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Hound hunting (venery) dates by department 2026-2027
Where and when this method is allowed, department by department. Find your area on the map or in the table.
Open today Closed today No date specific to this method
For the 2026-2027 season, hound hunting (venery) is regulated department by department by prefectoral decree. Of the 11 departments documented to date, the periods recorded run from 13 September 2026 to 31 March 2027. Check the map and table for your department. Hound hunting, or venery, chases the game with a pack of hounds until it is caught. It concerns red deer, roe deer, hare, fox or wild boar depending on the hunt. Its dates are set by prefectoral decree, department by department.
Data updated on 21 September 2026, from the prefectoral decrees.
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Dates by department
| Department | Species concerned | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Finistère (29) | Wild boar | 15 September 2026 → 31 March 2027 |
| Gironde (33) | Red deerRoe deerEuropean hareRed foxWild boar | 15 September 2026 → 31 March 2027 |
| Loir-et-Cher (41) | Roe deerWild boar | 15 September 2026 → 31 March 2027 |
| Loiret (45) | Wild boar | 15 September 2026 → 31 March 2027 |
| Lot (46) | Red deerRoe deerFallow deerEuropean hareRed foxWild boar | 13 September 2026 → 31 March 2027 |
| Nièvre (58) | Wild boar | 15 September 2026 → 31 March 2027 |
| Orne (61) | European hare | 15 September 2026 → 31 March 2027 |
| Pas-de-Calais (62) | Roe deerEuropean hareRed foxWild boar | 14 September 2026 → 31 March 2027 |
| Rhône (69) | Wild boar | 15 September 2026 → 31 March 2027 |
| Haute-Saône (70) | European hare | 18 October 2026 → 31 March 2027 |
| Saône-et-Loire (71) | Red deerRoe deerFallow deerEuropean hareWild boar | 15 September 2026 → 31 March 2027 |
See also dates by species: Wild boar, European hare, Roe deer, Red deer, Red fox, Fallow deer.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about hound hunting (venery)
Hound hunting (venery) is regulated by each prefecture. Of the 11 departments documented for 2026-2027, the map and table above show, department by department, the species concerned and the dates. A department in grey means its decree sets no specific date for this method, not that the method is prohibited there.
It depends on the departmental decree. The most common species recorded in our data are: Wild boar, European hare, Roe deer, Red deer, Red fox. Each row in the table links to the department page where the source decree is cited.
No. Each prefecture sets its own dates by decree, and the periods sometimes differ by several weeks from one department to another. Always check the decree that applies in your area.
Each row in the table links to the department page concerned, where the prefectoral decree is cited. That is the official document for the 2026-2027 season. In some departments where the decree has not yet been signed, the dates come from the draft put out for public consultation and may still change: the department page indicates this.
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