Montería (hunt)
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A montería () is an ancient type of driven hunt endemic to Spain. It involves the tracking, chase and killing of big-game, typically
red deer The red deer (''Cervus elaphus'') is one of the largest deer species. A male red deer is called a stag or Hart (deer), hart, and a female is called a doe or hind. The red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Anatolia, Ir ...
,
wild boar The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a Suidae, suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The speci ...
,
fallow deer Fallow deer is the common name for species of deer in the genus ''Dama'' of subfamily Cervinae. There are two living species, the European fallow deer (''Dama dama''), native to Europe and Anatolia, and the Persian fallow deer (''Dama mesopotamic ...
and
mouflon The mouflon (''Ovis gmelini'') is a wild sheep native to Cyprus, and the Caspian region, including eastern Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Iran. It is also found in parts of Europe. It is thought to be the ancestor of all modern domest ...
. A number of "rehalas" (packs of hounds) along with their respective "rehaleros" (unarmed
beater Beater may refer to: Music *Any of various types of percussion mallets ** A rute ** The striking part of a Bass drum pedal ** The cipín used for playing the bodhrán Fiction *A position in the fictional game of Quidditch from the ''Harry Potte ...
s) will stir up an area of
forest A forest is an ecosystem characterized by a dense ecological community, community of trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, ...
with the aim of forcing the game to move around and into the shooting pegs, where hunters will be able to fire. The earliest records of monterías date back to the
Late Middle Ages The late Middle Ages or late medieval period was the Periodization, period of History of Europe, European history lasting from 1300 to 1500 AD. The late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern period ( ...
in the
Crown of Castile The Crown of Castile was a medieval polity in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and, some decades later, the parliaments of the kingdoms of Kingdom of Castile, Castile and Kingd ...
, as can be seen with king
Alfonso XI Alfonso XI (11 August 131126 March 1350), called the Avenger (''el Justiciero''), was King of Castile and León. He was the son of Ferdinand IV of Castile and his wife Constance of Portugal. Upon his father's death in 1312, several disputes en ...
and his "Libro de la montería", published in the first half of the
14th century The 14th century lasted from 1 January 1301 (represented by the Roman numerals MCCCI) to 31 December 1400 (MCD). It is estimated that the century witnessed the death of more than 45 million lives from political and natural disasters in both Euro ...
. Modern monterías in the Spanish sense are the result of around 300 years of evolution from the most primitive hunts that were common in the Middle Ages. As of today, two types of monterías exist; namely the "montería española" or "a la española", practised throughout the southern half of Spain and
Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...
and the "montería norteña", typical of the northern half of Spain. While the latter is very similar to the rest of driven hunts occurring elsewhere in
Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
, the former is culturally unique. Albeit, when monterías are brought up in the foreign context, it is almost always in reference to the former. Historians refer to the period 1915–1931 in rural Spain as the "época de oro de la montería española" (golden age of the Spanish montería). The season for monterías depends on the
autonomous communities of Spain The autonomous communities () are the first-level political divisions of Spain, administrative divisions of Spain, created in accordance with the Constitution of Spain, Spanish Constitution of 1978, with the aim of guaranteeing limited autonom ...
, as each of them establish their own calendars every year, but it is almost unexceptionally the same from one to the other. They are celebrated from mid-October until mid-February or in some cases the last weekend of said month. The sport is controversial, particularly in Spain. Advocates of monterías view it as an intrinsic part of
rural In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry are typically desc ...
economies, as well as necessary for conservation and population controls, whereas opponents argue on the grounds of
animal cruelty Cruelty to animals, also called animal abuse, animal neglect or animal cruelty, is the infliction of suffering or Injury, harm by humans upon animals, either by omission (neglect) or by commission. More narrowly, it can be the causing of harm ...
and lack of necessity (the collected meat is nonetheless taken advantage of fully, and provides a sustainable and natural free range food source). In 2016, a study by
Deloitte Deloitte is a multinational professional services network based in London, United Kingdom. It is the largest professional services network in the world by revenue and number of employees, and is one of the Big Four accounting firms, along wi ...
estimated that hunting in Spain generated about €6.5 billion of Spain's GDP, amounting to 0.3% of the country's economy and 187,000 jobs, monterías being a significant part of this.


