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Photo by Oleg Panteleev Boar (wild pig) has long been a coveted trophy for hunters all over the world. It is a serious, intelligent and quick-witted animal. In the old days it was called a boar. He is always ready to stand up for himself and at the same time is very dangerous. Here is what Alexander Alexandrovich Cherkasov writes about this in his book Notes of a Hunter of Eastern Siberia: "... look at the billhook, when the dogs catch up with him, stop him, hunters fly up and surround him from all sides, and he, seeing trouble, will begin to defend himself All the hair on it will stand on end, its eyes burn with courage and throw terrible sparks, white foam pours out of its mouth in clubs, and the billhook either stands motionless, waiting for an attack, puffs and sharpens its huge white fangs with fury, then rushes at the enemies with an arrow and the brave, swift, elastic swoop knocks down brave fighters, crosses in two, like a mitten, throws up his snout, smacks his fangs like a knife, makes terrible mortal wounds, releases his guts ... One turn of his snout is enough to kill a careless hunter who decides to approach him too close and somehow blunders ... "It is not for nothing that the Russian people still have a saying: "If you go for a bear - take a straw, if you go for a wild boar - drag the coffin." And yet, one should not tremble before the boar. Just always when meeting with him you need to be careful and restraint. And most importantly - you should not fuss and let fear paralyze your mind. In the appearance of a wild boar, one can clearly see the adaptability to life in dense forest thickets and reed supports. A large wedge-shaped head, which occupies almost a third of the entire body, a massive neck and a powerful, laterally compressed body, allow it to run in impassable forest creases and through thickets of thorny bushes with amazing speed in case of danger. The legs of the boar are short, strong, covered with hard hair.
The tail is of moderate length, with a brush at the end, reaching the heel joint. Running away from danger, the wild boar is able to reach speeds of up to 40 km / h, jump up to 4 meters in length, up to 1.5 meters in height, run 10-15 kilometers without rest. It swims quickly and easily, coping with a rather strong current, confidently walks through swamps, climbs steep slopes. The wild boar is a born all-terrain vehicle, and only deep snow hinders its maneuverability. He just seems bulky and clumsy. In fact, the boar is fast and agile. Its throws are lightning fast, the Adult boar reaches an impressive size. With a height at the withers of 120 cm, its length sometimes exceeds 2 meters, and its weight reaches 300 kg or more. It is perfectly "armed". He has well developed fangs. They are so big that they stick out. The fangs of the upper jaw are blunt and short, emerging from the gums, bent upwards. The fangs of the lower jaw (triangular and very sharp) grow in males throughout their lives and by the age of 7 reach a length of 8-10 centimeters. They are never blunt, since the upper ones, which are in close contact with them, serve as a whetstone for their constant sharpening. It is with the lower fangs that the wild boar "does wonders: with them it breaks, stabs, flogs and flogs", No wonder the male wild boar is often called billhooks. Although the female has fangs, they are much smaller than those of males and do not protrude, and therefore she is not so dangerous. The hairline of wild boars is well developed. In winter, it consists of stiff and long bristles, split at the end, which form a kind of mane on the back, and coarse thick undercoat. The color of the bristles is dark brown with light ends, sometimes grayish, almost white. The undercoat is chestnut-brown. The most characteristic of wild boars is a dark brown or dark brown color with darker colored legs, sometimes completely black. Summer hairline consists of sparse and short bristles. The color is brownish-gray, sometimes ash-gray. The boar is very cautious and, as a rule, leaves when a person appears, but when wounded or enraged by the persecution, it often leaves all caution and rushes at the hunter. He has excellent hearing and sense of smell. Vision is less developed. However, it cannot be underestimated. Even for 100-150 meters the wild boar notices the slightest movement of the hunter and immediately changes the direction of its movement. The way of life is gregarious, and only old males live alone. In each herd there is a strict order of subordination. The leader of the herd, as a rule, is the oldest pig. Before the start of estrus, which occurs in November-December, a male billhook enters the herd and becomes its leader. By this time, the skin on his neck and sides thickens - up to 4-5 cm. This thickening is called a Kalkan. It consists of strong elastic fibers, between which there are inclusions of fat cells and sweat glands. Kalkan protects the sides, neck and chest of the boar from the sharp fangs of rivals with two strong shields. All young males older than 9-10 months of age are expelled from the herd. Cleaver copulates with all sexually mature females of the herd and jealously protects his harem from the invasion of other males. A wild and terrible fight is tied up with the alien, and more often than with other animals, the fight ends in death or terrible wounds of one or another male. But especially fierce battles take place between fighters of equal strength and the same age. They always end with the death of one of the opponents. The strongest, liveliest and most dangerous are males aged 6-7 years. At this time they are in their prime. After all the females of the herd are covered, the bulls leave the herd and take refuge in the strongest places, where they live "in splendid isolation." In their place are young lovers who live with the fertilized females until the beginning of spring. The age limit for wild pigs in a herd is 8-10 years. Pregnancy of females lasts about 4 months. In the second half of March or April, piglets are born, usually 5-7 in a litter, in some cases up to 10. The weight of newborn piglets ranges from 750 to 1200 grams. Piglets will be born sighted, well pubescent and striped - against a brown background of wool, longitudinal light stripes about 2 cm wide pass along the back and sides. Hunters call piglets at this time "sailors". In the early days, piglets do not leave their mother. In cold weather, they do not appear outside until two weeks or more.
Pigs are very caring mothers, they boldly protect their cubs and are especially aggressive in the first month after farrowing, rushing towards any animal or person who dares to approach the brood closer than 30-40 meters. In the herd, every pig protects every piglet as if it were her own. The fact is that quite often several females with piglets are combined into one herd, which is joined by gilts driven away during farrowing. Piglets grow quickly and already in December weigh about 15 kg. The habitats of wild boars are floodplains, reed thickets, dense mixed forests, especially rich in shrubs. In the North Caucasus, they live in almost impenetrable forests, overgrown with a keep-tree and intertwined with thorny vines. Although omnivores, wild boars mainly consume easily obtained plant foods. They feed on rhizomes of cattail, reed, reeds, grass, fruits of wild apple trees, nuts and acorns. Of the cultivated plants, corn is preferred. In addition, crops of wheat, barley, potatoes, and especially buckwheat and millet are exposed to their raids. They also eat mollusks, worms, frogs, snakes, and sometimes carrion. During feeding, they always move against the wind in order to smell the danger in advance. In summer, wild boars feed throughout the night, rising from their beds before sunset. In winter, especially in severe frosts, they are active during the day and feed during the warmest time of the day. A characteristic feature in their behavior is bathing. They bathe daily, even in cold weather. At the same time, they prefer dirty clay reservoirs and potholes and puddles filled with water. Swimming in rivers with clean water is extremely rare. Water for wild boars is so necessary that they make transitions to find it no less than to look for food. In their habitats, wild boars cause great harm to the environment. It is known that an increase in their numbers is always accompanied by a sharp decrease in the number of upland game. Observations carried out in the spring of 1976 showed that about 50% of capercaillie clutches, more than 80% of black grouse and about 30% of hazel grouse clutches die from wild boars. The numbers are impressive! Eating a large number of acorns, wild boars significantly undermine the food base of deer and almost completely stop the seed reproduction of oak. In the cold season, they often lay on anthills, which are first torn apart. After that, the anthills freeze through, and the ants die. Wild boars cause great damage to plantings of agricultural crops, and fields located in forests or in their immediate vicinity suffer more from their raids. At the same time, they do not so much eat as trample. That is why in Western Europe they are allowed to shoot all year round. And look what they do with the turf layer? Where a herd of wild pigs fed, it was dug up to a depth of 30 cm, raised and turned over. As a result, tens of square meters of land remain in an extremely unsightly state for a long time. And the last. Many believe that the meat of billhooks has an unpleasant specific smell, which reduces its palatability, and sometimes makes it completely unsuitable for eating. This is a deep delusion. The unpleasant smell of wild boar meat is not its primary property. It is acquired as a result of careless and improper cutting of carcasses. More recently, the range of the wild boar in Russia was limited to the North Caucasus, the lower reaches of the Volga, the southeastern Altai, Transbaikalia, the middle reaches of the Amur and the Ussuri Territory. In the central part, including on the territory of the Moscow region, it was not. But in 1941, driven by the war, wild boars appeared in the Volokolamsk district of the Moscow region. In the winter of 1950, they were already noted on the territory of the Voronezh Reserve, and from January 1953 they began to be systematically observed in the Arkhangelsk region. They are rapidly developing more and more new spaces. By 1970, wild boars had already populated most of European Russia and have become quite common throughout the Moscow region, often found in its forests and agricultural lands. At present, the northern border of the wild boar range in Russia reaches the White Sea in the European part to the northern coast of Lake Baikal in Asia. This border is very unstable, since peculiar ebb and flow is observed all the time, the so-called "pulsation" of the range, characteristic of the wild boar at the northern limit habitats in Eurasia. Now three subspecies of wild boars live within Russia: - European-Caucasian, which is firmly established in the European part of the Federation and in the North Caucasus. Adult individuals weigh from 160 to 260 kg; - Mongolian (Transbaikalian), widely spoken in Transbaikalia. This is the smallest of our boars. Its weight is 55-90 kg; - Far Eastern (Ussuri), inhabiting the territories of the Amur Region, Khabarovsk and Primorsky Territories. This is the largest boar. The weight of adult males reaches 320 kg.
HUNTING METHODS Wild boar is a game animal that provides meat, skin and bristles. The hunt for him is very emotional. Hunting methods are varied. Let us dwell on the main ones and, first of all, on individual methods of hunting.
Hunt from ambush on grass This method is practiced when pigs begin to raid fields of ripening crops. The main conditions for the success of this method are good shelter and suitable wind direction. The wind must blow from the forage field towards the landing and in no case vice versa. Sittings are usually arranged on suitable trees near the edge of the field, not far from the boar trails, since it is better to observe the beast from above. At the same time, the sector of the intended shooting is always chosen in such a way that the shooting is carried out in open space, and not in the direction of the edge, since at dusk, and especially at night, wild boars will be invisible against the background of the forest. You can, of course, arrange a hiding place on the ground, but below it is more difficult to see wild boars, as the stems of plants will interfere, and animals can smell the hunter faster. Skradok should be taken at least an hour and a half before the arrival of the boars, so that during this time the smell of your tracks disappears. The approaching herd can be heard from afar (crunching deadwood, stomping, squealing piglets). In front of the field, the animals usually stop and listen. The gilts are the first to come out into the open, then the pigs with piglets. Cleaver always comes out last. Hunting from ambush in the North Caucasus has its own characteristics. Wild boars have a sweet tooth and love to eat melons and watermelons, and they always choose the most ripe ones. They also hunt for apple orchards. With the onset of moonlit nights, some hunters dig deep ambush during the day right on the melons and in the gardens. And with the onset of darkness, they wait for hours for the arrival of wild boars in them. No matter how careful the wild boar, but sometimes he approaches the shooter literally 10-15 steps.
Hunting from a tower at top dressing This method is a kind of hunting from ambush and fundamentally differs little from it. The difference lies in the fact that you do not need to look for and choose a place for a sit-in, since it has already been chosen, and the sit-in itself has already been made and, as a rule, thoroughly. There is no need to look for wild boars either, they will come on their own and will huddle in a clean place some 15-20 meters from the tower. The whole point of hunting in this way is to wait for the arrival of wild boars without smoking and coughing, and then shoot from a gun at a large and motionless target. It seems that everything is business! However, in practice, things are much more complicated. This is only for the "cool" feeding grounds near the towers are illuminated, and in their hands they have large-caliber hunting carbines with night vision sights. Ordinary mortals, especially if there is no moon, often have to sit in pitch darkness. Shooting in these conditions is not easy. If it is still possible to aim in the direction, since wild boars are quite clearly visible against the background of snow, then it is almost impossible to aim correctly in pitch, because neither the front sight nor the aiming bar of the gun is visible. Gluing strips of white paper to the aiming bar or coating the front sight with a luminous composition does not give the desired effect. Someone came up with the idea of ​​​​using LEDs complete with a 1.5 volt round battery. And it went! One LED began to be mounted near the front sight, the second - in the middle of the aiming bar. Well, then who will adapt. This "system" is activated only at the moment of aiming.
