- Increase in Boar Culling During the 2023-2024 Hunting Period
For the 2023/24 hunting season, there was a notable surge in the number of wild boars being hunted in Saxony-Anhalt. As the State Administration Office in Halle reported, a staggering 29,650 wild boars were culled, which is an increase of 3,123 compared to the previous year. Predictions suggest that this trend will continue. It's crucial to keep a close eye on this development in light of the ongoing African Swine Fever spread. Saxony-Anhalt provides incentives in the form of a culling premium to control the wild boar population.
In total, 81,582 animals were hunted during the hunting year, representing an increase of approximately 1,800 compared to the previous year as reported by the State Administration Office. However, this number still falls below the long-term average from 2003 to 2020.
The factors contributing to this decline are numerous. The presence of lynx and wolves, particularly in areas like the Harz, has led to a decrease in the fallow deer population.
Fallow deer, numbering 216 culled animals, hit an all-time low once more. This figure represents a decrease of 51 animals compared to the previous year. Fallow deer are currently the game species with the smallest population and are critically endangered at present.
Roe deer were the most frequently hunted animals in the state during the previous hunting year. A total of 43,135 animals were culled, which is a decrease of 1,329 compared to the previous year. The number of red deer continued to drop to 4,390. The number of fallow deer culled increased by 118 to 4,191.
Despite the increase in wild boar culling, other game species like fallow deer and red deer are experiencing a decline. The fallow deer population, in particular, is critically endangered, with only 216 being culled in the recent hunting season, a significant decrease from the previous year.
