Ettore Zanon replies to the criticisms leveled at his piece by Goffredo Grassani. We are pleased to welcome Zanon's response also because it is evident that both authors, albeit with different points of view, are moved by sincere passion and love for deer hunting. Different opinions, confrontation, sometimes distant points of view, but intellectual honesty. This is the correct way, in our opinion, to move forward. Perhaps, in this country, the issues related to the conservation of species and hunting could be addressed in this way. FC
I suppose you have read my piece quickly or in the throes of anger over local regulatory issues that affect you directly ...
Personally I love and practice the hunt for bellowing which, where done wisely, I do not consider absolutely criticizable. On the contrary.
I quote my piece: “The roaring hunt in Central Europe does not seem to produce negative effects, but is practiced on very popular populations and animals known almost by name. In addition, the hunting pressure is reduced to a minimum. The arenas are strictly respected, they are accessed only for the single planned withdrawal. The chosen male, always of an advanced age, is killed and his strongest contender immediately replaces him, without apparent trauma in the harem. "
I believe that Tarvisio is, geographically, culturally and even more hunting, undoubtedly located in central Europe. My doubts, believe me, were certainly not directed to that splendid Reserve. On the other hand, my doubts arise strongly for the areas of Italy which have recently been present of the species, that is the majority, where specific knowledge is lacking and the organization of hunting does not allow to have “the hunting pressure reduced to a minimum” that you know is necessary. It is no coincidence that deer in Italy roar mostly in protected areas ...
I made a general reasoning, while Tarvisio is an exception. One of the exemplary exceptions.
You will admit that, in your own Region, while in Tarvisio the deer is hunted according to a great management school ... in other places the deer falls under the hound.
So if I have been misunderstood, I apologize, my reasoning did not concern the (very few) Italian areas where the deer is historically and well hunted. But most of the realities where it seems very difficult to hunt without causing damage. Even just for reasons of access to the withdrawal.
Then, as I wrote in conclusion… there is still another paradox: in the Apennines there is no hunt for bellowing, ok. But many very young medal males are killed (after the roar), who have perhaps not even begun their reproductive career. Nobody wonders?
My intervention was neither in favor of the "novelty of the century" nor good-natured.
I tried to explain that the deer is a complex species to manage and that the art of bellowing is applicable only under certain conditions that… in most of the area occupied today by the species in Italy, in my opinion, there are none.
A strong Waidmannsheil!
Hector Zanon