History

The first exhaustive works on hunting date back to the
Late Middle Ages The late Middle Ages or late medieval period was the Periodization, period of History of Europe, European history lasting from 1300 to 1500 AD. The late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern period ( ...
, when different royal houses and European nobles of Castile,
Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...
,
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
,
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
etc. were commissioned the drafting of Hunting Treaties, the favourite activity of the ruling classes at that time, of which there are still a few in existence: * "Libro de la montería" by
Alfonso XI Alfonso XI (11 August 131126 March 1350), called the Avenger (''el Justiciero''), was King of Castile and León. He was the son of Ferdinand IV of Castile and his wife Constance of Portugal. Upon his father's death in 1312, several disputes en ...
(14th century) * "Tratado de la montería" by an unknown hunter from
Sierra de Segura Sierra de Segura is a mountain range of the Prebaetic System in the province of Jaén in Spain. It is named after the ancient town of Segura de la Sierra and it gives its name to the Segura river. Its highest point is the 1,993 m high Las Ban ...
(15th century) * "Le livre de chasse du roy Modus" (15th century) by
Gaston III, Count of Foix Gaston III, known as Gaston Phoebus or Fébus (30 April 1331 – 1 August 1391), was the eleventh Count of Foix (as Gaston III) and twenty-fourth Viscount of Béarn (as Gaston X) from 1343 until his death. Due to his ancestral inheritance, Gas ...
(14th century) * "Livro da Montaria" of the King
John I of Portugal John I ( WP:IPA for Portuguese, uˈɐ̃w̃ 11 April 1357 – 14 August 1433), also called John of Aviz, was King of Portugal from 1385 until his death in 1433. He is recognized chiefly for his role in Portugal's victory in 1383–85 crisi ...
(14th century) During the
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
, different types of hunting were known in the
Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...
. Two very peculiar types were net hunting and vulture hunting, carried out mainly in the northwest of the
Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...
to hunt
wolf The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the grey wolf or gray wolf, is a Canis, canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of Canis lupus, subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, includin ...
. However, the most common form of hunting throughout Spain and Portugal was that in which, prior to the actual hunt, the prey bedding place was sought by following the trail of the chosen animal with the help of a
hound A hound is a type of hunting dog used by hunters to track or chase prey. Description Hounds can be contrasted with gun dogs that assist hunters by identifying prey and/or recovering shot quarry. The hound breeds were the first hunting dogs. ...
, to, once the location of the bed was known, place Alanos and
sighthounds Sighthounds (also called gazehounds) are a type of hound dog that hunts primarily by sight and speed, unlike scent hounds, which rely on scent and endurance. Appearance These dogs specialize in pursuing prey, keeping it in sight, and overp ...
in strategic places of passage of said animal in order to catch it. To launch the animal towards the hunting pegs, the bed was approached with hounds and chased by hunters on foot and on horseback to try and catch the game. During the Middle Ages in Spain, this type of hunting was carried out mainly for hunting
Cantabrian brown bear The Cantabrian brown bear, Iberian brown bear, or Iberian bear (formerly ''Ursus arctos pyrenaicus'') is a population of Eurasian brown bears (''Ursus arctos arctos'') living in the Cantabrian Mountains of Spain. In Spain, it is known as the an ...
s and
wild boars The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a Suidae, suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The speci ...
, whereas in France it was more common with
red deer The red deer (''Cervus elaphus'') is one of the largest deer species. A male red deer is called a stag or Hart (deer), hart, and a female is called a doe or hind. The red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Anatolia, Ir ...
. From the
Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
and especially since the widespread of
firearm A firearm is any type of gun that uses an explosive charge and is designed to be readily carried and operated by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see legal definitions). The first firearms originate ...
s in the 16th and 17th centuries, medieval hunting evolved according to each territory and country, in modalities that today differ greatly from each other, such as hunting in the north of Spain (montería norteña or batida), the
French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...
"venerie" (on foot) and the "grande venerie" (on horseback),
fox hunting Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase and, if caught, the killing of a fox, normally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds. A group of unarmed followers, led by a "master of foxhounds" (or "master of hounds" ...
in the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
or montería española or "a la española" in southern Spain and Portugal.


