The hunting dogs are owned and trained by specialist handlers. They made a terrible noise when they arrived at the breakfast location in their dog transports. I had visions of being chased up a tree by a pack of mad dogs during the hunt.
The dogs were a broad mixture of breeds there were some Podingoes the dog of Portugal and a lot of mixed breed hound like dogs.
We all boarded our pre allocated 4×4’s and set off up the winding mountain roads to our nominated hunting position. This was marked by a piece of tape tied to a tree we made ourselves comfortable in the 16 degree heat and waited for the signal that the hunt had started. This was a very loud rocket set off by the organizers. Anticipation mounted as we started to hear the dogs making that funny howling yelping noise that the do when they are following a scent trail.
I admit, my mind did return to the earlier though of what would happen if the pack came across the two of us sitting there in the middle of nowhere. I didn’t have to think long as the dogs didn’t even look as us as they ran past.
During this hunt we were told that we could only shoot adult male and female deer (viado) and wild boar (javeli).
As the dogs had passed our position a long time earlier we assumed that we were sitting in a barren area. When at a brisk trot came a magnificent stag boasting some very fine antlers straight past us. We were so taken aback that my friend missed completely from fairly close range and the stag carried on its way. Then followed a period of stunned silence and thoughts of missed chances. Just before the end of the hunt a fully grown female deer came our way and was shot and killed instantly with a single shot. The hunt stewards were called and they came and took the deer back to the meeting place to be examined and measured by the team of Vets. It was my companions first Deer and he was very pleased with
his skillful shot.
We returned in the 4×4 to the fiesta centre to find out what else had been shot and to hear the “one that got away” stories. A crowd of local men women and children gathered around to see the Deer and watch the Vets record the size, condition and age of the deer and take medical samples for analysis.
The hunters entered the village association hall and had a very late lunch of soup, vegetable rice with roast port and fresh fruit. During the meal it was evident that many people had grown up with each other and been friends a long
time.
An excellent day out even for a non hunter and not what I thought it would be like at all.
Incidentally. The deer meat is auctioned to the public and restaurateurs at the end of the hunt once the Vets have made sure each animal is fit for consumption.
Tags: deer, hunting in central portugal, javeli, javeli in central portugal, viado, vitela, wild boar