Hunting from under the dog from the approach This is one of the most interesting and prey ways of hunting. But in this case, you need to have firmness of mind, iron restraint and self-confidence, and your dogs should “keep” the beast well. Otherwise, I do not recommend tempting fate! Perhaps yes, I suppose they are unacceptable here! If dog barking is heard all the time from one place, then the dogs have stopped and are "holding" the boar. In this case, you need to rush to the aid of your four-legged friends without delay. If the voices of the dogs move, then the beast is leaving, and the dogs are chasing it. It is necessary either to go to the interception, or to set off in pursuit: it all depends on the nature of the terrain and the prevailing situation. You should always approach the boar from behind or from the side and as close as possible. Be sure to shoot while standing, and not from a knee, so that in case of a miss, the charge goes into the ground, and does not rush somewhere into the distance. After all, besides you, there may be other hunters in this part of the forest, and just random people. For a long time, when hunting for a wild boar, huskies and hounds were used. The latter, by the way, soon had to be abandoned, because, baited by a wild boar, they refused to work on other objects. But likes are still used and deserve the highest praise. They were out of competition. West Siberian Laikas work recklessly on the boar, with great malice, stop it with painful grips from behind (in place), deftly bounce off the blows of the beast, preventing it from moving. However, due to their gladiatorial temperament, they often die.
Sneaking without a dog This is the most difficult way to hunt. It is best to hide wild boars after dark, in mild, windy weather, when they are on the fattening. A feeding herd of pigs usually makes a lot of noise. Hunters take advantage of this and sometimes come close to the boars. But for this you need to see the beast before it detects your presence. You need to approach the boar from the leeward side and do this only when he eats (champing is heard) and wags his tail. If he stopped eating (no champing is heard), and his tail hung, then he paid attention to something and listens - freeze and do not move, The movement can be resumed when champing is heard again. You can also hide wild boars on the haul-outs, but this is done during the day, along the white path. You should move carefully, stopping often and carefully examining all suspicious places: dug up anthills, black spots under the paws of spreading fir trees, where wild boars like to arrange their gayna. Some individuals sleep so soundly that you can literally approach them for 20-30 steps.
Watching for wild boars in the reeds This method is especially emotional, since there are no trees to hide behind if necessary, no stumps or boulders to jump into to evade the boar's attack. Yes, and there is always a quagmire underfoot, which significantly hinders the hunter's movements. Once, while in Poland, I happened to take part in such a hunt. There were three of us. The thorny paths along which the wild boars move in the reed jungle were shown to us by the huntsman. It is appropriate to note here that wild boars are by nature conservatives. They like to walk the same trails, fatten and spend their day rest in permanent places. I chose a place about 10 meters from the manhole trodden by wild boars, loaded my gun and waited. Twilight was rapidly gathering. The place, which I recklessly stood on, turned out to be quite swampy, and within a few minutes my ankle-deep feet were immersed in a black, fetid goo. “It would be necessary to put a board under my feet,” an afterthought flashed through my head. But, as they say, “a good thought comes later!” There was no question of stepping from foot to foot. Immediately such a chomping sound It will spread that further stalking the boars will lose all meaning. shot, there was a squeal of a gilt and the clatter of a running herd. I took off my "Merkel" safety and prepared to meet this running horde. But, fortunately for me, this did not happen. The chomping sound of dozens of hooves began to move away and soon completely disappeared. A ringing silence was again established With great difficulty I freed my legs from the quagmire and lit a cigarette.Hands were trembling treacherously... And now, if possible, let's dwell on collective boar hunting.The most widespread and popular way of such hunting is undoubtedly the pen. Outwardly, it is very reminiscent of an elk hunt. However, it has its own characteristics, since it is associated with a certain risk for both beaters and shooters. It is almost impossible to drive wild boars to where they do not want to go. They will defend themselves in the strongest places, rush in front of the beaters and eventually break through the line of the latter. I remember one of my first hunts in Germany. Then, in the very first corral, we successfully overlaid a small herd. They were mostly wild boars of last year's litter, which now and then flashed before the eyes of the beaters, preferring their noisy neighborhood to the ominous silence standing on the shooting lines. We combed this area three times, but the boars were never set against the shooters. Obviously, the herd was led by someone with solid experience and who knew that the silence ahead was deceptive and that it could explode with a roar of shots at any moment. Then we left the shooting line only at the end of the paddock, and all the rest, in a dense line, once again tried to push this cunning company under the shots. In the event of a breakthrough of wild boars through the chain of beaters, it was allowed to shoot in salaries, but only "to steal". And when the line of beaters for the fourth time approached the shooting line, the boars went on a breakthrough. One of the participants in the hunt later said: “I hear how a wild boar “hooted” ahead and the bushes crackled. The first thought was to determine the direction of its movement and give way.” As soon as he managed to jump aside, a huge billhook jumped out of the thicket, about two meters to the left. The bristles on the back of the neck stand on end, white foam falls from the fanged mouth ... Without having time to properly attach the gun, he fired. Naturally, by. Following the billhook, a large pig jumped out and just under the bar of the hunter's gun. The shot hit the slaughter place, and yet the pig ran another 100 meters. They found it without special work : the bushes on the left and right in the course of her movement were abundantly spattered with blood. If there are no dogs in the corral, then the pigs with piglets always leave the salary first. In front of the shooting line, which, as a rule, stands on a clearing or along the road, they usually stop, mark time, sniff and only then go for a breakthrough. At the same time, nothing can change the direction of their movement: neither the sight of the standing shooters, nor the screams of the beaters , nor the roar of shots. As a rule, this occurs in areas with the most dense vegetation and poor visibility. It is useless to wait for the boars to come out in a clean place. If there are dogs in the salary, and even more so if they have already discovered pigs and are chasing them with a voice, the latter always leave their pursuers on the swings and no longer make any stops. Rush, as they say, "headlong". In Germany and the countries of Eastern Europe, Jagdterriers and Dachshunds are often used as hounds, which the beaters usually carry on their hands and release "in the crawl" only with the start of the corral. Of course, they cannot stop the boar, but they indicate the direction of its movement quite clearly. Cleavers during battue hunts almost always stand in one place. They carefully listen to what is happening, sniff and leave their "sucks" only after the end of the rut and the removal of the hunters from the shooting rooms. Sometimes they go in the direction of the most noise and break through the chain of beaters. Unlike their counterparts, billhooks usually go out of service where it never even occurred to anyone to put shooters: in bare clearings, towards the village, etc. Bulldogs are not afraid of dogs. To get an old billhook on a raid is a matter of chance, and this happens extremely rarely. I will tell about one such case. It was in Germany. That time we hunted together with the Germans. And according to their rules, shooters are placed on numbers with their backs to the corral, and shooting is allowed only at an animal that is out of salary. I was placed on a forest road that ran through a dense plantation of a young spruce forest, the tops of which barely reached my chin. From above, a fine rain mixed with snow continuously poured. We were all pretty wet and chilled. So that the cartridges in the bandolier would not swell, I hid it under a camouflage suit and fastened it with all the buttons. In the first two paddocks, the animal did not enter the shooting line, and, frankly, I did not even count on meeting with the wild boar. But as soon as the horn sounded, announcing the start of the hunt, something incredible began to happen behind my back: barking dogs, shooting, screams of beaters. The feeling is as if, with a large crowd of spectators at clay shooting competitions, you are standing on the fourth number of the round stand area and waiting for the skeet to take off, only you don’t know when and in which direction you will have to shoot, and therefore you look to the left, then to the right. As the beaters approached, the tension mounted. The furious barking of dogs and the cries of the beaters are still in the salary, but on my number it is muffled, "like in a tank." I was about to commemorate the head of the hunt with an unkind word, when a branch crunched on the right. I sharply turn my body to the right: about 12 meters away from me, a huge billhook crosses the road. At some point, he blocked it all, like a dam on a river. I shoot offhand. Past! And the front part of the boar's body has already disappeared into the spruce forest. Almost with a throw, I make the leash with the gun to the left and pull the second trigger. Eat! I see how the tops of the spruce forest "boiled", denoting the movements of the boar. Having run 10 meters by inertia, he vigorously turns in my direction. I convulsively tear the fasteners on my camouflage suit, trying to get to the bandolier, the flaps of which (what carelessness!) are also fastened. The neighbor on the left is running down the road to my rescue. But I have already pulled out one cartridge and put it in the chamber. "Stop!" I give him a sign with my hand and see how a whole herd of wild boars is rushing through the place on which he had just stood, pursued by dogs. And in front of me, in the spruce forest, there was an angry bark and some sort of squelching wheezes. The tops of the Christmas trees have calmed down. I catch my breath. Finally, the forest is announced by the sounds of a horn - the all-clear signal. I begin to wade through the spruce forest to my trophy, focusing on the voice of the dog. Yes, here he is! He lies with his head in my direction: his ears droop, his bristles do not bristle. The dog, sensing my approach, boldly rushes to the carcass and begins to pull the boar for the "nickle" - no response. Seems to have "reached". But nevertheless I go around the side of the boar in order to approach from behind, the gun at the ready. I touch the boar with my foot, his body swayed like jelly. Now it's definitely ready. Neighbor nearby. Other hunters appear. The head of the hunt comes up, breaks a spruce twig and, moistening it in blood, solemnly attaches it to my headdress.
The behavior of a wild boar after a shot A wild boar is surprisingly strong on the wound. If an elk wounded in the stomach passes 200-300 meters, a wild boar with such a wound goes several kilometers. Sometimes, after a successful shot at an elk, the forest giant falls like a mowed down one and remains in place. But when hunting for a wild boar, I don’t remember a single case, so that even after a shot “on the spot”, a wild boar fell dead. He usually runs for a while. With a broken heart, he can go 100 meters. The wild boar is especially strong on the wound in late autumn, when a kalkan forms under its skin. A sure sign of a wounded boar is a lowered tail. Compared to other ungulates, a wounded wild boar produces significantly less blood, which is explained by the tightening of the wound with adipose tissue. Even with a serious injury, blood does not appear on the trail immediately, but only after two or three jumps. Usually, blood in the form of rare drops appears after 100-150 meters. Therefore, it is imperative to follow the tracks of the shot animal for at least 250 meters, even if the shooter claims that he missed. The abundance of blood in the snow indicates a serious injury. If the blood beats in jerks, the heart is broken. The presence of many sprayed droplets of blood indicates a lung injury. Sometimes, when a charge hits, the boar makes a groaning sound, gilts squeal. When a charge hits the upper part of the body, the boar writhes, and jumps into the lower part. If the animal tries to rise to its front legs after a fall, the spine is damaged. If, after the shot, the boar falls and beats on the ground for several seconds, and then rises and rushes away, this indicates a tangential wound to the skull.
Precautions If possible, always take your shooting position near a tree, stump or boulder so that you can hide behind them in case of danger. Standing on the number, first find out the location of the neighboring numbers, indicate yourself by raising your hand, and only after that load the gun. In no case do not shoot at a target that is not clearly visible, at a rustle or noise. Do not leave the room until the "hang up" command is given. But even after this command, approach the fallen beast carefully, with a gun ready to fire. It is best to approach from behind or from the side. You can't go ahead. Quite often, a wild boar that seems to be killed is actually still alive and has enough strength to rush at a hunter approaching him. Always pay attention to his ears and the coat on the neck: if the ears are pressed back, and the bristles on the neck stand on end, then the beast is still alive and dangerous. But getting too close, make a control shot in the ear. Keep in mind that the old billhook can rush at the hunter after barely a shot, even without being wounded. Never shoot at a boar "with a bayonet"; it's better to miss it and hit it in 6ok or on the ridge to steal. The best shots are under the ear and under the front shoulder blade. Pursuit of a wounded boar; always dangerous. In these cases, he clogs into the very support, hides and, as a rule, rushes at a suitable hunter. You can dodge his throw by jumping to the side. Having run past, the boar rarely repeats its attack. An accidental fall of a hunter in this situation usually ends tragically. Never start trailing a wounded boar at dusk, and also do not let two dogs follow the trail at once, as they lose their caution in a pair.
Boris Abramov National hunting magazine "Hunting" No. 5 - 2002


