Wednesday 17 August 2011

The ‘chasse’ (hunt) is on...


Today marks the first day of the hunting season in these parts - apparently the season runs from 15th August through to February however each region has specific hunting days and in our region the days to hunt are Wednesdays and Sundays so this morning we were awoken by the sound of gunfire in the surrounding woods, not surprising as we live next door to the president of our local hunting lodge and are normally awake to the sound of his dogs (he has about 20 - mostly daschunds and spaniels) and today, the dogs are presumably in the woods with the hunters tracking some wild boar for dinner!
They’re mostly hunting wild boar and deer - it was interesting to note that up until about a month ago we could spot many deer on our neighbours land but for the past month or so there’s been no sign - perhaps someone warned them they were on the president's land and it might not be the safest place for them to hang out!
We’ve yet to see any wild boar (and are happy to keep it that way) but we do often see evidence of them having been in our fields.
The local butcher doesn’t ever sell wild boar meat and apparently you have to ask at the local hunting lodge if you wish to purchase some and we may just have to pluck up the courage to ask so that we can try the local speciality which is civet - a lovely stew made with wild boar, lots of red wine and other delicious-ness - if we do get our hands on some a recipe will be sure to follow!

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