How to hunt a wild boar at night. Night hunting for wild boar with dogs. So, the undeniable advantages of hunting with a thermal imager

For beginners and people who are not well versed in hunting, it may seem that night hunting is difficult and uninteresting. But only experienced and experienced hunters can tell with enthusiasm and enthusiasm how much attractive and special there is in night hunting for a wild boar. After dusk, a completely different life begins in the forest, and any hunter should at least once in his life learn the features of hunting an animal at night.

Of course, at night it requires careful preparation and study of the area in daylight. In order for the process to go right and end effectively, it is important to take into account all the nuances and even small features of such a hunt. In the dark, wild boars feel confident, the success of hunting depends mainly on the hunter's knowledge of their habits and habitats.

The inability to fully see the environment awakens in the hunter feelings that were previously unknown to him. When vision is weakened, other senses are enhanced, and the instinct for self-preservation provokes the release of adrenaline in the body.

How to prepare for a night hunt

In addition to a thorough study during the day of the area where night hunting will be carried out, it is important to prepare special equipment and uniforms. Dark clothing will reliably hide the hunter from the sharp eyes of the billhooks, it is important that there are no luminous inserts on the fabric. The keen eyes of the night animal will definitely notice the danger and the boars will return to the forest slum.

In night hunting, there can be no question of using flashlights or other lighting devices. The only time you can use a flashlight is to find a shot billhook. This is especially true for the wounded. There is no more dangerous animal for a hunter than a wounded boar, it is from these “bulborators” that dozens of hunters are injured every year, sometimes with a fatal outcome.

Night hunting has its own special charm, and if properly prepared for it, it will bring unforgettable impressions and a noble trophy.

Wild boar is an enviable hunting trophy. This is one of the most interesting and courageous hunts. The extraction of this strong and intelligent animal requires from hunters not only enviable endurance and virtuoso use of weapons, but also hunting experience, knowledge of the biology of this animal. According to many experts, hunting for a wild boar is hardly the most dangerous. It is comparable to bear hunting, with the only significant difference being that the wild boar is a herd animal. Compared to any wild hunt, wild boar hunting requires many times careful and scrupulous preparation for it. It is no coincidence that the plural is used here - “hunters”, few, even very experienced hunters, decide on such hunts alone.

Boar, boar - Sus scrofa

Biologists say that the original homeland of the wild boar is North Africa, then, gradually expanding its range, it spread throughout the world, excluding only the Arctic regions. The boar lives, a wild pig, in Russia almost everywhere, the south of Western and Eastern Siberia, the foothills of the Sayan and Altai, the gradual penetration into the taiga zone further north is no exception. Wild boar habitats are forest, forest-steppe and steppe zones with a sufficient number of water bodies. Particularly favorable are swampy areas and territories overgrown with tall grass, reeds and shrubs. The genus wild pig, wild boar or boar, belongs to artiodactyls with a mixed type of nutrition. Wild boars are omnivorous and their type of food depends on the region of habitat, it can easily change depending on conditions. But still, this animal is not a hunter, so it needs a good plant food base. It is the wet areas of the forest, lowlands in the steppe regions, wetlands, as well as the proximity of human farmlands, that are the most favorable habitats for humans.

A wild pig is a social animal; wild boars live in families, sometimes forming very numerous herds.. The herd, as is typical for all many ungulates, has a clearly defined structure and matriarchal character. The leader is the older female. The boar is polygamous, there are 3-5 females per male. This is due to the fact that females become sexually mature the next year, while males - after 3-4 years. The rut period begins in late autumn and continues until mid-winter. Piglets are born after 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days (as the old hunting saying says) - in the spring with warming. There are up to 12 cubs, the mother copes with their feeding perfectly.

Wild boars feed at twilight, during the day they lie on the beds. A characteristic feature of the pig is the absence of sweat glands. This helps to be less visible to predators, and to be successful in catching small prey. This explains the love of the pig for water and mud baths - in this way it maintains the temperature balance in the body. Wild boars are quite resistant to frost, but settle in areas with high snow cover, where you can hide from the cold. The hairline consists of stiff, dense bristles and underfur underneath. The sight of the boar is not developed, but the hearing and sense of smell are very developed. The movements are swift, though clumsy. The peculiarity of the body structure with a powerful clumsy neck resembles a torpedo. The opinion that the boar is clumsy can play a cruel joke on the hunter. The boar is swift in movement and fast, although its maneuverability leaves much to be desired.

The wild boar is so adaptable to different environments, and has such a variety of behaviors and diets, that this makes it one of the most interesting subjects for the tracker. Such knowledge of habits will help to hunt a wild boar correctly.

Boar hunting methods

In central Russia, boar hunting was one of the most common aristocratic occupations. The wild boar was hunted by a corral in the reeds, on field feedings, dog hunts and hunts in ambush in storage sheds were organized. Boars were also hunted from a riding horse. Today, wild boar hunting has gone from the elite category, but remains one of the most prestigious and interesting for any hunter. Traditionally, permitted hunting methods can be divided into the following:

• hunting from a storehouse or tower for bait;
• hunting from cover;
• hunting from under the dog;
• hunting from the approach without dogs.

The first two methods are variations of the same. They are based on attracting a herd of wild boars for bait or waiting at permanent feeding grounds. As a rule, storehouses are equipped on the sites of artificial fodder areas in developed hunting farms. Hunts and shelters are shelters on the natural foraging grounds of wild boars, the probability of the presence of prey on them is lower. Hunting terms from June 1 to mid-February at the end of the mating season. During the summer period, hunting is allowed only for male billhooks. On baits and fodder grounds, you can confidently distinguish the object of the shot. The rules for hunting wild boar do not allow the use of dogs in the summer. The use of dogs is an autumn hunting method. Although it is a kind of running hunting, it is singled out in a special category, since it requires the presence of dogs baited by the beast. This is the prerogative of amateurs.

