Investigation launched after hunter fires at wild boar near shops in central France
A 76-year-old man was taken into custody after the incident
The hunters were not wearing hi-vis vests, as is required by law
Maksim Safaniuk / Shutterstock
An investigation has been opened after a hunter fired at a wild boar at the edge of a busy road near a shopping area in central France on Saturday.
A 76-year-old man was taken into custody following the incident on December 6, which the Indre public prosecutor described as “particularly serious and shocking”.
According to local reports in ICI Berry, two hunters targeted a wild boar near the Cap-Sud commercial zone in Saint-Maur, near Châteauroux, at around 16:30, while numerous vehicles were passing nearby.
Following the incident, the man’s firearm was seized, and he remains in police custody as the investigation continues.
Laurent Gandillot, president of the Indre hunting federation, condemned the behaviour and said the federation would consider taking legal action if safety regulations were violated.
He added that while the federation supports all forms of hunting, it does not defend hunters who disregard basic safety rules.
“Hunters who fail to respect elementary safety measures cause serious harm to those who hunt responsibly,” he said.
According to the witness who filmed the scene from her car, two armed men surrounded the wild boar on the roadside without fluorescent vests or identifiable hunting clothing.
“They weren’t wearing high-visibility gear or hunting outfits. I saw a man with his gun in front of my bonnet - it was shocking,” she told ICI Berry, adding that traffic was almost at a standstill and she did not believe the animal posed any threat to nearby vehicles.
Her video corroborates this account and shows one of the men firing at close range.
The incident has sparked wider concern about hunting near populated areas. Local authorities are expected to reinforce safety measures for hunting zones close to roads and commercial centres.
The number of fatal hunting accidents during the 2024–2025 season in France almost doubled compared to previous years, rising to 11 deaths despite a decline in hunter numbers, according to the annual report from the French Biodiversity Office (OFB).
This represents a marked increase from the six fatalities recorded in each of the two preceding seasons.
