Do you need wild boar on your certificate to go shooting?

Shooting wild boar requires permission on the firearms certificate in some regions.

By Richard Prior

Wednesday, 08 February 2012

I have previously heard anyone wishing to go wild boar shooting would need to have this quarry identified on their firearms certificate. Is this true or not?

WILD BOAR SHOOTING
Richard Prior
While this may be the case in the constabulary where certain shooters reside, it is not specific to every region or police force.

A couple of years ago a neighbour of mine had considerable difficulty gaining permission to have wild boar included on his certificate in anticipation of their arriving on his land.

The area is full of free-range sows, disease-free and with piglets of immaculate pedigree.

The local police insisted on knowing where he intended to shoot, and which rifle calibre he would be using.

In case attitudes have softened over time, I telephoned the Dorset Police headquarters and asked the firearms department whether they still insisted on the intention to shoot boar being declared on an application.

They assured me that this was still the position.