The most common hunt available to any sufficiently experienced hunter is stalking. This method is considered the most sporting, it tests the hunter for courage and endurance, for the ability to track down the beast and silently sneak up on him for a sure shot. As in summer, wild boar are hunted in autumn either at dusk on a fattening site, or during the day on a bed. Each method has its own advantages. Each can be used both for individual trips and with a partner. The main issue in any running hunt is the search for the beast. You can get a lot of general recommendations, but without knowing the conditions of a particular area, hunting will be like a lottery. It is necessary to know the behavioral features, food preferences of local animals by season, dependence on the weather and many other factors.

Approach to the wild boar

The wild boar feeds in a herd, at dusk and at night. This is not the best time for an accurate shot. It is best to select open places and moonlit nights for such hunts. The method of finding feeding grounds is based on local knowledge, availability of possible foraging grounds and preferences of local boars. The search process itself is expressed in cutting off the studied areas, cut-offs, and narrowing the search area. It is somewhat reminiscent of trailing, but requires very high care and knowledge of the habits of a boar. With the onset of dusk, the herd goes out to feed. If these are open areas, older individuals often listen and sniff before leaving to avoid an ambush.

Therefore, to search for wild boars, you need to move against the wind, when approaching promising lands, you can’t hear steps, pay attention to any sound. The cry of a disturbed bird, the noise of bushes being moved apart can mean the approach of the beast.

When the herd begins to feed, the animals themselves make quite a noticeable noise with their movement, champing. This makes them easier to find and approach. At the time of feeding, wild boars slightly lose their vigilance, at these moments you can approach the herd.

The difficulty of hunting for food in closed areas at dusk suggests even greater caution in the movement and readiness of the hunter to shoot. The fact that wild boars prefer to move along paths and clearings makes it easier to search for and track down a herd. Their paths are always constant. The boar goes out to feed and returns to rest along the same path. This feature also helps with the second method of hunting.

Approach to the boar bed

If a wild boar feeds in open places and lands, which allows him to control the situation and complicates the hunt for the hunter, then he rests in the densest thickets, in more often. It is not easy to find a family's haul-outs, it requires excellent knowledge of the area, hunting experience and patience in the search. Such a hunt requires special care. A boar in a dream does not hear well, his sleep is deep. But with an unexpected awakening by a stranger or a hunter, he can quickly go on the attack. You need to approach the beds not only secretly against the wind, but also against the sun's rays, which make any movement visible in the mosaic of light and shadow. The best weather for such hunts is cloudy, mild. At this time, there are no sun glare, the animals are calm, and the noise of footsteps on wet grass is not audible.

And although this type of hunting is done during the daytime, the best solution is a partner or a dog. Running hunting for a wild boar is only possible for an experienced hunter. It is better for a beginner to try his hand at another type of hunting in order to overcome the psychological barrier and gain the necessary experience. And yet, this method of hunting develops the best hunting qualities - attentiveness, patience, endurance. A senior comrade will always tell you how to hunt a wild boar, you should not experiment yourself in such a serious matter. The guaranteed success of running hunts largely depends on the comprehensive knowledge of the area, and you can’t do without a huntsman.

Hunting features, weapons and shooting methods

The wild boar is a licensed species, for hunting it you need to purchase a special permit, as well as a ticket to a certain hunting ground. Weapons - large calibers of smoothbore weapons or rifled barrels. Bullets semi-shell and expansive action. Hunting automatic carbines based on military weapons have proven themselves well. It is always necessary to have a hunting dagger and be able to use it.

The method of approach itself should provide for readiness to fire at any moment. It is better to stop near natural large obstacles, behind which you can retreat in the event of a retaliatory attack of the beast. The slaughter place of the boar is the spine, the anterior shoulder blades (this is the zone of vital organs), the brain. But it is always desirable to make a shot along the profile of the beast. Shooting in the forehead of a beast running at a hunter is futile - there is a high probability of missing. In case of an unsuccessful shot, it is correct to move away from the trajectory of the attack of the beast. After that, it becomes possible to re-shot, or the beast will leave. In the habits of a wild boar, there is no desire to necessarily get the offender, like a bear.

It should be remembered that the wild boar is a very strong and strong beast on the wound. After a lethal shot, you should not rush to approach, you should make sure that the prey is ready. Desirable control shot behind the ear. The fact that the beast is hiding will be indicated by flattened ears, rearing hair at the withers, and clenched legs. The dead boar is relaxed. The immutable rule of a wild boar, like any animal hunting, is that a wounded animal must be taken. The inadmissibility of wounded animals in the case of a wild boar increases many times over. When conducting a collective hunt, all known rules must be followed. On the hunt, a senior is always appointed, who distributes roles, sets the direction of movement and sectors of shots.

With the newly bought, first in my life gun - a smooth-bore semi-automatic MP-153, loaded alternately with bullets and buckshot (do not ask why, then it seemed right to me), I took a position in the branches of a sprawling old oak in the middle of a narrow and long strip of a field, squeezed on both sides by forest. Once there was a farm here: around you can still find the remains of half-grown pits of cellars and the rubble of the huts that once stood. A local resident is still alive who claims to have been born in one of those houses.

The forest animal loves this narrow and long forest clearing. There are acorns, and fruit trees of the former orchards, and a watering pond on the edge of the clearing. A good place, in a word, for both wild boar and roe deer. Irregular top dressing with corn near the oak and traces of fresh pokop gave some hope of success. And so I climbed up the oak tree, loaded the M-erk, doused myself with mosquito repellent and waited. The time is about eight or nine in the evening, the end of August or September. Light, warm, comfortable. But ... nothing is heard because of the terribly loud and endless quacking, or, more correctly, the cod of a meadow bird unknown to me, a novice hunter. This small and invisible rubbish hides in the grass and tries so hard to create a sound background that after a while bad thoughts begin to come to my mind about how to lime it. You see, I’m trying to listen to the sounds of the forest and the crackling of branches under the hoof of an approaching wild boar, and this, if I may say so, bird, not knowing fatigue, quacks with all its might, creating an impenetrable noise barrier. Dergach, who is also a corncrake, throughout the evening evoked in my mind pictures of bird genocide using explosives and napalm.

