Hunting Season

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Discussion

Doofus

Original Poster:

28,475 posts

180 months

Sunday 13th September 2020
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I'm trying, without any luck, to find out where and when hunting is allowed near us. The season began today, and around our area there are various 'Reserve de Chasse' signs, but also some ACCA ones, so it's not clear which footpaths are safe and which aren't.

I've heard tell of an app, which I can't find, and all I can get from the Prefecture is a list of what can be hunted, but not where, or even when.

Dog needs a walk. Please help.

smile

Magooagain

10,802 posts

177 months

Sunday 13th September 2020
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Your local newsagent or tourist office will have walking maps for sale. All walks are clearly marked and marked with a distance legend.

As far as knowing when they hunt I just go out in the car and take a look in the area I want to walk.
Wear a bright top or hi vis vest.

I saw two different lots of hunters this morning. Not a problem.

Doofus

Original Poster:

28,475 posts

180 months

Sunday 13th September 2020
quotequote all
Magooagain said:
Your local newsagent or tourist office will have walking maps for sale. All walks are clearly marked and marked with a distance legend.

As far as knowing when they hunt I just go out in the car and take a look in the area I want to walk.
Wear a bright top or hi vis vest.

I saw two different lots of hunters this morning. Not a problem.
Presumably the maps are hunting-specific walking maps? I've got walking maps (ign.fr), and there's nowt on them about hunting.

leyorkie

1,683 posts

183 months

Sunday 13th September 2020
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Round here Sarthe there should be signs indicating in a chasse in on.
They will often sand at one side of the path driving away from it.
I go out on my MTB and pass a lot of hi viz clad marshals
You should not be able to wander into the middle of a hunt.
Ask at the marie round here it’s Thursday and Sunday

Doofus

Original Poster:

28,475 posts

180 months

Sunday 13th September 2020
quotequote all
leyorkie said:
Round here Sarthe there should be signs indicating in a chasse in on.
They will often sand at one side of the path driving away from it.
I go out on my MTB and pass a lot of hi viz clad marshals
You should not be able to wander into the middle of a hunt.
Ask at the marie round here it’s Thursday and Sunday
It seems to be a lot more casual around here. I've heard several accounts of people (French locals) finding themselves caught up.

Magooagain

10,802 posts

177 months

Sunday 13th September 2020
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Doofus said:
Presumably the maps are hunting-specific walking maps? I've got walking maps (ign.fr), and there's nowt on them about hunting.
No not hunting maps!

Go the mayors office and ask for the name of the head huntsman and ask them.

harrycovert

452 posts

183 months

Monday 14th September 2020
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rdjohn

6,370 posts

202 months

Monday 14th September 2020
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Superficially, walking a dog during the hunting season may seem dangerous, but I doubt that, in reality, it really is.

It is a massive pastime near us, but if it’s a Wild Boar hunt, then a cordon is formed at very frequent intervals and signs put up on the roads surrounding the area. Dogs are controlled by a hunting horn.

For pigeons and rabbits, the guys always hunt with loose dogs, so not shooting dogs, is intrinsic to their sport. Regular gun shots around you is a good warning to keep your dog on its lead.

Unless your huntsmen are a lot more erratic than ours, I do not think that it is an issue to unduly worry about. Wear bright clothing, be vigilant and keeping to paths is all you need do.

Doofus

Original Poster:

28,475 posts

180 months

Monday 14th September 2020
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harrycovert said:
Partially, thanks. smile

Doofus

Original Poster:

28,475 posts

180 months

Monday 14th September 2020
quotequote all
rdjohn said:
Superficially, walking a dog during the hunting season may seem dangerous, but I doubt that, in reality, it really is.

It is a massive pastime near us, but if it’s a Wild Boar hunt, then a cordon is formed at very frequent intervals and signs put up on the roads surrounding the area. Dogs are controlled by a hunting horn.

For pigeons and rabbits, the guys always hunt with loose dogs, so not shooting dogs, is intrinsic to their sport. Regular gun shots around you is a good warning to keep your dog on its lead.

Unless your huntsmen are a lot more erratic than ours, I do not think that it is an issue to unduly worry about. Wear bright clothing, be vigilant and keeping to paths is all you need do.
That's kind of our approach at the moment. I was trying to find out which days they hunt, but I have to go and see the maire for something else anyway, so I'll ask there.

