Hunting, a noble activity

A Look at Current Events – Jonas Follonier

Today, in several cantons, students are heading back to their universities for the start of the new academic year, which heralds the imminent arrival of fall. But this Monday, September 18, also marks the start of the hunting season. In Valais, early this morning, various hunting parties made their way into their mountain haunts, tracking deer and chamois. The season for high-altitude hunting has begun.

Whatever its detractors may say, hunting is not a sport for savages. On the contrary, hunting is an art and requires a set of meticulous practices. Furthermore, this activity requires a genuine understanding of nature. That is why true friends of nature are not to be found among those who are hostile toward deer hunters. Environmentalism regards nature as superior to man; capitalism regards man as superior to nature. Hunting, on the other hand, views man and nature as existing in a harmonious relationship.

Indeed, we cannot stress this enough: game hunting plays an important role in regulating various species. For example, in a certain valley, hunters will be asked to take more deer than last year because there is an excess population. And in another valley, fewer chamois than usual may be hunted, since their population has been observed to have declined significantly. Hunting—when it is not poaching—is the best example of humanity’s ability to improve the environment around it.

Of course, if hunting is so wonderful, it’s also—and above all—because of the whole context surrounding it. It takes on an almost mystical quality thanks to the family traditions that are woven into it, but also because of the friendship it fosters within the group, the camaraderie that develops amid a breathtaking landscape, and the moments of togetherness it creates.

Sharing, in hunting, takes many forms. First, there is the sharing of knowledge: a good hunter has learned the names of local landmarks, the geographical features of different areas, and the flora and fauna in all their complexity, and knows how to pass this knowledge on to others. Next comes the division of labor—assigning different sectors and the game to be hunted. Finally, there is the sharing of camaraderie, whether in a hunting cabin, over a meal, or with a bottle of wine.

Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, in a regal silence, hunting teaches patience, attentiveness, and coexistence. It is a noble pursuit. And, a little while later, the venison stew—enjoyed with the knowledge of its origins—takes on a very special flavor: that of respect for nature and a sense of connection.

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Photo credit: © Chasse et nature