Traditional hunting techniques

Traditional bird trapping is a way of catching birds without a shotgun, instead using traditional methods described in the ministerial decrees.
You do not find land for this kind of hunting everywhere in France. In fact, it is only possible in eleven French départements.

Permanent decrees concern: 

• Flat nets which are laid on the ground to catch lapwings and golden plovers in the Ardennes.
• Noose traps used to catch thrushes and blackbirds in the Ardennes.
• ‘Matole’ cage traps used to capture the Eurasian skylark. This traditional hunting technique is found in Les Landes, Lot-et-Garonne, Tarn and Garonne.
• Nets (known as ‘pantes’) are also used to captures the Eurasian skylark in Gironde, les Landes, Lot-et-Garonne and Pyrénées Atlantiques.
• Finally, birdlimes – sticks daubed with a sticky substance and placed in specific locations – are used to capture thrushes. Land on which to practice this kind of traditional hunting is sold in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Alpes Maritimes, Bouches du Rhône, Var and Vaucluse.

Two annual decrees also govern this kind of hunting

Traditional bird trapping using vertical nets, mainly to catch the wood pigeon (in the Pyrenees).
Mist nets used to capture wood pigeons (in Gers, Gironde, les Lands, Garonne and Pyrénées Atlantiques). Land for this kind of traditional bird trapping will thus be found on sale in specific regions and will interest real specialists.

Blood trailing is another traditional hunting technique.

Blood trailing is a traditional hunting practice with its own code of ethics. A hunting dog (dachshund, Hanover hound or Labrador) will be specially trained to follow the trail of an injured animal, often for hours on end.

Today, hunting is not a vital need but a leisure activity focused on the management of wildlife, with the pleasure of shooting and retrieving the game brought down, as well as the search for injured animals.