The hunting season starts on Sunday, September 8, 2024 in the south of France. Just over a million hunters are registered in France. Here's what awaits hunting enthusiasts in the coming months.
It's back to school for hunters. The hunting season officially starts this Sunday, September 8, in the south of France. Despite recurrent criticism of this leisure activity, hunting attracts almost a million people in France. We take stock of this new season.
What are the hunting season dates?
Hunters are allowed to hunt from this Sunday, September 8, in the southern half of France. The season can traditionally start an hour before sunrise. Hunters in the departments in the northern half of France have to wait another week as the hunting season will start on Sunday, September 15. In the south, the hunting season will end on the evening of February 28, 2025. Hunting is only authorized on certain days of the week or on weekends. Discover with the departmental hunting federation.
What species can be hunted?
All game can be hunted from this Sunday: many birds (thrushes, blackbirds, partridges), hares, pheasants, wild boars, deer… For some of these species, the closing date will be well before February 28, 2025 Details can be found on the Occitanie Hunting Federation website by clicking here and choosing your department.
Are there any species prohibited from hunting?
The pigeon cannot be hunted. The moratorium on the suspension of pigeon hunting has been extended by the Ministry of Ecological Transition until July 30, 2025 to protect the species.
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Are there any prohibited weapons?
This is the case with buckshot which is banned in several departments but authorized in others. Hunters find it effective in controlling large game such as wild boar. But the lead grains contained in buckhot (between 9 and 21 lead balls) raise many questions in the hunting world.
How many hunters are there in France?
France had more than 960,000 hunters for the 2022-2023 season, according to the National Hunting Federation. This figure includes hunters who are up to date with hunting license validation. Figures for next season are not yet known. The numbers decrease year by year. A few years ago, France still had more than a million hunters.
How much does hunting cost?
The national hunting permit, issued following examination by the French Biodiversity Office (OFB), has increased slightly and costs 244.05 euros, he recalls. The French Hunter. This amount includes federal contribution, stamp duty, insurance etc. A department permit costs between 120 and 150 euros, depending on the department. Temporary permits of 3 or 9 days can also be issued.
What impact does hunting have on the economy?
The National Hunting Federation reaffirms that hunting “makes a significant contribution to the local economy and to the sustainable economic development of the territories”. The economic benefits were estimated at 4.2 billion euros in 2022, assures the FNC. This amount includes hunting access fees, equipment purchase, catering costs, dog feeding, etc.
Are hunters regularly trained on safety rules?
The 2019 law requires hunters to be updated every 10 years on basic safety rules. The objective is to have trained one in two hunters by 2025 and all hunters by 2029. By 2025, the 200,000 people who organize hunts will have received training from their federation and the OFB (French Office for Biodiversity) .
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Do hunters still kill themselves while hunting?
The number of accidents is decreasing year by year, with a decrease of 77% in 20 years. Six hunters died in France during the 2023-2024 hunting season. Three of the six victims were victims of car accidents, often due to improper handling of the weapon. During the hunting season, the number of accidents was higher with 97 accidents recorded, of which 58 were serious, according to the figures disclosed by the OFB on July 25, 2024. 55% of accidents involved big game hunting. The main cause of accidents is failure to observe the 30° angle. The results of the hunting season identified 103 reports of property damage from individuals: 56 for shooting at homes, 18 for shooting at vehicles and 29 for shooting at domestic animals.