Hunters in the Cerisy Forest harvested 120 to 170 big game animals across seven days of collective hunting during the recent season, according to figures released by the National Forestry Office (ONF). The total marked a fourfold increase in game removal compared to previous methods, addressing agricultural crop damage while drawing new participants to specialized shooting methods.
Florian Lemaire on the Third Season in Cerisy Forest
The management shift relies heavily on specialized forest management protocols implemented by the National Forestry Office. Florian Lemaire, the head of hunting at the ONF in Normandy, noted that demand remains high, particularly among younger hunters eager to pursue large cervids. For the third season in the Cerisy Forest, thirty hunters—including six archers—took positions on elevated platforms during opening efforts.
The collective hunting strategy, known locally as traque affût, contrasts sharply with traditional moving battues. Participants remain stationary on elevated timber or metal structures, allowing trained drivers to move game through specific sectors. Lemaire pointed to the operational data from recent seasons, noting that the method yields between 120 and 170 animals over just seven days of active hunting while mitigating localized agricultural damage.
Gaby, Didier, and Thierry on Safety and Elevation Tactics
Hunters participating in the elevated tracking system emphasize the strict safety parameters governing each outing. Gaby, a young rifle hunter from Balleroy who typically participates in 30 to 40 battues per season, experienced the stationary method for the first time. He highlighted the controlled nature of the practice, noting that shots are directed toward the soil at distances under 40 meters.
Didier, a hunter from Creully with experience in battues, stalking, and eight years of bowhunting, currently uses a rifle from an elevated blind. He described the setup as secure, featuring a 360-degree shooting arc and mandatory safety briefings conducted before hunting commences. Thierry, also from Creully and serving as the departmental president for bowhunting, explained that archers position themselves three to four meters high using specialized shooting platforms. This elevation allows for targeted shots at ranges of 15 to 20 meters, ensuring high accuracy.
Eighty Percent Destruction Rate Among Forest Blinds
Despite the biological and operational success of the managed hunts, forestry officials face significant infrastructure challenges. Lemaire reported that 80 percent of the 180 elevated blinds installed throughout the forest have suffered destruction. The ONF has filed a formal complaint regarding the property damage, while forestry personnel continue public education efforts to curb the vandalism.
The structural efficiency of the hunts remains high, driven by precise shot placement and fewer active hunting days. Lemaire stated that the formula of fewer days, clean safety-focused shots, and reduced animal wounding rates—where a single bullet or arrow corresponds to a single animal—has proven effective across the past two seasons. During a recent Thursday opening, roughly 500 hectares of forest were traversed by drivers to facilitate game management for the stationed hunters.
Active Management Across Five Hundred Hectares
The operational footprint spans roughly 500 hectares of forest, requiring coordination between foresters, drivers, and licensed participants. Game species targeted during these operations include biches, bichettes, fawns, roe deer, and wild boar. The targeted culling structure helps balance local wildlife populations with surrounding farming interests, which have historically suffered from crop damage.
The ongoing enforcement of safety perimeters and the reliance on elevated structures continue to define the management approach in Normandy. As forestry agents monitor infrastructure damage and pursue legal avenues against blind vandalism, the organization maintains its scheduled tracking days to keep regional game populations at sustainable levels.
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