This Saturday, 10:11 am On the outskirts of the forest of Rambouillet (Yvelines), in the rain and in the mud, the face-to-face meeting promises to be explosive.
Moved by the death of three deer in recent weeks in the same place - one killed with a spear, a second drowned in a lake and a third devoured living in a field -, three anti-hunting collectives are preparing, on a parking lot, to track down and film the actions of the Bonnelles-Rambouillet crew.
Walkie-talkies, geolocation devices, group conversation on WhatsApp… Nothing has been left to chance.
The hunters would have been warned of a record mobilization.
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Usually isolated, the Amis des Bois et Abolissons la vénerie Today (AVA, now PACCT) welcome the Anti-Hunting Section (more than 30,000 supporters nationwide), whose members come from various departments.
Michel Camboulives, the creator of AVA Rambouillet, wears a broad smile: 80 people answered the call.
"We can once again deploy our citizen information action," says this man, who has been involved for more than 40 years in the service of this cause.
The goal is really to let the locals know what's going on in the forest.
"
A one and a half hour chase
10:28 am, the operation of the militants can begin.
From the traditional hunting spots, indicators are already informing the rest of the group of what they are observing.
“There are hunters at the Coupe-Gorge pond,” reads an activist on her phone.
"120 dogs in the kennel, they bring out 30", repeats another.
A location is sent, the green light is given.
Before leaving the parking lot in search of them, a representative of the Anti-Hunting Section reveals another objective.
“The goal is also to save a deer.
If he's in a lake, we all jump in the water!
If he's in a field, we all get around him to protect him.
Even if it means placing oneself in illegality by hampering the hunt.
"
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Often by car and by bicycle, for the bravest, the activists disperse.
We get into a vehicle with some of them, on the lookout for signs to confirm the messages received.
“If the forest barriers are closed, the hunt is in progress,” explains the driver of the vehicle.
The barriers are well closed and followers - appointed by the hunters to avoid being filmed - prowl.
A chase then begins, for nearly an hour and a half.
"The law on hunting with hounds will change, that's for sure"
12:03 pm “All to the Vilpert Cross!
“, Calls an activist on WhatsApp.
The twenty cars and ten bicycles meet for the fifth time, without finding more hunters.
No doubt: they have canceled their traditional Saturday outing.
“We saved a deer, it's wonderful!
»Exclaims Michel Camboulives, about to reveal his wishes for the future of the cause.
When suddenly, out of nowhere, a follower in a car almost collides with him, creating astonishment in the militant ranks.
A representative of the Anti-Hunting Section takes over.
“The law on hunting with hounds will change for sure.
It's just a matter of time.
When contacted, the Bonnelles-Rambouillet crew did not respond to our calls.