Montería española

This type of hunt, much larger in extent, is carried out mainly in the centre and south of the
Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...
, including the entirety of
Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...
, where it has been adopted more recently. Its existence is the result of an evolution that dates back to the 18th century. Prior to the appearance of modern "Spanish monterías", hunting in southern Spain and Portugal and was very similar to the "montería norteña", the one that is still carried out in the northern half of Spain. This was apparent in the book "Tratado de la montería" published by the Duke of Almazán on a 15th-century work by an Andalusian hunter from the
Sierra de Segura Sierra de Segura is a mountain range of the Prebaetic System in the province of Jaén in Spain. It is named after the ancient town of Segura de la Sierra and it gives its name to the Segura river. Its highest point is the 1,993 m high Las Ban ...
. It is the most effective approach to harvesting big-game animals. In 1984, more than 35,000 stags had been taken that season in monterías, that number being likely much higher today. Wild boars and
Iberian red deer The Spanish red deer (''Cervus elaphus hispanicus''), is a subspecies of the red deer native to Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featurin ...
are the most common species to be hunted in this type of montería, but also other species such as
fallow deer Fallow deer is the common name for species of deer in the genus ''Dama'' of subfamily Cervinae. There are two living species, the European fallow deer (''Dama dama''), native to Europe and Anatolia, and the Persian fallow deer (''Dama mesopotamic ...
,
mouflon The mouflon (''Ovis gmelini'') is a wild sheep native to Cyprus, and the Caspian region, including eastern Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Iran. It is also found in parts of Europe. It is thought to be the ancestor of all modern domest ...
and formerly
wolf The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the grey wolf or gray wolf, is a Canis, canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of Canis lupus, subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, includin ...
and
lynx A lynx ( ; : lynx or lynxes) is any of the four wikt:extant, extant species (the Canada lynx, Iberian lynx, Eurasian lynx and the bobcat) within the medium-sized wild Felidae, cat genus ''Lynx''. The name originated in Middle Engl ...
. In a forest or patch of several hundred hectares a series of so-called "armadas" or lines of positions with shooting pegs, are arranged to surround and cover the mancha. Depending on their particular location in it, the armadas are called by various names ("cuerda" is the highest; "sopié" the lowest; "traviesa" is the one that crosses or is generally found in the middle of the area). From a certain end, or from more than one, the rehalas are released, and led by their respective beaters. They will beat the area in different directions with the ultimate aim of moving the game towards the hunting pegs. Each rehala has between 10 and 20 dogs and is led by a "rehalero", "perrero" or "podenquero". The base of most of the rehalas dedicated to "southern-style hunting" consist of
hound A hound is a type of hunting dog used by hunters to track or chase prey. Description Hounds can be contrasted with gun dogs that assist hunters by identifying prey and/or recovering shot quarry. The hound breeds were the first hunting dogs. ...
-type dogs ( podenco andaluz), although those that are somewhat more specialised in wild boar use preferably
mongrel A mongrel, mutt, or mixed-breed dog is a dog that does not belong to one officially recognized breed, including those that result from intentional breeding. Although the term ''mixed-breed dog'' is sometimes preferred, many mongrels have no kn ...
s of
Spanish Mastiff The Spanish Mastiff or Mastín Español is a breed of dog from Spain, originally bred to be a guard dog and whose specialized purpose is to be a livestock guardian dog protecting flocks and/or herds from wolves and other predators. Historica ...
,
catch dog A catch dog is a specially trained dog that is used to catch large animals in hunting, working livestock, and baiting. As hunters, catch dogs are contrasted with bay dogs who corner prey animals and alert their handler by howling, or baying. ...
s, podenco or griffon. A traditional rehala dedicated to hunting deer and wild boar, is normally made up of a majority of pure podencos, a minority of hounds and mastiff mongrels and a pure mastiff or catching dog collars (often alano or dogo). This type of hunting consists of the use of a very high number of dogs that, led by their drivers, beat the ground to hunt in order to direct all kinds of animals towards the hunters (generally deer, wild boar, fallow deer and mouflon). The dogs used in this type of hunting are generally not suitable for hunting in the traditional European manner. It is not a selective modality, except for the instructions that can be given at the beginning of the hunt on the type of animals on which it is possible to shoot or not, and the selection made by the hunter at the time of shooting, knowing that in doing so he reveals his position more. For this reason, the most experienced hunters will avoid shooting on animals of little hunting value while waiting for what they consider worthwhile. Species that are currently shot in monterías españolas include: *
Wild boar The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a Suidae, suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The speci ...
(usually) *
Stag A deer (: deer) or true deer is a hoofed ruminant ungulate of the family Cervidae (informally the deer family). Cervidae is divided into subfamilies Cervinae (which includes, among others, muntjac, elk (wapiti), red deer, and fallow deer) a ...
(usually) *
Fallow deer Fallow deer is the common name for species of deer in the genus ''Dama'' of subfamily Cervinae. There are two living species, the European fallow deer (''Dama dama''), native to Europe and Anatolia, and the Persian fallow deer (''Dama mesopotamic ...
(usually) *
Mouflon The mouflon (''Ovis gmelini'') is a wild sheep native to Cyprus, and the Caspian region, including eastern Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Iran. It is also found in parts of Europe. It is thought to be the ancestor of all modern domest ...
(usually) *
Red fox The red fox (''Vulpes vulpes'') is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America, Europe and Asia, plus ...
(occasionally) * Roe deer (rarely) Iberian wolves were shot in Spanish monterías until 1992, when the European Union Court declared it a "protected species south of the
Douro river The Douro (, , , ; ; ) is the largest river of the Iberian Peninsula by discharge. It rises near Duruelo de la Sierra in the Spanish province of Soria, meanders briefly south, then flows generally west through the northern part of the Meseta ...
".
Iberian lynx The Iberian lynx (''Lynx pardinus'') is one of the four wikt:extant, extant species within ''Lynx'', a genus of medium-sized wild Felidae, cats. The Iberian lynx is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. It is listed as vulnera ...
es were also regularly hunted until they became almost extinct and were protected in 1970 in the entirety of the Iberian Peninsula. If not by invitation, the price per peg of a commercial Spanish montería is anywhere between €250 and €6,000.


