The Climate Action Department has extended the roe deer hunting period in the Girona regions to have more control of the population and to ensure that “it is not a problem like the wild boar.” Specifically, this species can be killed until March 31, after the Government has detected a significant increase in specimens in recent years, especially in the regions of Garrotxa and Alt Empordà.
In addition, Acció Climàtica has approved that male and female can be hunted interchangeably and in any of the approved methods. The director of Territorial Services in Girona, Elisabet Sánchez, explains that they want to “move forward” to the reproduction of this species and for it to end up being a pest.
The bean fields of Garrotxa and the vineyards of Alt Empordà are two of the favorite areas of roe deer. Captures of this animal have multiplied almost fivefold in the last ten years in the raids carried out in the Girona district. In fact, from the nearly 500 that were captured in 2012, there have been 2,387 in 2023.
As in the case of the wild boar, the roe deer is a major agricultural predator and a new headache for farmers who have long warned of the increase in numbers. Now, the Department has chosen to equate the hunting period for roe deer with that for wild boar.
Hunters will be able to hunt without being aware of whether it is male or female as before. In some periods, only one of the two sexes was allowed to be captured.
“As a result of the experience we have with the wild boar, obviously we must immediately start doing this more careful and precise monitoring,” said Sánchez.
However, the director makes it clear that we cannot speak of a plague as is the case with wild boar. In this sense, she points out that “it is still a long way off”, but they have detected a significant increase in recent years and that is why they have decided to carry out this resolution that allows roe deer to be killed on the same days as wild boar.