This is why we love hunting. A wave of adrenaline thrown into the blood at the sight of the beast. The boar appeared at a distance of fifty meters. There was a noise in the temples. The first hunt with your own gun... No experience... More precisely, as they say now, there is, but theoretical. The boar is obviously wary of something and is in no hurry to approach a bald spot with corn under an oak tree. Oh Gods! How slow and careful were my movements in order to raise the gun from my knees and remove the safety! The wild boar, meanwhile, having looked around and not recognizing danger in a camouflaged spot in the crown of an oak tree, began to slowly approach - come on, dear! Although my adrenaline is going through the roof, I am collected and waiting ...

When the sound of the shot died down, an unusual silence reigned around the ears. This corncrake shut up, finally, the bastard. And the boar lies. But the adrenaline won’t let it, and the pulse is under 200 ... I sat, breathed and began to call the rangers: “Take it off, they say.” And in response: “Early. You just got locked up. Sit still." I had to explain what was what ... This is how my hunting specialization was determined.

Old school boar hunters tend to be avid dog breeders. Honchaks, huskies of all breeds, berries… Everyone praises the breed of their dog. On a collective, that is, driven hunting, dog lovers are held in high esteem. Success and results depend on the work of their wards. They go with their dogs to the paddock and often use the right of the "first night", from under the dogs, shooting the beast right in the paddock. As a resident of Moscow, my own hunting dog did not shine for me. And instead of a dog, I began to look for other ways to increase the production of individual boar hunting. An incident that happened to me a month later finally confirmed my need for equipment and completed my transformation into a night hunter.

Early October. First night frosts. The slippery clay primer seizes with frost and crunches with an ice crust underfoot. My father-in-law and I walk slowly along the edge of the cornfield, stepping carefully so that we can hear the boars crunching the ripe cobs. They already tried to mow a field of corn, but because of the thaw, they only mowed it with a “comb”, leaving uniformly wide strips of corn and swaths between them. Approaching the edge of the field to a place where the crackling of broken stems and the grunting of the herd could be clearly heard, we stopped. A small shiver made its way either from the cold, or from tension. We decided that the father-in-law would stay here, and I would go through the swath and “push” the boars onto it. We shoot only in theft or in case of danger. I go from the corner of the field along the swath. Between me and the edge of the field is a strip of corn ten meters wide. I don't remember how it went. My memory retained only the moment when a wild boar snored a meter away right next to me. It then seemed to me that this was the voice of some Godzilla, it was so hoarse and impressive. Turning the barrel of the gun in the direction of the sound, I turn on the underbarrel flashlight. Wool sticks out and moves between the stalks of corn. Shot.

The weight of that year-old boar was fifteen kilograms at most ... After this incident, I finally realized what I was missing. I need night vision. Such that there are no errors in determining the size and gender of the boar. To be safe to approach, seeing and controlling the beast in the process. And I started researching...

Now, more than 10 years later, when the hobby has already transformed into a profession (the first salon of thermal imagers for hunting), I understand how many mistakes could have been avoided if I had then the knowledge about night hunting that I have today ...

The period before April 2014 in Russia was the heyday of night hunting from the approach. Then the order of the Ministry of Natural Resources No. 581 “On Amendments to the Rules of Hunting” came into force, which actually killed legal night hunting. But paradoxically, the new "Rules ..." were limited not by night hunting as such, but by the use of optics that allow hunters to see at night. Thus, all hunters who have invested several hundred thousand rubles in night vision devices or thermal imagers have at once become infringed on the right to hunt at night. According to the amendments, they were only allowed to shoot from towers. And the conditional blind-sighted "Uncle Vasya" without any optics or with a poor daytime sight can hunt at night from the approach. As a result of this ban, hunting resources were also put under attack. Indeed, with the help of “gadgets” so hated by the Department, it is possible to selectively shoot those animals whose removal does not lead to damage to the population. And the ban leads just to mistakes, shooting at females, etc. I'm not talking about whether the Department thought about the safety of hunters when hunting at night. It is not clear, in general, what goals were pursued.

Whatever it was, but the "Rules" are what they are. And they must be followed.

However, of course, neither the new rules, nor even the worldwide conspiracy is able to stand between the hunter and his hobby. Thank the hunting god, there are no such restrictions on the use of night vision devices and thermal imagers in the Republic of Belarus. And hunters in the European part of the country go there regularly. And the overwhelming majority of hunters, who live east of Moscow with a low population density and authorities, are generally of little interest to what is written in the order of the Ministry of Natural Resources. Swimming, we know ...

Night hunting is paired, less often individual, or, extremely rarely, collective. Whether you hunt at night alone or with someone, there are special, strict safety rules that are written in blood. And it's human blood. Literally every month reports are replenished with cases of fatal wounds caused during night hunts. Often this is followed by the suicide of the inconsolable hunter. Therefore, safety precautions are of vital importance. I will list only the main points.

• Do not fire unless the target can be uniquely identified both by appearance and location. That is, we do not shoot at noise, rustle, roar, crunch, shadow.
• To avoid accidents when walking through the grounds, we use reflective clothing and a dim flashlight in order to identify ourselves and not be mistaken for game.
• When hunting with a partner, strictly observe the agreements on the location of each other during movements and approaches.
• It is highly recommended to use walkie-talkies with a headset to communicate with your partner(s).
• The addition of the shot animal should be carried out exclusively carefully, using the light of lanterns. When picking up an animal in a group, move in a line, not running ahead and not falling behind. The weapon must be loaded when drawn, but the safety lock must be on.
• If possible, use dogs when searching for and picking up an animal at night.
• When picking up an animal at night with a dog(s), use the bell attached to the collar.
• It is mandatory to have a compass or navigator in the set of pocket equipment, as well as a fully charged phone and safety glasses. The latter, believe me, are very useful when walking through the night forest.