To the category of upland game, hunters usually include capercaillie, hazel grouse, black grouse, white and tundra partridges, and sometimes woodcock.

The common capercaillie is a typical taiga bird. Leads a settled way of life, only occasionally, irregularly and not far migrates in the autumn-winter period. Distributed in the forest belt of Europe, western and central Siberia (up to Baikal). It starts to current even before the appearance of the first thawed patches. The current male spreads his tail like a fan, softly clicks, chirps. Where there are few capercaillie, males lek singly. The height of the current coincides with the intense melting of snow in the forest. After the mating period, capercaillie begin to molt, and they hide in dense and cluttered areas of the forest. Only the female participates in the upbringing of the offspring. Chicks appear in mid-June and later. In the first days they feed on ants and other insects, later they begin to peck at plants - green shoots, inflorescences, berries and seeds. In winter, capercaillie feed almost exclusively on needles. In the larch forests of Eastern Siberia, the stone capercaillie lives - a close relative of the common capercaillie, with which it sometimes forms hybrids. The stone capercaillie differs from the common one in its smaller size, black beak, and long tail. It flows on the ground (although it often begins to sing on a tree) and does not stall. His song also sounds different - without clicking and chirping. The hazel grouse is distributed from the western border of the CIS to the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. Inhabits spruce and mixed forests with dense undergrowth. Sedentary bird, occasionally and irregularly roams in winter. Willingly settles in the valleys of streams and small taiga rivers. Sexual maturity occurs at the age of one year. During the mating season, which begins in late March - early April, hazel grouse can form pairs. The male is always near the incubating female, and then the brood. Usually there are no more than 10 eggs, rarely up to 15. They are brilliant brown in color with rare reddish spots and strokes, sometimes without them. The female sits firmly in the nest, takes off from under her very feet and sometimes allows herself to be taken with her hands. Incubation lasts about three weeks. Young hazel grouse, barely dry, leave the nest and, together with the female, go to forest clearings and edges, where they find food in abundance. The first broods occur in mid-June. Three-week-old hazel grouses already spend the night on trees, and in August they are already indistinguishable from adults. They feed on insects, molluscs, berries, alder, birch leaves, peck tree buds, birch inflorescences and young shoots. Broods break up in autumn. Grouse spend the winter in pairs or alone in the same places where they nest.
Black grouse lives in the forest and forest-steppe zones of Europe and Asia. Prefers edges, clearings, sparse deciduous forests, alternating with fields; deaf taiga avoids. Sedentary bird, only occasionally making long migrations in winter in search of places rich in food. In the past, when there were a lot of black grouse, wandering flocks of 300-500 birds were not uncommon even for the European part of the country, but now their winter flocks do not exceed several dozen. Winter food for black grouse consists mainly of plant buds, primarily birch. During the day, the flock feeds on trees, at night it burrows into the snow and spends the night there. In frost and snowstorms, black grouse can sit under the snow for a long time, until noon, but usually they fly out to feed at dawn. If at night the thaw is replaced by frost, the black grouse sleeping under the snow in the morning find themselves in an ice trap. This is one of the reasons for the death of black grouse in winter. In the spring - in March - with the first thawed patches, grouse currents begin. A place for currents is chosen at the edges, among the swamp. The scythes that have flocked here “sniff”, “mutter”, spread their tail like a fan, and fight. Where there are few black grouse, they lek singly, sometimes in the middle of the field, away from the edges or on the trees, without descending to the ground. The height of the currents falls on April. Black grouse do not form permanent pairs, and males do not take part in incubation and care for offspring. Nests are arranged under a bush or a small tree, not far from the current and near the berries. If the eggs of the first clutch die, then the female lays 2-4 more eggs. In June - early July, chicks hatch from eggs, in which feathers on wings grow in a week. In the morning they feed on berry fields, in burnt areas and unmowed meadows and clearings; when the bread ripens, the birds visit them regularly. In late August and early September, young black grouse fight off the female and lead an independent life. Black grouse's summer food is berries, grains of cereals, inflorescences of forest herbs, and partly insects.
The Caucasian black grouse lives in the alpine belt of the Main Caucasian Range and the Lesser Caucasus. It differs from the ordinary one in smaller sizes; in males, the tail plaits are bent down; in females, a smaller “striated” pattern on the chest. In winter, it descends from the mountains into tall fir forests.

White partridge - (Central Russian subspecies is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation). The distribution area of ​​​​this bird occupies the north of the European part, Siberia, Northern Kazakhstan. In the tundra it nests in moss swamps and burnt areas, in the southern parts of the range - along river valleys and willow thickets. In winter, it makes irregular migrations, the length of which depends on the forage yield. In the alpine belt of mountains and the tundra, partridges roam, moving to more suitable places for wintering. These birds are interesting for the protective change of plumage. In winter they are snow-white, with a black beak and black outer tail feathers, plumage is red-brown in summer. Various combinations of red-brown and white are characteristic of the spring and autumn plumage of these birds. In winter, a flock of partridges keeps among shrub willows and birches, occasionally flies up to trees and pecks at buds. At night the birds crawl under the snow. Their paws are densely pubescent with feathers, so the birds move easily on soft snow, almost without falling through. In addition to buds in winter, partridges feed on shoots and berries dug out from under the snow. In early spring, even before the thaw, males begin to lek. Then the birds break into pairs and are placed in nesting areas, which are vigilantly guarded from other males. At this time, fights are common among cockerels. The nest is arranged in a fairly secluded place and is well camouflaged. An important condition for the chosen place is the possibility of a quick take-off and a good overview. In the tundra, where man does not bother birds, there are open nests. The incubating female sits very firmly. Only the female incubates, but the male is near the nest. Chicks appear in late June - early July (depending on weather and terrain). Having barely dried, they leave the nest and with both parents go to dense shrubbery, to the berry fields, where they stay until the young rise to the wing. Often several families join together. Partridges are characterized by several molts: three for the female and four for the male. The white partridge is a herbivorous bird. Grass shoots, tree buds, plant seeds and berries form the basis of her food. Chicks, in addition, willingly eat insects.
The tundra partridge is a medium-sized bird. The build is dense, the head is small, the relative length of the wings is somewhat longer than that of other grouse birds, the tail is relatively short and slightly rounded. In winter, the fingers are completely feathered. The tundra partridge lives in the arctic and moss tundras, subalpine and alpine belts of mountains and penetrates farther to the north than other grouse birds. Like the white partridge, this species has a circumpolar distribution, but its range is less extensive and has a more complex configuration. The tundra partridge lives in the north of the Kola Peninsula, the northern parts of the Ural Mountains and the Yamal and Gydan Peninsulas, in Taimyr and in the Yakut tundra. Further, the northern border of the range runs mostly along the coast of the mainland, and the southern border captures the Verkhoyansk Range and the Aldan Highlands and, along the southern slopes of the Stanovoy Range, goes to the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. There are no partridges within the indicated boundaries in the lowlands of Kamchatka, the Anadyr and Penzhina valleys, and the tundras of the lower Kolyma and Alazeya. The tundra partridge also inhabits the mountain systems of Altai, Sayan and Khamar-Daban, is found on the Commander and Kuril Islands and Franz Josef Land. This species lives in North America , Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, northern parts of Great Britain and Scandinavia, and the Alps and Pyrenees. Within the range, 26 subspecies are distinguished in partridges. The color of the plumage in winter is white, with the exception of black tail feathers (at their ends there are white apical stripes), a black beak and dark claws. The shafts of the primary flight feathers are also dark. Males have a so-called "bridle" - a black stripe running along the sides of the head from the corner of the mouth through the eye. Females do not have such stripes, only some individuals have separate black feathers in these places. In spring, males acquire a breeding outfit, characterized by the presence of brown feathers scattered over the head, neck and shoulders. Females have no spring attire. The summer outfit is variegated: the color of most of the body is formed by gray feathers with transverse black, white and yellowish stripes, the belly and wings remain white. Autumn attire is similar to summer, but white winter feathers are already appearing in it. The winter molt is extended, which is an adaptation of birds to living in landscapes where snowless tundra alternates with snow-covered spaces. In general, in appearance, the tundra partridge is very similar to its relative, the white partridge, and in the field (especially in winter) it is not easy to distinguish them. It differs from the latter by a more gray plumage color in the snowless period, dark claws and cores of primary flight feathers, the presence of a “bridle” in males, a thinner and more elegant beak and somewhat smaller sizes. The tundra partridge leads a predominantly terrestrial lifestyle and moves well both on solid ground and on loose snow. Like white partridges, in winter, birds sometimes fly up trees when feeding, but this behavior is much less common in tundras. Periods of feeding activity - morning and evening. In winter, when daylight is short and feeding time is limited, daytime rest is weakly expressed. In winter, tundra partridges stay in flocks, which, however, are smaller in size than white partridges, and, as a rule, do not exceed 60-90 individuals. Most often there are flocks of 5-10 birds. In places of joint habitat, white and tundra partridges often keep in the same flocks; the ratio of species in this case, as a rule, is in favor of the former. Living in mixed flocks, the tundra largely adopt the behavioral traits of white partridges: they stay in stages that are uncharacteristic of them - willow forests, become more cautious and, in case of danger, are guided by the reaction of their more "vigilant" relatives. By themselves, tundra partridges are very trusting birds: in every second case, even a relatively large flock of them can be approached quite openly at 40-50 meters before they begin to show signs of anxiety. Single birds let a person even closer, and it is often possible to get closer to them by 5-10 m. If you do not make sudden movements, the birds do not take off, but try to run away. Tundra partridges are silent. Only during the breeding season or on the eve of it, you can hear the voice of the male, reminiscent of the rolling "Krrrr ...". The female makes soft moaning sounds. The favorite habitats of tundra partridges are stony tundras, characterized by alternating stone placers and areas with grassy, ​​moss, lichen or sparse shrub cover. In the flat tundra, partridges usually stay on the tops and slopes of hills. During the snowless period, these birds avoid thickets of bushes. In winter, the distribution of partridges is determined by areas of the tundra bare of snow, where birds can find food. In many areas, they migrate from the nesting area. In wintering areas, they stick to shrubs (alder forests, dwarf birches, thickets of elfin cedar, less often willow forests), since their buds and catkins form the basis of bird nutrition during this period. The nutrition of tundra partridges within the range is very diverse. In the snowless period, the basis of the diet is seeds of various plants, flowers and leaves of blueberries, blueberries, andromeda, bulbs of viviparous buckwheat, berries, leaves and stems of crowberries, blueberries, lingonberries and bearberries, dryad leaves and various kinds willows, boxes of mosses. In the north Far East along with the listed feeds, the birds eat nuts of the dwarf pine. Animal food in the diet of adult partridges is rare, in chicks - more often, although they are not as important in their diet as in other grouse birds. Tundra partridges are monogamous. Birds become sexually mature by the end of the first year of life. In spring, the male occupies the nesting area, which protects others from intrusion. First of all, the birds occupy the territories freed from snow. As a rule, males lek in the morning and evening hours. The timing of nesting is determined by the geographical location of the area and the weather conditions of spring. The nest is primitive and differs little from the nests of other grouse birds. Usually the female arranges a nest in an open place among stones or low shrubs, sometimes among a hummock; the variegated grayish plumage of the female makes her invisible against the background of the surrounding area. The size of a full clutch usually ranges from 5 to 9 eggs, although in some cases it can be more. The duration of incubation is 20 days. The chicks leave the nest a few hours after hatching. One-day-old chicks weigh 13-14 g. Chicks grow quickly and at the age of 10 days they can already fly, and after one and a half to two months they reach the size of their parents. Throughout most of their range, tundra partridges make seasonal migrations. The direction of migration of partridges is determined primarily by the direction of the riverbeds, along the valleys of which partridges migrate. The return of tundra partridges to their nesting sites is timed to coincide with the onset of intense snowmelt.
Woodcock is widely distributed throughout the forest zone of the CIS, with the exception of its northern strip. It winters in South and Central Asia and in the south of Europe, partly in the Crimea, in the Caucasus. The woodcock arrives in April. Shortly after arrival, draft begins - the current of the woodcock. The draft begins at sunset, continues until dark, and stops briefly, resuming at dawn. This upland sandpiper nests in dense and dark forests, rich in ravines, country roads and wet lowlands. Feeds mainly on soil invertebrates (worms and insect larvae) which it extracts long beak from soft earth, in a smaller amount - vegetable feed. One female incubates and raises chicks. Having barely dried, the chicks can run and feed on their own. In case of danger, the female carries them through the air, holding them between her paws.
Pigeons Of the representatives of this detachment, the most common wood pigeon or vyyuten is found in our country. It is distributed in the European part of the CIS, Western Siberia, east to the Irtysh and in Central Asia. Migrant. Appears in late April May. Soon after arrival on a tree (mainly coniferous), he builds a nest or looks for a suitable (empty) crow. Both parents participate in incubation of eggs and in all other cares for the chicks. Young chicks are completely helpless. Adult birds feed them by regurgitating "milk of the goiter". The grown up young animals, like adults, eat plant foods. In the autumn wood pigeons often fly out to feed on the fields. They often and willingly drink, fly to the watering place in the same place several times a day. Wood pigeons spend the night on tall trees. In addition to the wood pigeon, other pigeons are also found in the hunting grounds of our country - smaller and less important for fishing and amateur hunting: rock pigeon, stock dove, common and ringed turtledoves, etc. A trip abroad is always a responsible step and in order not to "fly" it is better to book tickets in advance. Early booking will allow you not to worry whether the tickets you need will be sold on the day of departure.