Procedure

A montería usually begins anywhere between 8 and 10 in the morning. With the first light of the day, the huntsmen begin to arrive at the
finca ''Finca'' () is a Spanish term for estate. In English usage, it refers to a piece of rural or agricultural land, typically with a cottage, farmhouse or estate building present, and often adjacent to a woodland or plantation. Overview Especial ...
or grounds where the hunt will take place. There, a traditional breakfast of
migas Migas (, ) ("crumbs" in English language, English) is a dish traditionally made from stale bread and other ingredients in Spanish cuisine, Spanish and Portuguese cuisines. Originally introduced by shepherds, migas are very popular across the Ibe ...
(a dish made from fried breadcrumbs and typically accompanied with a
fried egg A fried egg is a cooked dish made from one or more eggs which are removed from their shells and placed into a frying pan and cooked. They are traditionally eaten for breakfast or brunch in many countries but may also be served at other times o ...
, green peppers, garlic and either
chorizo ''Chorizo'' ( , ; ; see #Names, below) is a type of pork sausage originating from the Iberian Peninsula. It is made in many national and regional varieties in several countries on different continents. Some of these varieties are quite differe ...
,
torreznos ''Torrezno'' (plural: ''torreznos'') is a kind of fried bacon snack produced in Spain. A staple of bar tops in Spain, ''torreznos'' temporarily lost popularity to some extent due to its highly caloric nature. They are also sold as snack in super ...
or both) is usually served. After breakfast, the owner of the grounds or captain of the montería gives a speech where he provides detailed information on the game quotas, species, genders and characteristics (age, quality) of animals that can be shot, as well as explaining the safety procedures and timings etc. He will often finalise his speech by a prayer and at times, this is concluded with a group cry "¡Viva España y viva la Virgen de la Cabeza!" (''long live Spain and the Virgin of Cabeza'') or "¡Viva España y viva el rey!" (''long live Spain and the king''). The relevance of the virgin is that it is the patron saint of monterías and "monteros". Depending on the type of montería, the pegs will then be drawn randomly or previously adjudicated to each "montero". Hunters will then meet up with their respective "postores" and "armadas", to be led by them to their assigned shooting pegs. Between 10 and 12 in the morning, and after every hunter is already in their peg, the release of dogs takes place. The dogs will scramble through the forest to force the game to leave their shelter and enter the hunting area. Between 2 and 4 in the afternoon, the hunting is usually finalised, and this is communicated through a series of conches, once the dogs have finished their work. Straight after this, the hunter must mark his kills. Ideally, an identifying tag on the harvested animal(s) and/or on a nearby tree or bush will be placed as a visible sign, so that the "arrieros" and their
mule The mule is a domestic equine hybrid between a donkey, and a horse. It is the offspring of a male donkey (a jack) and a female horse (a mare). The horse and the donkey are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes; of the two ...
s can easily find it. The hunters then return to the house to enjoy lunch and comment on the montería. A typical lunch will normally consist of a warm spoon dish, usually a
cocido () or ''cozido'' () is a traditional stew eaten as a main dish in Spain, Portugal, Brazil and other Hispanophone and Lusophone countries. Etymology In Spanish, ''cocido'' is the past participle of the verb ''cocer'' ("to boil"), s ...
, soup or
puchero Puchero is a type of stew originally from Spain, prepared in Yucatán, Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Perú, south of Brazil, the Philippines, and Spain, specifically the autonomous communities of Andalusia and the Canary Islands. The S ...
. During the afternoon, the harvested animals begin to arrive to the house or meeting point, where the hunters will be able to appreciate them collectively and will normally take photographs. This is called the "junta de carnes" (literally ''meat gathering''). Veterinaries and butchers will then proceed to extract the healthy animals' meat, which is, together with the trophies, almost always the owner's property, although the latter are usually given away for the hunter to keep as a token. If it has been a particular hunter(s) first montería kill, the tradition of the "noviazgo" is carried out. Essentially, he will be affectionately 'judged' by the captain of the montería on his or her kill. The hunter will be 'defended' by a 'defense attorney', whose job is merely ceremonial, since the hunter will be found 'guilty' and 'convicted' regardless. Once this friendly act is finished, some participants of the hunt will rub the animal's blood and guts against the hunter's face, similar to what happens in other European countries. He will sometimes be bestowed with a certificate that authenticates and validates the person as an official "montero".


