Wrongly targeted hunting could increase Finland’s wild boar population

Wild boar hunting has increased in Finland, but poorly targeted hunting could accelerate population growth, Yle reports. Authorities are considering additional measures to manage the population and aim to halve its size.

Hunters have reported 56 wild boar killed across Finland since 30 July, more than a third higher than during the corresponding period last year. Hunting has increased even though all hunting is prohibited in the African swine fever infection zone in southeastern Finland.

A total of 624 wild boar have been killed in Finland so far this year, compared with 521 at the same point last year. The total number killed in 2025 was 1,152.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will meet stakeholders in September to discuss wild boar population management and hunting, said Eija Kirjavainen, a senior game management adviser at the ministry.

Kirjavainen said kill reports are particularly important for preventing African swine fever because authorities need to know where wild boar are found.

However, she warned that hunting must be carefully managed. According to the Finnish Wildlife Agency, a wild boar herd is led by an older female. Removing her can cause the herd to split and lead to the formation of new herds, potentially increasing the population.

Of the wild boar killed this year, 348 were males and 276 were females.

Wild boar may be hunted year-round. A female accompanied by piglets born in the same year is protected from the beginning of March until the end of July.

Under Finnish law, hunters must report a killed wild boar to the Finnish Wildlife Agency within seven days. Most reports are submitted through the Oma riista online service, although paper reports are still possible.