Night hunting allows you to approach the beast at a minimum distance. This makes such a hunt accessible even to owners of smoothbore weapons, for whom the distance to reliably hit a target is limited to 50 meters. The boar is predominantly nocturnal. Starting from July, with the onset of dusk, the wild boar goes to feed on the fields with grain. Prior to this, it keeps ravines with small streams, where you can dig soft peaty soil for the sake of succulent rhizomes.

When hunting wild boar at night, there are a number of nuances that must be taken into account. Possessing not the sharpest eyesight, the boar has a keen hearing, but the main thing is its sense of smell. When preparing for a wild boar hunt, smells should be treated with special attention. Hunting suit and all clothing must be freshly laundered. Before hunting, you should not use deodorants, colognes, etc. I personally use even mosquito repellents only after the shot. Repellents have a strong odor and are extremely volatile. The same applies to smoking. Even approaching a grazing wild boar from the leeward side, you will not notice how the breeze in the lowland or near the edge of the forest slightly changes direction and your “triple chypre” hits the boar’s sensitive penny. The hunt will be ruined.

A couple of points regarding weapons, gear and equipment. For hunting a wild boar from the approach, any smooth caliber can be used, perhaps, except for the 410th, loaded with a bullet cartridge, and any rifled caliber of at least 6.5 mm. If you are hunting accompanied by a huntsman, do not hesitate to hand him a tripod. The use of a brace doubles the guaranteed hit distance compared to handheld shooting.

Be sure to check the zeroing of the weapon the day before going hunting. I would say that this is one of the most important rules. Transportation, cleaning, removal and installation of the sight - everything affects the accuracy of sighting the sight. If you don’t hit the sight before hunting, you will walk all night for a wounded animal or shrug in surprise after a miss.

After an accurate shot, the main work begins: the trophy must be pulled out to where a car can drive up, loaded, transported to the base, skinned and gutted, butchered. Liver and skin - dispose of. Disposal, by the way, is not thrown away anywhere, but buried or burned. Those are the rules. This means that on the eve of the hunt you need to worry about where you will bury your waste, because after a night of hunting and butchering you will not have the strength to dig a hole. The presence of freezing equipment at the base where you had the good fortune to go hunting is also a prerequisite.

Russian hunting magazine, July 2016

In ancient times in Russia they used to say this: “If you go on a bear hunt, make a bed and call a doctor, and if you go to a wild boar, order a coffin.” This phrase says it all about what a dangerous beast it is. Moreover, that the billhook, that the pig with offspring will fiercely defend their lives and very often do not flee, but try to punish the offender, which for an inexperienced hunter can end in failure. We decided to supplement the previously published articles with some more details about this animal and add practical tips that, we are sure, will help you get such a luxurious trophy as a wild boar.

In ancient times, in Russia they said this: “If you go, make a bed and call a doctor, and if you go to a wild boar, order a coffin.” This phrase says it all about what a dangerous beast it is. Moreover, that the billhook, that the pig with offspring will fiercely defend their lives and very often do not flee, but try to punish the offender, which for an inexperienced hunter can end in failure. We decided to supplement the previously published articles with some more details about this animal and add practical tips that, we are sure, will help you get such a luxurious trophy as a wild boar.

Description and behavior of wild boars

The wild boar is the closest relative of the domestic pig, or rather, its ancestor. It is distinguished by a very large head in the form of a cone, with an elongated snout. Males have large, upcurved fangs protruding from their mouths.

The coat is long, coarse, the color depends on the time of year: in winter it is dark brown, in summer it brightens towards gray. Body length can reach 2 meters, height at the withers - up to a meter, weight - up to 150 kg. Piglets are most often light brown with longitudinal black stripes. They appear in the spring, 2-6 pieces per offspring. As a rule, females with cubs gather in herds of up to 20 heads. Often gilts of previous offspring also keep with them. Sexually mature boars are kept separately.

have double prints - in addition to the main hooves, small lateral hooves are visible, directed to the sides.

According to their habits, wild boars, like rather large conservatives, follow the same paths, like to fatten in places they like, and go on vacation not only in one part of their territory, but also in one permanent haulout. Although, depending on the season, changes in the food supply and various forced reasons, the wild boar can leave the habitable place and look for a new haven.

Wild boars are active mainly at night. At this time, they feed on pasture or make group raids on fields, gardens, and summer cottages. They leave for the fattening before sunset and return to rest at dawn.

These animals almost never stay during the day in the places where they fed. They retire to rest in impassable places - young spruce forests with undergrowth, reeds, reeds. There they can even arrange a bed for themselves, dragging various greens. In the snow, beds are arranged under huge fir trees, where it is almost always dry.

Wild boars themselves try to make transitions along the most inconspicuous paths, rarely go out into open places. The wild boar prefers to go around the clearing through impassable thickets at the edge than to run across to the other side.

Large boar billhook -. Although without good reason, he will never attack a person. But a sow with babies will definitely frighten the person who disturbed them. Another thing is a frightened, wounded or pursued beast - it can suddenly turn around and rush at a person or dogs. From the attacking boar, you can escape with a sharp jump to the side.

When hunting, one must take reasonable precautions and refrain from stupid bravado and frivolous impulses.

One of the most common mistakes is when a hunter, after a successful shot, without even reloading his gun, rushes to a fallen boar - he can jump up at any moment and then there is absolutely little chance of remaining whole.

It is also undesirable to forget about everything and rush to catch up with a wounded animal, especially at dusk. A cunning and furious beast can wait behind any bush or start the pursuit itself, from which only a tall tree, on which one has to sit for a long time, can save.

