The assembly of the Venzone Hunting Reserve, in the province of Udine, has decided for the first time ever to block the hunting female roe deer. The reason is obvious: in this part of Friuli Venezia Giulia ungulates are in sharp decline, so we give up shooting in order to protect honest hunters. The scarce presence of wild animals could in fact also have been favored by poaching.
The effective closing date for female roe deer would have been next January 15: according to the director of the Reserve, Valerio Pituelli, only 80% of the assigned animals were killed (32 males and 32 females), a figure in contrast to what happened in the past. One of the areas where the decline was most evident is undoubtedly the Tagliamento plain, with only one specimen demolished (7-8 have always been shot down in one season).
The hunters therefore preferred to take stock of the situation and not further damage the species. Damages and similar decreases are not excluded also as regards chamois and deer, but in this case the evaluation is not easy. A few months ago there was the discovery of one organization of poachers who traded the meat of ungulates and trafficked illegal weapons, specifically between Pontebba and Venzone itself.