An Astur-Cantabrian Griffon follows the trail of a sounder of wild boar despite being charged several times by a sow

David Fernández, one of the greatest defenders of traditional wild boar hunting with trailing dogs in Spain, has published a video that he says is “a perfect example of what wild boar drives in the mountains are like.”

He points out that the protagonist of this spectacular hunting episode has the characteristics of an Astur-Cantabrian Griffon, a type of dog not recognized as an official breed by the Royal Canine Society of Spain or by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, the result of crossing the Spanish Hound with different breeds of French Griffons.

The essence of wild boar hunting with trailing dogs

The regular contributor to Club de Caza and creator of the Batidas Jabalí Facebook page and Instagram account republishes a video that went viral among Spanish hunters a few years ago.

According to the hunter, “a recording that is worth watching again and again. Because these moments, the excitement, the dogs and the mountains show the reality of drives in the north. It was filmed in our neighboring Cabrales hunting ground, in the Principality of Asturias. Two female wild boar accompanied by two younger animals move through a steep area. They try to gain ground and put distance between themselves and the dogs coming behind them. The scene, recorded and narrated over the radio, has that very characteristic sound that is part of many of our drives.

For a few moments it seems that the wild boar are gaining an advantage, but a white bitch appears on the scene and manages to catch up with them. On as many as three occasions, one of the female wild boar charges at her, giving her some hard blows with her snout. But, far from giving up, the bitch carries on doing her job, heading down the channel after the wild boar.”

Wild boar hunting in northern Spain

In Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia, hunters hunt wild boar with the help of trailing dogs of different breeds, such as hounds, beagles, griffons and Grand Bleu de Gascogne.

These dogs are capable of following the trail left by wild boar during their nighttime wanderings thanks to their exceptional noses and locating them in their beds. Once they have been driven in, the hunters carrying firearms are positioned around the area, and several trailing dogs are released to force the wild boar to leave their hiding place.