Take particular care with young sows that have dependent piglets
The Bavarian Hunting Association, the Bavarian Gamekeepers’ Association, the Bavarian Professional Hunters’ Association and the German Falconers’ Order, Bavarian branch, are jointly calling for particular care during driven hunts.
According to observations from hunting grounds, many young sows weighing only 25 to 30 kilograms already have piglets of their own this autumn. The associations warn that a brown coat and a weight below 40 kilograms are not reliable signs that an animal has no dependent young. This also applies to animals approaching alone, because mothers and piglets can become separated during driven hunts.
The key rule in practice: Sows with dependent young must be protected regardless of their age or weight. If in doubt, do not shoot.
Include this in every driven-hunt briefing
The associations ask all hunt leaders to address this risk explicitly in every driven-hunt briefing:
- shoot from the very smallest animals upwards,
- assess animals approaching alone with particular care,
- protect sows with dependent young regardless of age or weight,
- if in doubt, do not shoot.
Please share this appeal with members and especially with hunt leaders. The full joint appeal dated 21 October 2026 is available as a German PDF below this article.
Photo: Pixabay / Neil Burton. Graphic: Bavarian Hunting Association.