Saarland hunters cull record 12,500 roe deer in past hunting year, wild boar numbers also rise

Record roe deer cull

Saarland hunters culled over 12,500 roe deer in the 2025/26 hunting year, a new record. The previous year's bag was around 12,000, nearly 500 fewer. This marks the sixth consecutive year with a cull above 12,000, a level of consistency not seen in earlier decades when annual figures fluctuated more widely. The Vereinigung der Jäger des Saarlandes (VJS) described the result as a "record bag". The hunting year runs from 1 April to 31 March, and the data was released on 24 July 2026.

record bag

Wild boar and African swine fever

Wild boar culls rose to nearly 8,800, an increase of over 300 compared to the previous year. This is the fourth-highest wild boar bag in Saarland's hunting history. The previous year's wild boar bag was around 8,500. The record years were 2019/20 and 2020/21, when bags exceeded 10,000. The rise comes amid heightened concern over African swine fever (ASP), a viral disease fatal to pigs. Hunters have been urged to further reduce the wild boar population to limit the risk of ASP spreading into the state. While Saarland has not recorded any ASP cases, outbreaks in other German regions and neighbouring countries have put pressure on wildlife managers to act. ASP has been detected in wild boar in eastern German states like Brandenburg and Saxony, and in neighbouring Poland and Czech Republic.

Fox, badger and deer trends

Fox culls reached over 3,700, the highest figure in 13 years. Badger numbers remained stable at a high level of around 450. Fallow deer culls declined to 493, down from the previous year, while red deer culls increased to 170. Fox culls are important for controlling rabies and protecting ground-nesting birds. The 13-year high suggests a healthy fox population. Badger culls have been stable for several years, indicating a managed population. Fallow deer numbers fell possibly due to targeted culling or natural fluctuations. Red deer increased, which may reflect expanding habitat or reduced hunting pressure in certain areas. The VJS did not provide specific reasons for the changes.

Management context

The record roe deer bag is seen as necessary to mitigate browsing damage to forests and agricultural crops. High roe deer densities can hinder natural forest regeneration, a concern for forestry authorities. The sustained high cull over six years suggests that populations remain robust despite intensive hunting. Wild boar management is driven by both agricultural damage and disease control; ASP has caused significant economic losses in Germany's pig industry due to export bans. The VJS, based in Saarwellingen, compiles the annual hunting statistics from reports by local hunting districts. Forestry officials have long called for higher roe deer culls to allow young trees to grow without browsing damage. The record bag is thus seen as a success for forest conversion efforts. Wild boar also pose a risk of traffic accidents. The annual hunting statistics are a key tool for adaptive wildlife management.