Good and predictable results in terms of accuracy and lethality are given by bullets of Russian designers Viktor Polev (Polev bullet 1, 2, 3, 3E, 5, 6, 7) and Viktor Shashkov (PPTS-E, "Grizzly-35", "Grizzly-36" , "Grizzly-40"). Bullets "Grizzly-35", "Grizzly-36", "Grizzly-40" are intended primarily for firing from "paradox" weapons, but can also be used in smoothbore weapons. The PPTs-E bullet is produced specifically by order of the Tula Cartridge Plant (TPZ) under the name "Sub-caliber target bullet (expansive)", abbreviated as PPTs-E. The Tula Ammunition Plant supplies WOLF cartridges with PPTs-E bullets. When self-equipping the above bullets, it is better to use gunpowder "Sunar-42" and "Falcon".
Bullets for smoothbore weapons Bullets Polev, PPTs-E, "Grizzly" Good and predictable results in terms of accuracy and lethality are given by bullets of Russian designers Viktor Polev (bullet Polev 1, 2, 3, 3E, 5, 6, 7) and Viktor Shashkov (PPTs -E, "Grizzly-35", "Grizzly-36", "Grizzly-40"). Bullets "Grizzly-35", "Grizzly-36", "Grizzly-40" are intended primarily for firing from "paradox" weapons, but can also be used in smoothbore weapons. The PPTs-E bullet is produced specifically by order of the Tula Cartridge Plant (TPZ) under the name "Sub-caliber target bullet (expansive)", abbreviated as PPTs-E. The Tula Ammunition Plant supplies WOLF cartridges with PPTs-E bullets. When self-equipping the above bullets, it is better to use gunpowder "Sunar-42" and "Falcon". Shooting with Polev sub-caliber bullets and PPTs-E bullets can be carried out from smooth-bore weapons with choke up to a full choke (1 mm) inclusive. All of the above bullets allow their use from semi-automatic and magazine weapons without restrictions. To catch a large (300 kg or more) elk, it is hardly advisable to use Polev bullets (except for Polev 1; 6) at a distance further than 70 m, despite excellent accuracy.
Rubeykin Bullet The prototype of this bullet is the famous Blondeau bullet, invented in France by engineer Roland Blondeau. The Rubeykin bullet is not manufactured industrially and is not equipped with industrial cartridges. Bullet material is brass. Bullet quality: 1 - good stopping power. Even if hit in the wrong place, the beast quickly dies. Due to the sharp edges of the head part, the wound does not heal and always bleeds profusely; 2 - good accuracy and accuracy of combat even when firing at extreme distances; 3 - the bullet confidently overcomes the bush, does not change the flight path. Equipment: 1 - match the diameter of the container with a bullet with the diameter of the barrel; at the same time, the stiffening ribs in the container, which prevent the free placement of the bullet, must be removed; 2 - separate the obturator from the container and remove the jumpers connecting them; 3 - cut the container with the connecting bridges removed lengthwise into two parts. 2.3–2.5 g of Sokol gunpowder is poured into the sleeve, preferably plastic. A plastic obturator without a hole is sent to it with a force of 5–6 kg. A set of thin cardboard spacers with a total thickness of 2 mm is installed on it. One wood-fiber wad is placed on the gaskets; if felt is used, it should be soft, and it should be cut lengthwise into 4 parts to soften the blow to the bullet during the aftereffect. A set of thin cardboard spacers with a total thickness of 1 mm is placed on top of the wad. The thickness of all wads should ensure the height of the neck of the sleeve for twisting is approximately 5 mm. The halves of the container are put together, a bullet is inserted, sent into the sleeve and rolled with a regular twist. The petals of the container should not protrude above the bullet, the protruding part must be cut off. A cartridge loaded in this way guarantees an accurate shot. Bullet Sauvestra (BFS - Balle Fleche Sauvestre)
Until recently, the most popular in Europe were only a few types of bullets for smoothbore ammunition - these are the bullets of Brenneke, Gualandi, McElvin. All the mentioned bullets at a distance of 80 meters show an accuracy of 5–8 cm. The only exception is the French sub-caliber bullet, designed by engineer Jean-Claude Sauvestre. The Sovestra bullet maintains a flat trajectory up to 100 m, which allows it to be successfully used for shooting a large animal. At the same time, there is no need to make vertical corrections when shooting at a distance of up to 100 m. The probability of hitting real conditions. We can say that the flatter the trajectory, the less the shooter's error in determining the range to the target affects the probability of hitting a bullet. In rapidly changing hunting conditions, it is easy to make a mistake of 10-15 m, as a result, you can miss. The difference between the points of impact of the Sauvestre bullet at distances of 50 and 75 m is only 6 cm. The lowering of the trajectory at a distance of 100 m from the aiming line is 18 cm. It should be noted that the responses of hunters about the accuracy of the bullet are far from ambiguous. In a word, each barrel must have its own cartridge. For confident shooting at a distance of 100 meters or more, you must use an optical sight. When firing a Sovestra bullet in winter, when the air temperature is -25 °C and below, it is not recommended to use choke narrowings of more than 0.25 mm, since the container may break, which will affect the accuracy of shooting. Time-tested samples of imported bullets include bullets such as Brenneke and Gualandi.
Bullet Brenneke Despite the fact that the Brenneke bullet was patented over 90 years ago, it has not undergone significant changes. The Brenneke bullet has proven itself well in our country and abroad, it gives good accuracy and lethality up to 80 m. The classic Brenneke bullet was specially developed for rifles with chokes. And the best performance, according to manufacturers, is achieved precisely from full chokes (for the 12th - 1 mm), this statement also applies to the Brenneke-Magnum bullet weighing 39 g. companies "Tekhkrim" and "SKM". For game hunting, I would still like to recommend Brenneke-Classic and Brenneke-Exakt cartridges from RWS, because. all experiments in the fatherland with this bullet often led to inadequate results. This bullet is too simple in design, but as experience shows, this “simplicity” ruined many attempts to recreate it anywhere.
Bullet Gualandi is available in three versions: Gualandi 28 g; Gualandi 32 g; Gualandi 40 g Bullet Gualandi 28 g Sub-caliber bullet designed for firing from barrels with choke. At the same time, the complete safety of the muzzle constrictions is guaranteed. Comfortable recoil when firing a sub-caliber bullet will undoubtedly contribute to shooting accuracy. It is not recommended to use this bullet in weapons with chokes of more than 1 mm, due to the possibility of dismantling the plastic pallet of the bullet in the choke, as well as in weapons with an underbarrel magazine.
Bullet Gualandi 32g This is a typical 12 gauge hunting bullet. With this cartridge, you can get a medium elk and a large wild boar. It must be remembered that the effective firing distance of such a cartridge does not exceed 50–60 m. The cartridge can be used in most 12-gauge guns. Frequent firing of a 32g Gualandi caliber bullet from a 1mm choke barrel is not recommended. It is impossible to shoot from guns with a barrel with “reinforced choke” choke (more than 1 mm) with this bullet. It is better to use chokes of 0.5 and 0.25 mm. Bullet Gualandi 40 g Bullet Gualandi weighing 40 g has a good stopping power. At a distance of 50 m, the lethality of a bullet exceeds the stopping effect of almost all bullets of a 7.62 mm rifled weapon and practically corresponds to a shot from a 9.3 mm rifled weapon. Cartridge with Gualandi 40 g bullet can be successfully used for catching large elks and wild boars. This bullet is used in magnum cartridges, so your weapon must be chambered at least 76 mm. Good ballistic characteristics of the bullet and excellent stopping power allow it to be used effectively at distances up to 70 m. Due to design features Forty-gram Gualandi bullets are strictly not allowed to shoot from guns with any muzzle constriction (only a cylinder). Recently, the number of different models of bullets made of materials alternative to lead (steel, brass, bronze) has increased dramatically. Steel with a specific gravity of 7.8 g/cm3 is a material that is resistant to deformation at the time of the shot, and allows you to give the bullet a complex shape, favorable from the point of view of aerodynamic flight. It should be noted that most of these bullets have a good stopping effect, acceptable flatness and accuracy at distances up to 100 m, a reduced ricochet probability, as a rule, the ability to shoot from barrels of any drill, the ability to overcome obstacles in the form of branches and grass without changing the trajectory. Steel bullets in a frame made of polyethylene elements are well developed today. The most successful bullets from this group in terms of design are: Ivanov bullet, Udar bullet, Blondo bullet, Rubeykin bullet, D Dupleks bullets (Dupo 28; Monolit 32; Monolit 28; Rossa 32; Hexolit 32). To increase the efficiency of energy transfer, the front of these bullets is made straight and flat. Such bullets partially lose their aerodynamic qualities, but they have a strong impact effect due to the wide and flat frontal surface. Experience and statistical data on the range of shots on a hunt show that the degraded aerodynamic characteristics of a flat frontal surface cannot have a negative effect on a sufficiently strong impact of a bullet even at a distance of 120–140 m. Despite the fact that the high aerodynamic resistance of a flat frontal surface of a bullet is undeniable , tests have shown that the stopping effect of a bullet with a flat frontal surface is effective to a very long distance. This is explained simply: the large frontal surface of the bullet, even at a great distance at the moment of impact, provides a more efficient return of kinetic energy than a small diameter bullet. In addition to high frontal resistance, other factors are crucial for accurate and successful shooting at long distances - the initial velocity of the bullet and the nature of the recoil of the weapon, which determines the angle of the bullet ejection relative to the reference point of the weapon. These bullets are indispensable, especially when shooting a wild boar in driven hunting, stalking and shooting from under a dog. For confident shooting on animal hunting, you need to know the anatomy of the animal. Shooting practice shows that the most successful and guaranteed shot is either a shot at the lungs or at the front shoulder blade. It is desirable that the bullet opens up, while holding the mass, hitting the vital organs and leaving a good wound channel. This allows you to more effectively search for the beast on the blood trail. The correct choice of bullet type and caliber for a successful shot is very important. And, of course, the weapon must be well adjusted with the appropriate type of cartridge for hunting.


