Last week I was a beater in an organized wild boar hunt in the Rambouillet forest. What this means is, wearing a bright orange vest, I walked in line (more or less) with other beaters toward the hunting line. The animals are pushed toward the hunters, who are under strict orders as to what and what they can not shoot. For example, that day we were hunting wild boars and foxes - both which were causing damage to the area. But the hunters could not shoot female wild boar over a certain weight (I have no idea how they judge this - or how a hunter can tell - they all look the same to me, big, black and hairy!) and there is a fine if the hunter shoots the wrong animal.
As we walked, I saw red deer, roe deer, wild boar, snipe, pheasants, including an incredible golden pheasant with a four foot long tail - and I got stuck in brambles, found a wonderful porcini mushroom that I put in my hat to carry (and we had an omelette the next day with it - yum!) and had a fun day. My dachshund, Auguste, was there hunting as well, and he had a wonderful day running about. His short legs were so tired at the end of the day I had to carry him out of the woods!
Not a porcini pushroom! but the porcini like to grow around where these grow - so when I see one of these, I look extra carefully in the area.
Beaters lining up before the hunt begins.
4 comments:
That mushroom looks like a fly agaric. We have them around here and they are very very toxic. Cool pics of deer. I had a laugh about your pup's short legs. Been there, done much the same.
Gadzooks... I'm amazed at all the wildlife there!
We have golden pheasants here too... which I think originally were introduced from China. I can never figure out how they manage to fly through all the urban sprawl to get here. They don't fly much better than peacocks it seems.
How exciting! I did some research once about boar hunting (in ancient times) Such fierce animals. Nice to read your blogs again. I've also been absent but will now try to catch up. It's been a very busy time for me.
What a lovely description!
Beating for game has always struck me as a curious activity. We don't do it over here that I know of, though some people have hunting dogs. Here hunting is a more solitary sport.
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