People

*The capitán de la montería (''captain of the montería'') coordinates, organizes and directs the hunting altogether, being the highest authority in the celebration, and ultimately responsible for what happens in it. He makes the necessary decisions for the proper functioning of all matters related to the montería, gives the pertinent instructions to the monteros, coordinates all the assistant personnel, sets the rules to follow and resolves with his decisions any type of controversy that may occur. *The maestro de sierra (''master of the sierra'') is usually the
gamekeeper In the United Kingdom, a gamekeeper (often abbreviated to keeper) is a person who manages an area of countryside (e.g., areas of woodland, moorland, waterway or farmland) to make sure that there is enough Game (hunting), game for hunting, or fish ...
of the
finca ''Finca'' () is a Spanish term for estate. In English usage, it refers to a piece of rural or agricultural land, typically with a cottage, farmhouse or estate building present, and often adjacent to a woodland or plantation. Overview Especial ...
or a local, whose role is to assist the captain of the montería as a practical connoisseur of the spot and its game, plan the closure of the same and the strategy for the loosing of the dogs. *The rehaleros, also referred to as perreros or podenqueros (''masters of hounds'' or ''beaters'') are the heart and soul of the Spanish montería. They have to work throughout the year with many tasks so that the "rehala" (packs of around 15 to 20 hounds) forms a solid team prepared to take out and chase the game properly. Each day, they must select the most appropriate dogs for the type of hunting they are going to attend, and they must allow dogs to hunt far away or to chase game at great distances, grouping them from time to time through the thickest areas of forest. They must also have good physical resistance to endure the sometimes rough terrain and occasionally adverse weather conditions. The "rehaleros" have many obligations and rules to respect. Their function is to lead their dogs so that the game reaches the "puestos" (pegs) so that huntsmen can shoot at them, killing off any wounded game grabbed by their dogs. They are generally considered to be the "essence" of a montería. *The postores are those individuals who organize the departure of the "armada", check that all the huntsmen are prepared, order the departure at a particular time, explain the details of each peg to its respective occupant, with express mention of the security measures and where the rest of the pegs will be located. They have to comply with the scheduled times, saving harmful delays for everyone. At the end of the montería, they will be in charge of marking and coordinating the collection of the game that has been hunted in his/her "armada" and of the huntsmen that compose it. *The monteros (''hunstmen'') are the actual armed hunters who occupy the pegs. They must respect all the safety regulations, the indications of the captain and the postores, the maximum game quotas established and they must behave in an exemplary and honest manner in their actions. *The secretarios (''peg assistants'') are those who go with the montero to the peg. On many occasions, they help the huntsman to reach the peg, advise and help him in whatever he may require, specially with the collecting of game or fast decision such as if an animal should be shot or not. They also help the captain in giving him an estimate of what has been seen in that particular peg, how many animals have been shot etc. Secretarios are generally present only in the most high-end monterías. *The arrieros (''game collectors'') are those in charge of picking up the hunted game from the pegs. Sometimes, during the course of the montería, they accompany the rehalas to take the animals collected in the spot or grabbed by the dogs to the loading bays, often with the help of
mule The mule is a domestic equine hybrid between a donkey, and a horse. It is the offspring of a male donkey (a jack) and a female horse (a mare). The horse and the donkey are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes; of the two ...
s. At the end of the hunt, they will visit the pegs of every armada, collect the marked game and bring it to the nearest truck so they can be loaded and taken to the meeting point, a task that must be done in the shortest possible time. Arrieros will then unload the trucks and display the hunted animals in what is called the "junta de carnes" (literally ''meat gathering''), which is normally a flat area near the house, either paved or natural grass. This will be done while the hunters enjoy lunch back in the house.


