Management plans are then drawn up using the data collected during the counts. Peeks: “We don’t do that, but a fauna management unit of the province. Based on the numbers we collect, it determines whether and how many can be shot.”
But, he says, hunting isn’t just about shooting an animal. “It’s mainly about experiencing nature, experiencing it and watching it. A very small part of it is shooting.” He will never get bored of a morning like today to spot deer. “I always think it’s nice to see. Every deer is different. In every deer you see a different deer. And what also makes it special: we don’t have them on a string. So it’s a surprise every moment where you see them all.” Djanovic: “It’s nature. There is nothing to control. We may think so, but that is always disappointing. And that is a good thing.”
The two didn’t just spot deer along the way. They also immediately see hares or Canadian geese in the landscape. “Fortunately, it’s not too bad here with special animals,” Djanovic answers when asked which animals he has seen here that he really didn’t expect. “Then you will quickly find the wolf.”
Peeks starts about the Egyptian goose, a type of duck that originally comes from Egypt. “They live here in the wild, because they once escaped from a zoo. The population is growing explosively, because they defend themselves strongly for their children. You could almost say aggressive. Because it is an invasive species, we are also allowed to shoot them with the correct permit.”
While the sky has become light, the counting round is over for the two. It was just seven o’clock in the morning. “So, let’s go home. Time for a sandwich and coffee,” says Djanovic. “Yes, coffee, that will work,” Peeks concludes.
