The Fête de la Chasse on 10 & 11 November 2026: The Highlight of the Hunting Season in Bouillon

Hunting is undoubtedly a subject that attracts both passionate supporters and outspoken opponents. Nevertheless, it remains an essential part of the traditions of the Ardennes, particularly in and around Bouillon. With around 70% of its territory covered by forests, hunting has become an integral part of the town's cultural heritage. Since 1988, the Bouillon Tourist Office (Syndicat d'Initiative de Bouillon) has been preserving these traditions through the annual Fête de la Chasse, held around 11 November.

On 10 and 11 November 2026, Bouillon will once again be immersed in the world of hunting during the 38th edition of this renowned event. The festival programme features the sounds of traditional hunting horns, the blessing of the animals and a ceremonial procession. Visitors can also enjoy the Marché au Gibier (Game Market), held in the heart of Bouillon, where local flavours take centre stage.

Hunting in Bouillon

In addition to its many privately owned woodlands, Bouillon is home to no fewer than 7,200 hectares of public forest. Maintaining these extensive forests is essential, both for nature conservation and for tourism, and hunting plays an important role in this overall management.

The public forests are managed by forest rangers, who are responsible not only for supervising hunting and fishing activities, but also for protecting nature and coordinating forestry operations such as timber harvesting, reforestation and timber sales.

Leasing hunting rights also provides a valuable source of income for the municipality. Depending on the type and abundance of game, a hunting area can generate between €25 and €80 per hectare per year.

For many hunters, the ultimate trophy remains the magnificent antlers of a red deer. It is therefore no surprise that the most sought-after hunting estates are those with the largest deer populations.

Game in the Forests

Hunting is also an important wildlife management tool. It helps keep game populations in balance with the ecological and economic functions of the forest. Excessive numbers of large game animals can seriously damage young trees and neighbouring agricultural land.

Wild boar are particularly abundant around Bouillon, while red deer are also present in large numbers. Carefully planned culling quotas are used to regulate these populations. For every hunting territory, the authorities determine how many animals may be harvested and which species of large game can be hunted.

While exploring the forests around Bouillon, visitors will often notice various hunting structures, including elevated hunting stands. These platforms are used for stalking and waiting hunts, allowing hunters to observe wildlife from above.

Another traditional hunting method practised in the region is the driven hunt. During a driven hunt, participants are divided into beaters, who flush the game from the forest, and posted hunters, each assigned to a numbered and protected shooting position. These positions are usually spaced about 30 to 40 metres apart.

Strict regulations apply whenever large game is harvested. Immediately after an animal has been taken, an identification document must be completed and an official tag attached to one of its legs. Without this official tag, transporting the animal is prohibited.

A Living Cultural Heritage

One thing is certain: hunting is deeply rooted in Bouillon's local culture. Many residents proudly display sculptures of wild animals in their gardens or on the façades of their homes. Inside, it is not uncommon to find mounted antlers or taxidermy as reminders of the region's hunting traditions.

Many local people are directly involved in hunting activities, including hunters, gamekeepers, beaters, hunting dogs and the teams responsible for preparing traditional hunting meals.

During the hunting season, it is perfectly normal to encounter hunting parties while travelling through the Ardennes on weekend mornings.

For hikers and mountain bikers, however, hunting season also means that certain walking and cycling routes may be temporarily closed for safety reasons.

These temporary closures are clearly indicated at the entrances to the forests. Visitors are strongly advised to respect these signs. Additional information about driven hunts and temporary trail closures is available on the website of the City of Bouillon.

Game Cuisine

For food lovers, the hunting season is also one of the culinary highlights of the year. Restaurants throughout the region serve delicious seasonal game menus featuring local specialities.

Venison, wild boar, duck, hare and pheasant… game lovers are truly spoilt for choice.

At Restaurant Méandre, located in the centre of Bouillon on the banks of the River Semois, seasonal game dishes also feature on the menu.

During the Fête de la Chasse, the Restaurant Méandre team will also be present at the Marché au Gibier, where they will serve their delicious homemade game croquette, accompanied by a glass of Semois Gin, a locally crafted spirit that captures the authentic flavours of the Ardennes.

A culinary experience not to be missed!

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