NÎMES The hunting and nature school as an example

It was at the “hunting and nature school”, which has a very nice name, that the meeting took place. For Gard hunters: “ If you want to see the same type of structure, you have to go up to Gironde! Nîmes is something of an exception. In order to promote hunting and its evolution over time, we have created a hunting and nature school, which is a modern, adapted and efficient training center, where different programs are provided which facilitate access to the activity. and hunting professions. »

The Federation is an association with ministerial status, which has public service missions, approved for environmental protection and a member of the National Foundation for the Protection of Habitats and Wildlife. Its headquarters is in Nîmes, a city of art and a mecca for bullfighting and the heart of the defense of traditional and popular hunts.

And the hunters continue: “ This school carries fundamental values ​​with regard to the security of hunting activity and its management. It promotes access to technical skills, knowledge and expertise for our future hunters, but also for an initiated public or non-hunters. »

The operation of the Gard Departmental Federation of Hunters is administered by a board of directors composed of 16 elected members, headed by a federal office composed of a president, a treasurer, a general secretary and two vice-presidents. The professional organization of the structure is placed under the authority of a director. It is made up of 15 employees who are divided into three departments, administrative, technical and daycare. “ At the same time, our professional team carries out, in partnership with specialized associations and reference volunteers, on the various pilot sites, owned by the Federation or made available, initiation and discovery actions for young people, beneficial to the practice reasonable and sustainable hunting. »

There are 18,800 active hunters in our department. The majority practice several modes of hunting. The number of hunters practicing regularly or occasionally hunting small game and migratory land birds is estimated at around 15,000; 13,300 hunt big game. In the south of the department, between 900 and 1,000 “waterfowlers” are more specialized in waterfowl hunting.

Already in 2018, at the same place, an agreement was signed between the two parties. Professional partnerships which were then built between the two establishments and their respective staff, particularly in the context of the prevention of poaching and the prevention of risks inherent to personal safety. There, shooting was the key to the convention.