The Storting is today considering a bill from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food that allows for greater use of artificial light, including night optics, when hunting wild boar.
Wild boars contribute to the spread of African swine fever in Europe
The government strives to ensure that as few wild boars as possible spread over the smallest possible area. Wild boars contribute to the spread of African swine fever in Europe. Possible outbreak of African swine fever in Norway will have serious consequences social. The bill passed by the Storting today will reduce the risk of African swine fever spreading in Norway and will be of great importance to the pig industry as a preventive measure. Fewer wild boars will help reduce damage to agricultural land and reduce the risk of road collisions.
Also read: Idea of the Norwegian Hunting Association.
The amendment to § 20 of the Wildlife Act means, first of all, that when hunting wild boar, all forms of artificial light can be used - including night optics
- Wild boars are mostly nocturnal animals. The extended use of artificial light will therefore facilitate more effective boar hunting and a faster population reduction, says Olaug V. Bollestad, Minister for Agriculture and Food.
The starting point in the Wildlife Act is the prohibition of the use of artificial light for hunting purposes, unless a special exception is provided for such use. The amendment to § 20 of the Wildlife Act means, first of all, that when hunting wild boar, all forms of artificial light can be used - including night optics. In addition, the change in law means that artificial light is allowed to search for a shot boar, similar to deer hunting.
The amendment contains some limitations related to its application. The use of artificial light when hunting wild boars presupposes that the hunting takes place in open ground or in a feeding area.
The Ministry's draft results from the proposal 149 L (2020-2021) Endringer and viltloven (bruk av kunstig lys ved jakt på villsvin).
