How to hunt wild boars at night. Night hunting for wild boar with dogs. Ways to hunt wild boar at night

Hunting in November is incredibly productive, animals gain their maximum annual weight, finding them is quite easy, you just need to follow their food. The main goal for the wild boar at this time is to work up as much fat mass as possible in order to survive the winter season and the very difficult period of the rut without any problems. In this issue, we will cover the main changes in their behavior, as well as the most popular and easiest ways to hunt them. Now in order.

Moving from swampy areas to wooded areas in wild boars is determined by the abundance of food on the ground. At this time, it consists of fallen acorns, nuts and cones, which are extremely nutritious and useful for general strengthening of the body. But animals also do not neglect the roots of coastal vegetation at watering places. In October, the main occupation of these animals is fattening, so you should look for them in places with an abundance of food, where you can, for example, arrange an ambush.

In addition to weight gain, animals undergo seasonal molting, which makes the coat much thicker, increasing the protection of animals not only from the cold, but also from predators and other individuals of their species. During an abundance of food, animals greatly weaken their vigilance, paying attention only to feeding. Animals are kept in flocks, sometimes quite numerous. For now, males and females stay together. Piglets from the last offspring begin to feed on their own, but do not move a single step away from the female. By the next month, the situation will change dramatically due to the onset of the rut period and a significant reduction in the food supply.

There are a lot of ways to hunt wild boar in October, as well as methods for tracking them down. The hunt itself often takes place in beech and oak areas. You can find an animal by following fresh trails, very visible to the naked eye from a long distance. It is necessary to enter the animal from against the wind, since the boar has a very acute sense of smell. The main methods of hunting this month: from the approach, with dogs, stalking, as well as from ambush in places of fattening.

Stalking is perhaps the most interesting, but it is also extremely difficult, requiring a lot of stamina and patience. The animal is approached from the leeward side, while it is necessary to periodically climb up the hill in order to properly examine the area. First of all, places rich in acorns, cones and nuts, their main diet, are explored, in the same places, with preliminary reconnaissance of the area, sit-ins are arranged.

Bulk hunting is the most effective. This method involves surrounding the animal and approaching it from the side of the wind, while a group of hunters lurk on the leeward side. It is also necessary to have a connection between the beaters and the shooters in order to convey the direction of the moved beast, the latter usually goes ahead in exactly one direction, which is quite easy to predict. We wish you a pleasant time on the hunt. Break a leg!

A wild boar, and especially a seasoned billhook, is a desirable prey for a hunter. However, hunting for a boar also has a downside: a wild boar is a dangerous opponent. He is cautious, ferocious, cunning and aggressive.

In case of danger, wild boars can rush towards the hunter, and then everything depends entirely on the endurance of the person and good luck.

Ways to hunt wild boar at night

Wild boars lead a gregarious, predominantly nocturnal lifestyle. During the day they rest on their beds, but at night they feed, fatten.

There are different ways to hunt a wild boar:

• from the approach;
• from an ambush;
• with likes;
• from the tower (storage);
• driven.

However, at night, especially on a new moon or in cloudy weather, visibility is very low. Then various devices come to the aid of the hunter. Consider the main auxiliary devices and methods of hunting at night.

With thermal imager

A thermal imager is a device that converts the own thermal radiation of living objects into a “picture”. He is able to work in complete darkness, respectively, becomes a significant help in hunting on a moonless night.

There are a large number of models of thermal imagers, but they all operate at a frequency of 9-60 Hz. The higher the frequency, the better the image. This does not mean that a device with a frequency of 9 Hz will show a blurry "picture". In this case, there will be no smooth movement of the object. He will show a stationary object perfectly, but a moving herd will move in “jumps”. The higher the operating frequency of the device, the smoother the movement of the object can be observed. The optimal frequency is 25 Hz.

For hunting, two types of thermal imagers are usually used:

• surveillance devices;
• sights.

Observation devices can be made in the form of glasses, monoculars or binoculars. The night monocular is quite popular with hunters.

Important! Observation devices cannot be mounted on the barrel of a weapon. They are not designed for shot and recoil, so you run the risk of being left without a valuable device after the first shot.

There are thermal imagers with such a useful function as a rangefinder. If the animal is hiding, and the hunter observes only a warm-blooded mound, it is difficult to understand what kind of animal it is. But the rangefinder will tell you who it is - a wild boar in the distance, or a hare practically under your feet.

And one more plus of the thermal imager is that with its help you can get a wounded animal at night, wherever it lurks: in bushes, pits or thickets.

