In the Gironde, fishermen are betting on science

The Club National Woodcock (CNB) has 3,800 members nationally and 153 members in the Gironde. On Sunday, May 5th, the Girondins gathered for their annual general meeting, at the headquarters of the Fédération des Hunters d'Or (FDC 33) in the…

The Club National Woodcock (CNB) has 3,800 members nationally and 153 members in the Gironde. On Sunday, May 5, the Girondins gathered for their annual general meeting, at the headquarters of the Regional Fishermen's Federation (FDC 33) on the site of Bachchan, in the Loudun-Médoc.

The club's adage, “Catch as much as you can while killing as little as possible,” remains more than ever the intangible rule for those enthusiasts who track down woodcock each winter. The woodcock fascinates, captivates and seduces because it enhances the relationship between man and his dog, and is an essential aid in his quest.

This species is called golden brown because of the color of its plumage and is a large traveler that travels thousands of kilometers when it leaves its breeding area in Scandinavia, Russia or Central Europe, arriving at sites at the end of October – beginning of November and wintering in the west. Europe, especially in France, finds more favorable climatic conditions.

120 Argus beacons were installed

Migratory bird populations are in excellent health thanks to careful management that has been in place since 2011 with a national harvest limit (PMA) of 30 woodcock per season and per hunter. “We are working to preserve this catch,” recalls Bruno Meunier, National President of the National Central Bank, who was welcomed to Loudon-Medoc by Jean-Louis Ballet, delegate of the Management Department, and Yannick Labarriere, member of the Board of Directors of the National Central Bank. Union department hunters.

The Woodcock National Club remains mobilized in partnership with the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB). Study of birds equipped with Argos migration monitoring tags continues to provide excellent results and demonstrates the loyalty of woodcocks to their territories. “120 signs have been installed since 2015,” recalls expert Jean-Louis Cazeneuve, whose analyzes of migration are infallible. “We must collect as much data as possible so that we can put forward precise scientific elements to ward off a possible attack from our adversaries,” insists Bruno Meunier. Over three seasons, we collected gonads that are being analyzed by an independent laboratory to determine whether global warming is having an impact on migration timings and whether woodcock are entering the reproductive stage earlier. »