Rifle bullets All of the calibers listed work well in elk and wild boar when combined with Norma bullets (Oryx; Vulkan; Alaska; Nosler Partition; Swift A-Frame; Barnes Triple-Shock).
Oryx The Oryx bullet has high hitting accuracy, good projectile diameter expansion, high penetrating power and very high residual weight (up to 96%), as well as high impact efficiency on all European ungulates.
Vulkan The Vulkan is a classic, time-honored bullet with a thin shell in the forefoot, which results in rapid expansion in diameter and high energy return (up to 78% residual weight).
Alaska The Alaska bullet is a classic among Scandinavian elk hunters. The tried and tested lead-tipped tombac-jacketed projectile is known for its fast and good expansion.
Nosler Partition Bullet Nosler Partition - with controlled (limited) expansion (residual weight up to 64%). For a large and hard-to-wound animal.
Swift A-Frame Swift A-Frame bullet with very high residual weight (up to 98%) and high penetration. For a large and hard-to-wound animal.
Barnes Triple-Shock The Barnes Triple-Shock is a new bullet with the highest resistance on the market (100% residual weight). This is a bullet for high speeds and hard bones of a large animal. Oryx, Swift A-Frame and Barnes Triple-Shock bullets allow you to catch elk and big boar from any angle with high efficiency, where including a flat shot is required. Cartridge 308Win. it is better to use it for hunting elk weighing up to 200–250 kg with Oryx, Nosler Partition, Swift A-Frame, Vulkan bullets. RWS cartridges give the best results when hunting wild boar and elk in combination with Evo, DK, HMK, Uni Klassik, KS, TMR bullets.
Evo The Evo bullet is the new Evolution bullet with high accuracy. Evolution provides a very good stopping power even at long ranges, its high penetrating power makes the bullet particularly effective when hunting large game. Thanks to the design of the Rapid-X-Tip ballistic tip, the process of bullet deformation begins immediately after hitting the target. Already at the very first stage, the Evolution bullet transfers enough energy to the target, providing the required stopping effect. The residual mass of the bullet after hitting is close to 100%.

Some hunting bullets have a negative effect on barrel survivability. It has to do with shell design. The new Evolution bullet does not have this disadvantage. Due to the presence of a recess in the bottom part, the bullet has less rigidity and causes less wear on the bore. Nickel plating of the bullet prevents the formation of deposits in the bore.

DK The DK bullet is double-core, consisting of two lead cores of different hardness and a tombac bullet jacket. The weight ratio of the cores is 50:50. Features of the bullet: - a good and clear trace of the affected game; - a very short distance for leaving the game after the shot; – bullet design (cutting edge) ensures smooth cutting of wool at the inlet; – optimal expansion in the first half of the game body; – slight damage to game meat.

HMK Bullet HMK - A feature of this bullet is the famous H-bridge, which defines the exact border of deformation in the middle of the shell. Two cores of different hardness are responsible for the double action of the bullet. The front part, after hitting the body of the game, unfolds very quickly with great expansion and the formation of a large number of fragments. Cylindrical posterior splits along the H-groove, allowing penetration even when hitting big game bone. Bullet features: - limited fragmentation due to the H-shaped bridge; - reliable provision of the outlet; – slight damage to game meat; - quick death of game from shock.

Uni Klassik The Uni Klassik bullet has high rigidity and good residual weight. The design of the bullet is two cores of different hardness, where the rear, more rigid part, enters with its end into the front, which is softer. This design, when hit in game, leads to a mushroom-shaped deformation of the front. The back of the bullet, which has more than a third of the increased area, provides good external ballistics of the bullet. Features of the bullet: - a good and clear trace of the affected game; – the front part of the core is characterized by fragmentation with limited fragmentation; – the rear part, more rigid, retains its shape and reliably provides the required outlet; – bullet design (cutting edge) ensures smooth cutting of wool at the inlet; – slight damage to game meat.

KS Bullet KS - provides controlled deformation and uniform expansion regardless of the size of the game. The external shape of the bullet creates ideal conditions for high accuracy and flatness. Bullet features: - very high accuracy, thanks to the long leading belt; – small formation of fragments; - a groove in the design of the back of the bullet provides the required exit hole.

TMR Bullet TMR - with a very high degree of expansion in the body of the game. Sometimes fragmentation of the bullet is observed, as a result of which a through shot is not always possible. High stopping power and insensitivity to obstacles allow this bullet to be widely used in driven hunting. Bullet features: – high breaking capacity in hunting small game; – good value for money. Federal Premium cartridges equipped with Barnes Triple-Shock X-Bullet, Barnes MRX-Bullet bullets will do a good job of reliably defeating the beast; Trophy Bonded Bear Claw; Nosler Partition.
Dmitry Kopaev Photo by Viktor Kozlovsky


Photo by Vladimir Makarov Early springs are worse than late ones. Early ones usually become protracted, warmings are interrupted by the return of cold weather. In late spring, the first summer months are warmer, which is favorable for wildlife. Hence the saying: "Late spring will not deceive."
Late springs are repeated more often, coming in early April. In the center of ETR, spring snowmelt most often begins on March 18. Then there will be other phenological subseasons - the revival and the height of spring, and only then, on the 20th of May, the prelude will come.

Rainy autumn - rainy spring. Last autumn was not rainy.
If the snow is applied early in the autumn, then the spring is early. There was no early snow.
If September is cold, it will snow in March. September was warm
Early snow in winter - by early spring. Winter snow is late this winter.
It melts early - it does not melt for a long time. In February, it did not thaw early.
Long icicles - for a long spring. There are no long icicles yet.
Snowy winter - to a long spring and rainy summer. Winter this year is quite snowy.
Early fall of foliage on trees (birch, maple, aspen) - by early spring next year. Last fall, leaf fall in the Moscow region was delayed by almost a month
If around the trees the edges of melting snow are steep - to a cold spring, flat - to a long one.
Mice arrange nests at the bottom of mounds or in the ground - by a dry spring.
The woodpecker knocks early (back in January) - by early spring. In January, the woodpecker was silent, he was cold and not up to knocking.
The colder the last week of February, the warmer it is in March.
In January - March, in March - January. January was "January", not March. You can think that March will be "March".
If February is rainy, then spring and summer can be expected to be rainy. February was not rainy.