So, the undeniable advantages of hunting with a thermal imager:

• in pitch darkness, it allows you to make an accurate shot;
• the ability to track camouflaged animals;
• the ability to hunt if the fog descended;
• the opportunity to get a wounded animal;
• the ability to record hunting on video.

Bottom line: a thermal imager is a great hunting assistant. Its only downside is the price.

From the approach

Approach hunting is practiced by experienced hunters, not recommended for beginners.

For such a hunt, you need to know well:

• the habits of the beast;
• the terrain on which the hunt will take place;
• how to find the beast on the trail and read the tracks;
• and also to have patience, endurance and caution.

Night hunting from the approach begins at sunset. Having found a fresh trail of wild boars, the hunter, keeping parallel to the boar path against the wind, carefully approaches the fattening animals at a distance of a shot. During the shot, one should stand so that there is a tree, a stump, a stone between the hunter and the game - a natural shelter.

Bottom line: stalking hunting is an exciting activity for seasoned hunters. Its disadvantage is that if the animals hear or smell you ahead of time, they will run away.

With likes

Laiki are excellent hunting dogs. They are smart, tirelessly pursue the beast and can make their own decisions in the absence of a hunter.

However, night hunting for wild boar with huskies has its own characteristics.

Dogs are hard to see at night, so you have to focus mainly on the sound. Approaching the fattening of the wild boar, the hunter releases the huskies. Dogs cut off the wild boar from the main herd, and either drive it to the hunter, or hold it, preventing it from escaping. Often, huskies circle, lunging, biting, around the beast, and he circles in place, not trying to break through.

You need to listen carefully. If the dog barking is approaching, then the huskies are chasing the boar at you, if it stops, they are holding the beast.

Attention! Do not take more than two dogs on the hunt, otherwise they may lose their caution and suffer from the fangs and hooves of the boar.

The hunter should approach from the leeward side, and with a well-aimed shot, so as not to hurt the dogs, put down the boar.

Bottom line: night hunting with likes is not the most productive activity. With poor visibility, you can not get the beast, and lose the dogs.

With night vision

The night vision scope allows you to see the target for a productive shot.

At the moment, there are three generations of analog sights:

• 1st generation- do not allow to recognize the image in complete darkness. Lighting equivalent to a quarter moon is required. Allow you to see the target at a distance of 50-150 meters (depending on lighting);
• II generation- give a good image even on a new moon. Allows you to see prey at a distance of 145 meters (cloudy) to 630 meters (full moon);
• III generation- have the best optics at the moment, allow you to see the animal from a distance of 200 meters (cloudy) to 830 meters (full moon).

Along with analog, there are digital night vision sights. They allow you to detect prey at a distance of up to 200 meters. You can also hunt with them during the day.

Attention! Not every first generation scope can be mounted on large caliber shotguns.

The result - a good night sight - an excellent assistant in hunting, allows you to aim with high quality and make a killer shot. Minus - cheap sights do not give the best results.

Video: Night vision devices. All generations of night vision devices

On a tower with a lantern

Very often, a tower (storage) is built near the bait fields - a tower about 7 meters high with a "house" in which the hunter awaits the arrival of a herd of wild boars for feeding.

When the animals begin to actively feed, the hunter can turn on a powerful flashlight. Once in a beam of bright light, the wild boar becomes demoralized for a few seconds, freezes, which allows the hunter to clearly aim at the desired prey and make a productive shot.

Typically, tactical lights are used for such purposes. Their main advantages:

• compactness;
• smooth reflector;
• the ability to attach to the trunk in different ways;
• the ability to install a remote button;
• shock resistance.

In winter, such lights shine at a distance of 100-150 meters, in summer - up to 100 meters.

Bottom line: a good flashlight allows the hunter to instantly fire a shot at a disoriented animal. The disadvantage of such equipment is that the hunter must have iron restraint and a steady hand in order to hit the chosen target.

With a night light

Recently, hunting with a night vision device or, as it is colloquially called, with a night light, has become widespread. The principle of its operation is as follows: the device greatly amplifies the light flux reflected from the object, transforms it and projects it onto the screen with a yellow-green glow. NVD are performed in different forms:

• monocular;
• binoculars;
• glasses.

The glasses are preferred by hunters who need to keep their hands free. They are good for hunting from ambush, from an approach, from a tower.

Bottom line: nightlights, especially glasses, will help the hunter hit the target. Minus - the better the quality of the night light, the higher its cost.