Attire

Attire is one of the most characteristic aspects of a traditional Spanish montería, one that sets it aside from its European counterparts. Essentially, Spanish goods and garments predominate, although
British country clothing British country clothing or English country clothing is the folk costume, traditional attire worn in rural areas of the United Kingdom; it is the choice of clothing when taking part in outdoor sports such as Equestrianism, equestrian pursuits, sho ...
,
Tyrolean hat The Tyrolean hat (, ), also Tyrolese hat, Bavarian hat or Alpine hat, is a type of headwear that originally came from the Tyrol in the Alps, in what is now part of Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. It is an essential and distinctive el ...
s and Austrian
jankers In the British Armed Services, "Jankers" or "Restrictions of Privileges" refers to an official disciplinary measure employed for minor breaches of military discipline. This contrasts with more severe punitive actions like "detention," which is re ...
are also prevalent. There is a current stream of critics that argue that technological advances have led way to modern and more 'practical' attires e.g. camouflage and
synthetic fiber Synthetic fibers or synthetic fibres (in British English; see spelling differences) are fibers made by humans through chemical synthesis, as opposed to natural fibers that are directly derived from living organisms, such as plants like cott ...
s, that put the heritage of monterías at risk, stressing the importance of respecting a minimum dresscode when at a montería. The types of garments worn at Spanish monterías vary, but these are significantly more strict and thus noticeable at high-end hunts, or those attended by the traditional elites. Just as monterías norteñas prioritise function over form, and reflective clothes are most common (similar to other European countries), generally speaking, a certain formality is expected at a conventional Spanish montería, and therefore
ties TIES may refer to: * TIES, Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science * TIES, The Interactive Encyclopedia System * TIES, Time Independent Escape Sequence * Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science * The International Ecotourism Society {{disambig ...
and sport jackets are appropriate. Spanish leather goods are amongst the most commonly used elements in a montería. In this regard, zahones (either in leather or Grazalema cloth) are the most iconic piece of equipment of a montería, and are used both by the beaters and the huntsmen, although they have suffered an abandoning in the last decades on behalf of the latter. Footwear such as "monteras" (Spanish artisanal leather boots with fringes) or "zapatos cartujanos" (leather
blucher shoe A blucher ( or , , ) is a style of shoe with open lacing, its vamp made of a single piece of leather ("one cut"), with shoelace eyelets tabs sewn on top. The blucher is similar to a derby since both feature open lacing, in contrast to the O ...
s with mountain soles) and leather
gaiters Gaiters are garments worn over the shoe and bottom of the pant or trouser leg and used primarily as personal protective equipment, in particular against snakebite. They are also commonly used to keep the bottom of the pant-leg dry when hiking ...
are widespread. Bullet belts, montería bags, rifle cases and other Spanish leather items are typical. The world's largest and most important leather craftsman industry is located in the south of Spain, in places like Castilla-La Mancha, where there are manufacturers like "Rey Pavón", the official supplier to
James Purdey & Sons James Purdey & Sons, or simply Purdey, is a British gunmaker based in London, England specialising in high-end bespoke sporting shotguns and rifles.
,
Holland & Holland Holland & Holland Limited is a British gunmaker and luxury clothing retailer based in London, England, which sells handmade sporting rifles and shotguns. The company holds two Royal Warrant of Appointment (United Kingdom), royal warrants. His ...
,
Beretta Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta (; "Pietro Beretta Weapons Factory") is a privately held Italian firearms manufacturing company operating in several countries. Its firearms are used worldwide for various civilian, law enforcement, and military p ...
or Cording's of Piccadilly. Incidentally, one of the most revered types of leather, cordovan, is originally from
Córdoba Córdoba most commonly refers to: * Córdoba, Spain, a major city in southern Spain and formerly the imperial capital of Islamic Spain * Córdoba, Argentina, the second largest city in Argentina and the capital of Córdoba Province Córdoba or Cord ...
, hence the name. Dress codes vary according to the socioeconomic backgrounds of the huntsmen, and so more 'accessible' rural monterías are hardly a solemn event. Commercial monterías i.e. those for which the hunters pay, are a mix in terms of formality; rarely is there a dress code. Spanish monterías by invitation, which tend to be those at well-established
finca ''Finca'' () is a Spanish term for estate. In English usage, it refers to a piece of rural or agricultural land, typically with a cottage, farmhouse or estate building present, and often adjacent to a woodland or plantation. Overview Especial ...
s, whose ownership is often associated to the aristocracy or
peerage A peerage is a legal system historically comprising various hereditary titles (and sometimes Life peer, non-hereditary titles) in a number of countries, and composed of assorted Imperial, royal and noble ranks, noble ranks. Peerages include: A ...
, are almost exceptionally a formal event. Examples include " La Garganta" of the
Duke of Westminster Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and above sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they ...
, "La Toledana" of Prince Pedro of Bourbon-Two Sicilies or Emilio Botín's "El Castaño".


Men

Despite not being compulsory at all, silk, linen, cashmere or wool ties with either plain or hunting prints are often worn by men. These are accompanied by
tattersall Tattersall may refer to: People * Alfred James Tattersall (1861–1951), New Zealand photographer * David Tattersall (born 1960), British cinematographer * Gale Tattersall (born 1948), British-American film maker and cinematographer * Geoffrey ...
dress shirts and cashmere or wool v-neck jumpers in field colours i.e. shades of green, brown or burgundy (in the last years, stronger shades like red have been popularised). Tebas,
tweed Tweed is a rough, woollen fabric, of a soft, open, flexible texture, resembling cheviot or homespun, but more closely woven. It is usually woven with a plain weave, twill or herringbone structure. Colour effects in the yarn may be obtained ...
blazers and Austrian
jankers In the British Armed Services, "Jankers" or "Restrictions of Privileges" refers to an official disciplinary measure employed for minor breaches of military discipline. This contrasts with more severe punitive actions like "detention," which is re ...
are normally worn on top, although suede blousons have been traditionally worn too, less so today. Loden, tweed or more 'technical' coats can be worn alternatively or in addition. In terms of trousers, field-coloured chinos,
corduroys Corduroy is a textile with a distinctively raised "cord" or wale texture. Modern corduroy is most commonly composed of tufted cords, sometimes exhibiting a channel (bare to the base fabric) between them. Both velvet and corduroy derive from fu ...
or
breeks Breeks is the Scots term for trousers or breeches. It is also used in Northumbrian English. From this it might be inferred that breeches and breeks relate to the Latin references to the ''braccae'' that were worn by the ancient Celts, but the ...
are often used. During breakfast, formal leather shoes in brown or cordovan are sometimes worn, and these are then replaced when heading to the pegs for more appropriate footwear (leather, mountain or
Wellington Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the third-largest city in New Zealand (second largest in the North Island ...
boots), according to the weather, formality and geographical conditions. Hats in field colours are also popular, particularly tyrolean,
fedora A fedora () is a hat with a soft brim and indented crown.Kilgour, Ruth Edwards (1958). ''A Pageant of Hats Ancient and Modern''. R. M. McBride Company. It is typically creased lengthwise down the crown and "pinched" near the front on both sides ...
and
flat cap A flat cap is a rounded cap with a small stiff brim in front, originating in Northern England. The hat is also known in Ireland as a paddy cap; in Scotland as a bunnet; in Wales as a Dai cap; and in the United States as an English cap or Irish ...
s ( Cordovan hats were also used by men until the
Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...
).


