Hunting, a show of management

Hunting on horseback with hounds might be seen as a form of organization tightly structured through a ritual wherein the signs used by members of the hunting party signal their domination over the environment. It might also be seen as an activity that takes form in a space -- often in a forest or on land owned by the state -- open to the public. Several persons (residents, hikers, etc.) are present who might facilitate or hinder the hunt, persons with whom the hunting party might interact. The hunters cannot ignore them, given the controversy that, surrounding the chase, has implications for the image and future of hunting. Besides, the hunt itself depends on these interactions. Reproduced by permission of Bibliothèque de Sciences Po