley]

I think you will be very hard pushed to find anyone who will want/need you to control boar as a pest.

It's more expensive to shoot boar than deer and land owners are well aware of this!

There are big numbers in and around the Dean (more than the FC ever admit to) but many areas are out of bounds and almost all the others are taken care of by well established stalkers or by those willing to pay a high price for the rights to shoot over the ground, whether that be for themselves or to take clients.

I wish you the best of luck finding somewhere but think you might be better to pay for a few outings (deer or boar) if that's the route to a change of calibre.

 

Good luck.

 

Edd

[Alpha Mule]

Well i think theres still some on the loose thatbsome ***** released near maesteg last year

Weren't they all found?

I think you will be very hard pushed to find anyone who will want/need you to control boar as a pest.

It's more expensive to shoot boar than deer and land owners are well aware of this!

There are big numbers in and around the Dean (more than the FC ever admit to) but many areas are out of bounds and almost all the others are taken care of by well established stalkers or by those willing to pay a high price for the rights to shoot over the ground, whether that be for themselves or to take clients.

I wish you the best of luck finding somewhere but think you might be better to pay for a few outings (deer or boar) if that's the route to a change of calibre.

 

Good luck.

 

Edd

 

Cheers Edd. I was suspecting as much.

[chipper]

I think you will be very hard pushed to find anyone who will want/need you to control boar as a pest.

It's more expensive to shoot boar than deer and land owners are well aware of this!

There are big numbers in and around the Dean (more than the FC ever admit to) but many areas are out of bounds and almost all the others are taken care of by well established stalkers or by those willing to pay a high price for the rights to shoot over the ground, whether that be for themselves or to take clients.

I wish you the best of luck finding somewhere but think you might be better to pay for a few outings (deer or boar) if that's the route to a change of calibre.

 

Good luck.

 

Edd

Well said Edd

 

Alpha Mule, youre better off saving those pennies for a trip to europe

.

[Redgum]

As said already, getting ground with boar on is almost impossible unless you just drop lucky. The odd one has been spotted on the welsh side of the river, Penarth I think the last one was reported but they don't last long as everybody and his dog are after them. The population in the Forest of Dean is now probably over 2000 but they are pretty well contained to crown land, if they stick a nose out of the trees some farmer will be charging vast amounts for the privilege of shooting it. The boar have adapted very well and soon realised the safest place to be was in and close to villages were its not safe to shoot, the forestry commission in their wisdom have driven them there and have no solutions to the ever growing problem, I get called out to deal with them on some of my perms but they are pretty canny mammals, you can wait for them night after night, then when you have given up and getting in the car ten will suddenly appear. The last one I shot just wandered in front of the high seat in the middle of the afternoon as I waited for the fallow to show up, never been any sign of boar there before.

[ShootingEgg]

You mentioned swapping to a heavier calibre, i was looking into a paid day in the forest of dean, and was told that my 243 would be okay for the job. Ive heard that 270 is recommended. But im unaware of any legal calibre size?

 

Habe just done a google and seems that i was being told porkies...

Edited April 6, 2017 by ShootingEgg

[Redgum]

You mentioned swapping to a heavier calibre, i was looking into a paid day in the forest of dean, and was told that my 243 would be okay for the job. Ive heard that 270 is recommended. But im unaware of any legal calibre size?

 

Habe just done a google and seems that i was being told porkies...

 

This is the problem with Gloucestershire police force and not allowing AOLQ on your ticket, in theory you could shoot a boar with a .22lr if you had that on your license. They recommend 30 calibre for boar in Gloucestershire, not law but if you want pigs on your license they will want the calibre they recommend. Now this is how crazy the law is, if a local farmer sells you a nights boar shooting ( many local farmers are trying to cash in on the boar and who can blame them ) and your not from Glos county and do have AOLQ on your license then are you legal to shoot boar, and in the same context if your from Gloucestershire and the very same opportunity arises and you shoot a boar without boar on your license nor AOLQ then you are breaking the law, aren't you ?

[ShootingEgg]

 

This is the problem with Gloucestershire police force and not allowing AOLQ on your ticket, in theory you could shoot a boar with a .22lr if you had that on your license. They recommend 30 calibre for boar in Gloucestershire, not law but if you want pigs on your license they will want the calibre they recommend. Now this is how crazy the law is, if a local farmer sells you a nights boar shooting ( many local farmers are trying to cash in on the boar and who can blame them ) and your not from Glos county and do have AOLQ on your license then are you legal to shoot boar, and in the same context if your from Gloucestershire and the very same opportunity arises and you shoot a boar without boar on your license nor AOLQ then you are breaking the law, aren't you ?

So my 243 with aolq in avs allows me to shoot boar in glous. As its a recommendation, unlike deer where you have to have a 243.

[Redgum]

Don't take what I said as fact, the law is very unclear here and you really need to talk to your FEO, its a recommendation by Gloucestershire. Your in their county and if the unthinkable happened and you injured a boar with a 243 theres maybe a possible conviction of causing an animal unnecessary suffering but would be almost unprovable ( though this could be brought about by any provable case with any firearm). Maybe the farmer or stalking operator could get in a bit of bother, I really do not know. This is the main reason why Gloucs will not grant us AOLQ. . 243 with a 100gr soft point will do the business on all but the largest Boar but I will say they are tough animals and can run a bit even with a big hole in the heart, I like to use 308 with 180gr, this will usually exit and leave a good blood trail even if you just get the lungs. What did you find on google Shooting egg.

[Redgum]

Did a little research on the net and found this, '

Advice from the Home Office to all Police Forces concerning Firearm Laws are contained in the booklet Firearms Law - Guidance to the Police. The pages where wild boar are mentioned are noted below:

Page 68, section 13.25 - Other Animals: "Authority may be requested to shoot animals which fall outside the scope of usual types of game or vermin, for example feral goat or wild boar. The type of rifle authorised should be appropriate to the quarry species, for example .270, .30-06 or.308 or greater for wild boar. Hunting potentially dangerous animals with larger calibre rifles requires particular skill, and applicants should generally have experience of firearms. Applicants should put forward specific named land and a request or authority from the owner/occupier to shoot the species concerned".