Wildfowler of Aquitaine: Goose Hunting

The hunting of wild ducks at the tonne, whether one falls into it as a child or over time, by chance during an encounter, once the virus operates, it is for life that one becomes a wildfowler.

Aquitaine, a region rich in traditions of hunting migratory birds where man has always had his eye fixed on the horizon. From the north of Gironde to the Pyrenees, from pigeon towers at the top of trees to buried tonnes, the migratory bird watcher has over time nourished his reflection and enriched his hunting techniques. Like the pantayre, the paloumayre, the tonnayre is one of those men.

Over time, the wildfowler has perfected his setup with the best decoys, his equipment, his decoys, his ties, his hunting spot. A continuous display of ingenuity constantly renewed in the hope of always being able to deceive the much-coveted bird.

During the off-season, the wildfowler maintains his decoys, he conscientiously watches over his wetland area, his tonne lake, his installation. Alone, in the silence of early spring mornings, under the craftsmanship of the marshes, he observes the male mallards in small groups on his pond, far from the well-hidden females, still busy incubating. The hoopoe and the cuckoo sing on the big trees at the edge of the marsh, the waders move from one pond to another in search of worms, the swallows skim the reeds heading north, he knows he is a privileged observer of nature. He, the wildfowler, the passionate one who knows the smells, the sounds, the fauna, and the flora, he, the man of the marsh.

The life of a wildfowler is the pleasure of time spent on his passion, the pleasure of the weather simply... The joy of summer hunting where it is good to share a convivial aperitif with his tonne neighbor under the setting sun, of the early morning mists of September announcing the first winter teals, of the great cold of January where, in the warmth of the tonne, the wildfowler awaits the wave of migratory birds with the highlight being the anticipation of the gray geese in February. In fact, all seasons are pure joy for the migratory bird hunter.

For the wildfowler, the hunting season flows to the rhythm of the seasons, the weather, the winds, the tides, and the whims of mother nature, punctuated by hopes, successes, and disappointments.

As soon as the season ends, he is already thinking about the next one, dreaming of other migrations and beautiful successes... A hunt that often fills the imagination more than the game bag, which is what gives it all its charm and enchanting beauty.

The hunting of wild ducks at the tonne, a passion to share without moderation...

Eddie Puyjalon
Wildfowler of Aquitaine