The dissatisfaction of hunters is expressed in the street this Saturday.
Gatherings are being organized in various towns to denounce the ban this summer by the Council of State of traditional bird hunts.
In August, the highest administrative court considered that several hunting techniques with nets (pantes, tenderies) or cages (matoles) were contrary to the European directive "birds" of 2009, which prohibits the techniques of massive capture of birds. birds regardless of the species caught. In the week, however, the government put several orders for consultation to re-authorize some of these hunts, to the chagrin of environmentalists. This measure is interpreted as a gesture towards the electorate very courted hunters.
The most imposing gathering is held in Mont-de-Marsan (Landes).
But the hunters also parade in Caen (Calvados), Orléans (Loiret), Charleville-Mézières (Ardennes), Redon (Ille-et-Vilaine), Forcalquier (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) and Amiens, electoral stronghold of Barbara Pompili , Minister of Ecological Transition.
In Mont-de-Marsan,
at least 13,000 people, according to the prefecture, gathered in the morning.
To the sound of bandas, fog horns and firecrackers, a fluorescent orange tide (the color of hunters' jackets) set off from the Arènes du Plumaçon, the mecca of bullfighting, for a 4 km loop passing in particular in front of the Landes prefecture.
Coffins are installed on the gate of the prefecture in Mont-de-Marsan pic.twitter.com/3ofatiwjHs
- France Bleu Gascogne (@Bleu_Gascogne) September 18, 2021
The organizers estimated at 20,000 the number of participants in a “great peaceful gathering” of those (hunters, fishermen, agricultural unions, cultural associations, etc.) “who share the values of rural culture”.
Orange tide in the streets of Mont-de-Marsan pic.twitter.com/3T8SNBGS8S
- France Bleu Gascogne (@Bleu_Gascogne) September 18, 2021
“I'm sick of seeing my culture fall apart.
We have already eradicated my language, Gascon, now it is the traditional hunts, lark, wood pigeon… ”, deplores Eric, 47 years old,“ a bit of a hunter and a little fisherman ”, a neighbor of Grenada (Landes) and who has had enough of the "Taliban of Paristan", in reference to the "ideologues of the capital".
Descended from Charente-Maritime, Xavier, president of a hunting association, came to defend “the world of rurality” and “all hunting methods”, even if he does not practice traditional bird hunts.
In Caen,
around 4,000 people were mobilized at the end of the morning, according to Ouest-France.
The slogan is "the safeguard of hunting, rurality and the control of the game population".
In #Caen, #hunters from several departments of Normandy demonstrate for the continuation of the hunt.
"We must continue to be attached to our traditions, hunting is in each of us," said a union official.
pic.twitter.com/svokJS3pd7
- France Bleu Normandie (Calvados, Orne) (@fbleubnormandie) September 18, 2021
In Redon,
around 9,000 people are in the street.
Ouest-France collected the testimony of a participant who highlights biodiversity.
“We are prohibited from certain hunts while we have studied the matter with scientists.
We are the guarantors of biodiversity ”
In Amiens,
12,000 people gathered according to police figures relayed by France Bleu.
The president of the Hauts-de-France region, Xavier Bertrand (ex-LR), presidential candidate, made the trip.
About 12,000 people take part in the hunters' demonstration in Amiens according to the police pic.twitter.com/01unTlHVCL
- France Bleu Picardie (@fbleupicardie) September 18, 2021
Willy Schraen, president of the federation of hunters of Hauts-de-France, took the floor to ask in particular for a Ministry of Rurality bringing together Agriculture, Territories and Biodiversity, according to comments reported by France 3. He would like that the post is held by someone other than an ecologist because "there is nothing worse than an ecologist to manage nature". He also calls for a law that “protects hunters”. “We will never ask a vegan to eat meat. Leave us alone! "