Boar hunting from a tower

There are many ways to get a boar. The simplest and somehow even unsportsmanlike -. It happens like this. In pre-baited places, the huntsman throws food in the evening and before sunset (about an hour) a hunter is brought to the tower. When the huntsman leaves (as he did before), the boars waiting for this moment come out to eat. Although, if they already have the experience of being shot at from this tower, then the animals look closely for some time, roam around, but do not leave the forest. But then the small and always hungry teenagers can’t stand it and run out, quickly grab something in their mouths and again hide in the forest. If they are not disturbed, then the animals calm down and begin to feed openly. The last to come out is the old billhook, who immediately disperses everyone furiously.

A hunter on a tower needs to have a solid endurance so as not to shoot at the first gilt if he wants to get a trophy billhook.

There are, of course, elite towers where hunters are rarely allowed in, and even large individuals walk around them without fear.

Driven hunting for wild boar

This is the most popular way when trying to drive the beast into a row of shooters. If you find an animal, then such a hunt can be very successful, therefore, without a huntsman or a person who knows his favorite places, there is nothing to go to the corrals.

Experienced hunters say about a wild boar that how to chase him, so he goes. On the one hand, it is. With a fast and noisy rut, the wild boars rush with all their might, and they try to slowly leave the slow and silent beaters. But, more often than not, they go completely in the wrong direction.

Moreover, it is almost impossible to drive wild boars in the direction where they do not want to go.

The animals will defend themselves in impassable places, rush between the beaters and shooters so that they cannot shoot and, in the end, break through the chain of beaters, as if realizing that the danger is much greater ahead.

In order to be guaranteed to get in the way of wild boars, the arrows must be placed on the side of the salary, where there are most of the boar paths. True, these places will be the most overgrown, and the view will be poor, but this is the essence of hunting - it is completely useless to wait for this suspicious beast in a clean place.

Shooters should not stand directly on the clearing or road. You should go three meters deep into the salary, as wild boars (especially if there are none) necessarily stop in front of an open place, first look closely, and then try to overcome it with one jump.

It is at this moment of indecision of the beast that an aimed shot must be fired.

Hunting with dogs

One of the most interesting and gambling ways -. Usually this method is the most productive. It is best to go on such a hunt for 3-4 hunters with dogs, having calculated in advance the places of the day of the beast. There, the dogs are unleashed and waiting for them to pick up the beast. This moment can be recognized by the barking of dogs, grunts and growls of wild boars, cod in the bushes. There can be two options for the development of events. If the noise does not move, it means that the fight started on the spot and the hunters need to hurry there. And if the sounds move, then it is better for the hunters to split up - one starts up in pursuit, the rest to intercept. In this case, there are such important rules: to approach the beast as close as possible, to protect the dogs as much as possible.

Be sure to shoot while standing - then in case of a miss, the charge will go into the ground, and will not fly to who knows where, where other hunters may be.

Sometimes especially vicious dogs literally hang on a boar, and they don’t let them shoot. If this is a wounded animal, then they finish it with a knife.

The best dogs for boar hunting -. They are quite vicious towards the beast, viscous, but obedient even in excitement. It is easier for such dogs to dodge if a wild boar attacks - they simply jump to the side from the road of a rushing angry beast.

Boar stalking and stalking

These hunts are carried out at dusk at the places of fattening and most often alone. It is necessary to find a place where the wild boars feed during this period during the day and it is important to find a path along which the animals will go for fattening. In this place, you need to choose a place to hide, guided by the direction of the wind and the ability to shoot towards open space, and not thickets. In an ambush, you need to hide an hour before sunset and then wait.

Hunting by stealth is even more interesting. When the boars begin to feed in the evening, they lose their vigilance and make a lot of noise. Therefore, you can get very close to the fattening boar. It is necessary to do this against the wind and freeze when the champing subsided, which means that the beast is listening. It is necessary to move along the edge of the edge, under the protection of bushes, periodically stopping to assess the situation. If you hear the noise of a boar fuss, then start a neat approach the closer to the beast.

Shooting at a moving boar is most effective, and the practice of hunting with dogs shows that the first shot of a fast-running boar with buckshot most often leads to serious injuries, and gives excitement to dogs.

The second time you need to shoot only if the dog is at a distance of 8-10 meters from the boar, otherwise you can injure him.

If the animal ran out of cover, let it go 10 meters from the cover and only then shoot.

If the boar is coming straight at you, it's better not to shoot at all, but you need to aim. At the moment when the beast notices you, it will make a turn to the side - this is a great moment for a shot in the side.

While shooting, it is advisable to stand next to a tree, so that if necessary, you can hide behind it.

Do not leave your shooting station anywhere until the steward calls off. Firstly, more animals may come out from under the corral, and, secondly, another shooter may make a mistake and mistake you for a beast. In general, you need to shoot when both the wild boar and the dogs are clearly visible, in no case should you shoot at the thicket.

Video hunting for wild boar in winter

Video of driven boar hunting

Night hunting is much more productive than daytime hunting. The wild boar is more active at night, and at this time it is easier for dogs to find it on fresh tracks. At night, the wild boar is less afraid of dogs and, under the light of a lantern, can let them in for a shot even when approaching downwind. And even if you have to shoot at 10-20 meters, but on the green and closer - all these are emotions.

Night hunting is a guarantee of meeting with the beast, a stronger perception of the hunting process and saving time for a modern hunter. When planning a night hunting route, you need to know in advance where to look for a wild boar. The fruit-bearing oak and cedar have been preserved mostly on the tops, where, in addition to the north, the undergrowth is relatively rare and where, especially if frightened, the wild boar decides to go out only under cover of darkness and, in case of danger, immediately goes to the bottom of the springs. And if the main food will be on the tops of springs and their capes, in search of a herd it is more practical to walk on them, and not walk, for greater convenience, on their tops. This is also due to the fact that a wild boar attacked by dogs from the top will have more chances to escape to the overgrown bottom. Seeing such an opportunity, the boar makes a decision faster and can break away even before the dogs run. And this has its own pattern. The more real this possibility, the faster he makes a decision and prefers to flee. During this time, he can immediately go to the bottom for 1 - 2 km, because of which the whole hunt will stretch for another 1 - 2 hours. At a gallop, it is almost impossible for dogs to stop him. Especially at night, and even in the thickets. Moreover, having broken, at first he does not respond to pain grips. Another thing is when, tired, and realizing the futility of his attempts to get away from the dogs, the boar is forced to periodically stop and, defending himself, prefers to drive them in one place.