What the Folk Calendar predicts for us:
23.07. If birch leaves begin to turn yellow from the top (third decade of July) - wait for early spring (next). And if below - the next spring is late. If evenly - medium. In our area, birch leaves at the tops and at the bottom turned yellow at about the same time, later than usual. 07.10. Fekla-zarevnitsa. Like October, like April. Last October was good 08.11. Demetrius of Thessalonica. Dimitriev day. Grandfather's week. If November 8 is cold and snowy, the spring is late and cold, and if there is a thaw, winter and spring are warm. In the central regions of the ETR on this day the air temperature was positive, in some places there was heavy rain and drizzle. Looking forward to a warm spring. 09.11. What is the weather in November, so is May. The weather in November was generally slightly warmer than the long-term average. 22.11. Matryona winter. Cloudy, snowy weather predicts a rainy May. Cloudy weather with snowfalls was observed throughout the ETR. 28.12. The day shows what March will be like. Cloudy weather prevailed over most of the ETR, and snowfalls were noted in the zone of the atmospheric cold front. 29.12. Haggai. The day shows what April will be like. During the day, a warm atmospheric front passed, which brought cloudy weather with snowfalls, turning into heavy rains during the day. 30.12. Ananias, Azarias, Misail. The day shows what May will be like. Above the center of ETR, the southeastern periphery of the cyclone was located, in which atmospheric fronts “provided” cloudy weather, in the southeast in places with snowfalls, and in the northwest in places with rains. 06.01. If it is warm on this day, the spring will be cold. It was cold. 07.01. Nativity. In the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, founded by hegumen Sergius of Radonezh, there is a 15th-century manuscript "Kolyada". This manuscript contains signs determined by the days on which Christmas falls (Kolyada holiday). Christmas this year fell on Saturday, and this is what is written in the manuscript: “And if on Saturday it will be the Nativity of Christ, the winter is windy, the fruit is scarce for good, the spring is dry, spring and summer are wet, destruction of sheep, many cases, three-day shaking, old ruin." In other words, spring should be expected to be “wet”. 24.01. Fedosey-Vesnyak. Fedoseevo is warm in early spring. The warm days of January do not respond well. It was cold, don't expect early spring. 25.01. Tatiana. The sun will peep at Tatyana - to the early arrival of birds. Early sun, early birds. The sun will peep through - by an early and friendly spring. Didn't look through. 26.01. The first "chi-chi-fi" of the great tit herald early spring. By mid-February, the first spring songs of titmouse had not yet sounded. 31.01. Athanasius Lomonos, Cyril. At noon the sun - early spring. The sun "peeped through". 01.02. Makariev day. Clear sunny Makariev day - early spring. If drops - believe in early spring. There was no clear sunny day, but as for a drop... During the day the air temperature was -20...-24°. 02.02. Evfimy. On Euphemia at noon the sun is early spring. The second day of February shows spring: sunny - to the red spring, cloudy - wait for late snowstorms. The weather was cloudy and cold. 04.02. Timothy is a semi-winter. If the sun is visible on this day at noon, then spring will be early. Almost the entire ETR was full of clouds and snowfalls on the atmospheric front. 06.02. Aksinya-half-winter, half-bakery Xenia. What is Aksinya, such is spring. A bucket for half-winter - spring is red. There was no bucket. There was cloudy frosty weather, in the north-west in the front zone, snowfalls were noted in places. 14.02. Tryphon. Starry on Tryphon - late spring. If many stars appear in the sky, then winter will stand still for a long time and spring will be late. There were no stars. 15.02. Candlemas. Sustretiev day (meeting of winter and spring). What is the weather like at the Candlemas, so will the spring be. On Candlemas Day, a snowball - in the spring a dozhzhok. Snow sweeps across the road - there will be a late spring, and if it does not sweep, then early. If the rooster gets drunk on this day, winter will continue for a long time. On this day, the weather in the center and in the south and southeast of the ETR was cloudy, with snowfalls of varying intensity, only to the north of St. Petersburg there were breaks in the clouds. The results of the checks carried out by climatologists revealed that after a very warm December in 70% of the years, April is also warm, and in 60% of cases it is very warm. December was relatively warm, one can hope that April will also be relatively warm. It was found that after a very warm January, March is also warm in 90% of years. January was very cold.
Let's summarize:
Timing. The vast majority of signs speak of the onset of spring neither early nor late, but at the usual time.
Cloudy. More normal than cloudy.
Precipitation. You can expect a lot of precipitation, as they say, there will be a "wet" spring.
Air temperature. Opinions will be divided approximately equally between "normal" and "warm", but "with a slight margin" in the direction of a warm spring. According to the advice, March and April can be expected to be cloudy, “wet” and warm. The same cloudy with precipitation can be expected in May - the temperature is not warm, but close to the average long-term temperatures.
Jealous Golovko

August is coming soon... For most hunters, this month is the beginning of the real summer-autumn hunting season. Duck dawns for a rifle hunter are not only the ability to accurately and accurately shoot in flight, but also the incredible beauty of sunsets and sunrises, a sense of unity with nature, closeness and mutual understanding with a four-legged friend. In general, all the romance of a real hunt. And it is no longer so important whether the duck gets into the game bag, although it is better, of course, if it does. And how to do it - read on.

An important moment in duck hunting

Duck hunting at dawn, despite its simplicity - sit by the lake and wait for the duck to fly by itself, shoot accurately - and your trophy belongs to one of the most complex and unpredictable species. Firstly, because you have to shoot in flight, unexpectedly and at dusk. That is, the hunter must have excellent shooting skills and a well-developed eye. And the second point is not only a wounded duck, but also a purely beaten duck that has fallen into water, reeds or grass can cause a hunter a lot of trouble finding it, especially when there is no good dog. Therefore, the main task of the shooter is not only to send the shot exactly to the target, but to correctly select the zone and the moment of the shot so that the trophy falls on a clean place. This means that a duck hunter must be able to control his excitement and shooting, which is sometimes more important than the ability to hit right in the eye.

And to do this even for an experienced hunter is not easy, especially considering that you have to shoot at dusk and often have to deal with such a situation that the clearly visible silhouette of a bird is practically not perceived through the sight of a gun.

A technique that can help is the ability to shoot with two eyes open, which can be learned through simple training.

Home workouts before the season

You can develop shooting skills, when one eye looks into the sight, and the other - into the distance, you can use special exercises, and before opening it is worth repeating the learned techniques with a gun (without shooting, of course).

Homework begins with determining which eye you have "leading". To do this, you need to take a pencil vertically, stand up straight and point its tip at a distant target with outstretched arms. Next, you need to alternately close your eyes and watch when the pencil moves off the target. If you closed the left one and the tip did not move, then the leading eye is the right one and vice versa. Repeat the test 5-7 times with short breaks to accurately find the dominant eye. It may happen that both eyes are leading. In this case, experienced hunters are advised to take the left eye as the leading one.

Determining the dominant eye

Then the algorithm of actions is as follows: if you are right-handed, and the leading eye is left, pointing the gun at the target is a vskidka, you need to work it out by squinting your left eye. But before the very vskidka at the intended goal, you need to look with two open eyes. Squint less and less as you practice eye contact. And in a couple of weeks you will be able to aim with both eyes open.

Training is best done in the light in dark sunglasses, while for the right-hander you need to remove the right glass (do the same when training on the bench). Similarly, it is necessary to do the opposite for left-handers and for the leading right eye.

First, practice the upstroke in a classic upward stance. And then learn to apply this technique from various non-standard positions. Do not be lazy even lying on your back.

By the way, such a technique can be very effective both in duck and goose hunting, when a flying bird is seen, and there is no time to hide in a shelter. Then you need to lie on your back and shoot almost into the sky (but not vertically !!!).

When practicing shooting skills with two eyes open, an important point is that you need to focus on the target through the front sight, and not with your free eye.

Where to look for duck spots

Before hunting, if there is time, it is necessary to leave for the lands a few hours earlier before the evening dawn and walk along the coast. Before going out in the morning, you need to do this the day before. Duck places are identified by the presence of fluff, droppings and footprints in the sand or in the mud. This is where you need to put a hut or find a suitable natural shelter. As a rule, the favorite places for ducks to spend the night are shallow bays, protected from two or three sides, lakes and starks. In hunting farms, huntsmen prepare shelters in advance.

If you are going to the dawn with a dog, you must definitely foresee where you can securely fasten the leash. Holding it in your hands is stupid idea, which in 100% of cases leads to a miss.

Evening dawn

It is quite easy to find a place for hunting on the evening draft of ducks and teals - look at the coast and where there are many traces, there you can stand. Success is usually guaranteed, even if it's not a very big puddle. The most important thing is that the bird does not notice the hunter before it approaches the distance of a sure shot. Also, if you don’t have a dog, it’s worth considering in advance how you can get the bird if it falls into the water (make a long hook, look around where you can safely enter the pond, etc.).

If you don't have a dog...

morning dawn

To hunt at dawn, you need to prepare more carefully and thoroughly. After all, often the morning dawn can last up to 5 hours. Therefore, not only good disguise is important, but also the convenience of a hut, where the hunter will have to spend so much time. It is best to make the skladok in advance, a few days before the hunt, so that the ducks get used to it. It is optimal to arrange a shelter on some natural elevation - near a bush, in a thicket of reeds, near a kuga. The seat should be made higher so that the legs do not get numb and so that the review can be conducted without getting up, and the height of the walls and the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe shelter do not interfere with shooting in flight, while hiding all the movements of the hunter.

When flying ducks are seen from a distance, one must take a position for shooting and continue to remain motionless until they are in the guaranteed hit zone.

Shotgun for ducks

There is a popular opinion among hunters that it is better to have a gun with a heapy and strong fight for a duck. Maybe earlier, when there were a great number of ducks and with one shot it was possible to take several birds sitting on the water, this was the case. Now, when shooting is mainly carried out in flight, the requirements for weapons have changed. The fight should be strong, but more crumbly.

Today, it is best to use guns with choke no more than 0.5 mm to be more effective for summer duck hunting for dawn. It is best to have removable chokes. But if you have the right (or lower) barrel of the payload, and the left (upper) choke, or the only self-loading barrel of the choke, then you need to work on the cartridge. If you load the cartridges yourself, then you need to increase the weight of gunpowder by 10%, and it is better not to use a wad container - a felt wad laid on gunpowder is enough.

If you prefer ready-made cartridges, then choose those that have a larger shot weight (about 35 g). Then the peripheral zone of the shot scree will be wider and more saturated with hits.

It is best to take medium-sized shot - No. 6 or 7. In August, the duck is not yet dressed in a hard winter feather, so this shot is enough for lethal force, and the carcass will be broken less.

Duck shooting - the nuances

Of course, if the hunter's feet are stuck in the mud or he is unstable, then one can only dream of a trophy. Therefore, when arranging a hiding place, be sure to cover the legroom with branches, lay a board. Then the practiced quick throwing of the gun will not disturb the position of the body and the shot will not go anywhere.

The correct movement during the throw-up should be given special attention. Putting the gun on the shoulder should be quick, firm and monotonous - there will be no time to look for a comfortable position. Often the hunter is hindered by improperly selected clothes: with large pockets, shoulder straps, protruding stripes that touch the butt. The shot is also greatly delayed by unsuitable clothing - both narrow in the shoulders and spacious.

Even very slow flying ducks are in the shot zone for only a couple of seconds. During this time, the hunter, whose movements are brought to automatism, manages to make 2 from a double-barreled shotgun or up to 5 aimed shots with automatic weapons.

By the way. Useful advice for machine gunners. Two very effective shooting techniques must be mastered in advance. The first is to learn how to shoot with two eyes open, one aiming and the other controlling the movement of ducks in a flock. And the second is to learn how to shoot while overtaking, because the third and subsequent shots will have to be done that way.

Posting and lead

The main element of aimed shooting is competent wiring. It can be performed in different techniques: at the speed of the bird, with a lead, simultaneously with a jump. Many people constantly make the same mistakes - they shoot from a stationary gun (and this is only effective strictly in stealing) or vice versa - with sharp throws, that is, the hunter simply does not control his actions. Another possible reason is an improperly fitted bed. If your shoulder hurts after shooting, you need to work hard on the butt.

It is written everywhere in the literature that lead should be measured in game hulls. Some advise that it is more accurate to focus on the projection of the trunks. Now on sale there are special devices for installation on the barrel to calculate the lead.

In fact, everything is much simpler. If you learn to correctly determine the distance to the duck by eye, then the amount of lead in a side shot at calmly flying ducks, taking into account the average speed of the wiring at a distance of 30/35 meters, will be within 1 meter. Automatically, it must be increased or decreased by 10 cm for every 5 meters of distance.

A couple more moments

Experienced hunters already know how ducks hug the ground before landing on the water, and they do it in circles. Therefore, a flock flying at a long distance will not be frightened, but will wait for its next call. Long-range shooting is just scaring game away from yourself and other hunters, as well as guaranteed wounded animals that you won’t be able to find.

The place where the duck fell must be fixed accurately and in the evening it is advisable to immediately pick up the downed game. But in the morning dawn it can be left (if there is no danger that it will be carried away by the current or wind). A dead bird, oddly enough, attracts its relatives, and they, noticing from a height, will definitely fly closer out of curiosity.

Video

On the morning dawn by boat

For the evening dawn

The waterfowl hunting season usually begins in mid-August and ends on the last day of November. And the hunting process takes place either in the morning or in the evening. At this time, the bird actively moves to places of feeding or rest.

