Poste 16 is one of several hunt stations along the vineyard road where Tasha and I walk most mornings.
But there are also periodic organized hunts to cull the populations of chevreuil (roe deer), renard (fox), and sometimes sanglier (wild boar). They start a little earlier than general hunting does. I imagine the hunters gather for a briefing on how it will all go, then they spread out to stand at certain "stations" around the hunt area. In the vineyards out back, the "stations" are identified by number. When the hunt begins, a group of lead hunters will move a pack of hunting dogs through the wooded areas and blow brass horns called cors de chasse (similar to what we would call a French horn) as communication. They scare the game out of hiding toward the guys with guns waiting at the numbered stations.
These hunts, called battues, are extremely regulated and are run by hunters with high levels of experience and training. I hope. I don't know if today will be a general hunt day or a battue day. Either way, Tasha and I will get out there early and try to get back home before things get under way.
One Sunday last winter we had to stop the car as an enormous herd of deer crossed the road in front of us. We stopped counting at twenty five and it went on for several minutes.
ReplyDeleteAnother day a similar thing happened with a much smaller group of boar, a family of six, being chased out of the woods by dogs. You can see how accidents happen and I am always nervous near woods in the hunting season.
Boy, it's scary to me to think of being out there in the hunting area, even if it is before the declared hours of hunting.
ReplyDeleteI would stay indoors lest I be shot.
ReplyDeletejean, I've not seen that many deer at one time, but we have seen little groups of boar crossing roads in the wee hours.
ReplyDeletejudy, our neighbors used to joke with us that it's more dangerous right after lunch, when the hunters have filled their bellies and emptied their bottles. ;)
michael, we take our walks before and after. Still, I've crossed paths with a hunter and his rifle a time or two. They carry their rifles safely, bent open so they can't fire unexpectedly.
I'd be inside away from windows and outside walls.
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