Wild boar (Sus scrofa)
During the last centuries, the multitude of wild boars on the Estonian territory has considerably varied but the population has stabilized during the last decades. Wild boars are a gregarious species, but the male boars join the herd only during a breeding season that lasts from November to January. Males fight fiercely and the winner inseminates all females of the herd. Sexual maturity is reached early and in good conditions the piglets may also be inseminated. Piglets are born from March to May. In autumn, the piglets form over 50% of the population. Adult boars weigh by far over 100 kilograms; piglets weigh up to 40 kilograms. The main natural enemy of wild boars is a wolf. Additional feeding of wild boars is organized year-round.Wild boar, except the sow with piglets, may be hunted all-the-year-round by hunting from hides or stalking hunt and by driven hunt or hunt with hunting dogs, except the hound, from 1st October up to 28th February. Sow with piglets may be hunted by hunting from hides, stalking hunt or driven hunt and hunt with hunting dogs except the hounds from 1st October up to 31st January.
The best time for wild boar hunting is the snowy period during which it is possible to identify the location of wild boars in the forest. The light conditions when hunting with snow or during full moon are also suitable for hunting from hides from a high seat. Up to half of wild boars are hunted in the RMK hunting districts in January and February when driven hunt and hunting from hides are organized.
In 2004, more than 2000 wild boars were counted in the RMK hunting districts; up to 900 wild boars are hunted during a hunting season from which adult boars form less than 20%. Approximately 10% of adult male boars qualify as the medal winning trophies. The length of lower tusks of medal winning trophies starts from approximately 20 cm. Bronze medal goes to a trophy from 110 CIC points to 114,99, the silver medal from 115 CIC points to 119,99 and the gold medal from 120 CIC points or more. Wild boars are hunted the most in the Mahtra, Nõva-Kullamaa and Kilingi-Nõmme hunting districts.