But if the dogs attack the boar from the bottom and even in the course of the search, if only they had time to block his retreat to the bottom, he, like a slow-witted person, spins in one place longer. Do not confuse, this is not a day. At night, not every dog ​​dares to crush even a piglet. And even in a pair, they rarely take last year's “dove”. The main thing for them is to find the boar and stop it with their annoying presence. And only after the shot they go to “dav” indiscriminately. Of course, anything can happen, but for all the night hunting under the wild boar, not a single dog died! Having twirled the boar, the dogs immediately change the tactics of their behavior and show aggression only when he tries to get away from them, not only at the bottom, but to find where to stick his butt into the eversion, etc.

Not daring to leave immediately and somewhat calming down, the boar perceives more tangibly not only the rare bites of dogs, but even their presence. And a situation is created when it is more profitable for him to stand or circle in place than to try to go to the bottom. Dogs also understand this, and therefore do not become impudent, and, having surrounded, bark at him at a distance. As soon as the dogs spin the boar and he calms down, they can keep him in place until the morning.

How quickly they find it will depend on the latitude of their search, but if they spin a kilometer from you, it will be possible to get it in 20 to 30 minutes. That's why you have to choose where to wander in search of it. On the tops, where it is more convenient, or on the slopes of the keys, where it is more reliable.

The lower boundary of the growth of oak and cedar massifs extends along the thickets of floodplain undergrowth, which even in the southern forests can reach the lower third of their slopes. This must be taken into account, and when moving along the slope, do not go down below the upper edge of these wilds. If the key, albeit long, but not wide, and the dogs have time to examine it on both sides, it will be more practical to walk along its floodplain. And if it happens, along the old trail from former logging. If the slopes are wide, it is more practical to loop your route and explore first one side of the key “there”, then the other “back”.

In search of a wild boar, you can also use taiga roads. At the tops of the springs, they are more often laid along the junction of the edge of the floodplain thickets and the beginning of the capes that go to the top of the slopes. And if they are not short, it will be not only the most convenient route, but also practical, waiting for the dogs to pull the boar right under their feet ... Hearing that the dogs at the top have found the boar, the first thing you need to do is stand under its possible move to the bottom and only then go up to bark. If there are two, you need to go around from both sides at once. And the closer to barking, closer to converge.

If the dogs have found a wild boar in the upper part of the cape, it can descend along any of its slopes, most likely along the most overgrown. But don't rush. By barking, first determine exactly which one. But even if the dogs find a wild boar and not on a flat slope, you should not scatter from each other in the rise further than 200-300 meters. Not having time to go to the bottom on the move, the boar, if it breaks down during unsuccessful approaches, then no further than a hundred meters and, squeezed from the bottom, go to the top in zigzags. Therefore, already when hiding, the distance between suitable ones should not exceed 150 meters. But with the indispensable condition that the boar was between them. Then, even having escaped from one, the boar will only go towards the other and, orienting itself by barking, there will always be a chance to once again have time to stand under its course. Given that the boar will strive to go to the bottom at any opportunity, it is more practical to almost reach his intended move than to go.

If you frightened a wild boar, do not rush to follow him. Perhaps the partner did not have time to intercept his move, and again breaking away from the place, the boar can pass above him.
Having stopped and choosing a new place for the best sludge, the wild boar can take another step along the way. Knowing this, even having managed to intercept his move, you used to stand without turning on the lantern, and wait for the boar to come up for a point-blank shot. You can hear how it will stand for half a minute, scare the dogs and get closer and closer. It remains to wait. And then you look, after him the lantern of his partner flashed. Yes, it’s still moving - it’s cracking, it’s in a hurry to catch up. What kind of boar will wait, will break again into a trot, or even a gallop, and even if it passes at 5 - 7 meters, you will not always have time to shoot accurately. And what remains, except for the mother of a good-for-nothing partner, again, running sideways, to intercept the course of the boar ...

In such cases, when the boar breaks down in the direction of a partner, you should not follow him. Even if the partner frightens it away and turns it around, the boar will not return on its own, but will go higher at an angle. Knowing this, it would be more practical to go a little forward first, and only then turn onto a bark. If the boar manages to approach the overgrown bottoms for the last jerk, the dogs will not be able to hold him for a long time. And he will leave in the most direct line. Therefore, the first thing to do is to have time to intercept its course, taking into account this possibility, at a distance of no more than 30-50 meters from each other. Only after that you can try to approach him for a shot or squeeze into cleaner tops.

Another thing is when the dogs spin the boar under the very top. If it is far from the overgrown bottoms, knowing the terrain, the boar can decide to rush even a hundred meters, and will break through in clean places into the overgrown tops of the next key. Especially on moonlit nights, when, seeing better, the dogs begin to become impudent for no reason and thus provoke him to the determination to break into a move. Having broken, the wild boar at a gallop leaves in a possible straight line. The flatter the top, the more likely he will choose a straight line. Anticipating such a possibility, one needs to intercept his move through the top in advance. It is also taken into account that along the steep top of the slope the wild boar will begin to climb towards the floodplain, and not to the top of the key into which it will break through. But, again, if he does not notice that he was bypassed by the bottoms. If the partner again frightens the boar from below, he will have to shoot on the go. Therefore, you should not wait for such an opportunity, but, having intercepted the course of the boar through the top, you need to be the first to go to him for rapprochement. The one remaining below must wait and give the partner an opportunity to intercept the boar's move on top and only after that go to approach. But again, the first thing to do is block the boar's possible retreat to the bottom. On such a hunt, everything must be agreed in advance. To intercept the course of the boar through the top, the one to whom it is closer or, if the boar is already frightened, the one who is more convenient to enter from the leeward side, leaves.

