Castilla y León regulates thermal and night vision use in hunting

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Affairs, and Environmental Policy of Castilla y León has issued new regulations regarding the use of night vision and thermal imaging devices in big game hunting. The order, published in the BOCyL, enters into force on Wednesday, September 30.

For wild boar, the new rules allow the transport, possession, and use of night vision and thermal devices during the 'aguardo' or 'espera' (waiting) modalities at night, even if the devices are mounted on the weapon. For other authorized species—including deer, roe deer, and mouflon—the regulations permit the use of these electronic devices for locating animals, provided they are not directly mounted on the firearm as a telescopic sight.

The regional government, managed by Vox following coalition agreements, stated that while these devices were previously prohibited under regional law, they have been proven to be selective rather than massive in their application. The measure aims to improve wildlife population management and reduce agricultural damage, traffic accidents, and health risks associated with wildlife interaction.