this spot is as magical as under close surveillance

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It’s an open secret that is shared throughout the Yvelines department and on social networks. If there is ONE place to go and listen to the bellowing of deer, it is in La Celle-les-Bordes, a small village of more than 800 inhabitants located 12 kilometers from Rambouillet. Here, the lord of the forest is king. There are hundreds of them.

Such a quantity of animals can therefore only attract fans of bellowing, this hoarse and powerful cry coincides with the reproduction period of these large legs. It is accompanied by extraordinary fights which can go as far as death. mort. The blare can be listened to and observed.

The less adventurous tend to turn to reference organizations, such as the nearby Espace Rambouillet with packages ranging from approximately 30 to 55 euros per person. For others, it is unthinkable to pay a cent for what nature generously offers.

In this camp, two religions clash. On one side is the camp of those who go to the La Celle-les-Bordes sector, line up on the side of the road and wait patiently to hear or see something.

On the other, there are those who venture into the national forest. Which is not prohibited unless you take risks facing animals who only think about fighting. Except when entering private property. Any journey therefore requires s’informer previously, with the town hall in particular.

The behavior to adopt must also be meditated on. Saturday evening, on the Route des Carneaux, wherever it is possible to park, cars and even vans stop. Just turn off the engine and roll down the window to hear the deer bellowing.

In two places, it is even possible to see deer and does with binoculars. The first, at the exit of La Celle-les-Bordes, at the entrance to Bullion attracts a few photographers armed with telephoto lenses. Others climb on the roof of their truck to try to see part of the spectacle.

The game wardens

Two retirees come forward with binoculars and regret: “Before, we could see better and everywhere. But, they let the shrubs grow. It’s less visible today.” A 4X4 comes and goes. THE game wardens patrol along the road.

“Yes, because sometimes people come with lamps and see the eyes of the animals shining. There they intervene. »

A father and his two sons park their cars on the side of the straight: “They come to listen to the blare for the first time,” he confides. They will continue the road further, on a bend, where many cars park to be even more in the front row. There, we hear the cry resounding, in the second place of bellowing, this clearing where the guttural voice of the deer thunders. The spectators appreciate it. Some even have their seats on the trailer of their truck, like at an outdoor cinema. Children are waiting on the grass, others have taken out cameras and binoculars.

“I am sworn”

The game guards’ 4×4 keeps watch before parking at the entrance to a private forest road. A lively exchange broke out between a man who wanted to venture through the forest: “You have no right to prevent us from passing through! I am sworn », replies the guard. As night falls, tension runs high. We also see a man with a bicycle equipped with powerful headlights marauding. He saw the 4×4, he will go look for the deer’s roar in another place. Some people point out on social networks a real abuse of these guards, both in the word and the way of operating.

And besides, why do we find so many deer at this location in the department? “It’s very simple. This sector has the advantage of being hilly but also of having immense expanses of fields in its north-eastern part and a gigantic forest in its south-western part. There is shelter and food for these animals who like it there. In addition, the hunting plans have not been completely implemented,” assures a hunting specialist, who prefers to remain anonymous.

“The ungulates are concentrated here because the geographical area is in a triangle between the N10, the A10 motorway and the TGV line. The population is increasing and has no possibility of migrating beyond. »

In 2020, more than 400 deer were allocated in the southern part of the Rambouillet forest. Just over 200 had been taken. Ficif (Interdepartmental Federation of Île-de-France Hunters) notes that the sector of the La Celle-les-Bordes management unit concentrates 30% of game damage in Yvelines. Three beatsConcerted meetings are planned for November, December and January.

Why they are concentrated in this place: the ungulates are concentrated here because the geographical area is in a triangle between the N10, the A10 motorway and the TGV line. The population is increasing and has no possibility of migrating further afield, explains the Yvelines Big Game Hunters Association.

With Philippe Cohen

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