Here are our 5 tips for combining hunting and hiking in our territory of Val d'Ardenne!
Can I hike during hunting season? A question that often comes back to us. Here are 5 tips for your safety!
Winters come and go, each one much like the last, and the same question always arises: "Can I hike during hunting season? And where?"
Are you a nature lover, keen on hiking (amateur or confirmed) but the idea of coming face to face with a charging wild boar or a hunter in the middle of a hunt worries you? Rest assured ! It is quite possible to hike and walk during the hunting season.
Only a few rules of good conduct apply, to allow you to enjoy your passion for nature in the same way as hunters, in complete safety and while maintaining a good understanding between you and other users (mountain bikers, geocachers , pickers, etc.).
Here are 5 of our tips!
1) Find out about the hunting opening and closing dates!
No room for improvisation when it comes to your nature getaways in the Ardennes forest. In order to avoid bad surprises on the ground, an unexpected meeting or any accident, it is better to prepare for it in advance and to show organization. And the first thing to do is to know the opening and closing dates of the hunt at your favorite location.
Driven hunts are open from October 1, 2022, to February 28, 2023, in the Ardennes department . This season covers big game: wild boar, red deer, roe deer, and fallow deer. Specific opening and closing dates apply to each species. For more information, please consult the prefectural decree on the FDC08 website.
NB: Attention, the beats in the corn fields do not require a prior declaration
2) Consult the hunting calendar of the PNR of the Ardennes!
Knowing the hunting season in its entirety is good, but what about the specific areas and dates for each area? Well, that's precisely what we're addressing! Before venturing blindly into the forest, it is crucial, and your safety depends on it , to check if your preferred area is affected by hunting on the day(s) you wish to go there.
To make things easier for all its users, the Ardennes Regional Natural Park publishes, via Google Maps, the dates of driven hunts submitted by participating hunting associations. While referred to as a calendar, it is more accurately described as a mapping tool. However, please note that even though it may appear comprehensive at first glance, this tool presents a non-exhaustive list, as some hunting areas have not yet submitted their dates. The Regional Natural Park cannot guarantee that a driven hunt will not be organized even if it is not listed in this calendar.
It is your responsibility to check before departure that no changes have occurred en route.
To consult it, nothing could be simpler:
- Go to the PNR des Ardennes website HERE].
- Choose a date from the calendar. The territories concerned will be displayed for this date (or another)
- You can also use this tool to search by hunting territory and see the dates assigned to it.
3) Open your eyes! Signs and hunting signs are not there to look pretty!
During your expeditions in the forest, you have probably already come across certain panels specific to the activity of driven hunting. Ignoring them could be very dangerous, both for you and for the hunters. We give you some advice on how to recognize, read and understand them. And above all, knowing what attitudes to adopt in the face of them.
Signage is mandatory for certain hunting and trapping activities.
In the Regional Natural Park of the Ardennes, driven hunting is indicated by the installation of signs specifying in particular the words " Hunt in progress " or "we beaten in progress » on the main accesses of the hunted area and by the port of a orange fluorescent vest, obligatory by the participants in the beat. Other signs can signal the danger associated with the activity: watch out hunting in progress "," be careful shooting bullet "," caution trapping ", etc. These signs are more often intended to dissuade you from entering an area than to inform you of a hazard.
You might also come across " No Hunting " signs put up by wildlife protection associations, as well as by landowners who wish to prohibit hunting on their property. With this type of signage, you shouldn't encounter any hunters, except in rare cases. These are areas where game is left undisturbed so that it can reproduce.
When land is designated as a hunting and wildlife reserve (local, departmental, or national), signs must mark the reserve's boundaries. These signs may read " Hunting Reserve ," " Hunting and Wildlife Reserve ," or " National Hunting and Wildlife Reserve ." These areas are essentially game reserves where hunters can manage the wildlife populations. These reserves are generally considered safe.
Finally, hunters also use signs to delimit their hunting territory and prohibit access to neighboring hunters. For example: " reserved/guarded hunting area ", " private hunting area ", " xxx hunting club ", etc.
4) Report your presence to the hunters!
If, despite everything, you inadvertently find yourself in the middle of a hunt, make your presence known appropriately . Ideally, speak to a hunter. They will tell you the size of the area and the paths to take to avoid any risk to your safety. Then, use a map or GPS to find a way around it. Spotting a hunter is easy. They wear highly visible fluorescent orange clothing, as mentioned above.
5) Ask the tourist office for advice!
And that's where we come in!
Is your internet connection acting up? You are not a big fan of the web or you simply have a few questions on the subject?
Contact your tourist office!
Or simply when you come!
Our travel advisors will be happy to answer your questions. They will advise you on the best itinerary to follow during your stay.
We also have in our shop everything you need so that you do not miss anything. From walking sticks to hiking guidebooks, you will find everything you might need on site. You will also find some of our "Must Have" in terms of hiking, on our online store
In short…
Prepare your outing in advance by following the advice given above.
Consult and verify the hunting calendar up until the day of your outing. Stay on established and well-known trails as much as possible. Your presence is less likely to surprise hunters. Also, be aware that hunters are not allowed to shoot near roads, houses, or main paths. Trust the signs, your senses, and your intuition. Gunshots in the distance, barking dogs, or a gathering of vehicles are all clear warnings. Don't ignore them! Wear reflective, fluorescent, or brightly colored clothing or a bag to ensure you are easily visible.
You are finally ready to hike in Val d'Ardenne during the autumn/winter season!
And of course no unnecessary risks. Stay careful!
Source: www.parc-naturel-ardennes.fr , www.ffrandonnee.fr
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