Women

Women's dress code at more formal monterías is not as explicit as men's, and thus is more variable, although neckties are generally not appropriate.
Blouse A blouse () is a loose-fitting upper garment that may be worn by workmen, peasants, artists, women, and children.The Concise Oxford English Dictionary It is typically gathered at the waist or hips (by tight hem, pleats, parter, or belt) so th ...
s and Tattersall shirts are worn most often, but velvet and silk ones are common too. Similarly, cashmere or wool v-neck jumpers can be worn, and their colours can be brighter than men's. Women can wear
waistcoat A waistcoat ( UK and Commonwealth, or ; colloquially called a weskit) or vest ( US and Canada) is a sleeveless upper-body garment. It is usually worn over a dress shirt and necktie and below a coat as a part of most men's formal wea ...
s or standard or
fur A fur is a soft, thick growth of hair that covers the skin of almost all mammals. It consists of a combination of oily guard hair on top and thick underfur beneath. The guard hair keeps moisture from reaching the skin; the underfur acts as an ...
gilets on top, and either tweed blazers or Austrian jankers in feminine cuts (Tebas are mostly a masculine garment). Coats are worn in a variety of fabrics, with fur elements being relatively common, yet technical ones are perfectly appropriate too.
Poncho A poncho (; ; ; "blanket", "woolen fabric") is a kind of plainly formed, loose outer garment originating in the Americas, traditionally and still usually made of fabric, and designed to keep the body warm. Ponchos have been used by the Indige ...
s and
cape A cape is a clothing accessory or a sleeveless outer garment of any length that hangs loosely and connects either at the neck or shoulders. They usually cover the back, shoulders, and arms. They come in a variety of styles and have been used th ...
s can also be observed frequently. Bottoms can be skirts and baggys in country fabrics, breeks, or simple corduroys or chinos, usually not too fitted;
bell-bottoms Bell-bottoms (or flares) are a style of trousers that become wider from the knees downward, forming a bell-like shape of the trouser leg. History Naval origins In the early 19th century, when standardised uniforms for British ratings in the ...
being common. Women's footwear in monterías is similar to men's, and so it is pertinent to wear Spanish leather boots, shoes or simply ankle boots, always in leather and ideally with mountain soles. Wellington boots are convenient when the weather or field conditions dictate. Equally, hats can be worn of the same types as men's, with the distinction that they can be more feminine in style. As a sport, extensive
make-up Cosmetics are substances that are intended for application to the body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering appearance. They are mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources or created syn ...
and elaborate
jewellery Jewellery (or jewelry in American English) consists of decorative items worn for personal adornment such as brooches, ring (jewellery), rings, necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and cufflinks. Jewellery may be attached to the body or the ...
are not proper. The overall functionality of women's outfits at these events is limited. Due to the traditional passive role of women in hunts as mere observers or companions of men, their clothes have evolved to be more 'flamboyant' and less practical. However, this is now changing, as women in Spain are increasingly more interested in the act of hunting, and it is becoming more prevalent for women to be seen at monterías as huntswomen rather than attendants. Withal, the formality of the female attire at higher-end monterías seems to remain largely unaltered. Similar to men, women at more humble rural hunts and monterías norteñas will dismiss formality and the dress criteria will be function over form (reflective and synthetic fibres etc.).


