The Wild Boar Survival Guide
October to February is hunting season in Italy for Wild Boar (Cinghiali).
Hunting boar is a traditional pastime yet it is only this year that hunters have been able to sell their catch – previously they had to eat everything themselves. But this year you might well find actually wild Wild Boar on the menu at restaurants, which is a real leap forwards for slow food enthusiasts (though perhaps not for the boar themselves who are now a commodity rather than a hobby).
Why are boar hunted? Apart from the fact that they taste good (think Cinghiali al umido) [or any other recipe you can link to] but they cause a lot of damage to gardens and trees. This sounds harsh (you can only really appreciate the murderous qualities needed to shoot the creatures after your lovingly planted vegetable garden has been entirely rooted up) but these animals also breed terribly fast. Originally the Wild Boar had one or two young every year, thus sustaining a balanced population. Unfortunately the domestic (and prolific) pig came into the genetic mix and created a hybrid Boar which produces between 4 – 10 offspring each pregnancy. Thus the countryside is overpopulated and hunting is a sensible solution. Continue Reading…