Mike-tf3n0

573 posts

89 months

Monday 14th September 2020
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I was a lifelong rough shooter in the UK but have not chassed here as the Permit de Chasse is unbelievably complicated. However, after prevaricating for 19 years I am now doing my Permit and have the last part of the exam tomorrow, wish me luck!

The man to talk to will be the President of your local Chasse, the Mairie will tell you who he is. Regarding precautions I would wear a red fluorescent gilet AND cap which will be visible above bushes etc. Unfortunately the French have a shocking safety record in this regard and every year more than a few people are shot accidentally and fatally. Remember that the rounds used for boar hunting can still kill at ranges above 2km and they are soft nose which disintegrate on impact to ensure a kill. Only last week one of my friends who is a regular boar hunter was telling me about a running boar being shot at by everyone randomly and rounds flying everywhere.

To give the French their credit they are trying to deal with this and indeed the exam is seriously tilted toward safety with instant fails for all sorts of safety related stuff that would pass without comment in the UK where safety is taken very seriously.

My advice would be to walk elsewhere on Chasse days, you don't want to be hit even once by a soft nose round!

smifffymoto

4,771 posts

212 months

Monday 14th September 2020
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You are pretty safe except Wednesday afternoons and all weekend.That said ,you can hunt something everyday of the year if inclined.

rdjohn

6,370 posts

202 months

Monday 14th September 2020
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smifffymoto said:
You are pretty safe except Wednesday afternoons and all weekend.That said ,you can hunt something everyday of the year if inclined.
I think you can add national holidays and bridging days as well. For us it’s weekends but mainly Sundays for Rabbits, Hares and Pigeons. these hunts are always in small groups.

Wild boars seem to be any day, but always is very large, organised groups.

Doofus

Original Poster:

28,475 posts

180 months

Monday 14th September 2020
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Round here it's sangliers and chevreuils, apparently.

Mike-tf3n0

573 posts

89 months

Monday 14th September 2020
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Both shot with the same soft nose disintegrating round. Last year a lady on a bike cycling on a proper cycle track was killed by a chasseur who said he saw movement behind a bush so he assumed it was a deer and shot it. Don't be too casual about this, remember that round can still kill you 2km away, give the chasse a wide berth!

smifffymoto

4,771 posts

212 months

Tuesday 15th September 2020
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Most game is shot by shot gun and cartridge not rifle and bullet.

Edit
That said a “balle” is still a big chunk of metal that will ruin your day if hit.

Edited by smifffymoto on Tuesday 15th September 12:13

Mike-tf3n0

573 posts

89 months

Tuesday 15th September 2020
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In the UK we have very little large game, just deer of different sorts all shot with a rifle firing a bullet. Here in France, besides the various deer, there are several very large mountain goat types like Mouflon and of course, wild Boar. All of these are shot with a rifle firing a bullet, typically 7x64. This type of hunting is enormously popular in France and I would not be surprised if there were not more chasseurs engaged in wild Boar hunting than all the other types put together. In the UK hunting with a rifle is just a tiny fraction of all game shooting.

It is technically possible to fire a solid round from a shotgun and they are sold commercially, they are usually cylindrical and in the UK are actually called wild Boar round. If your shotgun is true cylinder ie unchoked, you will be fine but if it has some choke there is risk of damage to the barrels, the more choke the more risk. If your shotgun has screw in chokes you will probably rip the adapter out of the barrel. Phosphor Bronze single ball shot was issued to the Home Guard during WWll but what they did to your shotgun I shudder to think. Remember that in France any bullet is called a balle even though it will be pointy. Shotguns firing shot of the appropriate size are used in both countries for all the smaller game than those mentioned above.

Edited by Mike-tf3n0 on Tuesday 15th September 17:44


Edited by Mike-tf3n0 on Tuesday 15th September 17:48

NorthDave

2,413 posts

239 months

Thursday 24th September 2020
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Mike-tf3n0 said:
Both shot with the same soft nose disintegrating round. Last year a lady on a bike cycling on a proper cycle track was killed by a chasseur who said he saw movement behind a bush so he assumed it was a deer and shot it. Don't be too casual about this, remember that round can still kill you 2km away, give the chasse a wide berth!
Same thing happened near my place in the Alps - a guy on a MTB. Makes you quite wary about being out in the hills at this time of year!

Doofus

Original Poster:

28,475 posts

180 months

Thursday 24th September 2020
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Mind you, a bloke in Wales got squashed to death by some cows the other day, so...

harrycovert

452 posts

183 months