A couple of weeks ago we published a picture of a notice warning walkers to whistle as there was a "palombiere" nearby. This provoked a lot of discussion about the use of these towers in the woods to shoot wood pigeons. It seems that there is not so much of this form of hunting practised in this area, but further west it is still in evidence, presumably because the migration routes of the birds are nearer the coast.
A 75 year old chasseur in Mirande, Gers, was indulging this passion when he fell 18 metres climbing the ladder to the platform of the palombiere. Sadly he died from his injuries. There was a "balltrap" nearby and we cannot help thinking that clay-pigeon shooting is less dangerous all round.
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