I have a totally unreasonable desire to own some land and eventually live, in France. I think this may be based on the fact that Jeremy Clarkson once described the french as treating the countryside like a larder. I rather liked that and the fact that its not far from home. But I do hear horror stories about the place and wonder if there is anyone on the site who could give a more realistic view of the place with a slant towards those of us who like to hunt.

Grant

Some of the best hunting experiences I had in France. I concentrated on chamois in the middle/southern part but I note that some of the best driven wild boar hunting is found in France too. Outstanding mountains, excellent food and outstanding friends. Yes, it helps to speak a bit of french and not taking military calibres (308/30-06 etc) also helps. Why not have a break in France for three weeks to make field research if the mentality suits you? It often amuses me that a lot of people complain about smoking in France (and CAR/ Benin) and yes, this is true!

Well the good news is that, as a foreigner, you won't need an exam for a Permis de Chasse! Providing you have "the equivalent in your country of origin". Which would be an open FAC or SGC.

France can be an infuriating country is some ways. It can be very annoying if you haven't got the right "tampon" for example. Yet on the other hand there can also be a "laissez faire" that you wouldn't get in the UK.

I'd think it pretty vital that you speak French however especially if you want to take part in the local "chasse"!

What horror stories have you heard? Some here would be happy to confirm or deny!

I visit and hunt there about once a year or so. Great hunting and an active hunting culture. For moving there and being an expat there are several good books, especially for the British market. Speaking French goes a LONG way to opening up doors.

For hunting, I would recommend hanging out on the sangliers.net forum.

http://www.sangliers.net/forum/index.php

Its the largest hunting forum in France and full of nice helpful people. You could ask questions in English there.

Generally the hunting culture is divided somewhat between North/East and South/West. The South and West have a more traditional communal hunting culture for driven hunts for boar and deer. Its pretty inexpensive to join most hunting clubs in these areas and they tend to be very local, rural groups. Individual hunting is more rare, though increasing in recent years.

In the North and East the hunting culture is more "German" (for lack of a better word) and tends to be more oriented towards paying hunters and groups. Here is can be both driven hunting in groups and also more individual stand and stalking type hunting. There are exceptions of course in both regions.

quote:

"German" (for lack of a better word)

Teutonic influence ..... ?

Chaussuer,

Great post Pal.

I've only hunted France a coupla 3 times and my small smattering of experience parallels yours.

Like everywhere else in the World if you're not completely helpless (Hopeless?) are a reasonably expereinced hunter with an open mind (they don't do it he same everywhere) and can perceive what's going on around you - you're normally in pretty good company.

As in The Fatherland .....

quote:

Speaking French goes a LONG way to opening up doors.

Communication is THE key to helping gain an inside track to local hunting - anywhere. Doesn't have to be fluent mind you but certainly enough to understand what's going on around you.

quote:

Well the good news is that, as a foreigner, you won't need an exam for a Permis de Chasse! Providing you have "the equivalent in your country of origin". Which would be an open FAC or SGC.

My experience has been that the European countries tend to be pretty reciprocal about transferring hunting licences & weapons registrations from one country to the next, too. If you've English credentails more than likely the'll be accepted; I know that this is true for The Fatherland as we had several English, Finnish & Danish colleagues that were transferred here and quite quickly got all their firearms registered and their hunting licences transfered.

Speaks volumes about someone's hunting passion when they've got their hunting & firearms sorted out before locating a residence or the removals are aranged!

Thanks Gerry!

Yes Teutonic would be a better term for it. The difference between the organization and subculture of a battue (driven hunt) for boar in the South vs that of the East or North is quite amazing when you've done both. Its like two different countries, one very Mediterranean the other pretty Teutonic (in many ways echoing the traditional cultural divides inside France, but thats another subject). Hunting in the East of France for me is very similar to the limited hunts I've been on in Austria etc.

Speaking a little French and getting to know some people either in a hunting club, or a local gunsmith/gundeal (armurier) can really open up doors for finding hunting. Like most places if you take time and get to know people who can hunt pretty easily and cheaply as a local. If you don't you have "pay to play" so to speak.

Generally, except the silly "war calibers" laws (ie no guns in calibers that have been used in a countries' military since about 1900 or so, so no 30-06, no 308, etc. these are considered class 1 and are pretty restricted for ownership, while normal hunting long guns are class 5 and can be bought with a hunting permit) the gun laws are pretty friendly towards hunters and easy to deal with in France.

I was in Grenoble for two weeks for work and my wife and I vacationed in France for two weeks. These trips were in the year 2000. Most of the vacation was in the Provance area with a couple days in Paris. It's a beautiful country and we were treated like guests. I found and went into a gun shop and really enjoyed seeing weapons like we do not have in Iowa. What really amazed me was when my wife and I were dining outside in Paris and a guy in a vehicle saw a friend on the sidewalk in front of us. He parked in the street, got a shotgun out of his car and showed it to his friend. I think displaying a gun in the middle of a large city here in the USA might get one arrested. In Paris all the people around did not even pay any attention.