On clean tops, the wild boar is more shy, but if the dogs do not come close, it often breaks down when it finds an approach from below. On the crossings of the wild boar through clean places, and even on bright nights, the “bear cubs” aggressively working on it quickly put it in its place. A few grips are enough and, having stopped, the boar begins, defending itself, spinning in place. And even the presence of a hunter discovered by him at that time is secondary in his perception. At night, the wild boar is less shy, the main thing for him is to protect himself from dogs. So there will be time to approach the shot. But it happens that nerves give up and in fear for the dogs, you try to quickly get close to the wild boar for a “jerk” through any thickets. Until he realizes, in case of poor visibility, it happens that he has to shoot at 3-5 meters. That is why, in such conditions, the best weapon will be a short-barreled and practical in the thickets, large-caliber and therefore "lethal" double-barreled shotgun. The boar is one. But, in order not to be left without eyes, you cover them with the forearm of your left hand extended forward. So that it does not interfere with the review and is slightly below eye level. Then, if any small branches will touch the face, then casually. And if you return with meat, then there will be no questions ...

But branches are fine. With such a “jerk”, you need to be especially careful and bypass the visible silhouettes of large Christmas trees in advance, on the trunks of which, sometimes, dry and thin knots remain until the butt. At night, the boar is slow-witted. Even sensing the presence of a hunter nearby, he does not immediately have time to make an appropriate decision. On this, in principle, the success of the “jerk” is based. But everything has its limit. A wild boar can also stand in such thickets that, in the literal sense, you can get entangled, hang in them or get caught by a gun, and this is already an unjustified risk. Of course, this is a matter of chance. But to be safe, if possible, plan your approach under the cover of large trees. And even approaching “how it goes”, keep in mind the nearby trees. Anything can happen, you can miss and shoot at close range, this is a matter of chance. Especially if you come from below. Spurred on by a shot, blinded, a wild boar can, even without malicious intent, break into the light of a lantern if it stands with its snout to it. And for safety net, having shot back, you need not only to have time to turn it off immediately, but also to bounce behind the nearest barrel and only then reload.

It is possible to catch a jerk for a shot if the boar is twirled even by “berlozhniki” and more than once, if there is enough “gunpowder”. A wild boar, even under them, if not frightened, sometimes goes no further than 20-30 meters. And if they spin it on a small overgrown “patch”, they will drive it from one corner to another for at least half the night. One way or another, such running around is the result of unbridled desires or lack of experience, and as an exception, it is justified if dogs, even if they are excellent detectives, but in any style are not viscous in work and, having “slowed down” several times, leave the boar. But if there are no problems with this, it’s not worth the risk, even if the dogs are aggressive at work. It happens that he steps on one, knocks him down or even crushes him after the shot - all this is a matter of an unintentional accident. But the death of even "bear cubs" at night is a relative rarity. At night, their selectivity of behavior in relation to the stopped wild boar is exacerbated. Having stopped him, often even with their aggressive importunity, they prefer to keep at a safe distance, helping with their incessant barking to the silent approach of the hunter. And if the dogs are viscous at work, there will be plenty of time for this. It even happens that one “berlozhnitsa” will find a wild boar somewhere behind the camper and not be heard. And if you don’t return for a long time, you already know that someone is spinning somewhere. But where? You climb out to the near top and here she is, barking in place for more than an hour ...

It was like that. It was getting light already, I went up to the dacha, it remained about a kilometer. The puppies ran ahead, and the wind grabbed Baikal - through the floodplain and into the hills. I waited a bit - silence. Well, I think, who, besides goats, maybe will scare them and come back, not for the first time ... I didn’t take Nika that time. I come, and she does not even look at me, how offended she is. Well, okay, tied the puppies - and sleep. In the evening I went out, but Baikal was still gone. I looked at Nika, and she was whining in the direction of the hills. I listened: already then it struck - Baikal barks! .. I let the dogs go there too. And he drove a boar into a swamp and all day around - ah, yes ah. And not intrusive, it seems, but I don’t want to substitute my ass. The boar even lay down to rest! So do not rush to run to the bark. Let the dogs calm the boar. And as soon as they spin in one place, orient yourself relative to the terrain and only then approach.

If the wild boar decides to rush through the top of the spring and does not linger even in the overgrown top of the next, it means that he intends to break through to the opposite slopes of the water-dividing camp. And if he has time, he will go to the very bottom. However, this rarely happens. The wild boar is more often found along the slopes of capes than at the very tops of springs, especially water separating ones. And if he is driven there with a dozen or more failed approaches, then who is to blame? Anticipating such a breakthrough, on the last sludge from the top, the first thing to do is to intercept the course of the boar from the top and already at a distance of an aimed shot from each other, going down, approach him, under the bark. Having gone in cycles in his own, a wild boar can make a “breakthrough” even between hunters. But taking into account the relief - in the most straight line. And this take-off distance between them will be the most optimal in order to have time to aim, shoot even in both directions. If you fail to get a boar this time, and, turning around, he goes to the bottom, then he will not go far. Prior to that, he was set to break through the top and he will need time to orient himself in the situation, and, after thinking, he can go both to the bottom and make another attempt to break through to the top. In this scenario, you need to cut off its course from two sides. But again, if before that the boar was squeezed out from the bottom and he could not break through the top, he will start to rush about and may risk breaking through into the nearest thickets along the slope. At night, even last year's dogs rarely dare to push. And if someone is twisted, then at least not a pig. Therefore, the attitude when approaching must be serious in advance. First of all, due to poor visibility in dense undergrowth. Therefore, there should not be thoughts such as catching a pig for training puppies, cutting down a wounded animal, etc., that is, those thoughts that, with experience, can be justified during daytime hunts.

