La Udine provincial section of the Italian Federation of Hunting organized a two-day course to learn how to use the hen, the typical hunter's whistle that reproduces the cry of birds such as the song thrush, the blackbird, the cesena, the mallard, the teal, the crow, the magpie and the jay. The lessons will be enhanced by the presence of one of the most accredited teachers, the 2015 European champion Loris Dal Maistro. The Udine branch of Federcaccia will be the location of the course, which will take place Saturday 9 April and Saturday 16 April, always from 14 to 17:30. Participants will be taught all the classical methods for use the hen correctly and mimic the various bird species referred to earlier.
The theoretical and practical parts will be accompanied by in-depth explanations as regards hunting in the bush with the use of pipe, owl and owl. But what exactly is meant by "hunting with the hen"? This hunting technique is one of the oldest ever and uses the sound of calls (the hen in fact) to attract the most common migratory birds. A very similar technique (according to some a variant) is the hunt for pipée which is typical of France (that's why it will be discussed in class in Udine). The materials to build the chioccoli are different: there are references in brass, wood and other metals.
However, wood is prevalent, in particular that of the olive tree and that of the fig tree. Furthermore, there are three essential components of the hen, viz the bagpipe, the blackbird and the loccaiola. The classic month in which this type of hunting is started is October, to be precise in the period in which the thrushes and blackbirds begin to pass. The silence must be absolute, in addition there must be no wind, which can be an obstacle to the hearing of birds that would not be able to hear the call of the hen.
It is necessary to move frequently in the woods, with continuous shifts from one stakeout to another and paying close attention to the sounds of the birds. The blackbirds or thrushes that are closest to the hunters respond immediately and are used to meet the sound, driven by curiosity. On the other hand, when the hunting season is more advanced, difficulties may be encountered in responding to calls. This and more will be explained and deepened on the two Saturdays in April that Federcaccia Udine wanted to dedicate to the ancient technique.