During the season which extends from September to January, the most frequently hunted animal in the Languedoc is the Sanglier - wild boar.

Wild boar is hunted as a major meat source for many local people, and it is no coincidence that many of the hunters are vignerons. The Boar is a major problem to the wine farmer. Wild boar love to eat the new shoots on the vines, and even to the inexperienced it is very easy to spot the stunted growth on the vines bordering scrubland where the boar live. Another favourite meal for wild boar, causing difficulties for fruit farmers, are cherries. The adult boar will often stand on its hind legs against the trunk of the cherry tree to pull down branches so the young can then eat the cherries. This often causes branches to break. Wild boar is only served in restaurants and sold in shops during the hunting season as a means of preventing poaching out of season. This puts a premium on the price of the meat and it is consequently regarded as a luxury. Hunters operate in groups of 20 to 30. These groups, known as Dianahs use a variety of heavy bore rifles including Second World War 303 rifles. At the end of a day’s hunting, which is confined to Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday the carcass of the Boar is taken to a local building, that is equipped by the hunt for butchering. The portions of meat are distributed by a lottery system of pre- drawn tickets Whilst wild boar is the most sought after, partridge, pheasant, rabbits, and on the foothills of the Cevennes, wild goats are also hunted.

Although most visitors will not see much evidence of hunting during the summer months, it is still possible to spot the signs when driving around some of the quieter roads. Look out for the hunter’s seats, small cairns of stones built at the edge of the road for the hunter to sit and observe any movement in the vicinity. On woodland walks you may even hear wild boar in the undergrowth, but they will give you a wide berth!