Montería norteña

As was done during the
Late Middle Ages The late Middle Ages or late medieval period was the Periodization, period of History of Europe, European history lasting from 1300 to 1500 AD. The late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern period ( ...
, in the north-northwest of Spain,
wild boar The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a Suidae, suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The speci ...
is hunted in a modality called "hunt on leash". In this type of hunting, the
bloodhound The bloodhound is a large scent hound, originally bred for hunting deer, wild boar, rabbits, and since the Middle Ages, for tracking people. Believed to be descended from hounds once kept at the Abbey of Saint-Hubert, Belgium, in French it is ...
s and their beaters, the "monteros", play a leading role. Contrary to Spanish monterías, only wild boars are shot here, with the exception of foxes or occasionally one Iberian wolf per hunt. In the early hours of the morning each beater goes out with his hound dog tied to a long leash called a "traílla" to look for the trail of wild boars. Once a trace of the previous night has been found, the beater, aided by the nose and ability of his hound, will follow the nocturnal footsteps of the animal, often for many kilometres until he finds the place where he is bedridden, resting during the day. To corroborate that the wild boar is in a certain thicket, the beater and his hound, after entering the boar's trail in it, proceed to go around it to see if the boar has continued its path or remains resting. If it has left, the beater will continue following the trail with his hound on to another thicket where he will repeat the strategy. It is a hunt that requires great knowledge of the signals and customs of the different forest animals and a good physical condition, as well as well-trained dogs. The beds of adult male wild boars are preferably chosen as the target of the hunt. Hunters are stationed with firearms surrounding the "mancha" thicket, whose extension can vary from a few
hectare The hectare (; SI symbol: ha) is a non-SI metric unit of area equal to a square with 100-metre sides (1 hm2), that is, square metres (), and is primarily used in the measurement of land. There are 100 hectares in one square kilometre. ...
s to several hundred. It is at that moment that a few hounds (usually between 2 and 10) are released on the trail of entry of the wild boar in the forest. The hounds mark the path made by the wild boar during the night with their voice, called "latido" (heartbeat), until they reach the place where the wild boar is resting, where the dogs bark at it continuously with courage but without attacking it directly. What is achieved through this strategy is that the wild boar breaks into a run while the hounds chase it "latiendo" (barking) until the boar is forced to pass through the "puesto" (peg) where there is a hunter with his rifle, who tries to shoot him down. On many occasions the hounds have to chase the wild boar for a long time until it breaks at some point where a hunter is located. Generally, the groups of people dedicated to this type of hunting, called "cuadrillas", are made up of up to 20 hunters, among which there is a variable number of beaters with their hounds, the number of dogs used in total ranging from 5 to 20. This type of hunting is very selective, since the animal to hunt is chosen avoiding disturbing females with their offspring. Furthermore, practically no other animal is disturbed other than the one to be hunted (almost always boar in northern Spain) since it is an inexcusable mistake for dogs to chase any other animal than wild boar. As can be seen, practically the only great difference that exists between this form of hunting and medieval hunting is that hunting dogs and
sighthounds Sighthounds (also called gazehounds) are a type of hound dog that hunts primarily by sight and speed, unlike scent hounds, which rely on scent and endurance. Appearance These dogs specialize in pursuing prey, keeping it in sight, and overp ...
have been replaced by firearms. Species that are currently shot in monterías norteñas include: *
Wild boar The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a Suidae, suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The speci ...
(always) *
Red fox The red fox (''Vulpes vulpes'') is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America, Europe and Asia, plus ...
(occasionally) *
Iberian wolf The Iberian wolf (''Canis lupus signatus'', or ''Canis lupus lupus'', Spanish: ''Lobo ibérico,'' Portuguese: ''Lobo-ibérico''), is a subspecies of grey wolf. It inhabits the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, which includes northwestern Spa ...
(occasionally and only north of the
Douro river The Douro (, , , ; ; ) is the largest river of the Iberian Peninsula by discharge. It rises near Duruelo de la Sierra in the Spanish province of Soria, meanders briefly south, then flows generally west through the northern part of the Meseta ...
) Cantabrian bears were hunted in monterías norteñas until 1967, when they were protected after almost becoming extinct.


In popular culture


Film

*Monterías feature in ''El mundo de Juan Lobón'' (1989), miniseries produced by
Televisión Española (acronym TVE, branded tve, "Spanish Television") is Spain's national state-owned public television broadcaster and the oldest regular television service in the country. It was also the first regular television service in Equatorial Guinea. T ...
and based on the eponymous novel by Luis Berenguer. *In season 12 of ''Wild Boar Fever'' (2023), miniseries produced by MyOutdoorTV.com, a group of European hunters accompanied by Franz Albrecht zu Oettingen-Spielberg participate in a series of monterías in
Castilla–La Mancha Castilla–La Mancha (, ; ) is an Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Spain. Comprising the provinces of Province of Albacete, Albacete, Province of Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real, Province of Cuenca, Cuenca, Province of Guadalajar ...
.


See also

*
Hunting in Spain Hunting is a significant regulated subsistence and recreational activity in Spain with a long-recorded history. The country is widely considered one of the most relevant hunting destinations in the world, backed by the variety of its species, cli ...
*
Big-game hunting Big-game hunting is the hunting of large game animals for trophies, taxidermy, meat, and commercially valuable animal by-products (such as horns, antlers, tusks, bones, fur, body fat, or special organs). The term is often associated with t ...
*
Trophy hunting Trophy hunting is a form of hunting for field sports, sport in which parts of the hunted wild animals are kept and displayed as trophies. The animal being targeted, known as the "game (hunting), game", is typically a mature male specimen from a p ...
*
Fox hunting Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase and, if caught, the killing of a fox, normally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds. A group of unarmed followers, led by a "master of foxhounds" (or "master of hounds" ...
* Junta Nacional de Homologación de Trofeos de Caza


References


Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * *


External links


A guide to a montería by the Real Club de Monteros
(In Spanish)
A short film of a montería in 1952 with General Franco
(In Spanish)
A short film of a montería with Franz Albrecht zu Oettingen-Spielberg in Castilla-La Mancha
{{Hunting topics Hunting Culture of Spain