Over the past three decades, around thirty people, most of them men, have died and dozens have been injured in hunting accidents in Catalonia. The latest fatality died last September during a wild boar hunt in Arbúcies (Girona), reigniting controversy over the use of the natural environment between hunters and other users. Cyclists, motorcyclists, hikers and mushroom pickers must live alongside hunting with utmost safety. A segment of society is increasingly criminalizing older hunters who defend themselves by saying that they are performing a public service by safely hunting overpopulated species and that some, especially cyclists, ignore the warnings. Faced with an outdated hunting law (1970), the government, together with all the sectors involved, is drafting a Catalan hunting law that should enter parliament at the end of 2024 and improve coexistence. They are also preparing a mobile application like Google Maps to mark the raids in red.
More information
At least 27 people have died in Catalonia since 1989 and more than 100 people have died across Spain in the last 15 years – not including the Basque Country. In addition, there were more than 800 injured. The figures are not precise since the source of these accidents in Spain is the Guardia Civil – except in the Basque Country and Catalonia with delegated powers – and the latter were deployed in 2020. The Mossos d’Esquadra and Ertzaintza also have no data, they manage the information by crime type and do not count victims of hunting accidents. According to the Rural Agents, the main causes are a shot without identifying the target; poor handling of the weapon; Shots within the 30 degree safety angle (to avoid cross shots); towards the safety zone and balls are thrown and ricochet.
Although measures have been taken in recent years – fluorescent vests, posters warning of raids, marking tapes – and security has improved, accidents continue to occur. The will is to achieve its maximum reduction. The benefits of those who increasingly go into the forests must be respected, taking into account that 80% of the forests in Catalonia are private and hunters pay to hunt in the protected areas. The government and hunters reiterate that they are providing a public service. “We are the first line of defense against major crop damage, traffic accidents and the spread of African swine fever,” says Joan Espona, vice-president of the Catalan Hunting Association in Girona. He does not believe it is fair that they are criminalized and calls for those who take part in the raids to be fined, which will now only be imposed on those who deliberately interrupt them.
In Catalonia there are 112,314 hunting licenses, corresponding to 210,821 firearms, for large and small game. A total of 57,831 hunters have a valid hunting license and 43.8% of them are over 65 years old. Adding to the decline in young people is the average age, which was 51 in 2008 and is now 60, which experts say can increase the risk of possible incidents. 90% of this comes from wild boar hunting. Although business hours are from the first Sunday in September to the last Sunday in March, hunting takes place all year round due to the high density of animals. “It is a safe sport, it is not one of the highest risks,” affirms the president of the Catalan Hunting Federation (Federcat), Sergi Sánchez. However, the use of firearms is a very dangerous activity if not used methodically, responsibly or accidentally.
Francesc Jiménez is an industrial engineer from Vilassar de Mar, 44 years old, two children and a bike lover. On January 29, 2022, as so often, he set off for the Brolla d’Abril in Argentona. A shot from a hunter who said he saw a wild boar that no one else had seen hit him in the shoulder blade, leaving him “miraculously” alive but in a wheelchair. Since then, he and his family have been committed to ensuring safety in the forest. Disagree with those who say they skip the signs. “Often you don’t see them, that happened to me. If I see them, I won’t go in, I didn’t feel like risking my life, I would have changed my route and if I hadn’t done it, “If I hadn’t seen it, I would have gone home safely,” he says .
What influences the most is what happens next. So you don’t miss anything, subscribe.
Subscribe to
Among the measures proposed to politicians are that hunting is not possible on weekends; expand signaling requirements for roads and trails leading to hunting; Create a map of sensitive areas due to increased influx of people. establish stricter standards for issuing permits that analyze age; Create a registry of hunting accidents that makes it easier to determine their causes and use other methods to reduce overpopulation.
For the general director of Forest Ecosystems, Anna Sanitjas, the hunting law is “an important security need and all the problems that come with it”. The Spanish law dates back to 1970, which is why attempts are being made to create a Catalan hunting law. A participatory process began in January with twelve sessions across the area with farmers, animal rights activists, hunters and forest owners. From October to December, work is planned on five major topic blocks such as hunting activity and protection, safety and compatibility with use, hunting damage and reporting hunting emergencies. For them, “the idea is that there is a summary document of the participation process at the end of 2023, that there is a draft law in mid-2024 and that the second semester can be brought to parliament.” It regulates how to close, how to dress, etc. “
Carlos, a hunter from l’Empordà, sees the solution as “complicated”. “We all go into the forest, we don’t respect each other and accidents happen. Some enter marked hunting areas and others shoot without seeing the game, all out of recklessness,” he says. Although the law states that the animal must be seen to be shot, some only “hear” it. He always advises, “If you don’t see the boar’s nose and tail, don’t shoot.”
You can follow EL PAÍS Catalunya on Facebook and Xor sign up here to receive our weekly newsletter