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HUNTING

Tourist shot ‘by hunter’ while driving on motorway in south west France

A tourist who was shot through his car window in south west France is believed to be the victim of a hunting accident, according to local law enforcement.

Tourist shot 'by hunter' while driving on motorway in south west France
Illustration photo: AFP

The Dutch tourist, who was the car's passenger, was hospitalised after he was shot in shoulder as his car travelled along the A63 in Landes, south west France.

Prosecutors in Mont-de-Marsan told France Bleu that the local hunt was in the area at the time hunting wild boar and they believe this was a hunting accident, although no suspect has so far been identified.

READ ALSO 'It's like the wild west' – tales of life in rural France during the hunting season

 

The 61-year-old tourist's wounds are not life-threatening.

If confirmed, the accident would be the third so far this season in the Landes area since the start of the hunting season in mid September.

Every year dozens of people are injured by la chasse in France and deaths from stray bullets are not unusual.

Once the hunting season opens, anyone in rural areas of France is advised to keep a very careful look out for local hunters and for signs that indicate hunting is taking place in the area. 

READ ALSO How to avoid getting shot during the hunting season in France

 

Member comments

  1. Nick-nack. Never. It was glorious last season when hunts were banned. Most of these idiots can’t be relied upon to use pea-shooters and this is written by someone that has hunted since the age of 8 and is now in his 70’s.

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HUNTING

Swedish regions raise limits on bear-hunting to combat attacks on reindeer

Several Swedish regions have increased the number of bears that can be killed during this year's hunting season.

Swedish regions raise limits on bear-hunting to combat attacks on reindeer
A hunter prepares to go out on the first day of the bear-hunting season in Sweden. Photo: Adam Ihse / TT

Jämtland is doubling the amount of bears that are allowed to be killed in the region this year to 200. 

The decision comes after the regional bear population has grown to 1,044 at the last count. Jämtland is hoping that the expanded license will reduce the number of bears to around 650.  

We have assessed that the heavy expansion of licensed hunting is necessary, partly to reduce the bear population to the regional target within five years,” said Emma Andersson, who is in charge of managing game and hunting for the region.

Sweden allows some licensed hunting of bears, partly because of their interference with reindeer herding, one of the main economic sectors in northern Sweden for Indigenous Sámi people.

There are around 1,000 reindeer herding companies in Sweden, and an estimated 2,500 people are dependent on incomes from reindeer herding, according to the website of the Sámi parliament.

The presence of predators in northern Sweden has become a complicated political issue as they pose a great threat to the sustainable farming practices of the Sámi. The Sámi parliament estimates that one quarter of reindeer are killed by predators each year, significantly higher than the ten percent limit set by parliament. 

At the same time, the hunting of bears and other predators like wolves must be strictly overseen by the region due to their protected status. 

The increased allowance for hunting bears in Jämtland is directed specifically towards areas where there is a clear link that it could harm the reindeer herding industry, according to the regional board.

Similar decisions have been taken in Västerbotten, where 85 bears can be killed this year compared to 25 in the previous year, and in Västernorrland where they are allowing 75, almost doubling the previous year’s figure.

While no decision has been taken yet in Norrbotten, the hunting association is demanding similar measures, as 20 bears were shot last year during the hunt and another 60 through emergency measures to protect reindeer.

The licensed hunting period takes place between August 21st and October 15th in Norrbotten every year, with some exceptions.

A count by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency found that there were around 2,900 bears in total in Sweden as of 2017.

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