Boar behavior at night

Boars are rather large herd animals that are nocturnal. The period of activity in wild boars begins at dusk and lasts all night. This, of course, affected their vision. The eyes of a wild boar see poorly, but they are able to reflect even a weak light, and because of this they “glow” crimson red.

At dusk, wild boars leave their hauling places in search of food. When the herd finds a suitable field, the sows and juveniles are the first to arrive. After a while, the gilts pull up. Cleavers can stand in the bushes without going out into the field, from ten minutes to half an hour, listening carefully and sniffing. If nothing alerts the boar during this time, he will come out to feed.

While eating, animals create a significant background noise: they grunt, champ, snort, squeal. By these sounds, the hunter can easily find the place of fattening and get close to them from the leeward side.

Boar hunting is, first of all, skill and patience. Therefore, when going hunting, you should take care that:

• the weapon was well brushed and adjusted;
• clothes and equipment did not make rustling, tinkling sounds. If necessary, wrap "sonorous" things with a cloth;
• there were no strong smells from the hunter, such as alcohol, tobacco smoke, smells of human activity, housing, household chemicals, hygiene products, new clothes and shoes.

During the hunt:

• watch the wind, approach from downwind;
• be as quiet as possible;
• do not shoot at the withers, aim under the shoulder blade, at the spine;
• do not immediately approach the fallen boar, wait a few minutes;
• come up behind with a loaded gun at the ready;
• make a control shot in the ear.

Batya and I are used to hunting geese in our native Altai fields, where everything is familiar and familiar from childhood. But this year, our Altai leadership got on the nerves with the opening of the hunt. After long unrest and torment, the hunt was opened, but only for 3 days, from April 12 to 13. Well, anyway...
Tickets went on sale two days before the opening and there were queues for them. After several hours of waiting, the documents were received. All our hunting scrub was collected a long time ago, it remains to load it into Nyvka and move out into the fields.
We left the day before the opening of the hunt, in order to determine the place. It is not far to go to the treasured places, about 200 km. The path to the hunting grounds did not inspire optimism, the fields were covered in snow, the goose was not visible. Arriving at the hunting area, it became clear that we were not alone at all) Wherever you look, cars are standing, people are walking and everyone is waiting. Having wandered around the neighborhood, we found a place free from snow and decided to stop. Of course, we undertook thoroughly for the preparation of skradkov, but it was not there. In past years, hunting was opened at the end of April, by this time the earth was warming up and it was possible to calmly dig a trench and mask it, where you consider the most flying place. In the same year, the ground was frozen and all attempts to dig in were useless. This made adjustments to our placement, we had to move to the edge of the field and dig in the snow. The evening went well, with seagulls and kebabs.
Morning has come. Places were taken before sunrise and began to wait. We waited diligently for the goose. At night, almost continuously, there was a buzzing overhead. And in the morning there is no one.
An hour after dawn, the world stirred. Shots began to ring out. The silhouette of geese sometimes appeared on the horizon, but it was free in our direction. Already when disappointment filled all thoughts, a barely noticeable chain stretched from the forest plantation, which increased over time. Oh yeah. It's them. 8 pcs. We walked a little to the side, but gradually shifted to my hiding place. I huddled all over in the snow and couldn't breathe. Having passed over his head, he began to shoot. Knocked out 2 goose. Happiness knew no bounds. All. Successful hunt. The norm for two is fulfilled. What I hastened to tell Bata. He was satisfied, because has been going hunting for a long time to communicate with her. With age, it became a pity for birds and animals.
But you can’t leave after 3 hours of hunting. I took the seagulls in the back and just watched. There were a few more raids, but the geese got only the slits of the camera. After lunch we started to get ready to go home. there was a lot to do. And although the hunt turned out to be short, it brought a lot of positive emotions.

• 1 answer

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 the 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 away from you, it can be obtained 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, sometimes, to pull the boar right under their feet ... Hearing that the dogs at the top have found the boar, the first thing to do is to stand under its possible move to the bottom and only then rise to the 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 shot with a jerk if the boar is spun 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 a consequence 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 along the way 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, except for 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 - red, like those of a bear ... A separate topic, 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 okay, 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-type 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 light 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 suffered... 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 must follow not only the beam of his lantern, but also look around. Otherwise, it can “get lost” in the orientation of what is happening and even wedge 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.

Yuri Vasilenko

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 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, grunting and growling 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 thickets.

Video hunting for wild boar in winter

Video of driven boar hunting