Vènerie, French Hunting With Hounds

[R.A.W 1,987]

I was thinking that's a lot of grub then the camera panned over wow....................they all look in great nick too

[Blaise 2,324]

 

Vautrait de banassat (boar)

A lot of hounds there, do they hunt 6 days a week or do they take more hounds hunting each day than we do in the uk?

 

The crew hunt twice a week, may be 50 or 60 hunts each year. Vautrait de banassat is the biggest crew, may be 200 dogs in the kennel, 450 kg of meat for each meal. This breed is Poitevin.

 

There are three works for dogs in this kind of hunt :

- early in the morning, faire le pied (to the foot). 5 or 6 guys with each a very wise dog usually on a leash, they are walking through the paths in the forest. These dogs are named limier and the guys valet de limier. They search a good scent. It need a great sense of observation.

- at the end of the morning, rapport. In a ritual manner, each guys explains what he'd found in the morning. They have to be cautious, their notoriety is at stake. Then the master chooses the attack place. They put 10 or 20 dogs on the scent, these dogs are named rapprocheurs (bring near). These dogs have to find the boar and launch the hunt.

- When the rapprocheurs have found the animal and hunt for a good time, they release the big pack. May be 40 or 50 dogs. A great crew like Vautrait de Banassat is able to release more than 100 dogs.

 

You can keep some hounds in the truck to make a relay at the end of the hunt if the hounds are tired. But just one relay is allowed.

Edited January 10, 2014 by Blaise

[Sirius 1,391]

Poitevin, are a stunning hound

Cheers for posting Blaise

[Blaise 2,324]

@ ludo natureetvenerie

 

A man and his limier looking for a scent in the morning before the hunt.

 

Back, it isn't a religious cross but a signpost.

[Blaise 2,324]

 

not a newbie.

[Sirius 1,391]

le pieds.jpg

@ ludo natureetvenerie

 

A man and his limier looking for a scent in the morning before the hunt.

 

Back, it isn't a religious cross but a signpost.

 

Is this the same as our 'Harbourer' when stag hunting the UK? to find a suitable Stag to hunt on the day?

[Blaise 2,324]

 

le pieds.jpg

@ ludo natureetvenerie

 

A man and his limier looking for a scent in the morning before the hunt.

 

Back, it isn't a religious cross but a signpost.

Is this the same as our 'Harbourer' when stag hunting the UK? to find a suitable Stag to hunt on the day?

 

Generally, they can't see the animal. The dog can smell the scent and the man can look at the footprint or the marks on the trees.

[spade 224]

Blaise, your posts give a fascinating insight into the way you hunt. You are so fortunate that the politicians haven't interfered with your way of life. Keep the posts coming.

[alimac 882]

Very interesting mate, very different to here in the uk, but interesting none the less, keep the posts coming !!

[R.A.W 1,987]

I've got to be honest I really enjoy these threads very interesting .............thanks blaise

 

Keep them coming

[R.A.W 1,987]

Just out of interest what is the general perception of English hounds from the majority over the channel ?

[DIDO.1 22,844]

some uk stag hounds went over the channel when the ban came in.

 

every year i say this is the year i go hunt in france! this year a new baby stopped play.

 

how about a thl field trip next season?

[Blaise 2,324]

Just out of interest what is the general perception of English hounds from the majority over the channel ?

Very appreciated !

 

For a long time, french went in UK to find some dogs to cross with their own lines or to have pure english lines (harrier, beagle, black and tan).

 

Concerning terrier, we had nothing, we have used english breeds or from germany.

 

Concerning hounds we have a lot of breeds. But among these breeds, a lot had been crossed sometimes with hounds from UK.

 

Usually, french hounds are very well for nose and voice, english ones better for speed, hot-blooded.

 

One of our famous hound breed is named anglo-francais, every thing is in this name.

[Jachtterrier 50]

Blaise,

 

can you tell me more about the griffon bleu de gascogne or the petit bleu de gascogne. i have seen these when out boar hunting and really like them. but dont know much about them, most information on the internet is in french

[spade 224]

Just out of interest what is the general perception of English hounds from the majority over the channel ?

I know that the Devon & Somerset staghounds have drafted hounds to France and that the Quorn have drafted hounds from France.