At the first approaches to the boar, he usually does not react to the light of the lantern. But over time, after misses or injuries, it begins to compare the hunter's approach with the beam of a lantern and, breaking off, goes beyond its visibility. In such cases, you must immediately extinguish the lantern or direct its beam down, and the faster, the sooner the boar will stop. You need to approach such a boar in the dark, and in the absence of a moon or stars, shine not on the sides or in his wake, but under your feet, and even cover the beam with your hand.

Hearing barking - you won’t get lost, but, bypassing the side, you can correct the interception or trample on the place for a shot in the dark or by illuminating yourself with a covered beam of a lantern directed from a wild boar.

Another thing is to decide at what moment to light the boar. On the one hand, the fear of being under it. Especially if he's wounded or miss him without a shot. On the other hand, there is a fear of highlighting it earlier and giving it the opportunity to get away. How to be? Focus on the bark. In the thicket, the boar's pace is slowed down, and the dogs are no further than 5-10 meters behind him. Consequently, the boar will be closer than their bark to the same distance. And even if the dog is alone, it can get confused somewhere, etc. and shut up for a while. But the dogs only follow him from behind. Therefore, near noise can only be from a wild boar. With the incessant barking of several dogs, the approach of a wild boar can not be heard. But the dogs pursue him together, that is, from one side, and when they turn around, they attack only from different sides. It remains to calculate their mean.

Even at the distance of an aimed shot, ambiguities can arise in order to distinguish a boar from dogs. And, as a result, missed opportunities. If you're not colorblind, this won't be a problem. Under the beam of a lantern, the eyes of dogs reflect blue, like those of goats, and those of a wild boar are red, like those of a bear ... A separate issue, but at night he also lets you in close and, in principle, it doesn’t matter who to shoot.

In the taiga, and even on such hunts, one cannot count on more than 1-2 aimed shots. Dogs immediately go to “dav”. And all right, if you miss, they will run away as soon as they slip in. But they will go to the wounded animal without hesitation. So imagine what could happen to them if you hurt the billhook. Yes, even from some “small bullet” of 7.62 mm caliber, etc. But even a non-lethal hit on the body with a 12-gauge bullet causes a short-term pain shock, during which you can always have time to finish off the wounded animal.

For fear of hitting the dog with a shot, they only shoot with a bullet. Of the same precautions, it happens that you have to push them apart with trunks and finish off the wounded animal at close range.

When shooting at night, skillful illumination of oneself plays an important role. This is not when shooting “from a knot”, when, by adjusting, you can shoot at the induced beam of a flashlight fixed on the barrel. And even a rigid mount for it is inappropriate for a parforous approach. It is possible, if not to pull out the lantern, having caught on somewhere, then to misalign the parallelism of the beam with the trunks and shoot back “in that direction”. In the thickets it is more practical to shoot with one hand, and with the other to highlight the aiming bar of the gun and the boar. In this, a miner's flashlight is practical, the charge of which is enough for 2-3 hunts. Its battery is worn in the outer pocket of the backpack, then the reflector on a clothespin is attached to the front of the clothes so that it shines under your feet, does not interfere, and is always at hand.

A frightened boar does not stand still for a long time, a few seconds, and, having adapted to the light, breaks down. But this time can be lengthened if you blind it periodically by turning on the lantern. But even in the best case, you should not count on more than 1-2 minutes. In the illuminated billhook, the head is always lowered, and the fangs stick out as if from the ground. This is his starting position, so that, defending himself from the dogs “blindly”, he has time to turn around and swing his head. And if he goes straight to the beam, and only his eyes are visible, you need to shoot between them or a little higher.

The boar can stand sideways and will “shine” with only one eye. But, knowing the direction of his move, it will not be difficult to calculate on which side his torso will be and, by the level of the illuminated eye, calculate the aiming point horizontally. There is nothing for a pig to kill dogs with. Defensively, she catches them with her mouth. And the location of her eyes, in any case, will be at the level of the upper third of the chest. However, such problems with aiming happen only as a result of negligent hunting fees: they forgot to recharge the flashlight battery, adjust the focus of a new reflector, etc. It happened that the wiring starts sparking somewhere or something else happens ...

The school was still busy. I went into the taiga in the light and it only began to get dark, I prepared a lantern, turn it on - and the bulb in it burned out. At least come back ... Well, I grabbed a pocket flashlight, with a square battery, but that one turned out to be hooked. While he was rising to the top, he was still shining, but as he reached the plateau, he sat down at once. What's left is going back. And here it’s not that the dogs found, the herd found it himself. The dogs are young and do not understand who is chasing whom. Further than 5 meters it is not visible, and then 3-4 seconds, then the flashlight starts to go out noticeably again, you have to turn it off and wait until it recharges. I chose an oak tree to make it easier to climb. Wherever I shine, only my eyes can be seen. In short, I've had enough ... In order not to shoot each other on the way, you need to constantly monitor the location of your partner by the beam of his lantern. If he decides to intercept the course of the boar “in the dark”, in order not to fall under the shot, he must control his trajectory by the light of the partner’s constantly on lantern and the barking of dogs. In such a situation, the partner should slow down his approach and give him the opportunity to look around on the spot. It will not be shameful, having entered, to stand behind the trunk of a tree. Anything happens. The boar has already gone, and you are on the trajectory of the shot. Then prove who is more to blame. But it's a hunt! You stand and count, shots, and only then you turn on the flashlight and jump out from behind a tree.

If you decide to take such a risk yourself, this is one thing. But a partner who has lost sight of you should not only follow the beam of his lantern, but also look around. Otherwise, it can “get lost” in the orientation of what is happening and even wedged between you and the boar. Seeing this, all that remains is to silently curse him and blink his flashlight to hope to attract his attention and correct the direction of his approach.