Duck hunting in the morning and evening dawns

For a successful hunt in the morning, you need to choose a suitable place. It should be located so that a bird flying on open areas reservoir, could not notice the lurking hunter. And at the same time it’s good to see seated stuffed animals. A good view is also important for a hunter. To do this, high vegetation, so as not to interfere with shooting, is broken off at chest level.

If you can’t find a suitable place on the shore or shallow water, then you can use a boat. Only it must be carefully disguised in the reeds. Because ducks are very shy birds. The slightest inconsistency with nature is enough for the whole flock to change direction.

Shooting at a waterfowl at the beginning of the hunting season should be shot No. 7-5, and at the end - No. 3-5. It is also necessary to remember that it is useless to shoot at a bird if it is more than 35 meters away. There will be a lot of noise, but almost no sense. After all, long-range shots lead to a large number of misses, but most importantly, they leave a lot of wounded animals. The hunter will simply not be able to find them.

Hunting during evening flights of waterfowl follows the same pattern. The only difference is that in the evening the duck goes to shallow water to feed. Therefore, you need to choose the appropriate places for a sit-in. That is, rich in food.

Officially, evening hunting begins at 4 pm and continues until dark. When going to such an event, it is important for the hunter not to forget to take a flashlight with him. It will come in handy when searching for a downed bird and collecting stuffed animals.

Decoy hunting

This type of hunting is perhaps one of the most exciting. Although it is more suitable for the spring season, it can also bear fruit in the fall.

Not only mallard drakes, cracked teals, whistler teals, but also “muzhiks” of other species sit down to a good duck. But it also happens that the decoy does not work well. In such cases, the hunter has to use the decoy, imitating the quacking of the female. The main thing here is not to overdo it. After all, a drake, having heard the call, can be frightened by the slightest falsehood and fly away.

When hunting with a decoy duck, a hut plays an important role. It should be as spacious as possible and blend in well with the surroundings. To do this, it must be carefully masked with branches and grass. But not hay. Because the hay can be easily blown away by the wind and the shooter will find himself, which will spoil the whole hunt. Holes are left in the hut for shooting, in other words, loopholes. They are made small in diameter and masked. The main thing is that the decoy duck and the area around it remain in the field of view of the hunter.

Fifteen to twenty meters from the hut, a small peg is driven into the bottom of the reservoir. A wooden swivel is attached to its upper end. It allows the live bait to swim without winding the "leash" around the peg. True, for this it is necessary to drown it in water for a few centimeters. Disguise!

If there is no swivel, then any sinkers can replace it: large nuts or stones. The main thing is that they are heavy and able to keep the bird in place. When using sinkers, the cord should be slightly larger than the depth of the pond. Otherwise, he will constantly cling to plants and snags.

If there are several decoy ducks, then it is necessary to plant them so that they do not see each other. Otherwise, the birds will be silent like partisans and thus not do their job.

The decoy is tied to the swivel with a strong and long cord by the leg, using a boot. A boot is a special bracelet, like a dog collar. He doesn't let the duck escape. True, not all hunters use this device. Some believe that a trained bird will not fly anywhere. But the statistics say otherwise. A decoy, even with clipped wings, can easily hide from the owner. The percentage of decoy losses is quite high. Therefore, to protect themselves, most waterfowl hunters use a boot. It is necessary to plant a decoy duck in a pond in the dark. Because in the predawn twilight the drakes go to the call more readily and almost do not notice the hut.

If the drake sank into the water away from the live bait, then you need to shoot immediately, and not wait until it swims closer. Otherwise, the game may notice the hunter and fly away instantly. But if he was too close to the decoy, then you can’t shoot. There is a risk of hitting "your" duck with shot.

At the end of summer, the evening flight of waterfowl begins about half an hour before sunset. And at the end of September - already with the onset of darkness.

Autumn hunting for ducks from an ambush stands on “two pillars”: the herd and caution of ducks. This hunt will be more successful if the same hut is used not every day, but once every 3-4. At the same time, there should be several decoys, because you need to lure the whole flock, and not just one drake. But there is one significant problem - when shooting at a flock, it is very easy to catch decoy shots. Therefore, most hunters in the autumn season use wooden or rubber stuffed ducks. Even plywood profiles painted in the colors of waterfowl are suitable.
Gradually, with the approach of cold weather, river ducks become smaller, but more and more often you can meet flocks of migrating, mainly diving ones. They like to live in open deep waters. Therefore, the hut needs to be equipped in those places. Experienced camouflage sometimes manages to get close to the flock at a distance of a shot on a boat, "turning" it into a bush or a floating island with reeds.

For hunting in late autumn, a 16-gauge long-range shotgun and #4 or #5 shot are best. Signs of the end of the duck hunting season are the first frosts and floating flocks of swans.

Mistakes when hunting ducks with stuffed animals

For some hunters, especially inexperienced ones, hunting with stuffed animals does not always go as well as we would like. Someone blames it on the "capriciousness" of the quacking brethren, someone on the lack of luck. But often, an empty game bag is simply the result of some mistakes.

1. Wrong place, wrong weather The hunters do not have to choose the weather. This is where the first mistake appears - a mismatch with weather conditions and terrain. In autumn hunting, cloudy and windy weather is considered the most successful, when the wind drives the waves. Because of this, the birds have to literally rush around the pond.

   But if the weather is warm and calm, then the ducks spin in one, open place. It is very difficult to get close to them in such conditions. Therefore, there are two options: try to scare them away or lure them with a decoy. There is a possibility that the flock will approach the placed stuffed animals.

2. Not the place for scarecrows It must be remembered that stuffed mallards and teals are placed in shallow water, and diving ones are placed deeper. In addition, they cannot be mixed, because in nature these types of ducks keep apart from each other. After all, birds land on the water or take off against the wind. So the ducks will fly past the stuffed animals and land just opposite the hunter.
   It is pointless to place stuffed animals in a straight line from the hunter. Production will still splash down to the side.

   If the hunter chose a place for a sit-in on the leeward side, then in this case the stuffed animals should be placed closer to the shore. But you need to be prepared that the ducks will be very close.

   In general, 25 meters is considered the most convenient distance from a scarecrow to a hunter. If you place them further, then instead of a gun you will already have to use binoculars.

   Some hunters go for a kind of trick - not far from stuffed ducks they put a stuffed seagull or crow on a long stick. It turns out a kind of signal to a flock of waterfowl that there is no danger.

3. Too densely spaced scarecrows An interesting fact: in nature, ducks never stay close to each other. The flock crawls across the pond in search of food. Birds flock only in case of danger. Therefore, you do not need to make a common mistake and arrange stuffed animals close to each other. Otherwise wild ducks, having caught a silent signal, they will feel alarm and fly by.
   So you need to arrange stuffed animals in small groups of 4-6 pieces a meter apart. The distance between the "groups" should be at least four meters.
4. No landing pad When arranging stuffed animals, it is important to take into account the presence of a "landing area" for birds. For example, if the dummies are in circles or an oval, then ducks will not like it. Most likely, they will simply circle and fly away. The flock most willingly splashes down in those places where there is a large platform and a pocket on the leeward side. So it's best to arrange stuffed animals on the pond in the form of the English letters J or V.
5. Bad appearance stuffed During the hunting season, you need to monitor the condition of the stuffed animals. Particular attention should be paid to the so-called shiny dummies. If this is found, then it is better not to use it. After all, unnatural shine will scare away birds. You can try to reanimate such an unusable scarecrow - paint it with matte paint. Scarecrows should be transported in special bags and thoroughly cleaned after each hunt from dust and dirt. You can not leave stuffed animals on the water overnight. Morning fog or dew will cover them with a film, and all hunting will go down the drain.
   Following these simple rules, autumn duck hunting will become more successful and bring a lot of pleasure.

Thinking about how to hunt a duck? This question is asked by many novice hunters. In most cases, you can ask for advice from friends or relatives involved in this business. But what about a man who has only a gun and a desire to hunt? In our article, we have collected all necessary information, which will help the novice hunter to shoot ducks correctly.

Where to go?

As soon as the hunting season opens, you need to pack all your equipment and go to one of the popular places for duck hunting. You can find out about the most "hit" places in your region by reading various hunting forums or by asking local residents. Surely among them there will also be someone who has had the opportunity to shoot game more than once.

Satellite images will help you quickly find the nearest river. As you know, ducks prefer to settle along the banks of water bodies, so if you go to the nearest lake or river, you will surely meet birds there.

Water

The duck chooses not every puddle for settlement. Solid banks with a fairly comfortable approach, a large and clean mirror open water- not what you need. The bird prefers to settle in thickets, where there is not only the opportunity to hide from predators, but also a large amount of food that can be obtained from the bottom. That is, preference should be given to small water bodies overgrown with algae, which are surrounded by stretches of bushes, reeds and impassable reeds. In most cases, such lands are marked on maps as swamps.

Legal registration

Have you thought about whether it is possible to hunt ducks on the territory of the Russian Federation? Yes, you can, if you have the appropriate license and registered weapons. In this case, you should not have any problems with the law, respectively, you will only have good impressions from hunting. Before choosing a place, you should get a ticket or a hunter's license, which will give you the right to shoot game. Such documents are issued at the local legal center or on the Gosuslug portal. On the latter you will also find the addresses of the nearest departments where you can pick them up.

Alternatively, you can visit the nearest branch of the legal center yourself and purchase a single state hunting ticket, which will give you the right to shoot many species of wild animals and birds. Also here you can ask all your questions to experienced lawyers, and not look for information on the Internet.

What should be prepared for?

Have you thought about what time ducks are hunted? It is necessary to go hunting in the early morning, as soon as the sky in the east brightens a little. In no case do not wait for the full sunrise, because by this time the duck will have had time to "have breakfast" and swim away into the reeds. Be prepared for the fact that the real "duck hell" will begin with the first shot. Frightened birds will start rushing back and forth across the pond, not knowing where to hide.

After sunset, you can also go for prey. After experiencing morning stress, waterfowl can go to a nearby body of water to feed, so be prepared for this.

It is worth noting that the more hunters are present on the pond, the less rest the duck will have. A flock of birds rises into the air with each shot, so a novice hunter is advised to go for prey alone. The first shot is usually the most accurate, as the bird is at rest and does not suspect anything.

If you decide to go to the pond with an overnight stay, it is recommended to take a tent with you, because at night it can be quite cool near the water. It is also worth stocking up on several bottles of mosquito repellent. Little bloodsuckers are the most malicious enemies of any hunter and fisherman, you must definitely defend yourself from them, otherwise they will ruin the whole vacation. The main task of the hunter is to find a quiet place in the wilderness and wait out the night there.

Where to hide?

When answering the question of how to properly hunt a duck, it is worth mentioning the choice of position. In search of shelter, the bird is likely to go to the nearest thickets of bushes or reeds. Ideally, you need to find some kind of stretch in which you can not only sit comfortably, but also hide among the vegetation. Also, do not forget about the opening review. It is quite difficult to hit the target when the reeds climb into the eyes.

Where can you hunt duck? The bird also does not like forests and high banks. Ideally, there should be neither one nor the other within a hundred meters from you. If you do not find a suitable place on your own, then a map of the area or a satellite image can always help you out. With the help of topographic surveys, you can also determine the location of the nearest body of water, where a flock of birds will go after the first shot.

