Mammal field guide · Suids

Photographing the Wild Boar

How to photograph the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa): the right lens for its size, shutter speeds for perched and moving animals, and when it's most often seen (March and April).

90–180 cm1/1600–1/2000 s
90–180 cm
Typical length (family range)
1/500 s
Shutter: perched / still
1/1600–1/2000 s
Shutter: action / flight
f/5.6–f/8
Aperture
14,348
Research-grade sightings in N. America
ModeManual + Auto ISOLock shutter & aperture, let ISO float
Shutter (still)1/500 s
Shutter (action)1/1600–1/2000 s
Aperturef/5.6–f/8
FocusAF-C + subject/eye detectionUse animal-eye AF; for herds stop down a little so several animals are sharp.
DriveHigh-speed burst
Lens100–400 mmFull-frame equivalent

Focal length needed to frame it#

For a subject about 135 cm long filling a third or half of the frame width horizontally.

Distance⅓ of frame (FF)½ of frame (FF)⅓ of frame (APS-C)⅓ of frame (MFT)
5 m (16 ft)44 mm66 mm29 mm22 mm
10 m (33 ft)87 mm132 mm58 mm44 mm
15 m (49 ft)131 mm197 mm87 mm65 mm
20 m (66 ft)174 mm263 mm116 mm87 mm
30 m (98 ft)262 mm395 mm174 mm131 mm
50 m (164 ft)436 mm658 mm291 mm218 mm

When to find it#

Jan: 9% Jan Feb: 8% Feb Mar: 11% Mar Apr: 12% Apr May: 9% May Jun: 6% Jun Jul: 6% Jul Aug: 7% Aug Sep: 8% Sep Oct: 8% Oct Nov: 8% Nov Dec: 8% Dec
Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: March and April.

About the Wild Boar#

The wild boar (Sus scrofa), also known as the wild swine or Eurasian wild pig, is a suid native to much of Eurasia, North Africa, and the Greater Sunda Islands. Human intervention has spread its distribution further, making the species one of the widest-ranging mammals in the world, as well as the most widely spread suiform. Its wide range, high numbers, and adaptability mean that it is classed as least concern by the IUCN and it...

Summary adapted from Wikipedia via iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Field-craft tips#

  • Use animal-eye AF; for herds stop down a little so several animals are sharp.
  • Sightings peak in March and April, which is when you'll have the most chances.

Ethics#

  • The welfare of the animal comes first: if it changes its behaviour because of you, you are too close.
  • Stay on trails, respect closures around nests, leks, dens and haul-outs.
  • Avoid playback and baiting in sensitive seasons; never bait predators.
  • Don't share precise locations of rare, nesting or roosting animals publicly.

Frequently asked questions#

What lens do I need to photograph a Wild Boar?

At about 135 cm long, a wild boar fills a third of a full-frame image at 10 m with roughly 87 mm, or at 20 m with 174 mm.

What shutter speed should I use for a Wild Boar?

1/500 s when it's still; 1/1600–1/2000 s for action.

When is the best time to photograph a Wild Boar?

Observations in North America peak in March and April. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and activity.

Sources & licences#

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources