Aquatic hunting in the Comacchio Valleys
Knowing the places and the typical boats of the Comacchio valleys is of fundamental importance for anyone who wants to inaugurate a hunting activity of this type, interesting for all curious hunters, who are constantly looking for something new.
It is an experience that has no comparison, the one given by hunting in the Comacchio valleys to the aquatic ones. The reasons are mainly two: the peace and tranquility of soft boats that glide silently on the surface of the water, almost as if they immersed the hunter in a dream, and the ancient hunting tools and techniques still used today, which are a suggestive reminder of the past. .
The functioning of the lagoons is especially interesting, and any hunter who wants to approach this particular type of hunting activity must know it perfectly.
Places
First of all, lagoons are a delicate, fragile, harmonious and regenerating environment. These are roughly coastal basins, within which sea water enters freely during high tide, which comes out just as naturally during low tide.
The valleys, on the other hand, are areas of salt water delimited by banks and channels of human creation, through which, in times of need, a certain quantity of brackish and fresh water is introduced into the lagoons, one coming from the the Adriatic, the other from the river Reno.
The once much wider valleys extended for a total of 40.000 hectares. After a long reclamation, completed in 1966, the space dedicated to these long cords with a bottom no higher than two meters, has been considerably limited and today there are about 11.000 hectares of valleys left whose water is much saltier than the marine one, in how particularly concentrated.
The area is all surrounded by a wonderful valley complex. Enchanting the Fattibello valley, today a protected oasis, the Campo, Fossa di Porto and Vacca.
The last two are separated from the remaining valley complex by the Boscoforte peninsula, a 200-hectare strip of land, an enchanting refuge for various species of ducks. Only in 2008 the area was reopened to hunting, regaining its usual and pleasant character.
An excellent place where palmipeds usually spend the winter is represented by the Comacchio salt pans, which closed their business in 1980 and today are a comfortable habitat for various aquatic plants that entirely occupy an area of 510 hectares.
The Oasis of Fossa di Porto is instead the favorite residence of the Royal Germans, who occupy about 170 hectares of thick reeds, embraced by dense vegetation that makes the place even more suggestive. Today this habitat is the only example of what remains of the once much wider Zavelea Valley.
Another area of which at least we must mention is the Bertuzzi Valley, 2000 hectares wide, a territory that has remained roughly unchanged, occupied by wooded patches of holm oaks interspersed with large expanses of shallow and clear water, rich in wonderful marine vegetation. The area is home to a large number of ducks, including pochards, well frequented by professional hunters.
The boats
They are different and each with its own particular features. What is surprising is to discover that today these traditional boats are in excellent health and are used daily.
The velocipio better known as el vulicèpi is a particularly fast lagoon boat, which is conducted with a particular and demanding rowing technique, called Valaisana. The two standing rowers push the boat with crossed oars, which can consume a kilometer of water in just four minutes. Once used by poachers and valley keepers, today it is the symbol of the locality.
It is no more than eight meters long and about 46 - 47 cm wide, and proves capable of accommodating about three people. The peculiarity of this boat is the total absence of a keel which makes it unsafe for all hunters with little balance.
The velocipino or vulicipien is smaller than the velocipio, it can be used throughout the year and given its particularly small size, it can only accommodate one person. The flat bottom makes it ideal for shallow and fickle bottoms.
We also remember the beterine that replace the velocipino when the first blows of cold north wind begin. It is a safer boat, also due to its size: 6 meters long and 60 cm wide.
Last but not least, the mamalucco known as el memeluch, a classic hunting boat, ideal for reaching any place in the valley. It lends itself well to hiding underwater and the hunter can easily bring it back to the surface. It is a maximum of 5,5 meters long and 80 cm wide.
These wonderful boats, which have made the history of the Comacchio valleys, will be repainted every year, and resinated in the most weakened points and will accompany the hunter during another rich and satisfying hunting season.