Breaking down whether long-standing traditions should adapt to today’s woke society?
A hunting ban on the weekends, the suspension of the glue trap technique combined with the anger of the green party, the right to hunt may soon be extinct in France. With the presidential elections quickly approaching, hunting is a tremendously sought-after subject between candidates. In this current age of wokeism, we’re witnessing a moralistic philosophy taking over little by little. Long standing traditions are labeled “immoral” by a marginal group and one by one, traditions that were once part of France’s identity are disappearing.
Hunting throughout French History
A hunt by Alfred de Dreux. A Hunt by Alfred de Dreux. FACEBOOK Ludger EversHunting in France exists in its own world. Enduring since its first appearance in the Middle Ages, the practice of capturing wildlife has been around for more than three thousand years. In its beginning, hunting was synonymous with nobility since it owned most of the land. Hence, it was the highest honor to be invited to hunt with the king. Gradually, laws were put into place to regulate it on royal lands. Under Francis I, hunting became a way of life, as post-hunting banquets were used to show off kills. During that period, poaching was forbidden and severely punished by the law if caught. After the French Revolution, the right to hunt was democratized and opened to the general public but this quickly caused the disappearance of certain species. To preserve the animal population, hunting permits were first introduced under Napoleon I.
In France today, hunting is not only extremely regulated thanks to numerous exams and permits, it has also become a leisure practice, aiming to control the game population.
Who are the hunters and the hunted?
Hunting with dogs is traditional. Photo by Josiah Ness on UnsplashThere are approximately five million hunters in France, and more than one million among them are in possession of a valid hunting permit. France has the highest number of hunters in Europe, ahead of Spain and Italy as each year, more than 20,000 new hunters are identified.
According to the National Federation of Hunters in France, 40% of hunters are retirees, while 55% are currently employed. However, only 2.5% of them are women.
Presently, it is legal to hunt 83 species of fauna. Big game represents 31% of the animals hunted and the small sedentary game corresponds to 32%. At the beginning of each hunting season, quotas are put into place based on a census of each species’ number of animals.
One of the main purposes of hunting is to turn animals into trophies and usually display their heads on walls. According to a survey by IFOP, 89% of the French are for a ban on trophy hunting. The Brigitte Bardot Foundation plays a huge role in trying to sanction this form of hunting. In an open letter to the President of the United Nations, Brigitte Bardot denounces “the impact of trophy hunting, which does not spare any species and should not be minimized,” and adds that “the power of money allows to break all the rules.”
Why is hunting so controversial nowadays?
Photo by Philipp Pilz on UnsplashDespite that hunting is a French tradition which has been around forever, it is – today – pressured by societal norms relating to animal cruelty and safety issues.
Yannick Jadot – candidate for the 2022 presidential elections – is adamant about banning hunting during the weekends and uses hunting accidents as an argument in Le Point: “Three quarters of the people who live in rural areas do not dare to go for a walk on Sunday when there is gunfire, it is not normal.” The president of the National Federation of Hunters declared that it was an attack on a practice that is “historically part of French Culture and tradition.” Every year, approximately 20 people are killed in hunting accidents. Some of the victims are drivers passing through hunting areas, but most of the time, the victims are hunters themselves. Even though, these are minimal accidents they are given a nationwide spotlight by the media and made a bigger deal than they actually are. The journalist Jean-Pierre Gaillard states that “People can go for a walk, in complete safety. There is no risk to them” and adds, “there is no reason to be overly concerned.”
A petition was started on September 10th to regulate hunting in France and has already amassed more than 80,000 signatures. If the threshold of 10,000 signatures is reached then Senate will consider the demands, including: banning the right to hunt on Sundays and Wednesdays. According to a survey conducted by IPSOS in 2021, only 19% of the French population is in favor of hunting.
Photo by seth schulte on UnsplashAnimal cruelty is also at the heart of the concerns. “No tradition justifies making animals suffer,” states Janot for Le Monde. Yes, hunting is not the best activity for vegetarians, but it also helps regulate the animal population. For example, since boars are known to destroy farmlands, as their population greatly increased over the years, the related damages are immensely high, especially for farmers. On average, the cost amounts to more than 300,000 euros per year. To voice their opinions, pro-hunting citizens organize monthly marches to defend their right to hunt. On September 18th, more than 42,000 people gathered in France to the sound of screeching horns. “Hunting is more than an activity; it’s a way of life and I cannot believe that some people want to take that away. I am sick of seeing my culture seeping away little by little” declares Michel, 41.
The irony lies in the fact that detractors criticize hunters’ damaging relationship to nature, but 99% of the hunters engage in this tradition because of their closeness with nature. Being with dogs while observing the natural world, makes the hunters feel as though they are at one with nature. “Hunting is a moment where I can be with my family, in communion with nature, without any distractions,” states 17-year-old Peter.
The controversial nature of this issue clearly divides and unleashes the anger on both sides. Should long-standing traditions adapt to our society and our modern-day norms? Let’s not forget, France’s customs embed its cultural identity. To change it would mean to deny its roots that have cultivated a nation which continues to captivate the world.
