MikePadgett.com

Hunting the hunters

— The old boys' sport of hunting continues apace in Belgium - no fun for anyone else who wants to enjoy the countryside.”

The old boys’ sport of hunting continues apace in Belgium, for reasons of wildlife management, sport and pleasure. The law requires hunt organisers to apply to the relevant Region for a permit.

However, showing a disdain for the general public that’s entirely typical of today’s civil service, the Walloon Region doesn’t collate a calendar for this shameful little pastime, even though most hunts inevitably impinge on public rights of way.

In default of any explanations, I’m obviously free to draw my own conclusions.

Perhaps it’s because the Region doesn’t want to take responsibility for the task. Or perhaps it wants to protect the identity of those privileged boys and girls in wax jackets who bid for the auctioned places on these hunts.

Meanwhile, having planned a walk through Nature, the rest of us are forced to improvise at the convenience of those who shoot it.

Update

• 11 December 2009: discovered a hunting calendar for the jurisdiction of the municipality of Dinant