How to stand?

How to hunt a duck so that the prey does not see you? The main condition is to stand still in one place. Special disguise is not needed, but it is advisable to make sure that the local vegetation completely hides your shoulders. With complete immobility of the whole body, the head should always move left and right, looking for prey, like a locator. Don't focus on packs that are too far away from you. Also, if you decide to go hunting with a partner, be sure to keep in mind that his shot can frighten away game, and be prepared to also start shooting at ducks that take off into the air.

However, the most important skill of a hunter is the ability to use hearing. In addition, you need to be able to recognize in time the characteristic whistle that duck wings emit during the flight, even if they approach you from the back. What can we say about the ability to recognize certain types of birds by the sounds they make. You will not always be able to determine where the game is with the help of your eyes, so you should be able to rely on other senses.

Whom to hunt?

It is worth focusing only on the ducks. If you do not know how to distinguish birds from other types of birds, then the following description should help you with this. Ducks have:

• wide and flat beak;
• short neck, streamlined body;
• paws equipped with membranes, similar to flippers.

Plumage color varies by breed, but most waterfowl are grey, brown, or black.

Most often, hunters shoot the coot. You can distinguish this duck from others by the characteristic white leathery plaque, which is located on the forehead directly above the white beak. However, the summer coot has an unpleasant taste of meat, so it is better to let it go. By the way, getting close to a flock of coots is a rather unpromising business. If a four-legged friend helps in duck hunting, then it will be easy to catch long-legged and long-nosed waders.

Also, do not touch wild birds, since their meat is not eaten, and killing ducks for fun is not accepted in hunting circles. If you couldn’t find waterfowl, and you really want to shoot from a gun, then it’s better to find yourself a target in the form of a tree or a bottle forgotten by someone on the opposite bank. We hope now you understand what ducks you can hunt. It is also worth remembering one Golden Rule: if you can’t recognize from afar what kind of ducks are in front of you, then it’s better not to shoot at them, because you are too far away.

How to shoot?

Answering the question of how to hunt a duck in autumn, it is worth saying a few words about accurate shooting. by the most in a simple way is shooting ducks in years. To do this, you need to “cross out” the bird with the barrel and, as soon as it flies past the front sight, pull the trigger while continuing to move the gun. More detailed information on shooting methods can be obtained at the shooting range or in the training literature. Feel free to invest in practice shooting, as this money will more than pay off by saving live ammunition.

It is desirable to shoot a duck when the trajectory of its flight approaches the hunter. A flying bird is always very difficult to get, so it is not recommended for a novice hunter to waste cartridges on such a target, as this can be very offensive. While hunting, tune in to the fact that you have the right to only one shot, and the rest of the cartridges are the decoration of the wounded animal. Feel free to wait for your prey for a long time, like a sniper who can wait for several days for a convenient moment to shoot.

If a flock of ducks arrives, you must not get confused and choose one target, ignoring the rest of the game. No wonder the well-known proverb says: "If you chase two hares, you won't catch one." This folk wisdom comes in very handy when it comes to duck hunting. In order not to bother with getting beaten game in the future, it is advisable to shoot in such a way that it falls on a clean and open place.

Sometimes a dead duck is carried away by inertia two or three heights from its flight. Accordingly, you should choose the right moment for the shot. For example, if the hunter hid in the reeds, then you can safely shoot when the duck is 10-15 meters away from him. In this case, the game will not fall into the water, but practically into the hands.

What to shoot?

Men in the woods hunt ducks with almost any weapon, but a light semi-auto with a plastic stock is best. Although the main criterion is the caliber. It should be no less than the twentieth, and the barrel length should be from 610 millimeters. A summer duck will fall even from a sports cartridge. Alternatively, you can take a hunting rifle with a choke. Instead of shot, it is best to use 32 grams of lead.

Do not go overboard with large shot numbers, for example, magnum cartridges will be too strong for such a hunt. You need to shoot prey when it flies up to you at a fairly close distance. A shotgun will be of little use at long range. Also, you should not "shoot" when the ducks are circling over the water surface. If you manage to shoot prey, then you can hardly find it.

If there is no purchased gun, then you can use the "self-assembly". Keep in mind that the barrel should be no shorter than 500 millimeters, and it is better to take the maximum shot weight as cartridges. A 410 caliber shotgun can ruin masses a lot if you shoot from closer than 25 meters.

Equipment and clothing

The success of the hunt can depend on the right equipment. The choice of items of equipment should be based on the type and depth of the reservoir, as well as the amount of vegetation in the place where the hunt will take place. The main equipment includes:

• camouflage suit;
• waders;
• boots;
• inflatable boat (optional).

The most insidious place for shooting is considered to be a reservoir, which is completely overgrown with reeds. In such places, the vegetation stops growing where the water already reaches the armpits, so you won’t be able to stand even in boots in it.

An inflatable boat is a great choice if you are going to hunt on a lake or open water river. Shooting from it is always much more convenient than from reeds, and getting game that has fallen into the water will not be difficult in this case.

It is not necessary to take a bandolier with you, since you should only have one shot number with you (a wide variety of different cartridges will only complicate hunting). It is most convenient to get cartridges from a bag or a large pocket, where they lie in bulk.

Clothing should be made in a camouflage style, and the color of the pants is completely unimportant, since they will still be hidden under the waders. The top should be made in a greenish or gray-brown color, it is best, of course, that it matches the color of the surrounding area, then the birds will definitely not be able to notice you.

It should also be borne in mind that in the morning it can be quite cold near the water, and in the afternoon, on the contrary, the sun begins to burn strongly. In this regard, a camouflage suit must be worn separately. It is desirable that the T-shirt or T-shirt under the jacket be also made in camouflage. You should also not buy a jacket that is too long, as it will only get in the way, clinging to the floors of the water. All valuables should be kept in shirt pockets or even left on the shore. Otherwise, you run the risk of drowning your brand new phone or wallet with banknotes in water if you move carelessly. You will also need to purchase a hat with a visor in order to protect your head from sunstroke, and mosquito repellent, which are found in large numbers in the reeds.

We hope our article has helped you understand where to hunt duck. Hunting is a wonderful pastime that will help you escape from the bustle of the city. Here you can enjoy the beauty of unspoiled nature with friends, tell stories or drink something strong. Perhaps every hunter knows a joke about how men hunt ducks, and a young witch flies on a broomstick. You will hear many such stories from experienced hunters. A cozy atmosphere, a pleasant social circle, the smell of gunpowder and lead - what else is needed for happiness?

Autumn is the time when the young have grown enough, the ducks are actively feeding, stocking up on fat for upcoming flights.

There are several varieties of autumn hunting: from the approach; with semolina; with stuffed animals; with decoy; on flights; on the day; on the moon track.

Open season

The duck hunting season begins in the last ten days of August. The birds are still not frightened, the young are kept in flocks. During the day they hide in the thickets, in the evening they go to the fattening.

At the end of September, birds gather in large flocks for the flight to the south. At this time, they behave very carefully, and the hunter needs to try to return home with prey.

Duck hunting rules in autumn

It is necessary to take into account the specifics of the autumn behavior of waterfowl, namely:

• active feeding leads to an increase in the fat layer, fluff and feathers;
• schooling;
• caution;
• changing periods of activity.

Seasonal change also contributes environment. In this regard, the hunter must:

• increase the amount of gunpowder, shot caliber, to make a killer shot;
• behave extremely quietly so as not to frighten off the birds;
• think over disguise, because the fallen foliage and withered grass perfectly unmask the hunter.

Preparing for duck hunting in autumn

Preparation includes not only the selection of equipment, disguises and weapons. What does a hunter need to know?

• the appearance of birds that are allowed to hunt in the area;
• features of the terrain, habitats of birds (so that you do not have to stray for a long time in search of game);
• features of bird behavior;
• hiding places (or places where hiding places can be placed).

You also need to hone your shooting skills. Especially if you hunt infrequently.

Attention! There are species of ducks listed in the regional or national Red Book. Hunting them is strictly prohibited.

Ducks have excellent eyesight, so camouflage is vital. As a disguise can act:

• camouflage suits;
• camouflage suits such as "kikimora", "goblin";
• scrim;
• ambush (skradki).

In turn, skradki are also different: industrial design and home-made.

Industrial:

• huts;
• umbrellas;
• recumbent hides;
• tents;
• seated skradki (armchair).

A camouflage suit must be chosen with a small pattern. The color of the camouflage should match the terrain you will be hunting in.

Remember! For camouflage among dry grass or reeds, you should take a light camouflage, and for a swamp - a brown-green color.

It is necessary to disguise both the gun and the boat if hunting is carried out from the water.

Features of autumn hunting

In autumn, the birds stretch in strings to warm lands, so the hunter can get not only the usual duck for his area, but also its northern relatives. Sometimes on calm ponds are formed bird markets from a variety of waterfowl species.

Where to look for a duck in autumn

Ducks prefer freshwater reservoirs with dense tall vegetation - reeds, cattails. The bird uses shallow reservoirs for daytime and rest, but it feeds in deeper reservoirs. Next, you should know - ask the locals, carefully observe on your own where exactly in this reservoir birds feed.

Duck habits in autumn

In autumn, ducks are more strict, behave suspiciously. They have already gathered in large flocks for flights, so the chance that someone from the duck flock will notice the hunter increases. Therefore, extreme caution should be exercised.

Birds feed at sunset, sometimes at night, during the day they rest in secluded places. The fattening time is approximately the last hour before sunset and an hour or two before sunrise.

Hunting methods

Hunting methods are different. Exists:
from a boat;

• from the shore;
• chassis;
• with a dog;
• with stuffed animals;
• with semolina;
• with decoy;
• on flights.

with stuffed animals

Hunting with stuffed animals is a fairly common method, especially at the present time.
Stuffed animals are seated at a distance of at least 2-3 bodies from each other - this is how the ducks are located when everything is calm around.

The hunter disguises himself in hiding, and waits until the flying flock, noticing the stuffed animals, descends into the water to feed. Usually this is the morning hunt.

From the approach

Stalking requires more skill. The hunter must find in the thickets of reeds or grass ducks that are hiding there, approach them at close range, scare them away, and shoot in flight. To return with prey, you need to know about the places where the desired game can hide, be able to walk a lot and quietly, camouflage yourself well and shoot accurately.

With decoy

The duck call imitates the cry of a duck, so flying flocks, having heard it, fall into the water. However, decoy also needs to be able to work. Before hunting, newcomers-beckons must learn the "duck alphabet", breathe correctly and beckon.

On the hunt, you should not "quack" all the time. The simplest and most uncomplicated call is short, loud, at regular intervals.

With decoy

As the name implies, a decoy duck will lure prey. She, unlike dumb stuffed animals, quacks, thereby attracting wild relatives.

Remember! Drakes that land on a decoy waba should be shot so as not to hit your duck.

The decoy should have a loud clear voice, the color should resemble wild relatives as much as possible. The method works great with two decoys, which are planted so that they do not see each other. However, they hear, and therefore actively “talk”. The replanting is “tied” in shallow water so that it does not swim far away.

From a boat

When running hunting is not possible, a boat is used. Hunting from a boat requires skills:

• silently control the boat with the help of oars and a pole;
• search for ducks;
• marksmanship, despite adverse conditions.

Usually two people hunt from a boat: one controls, the second stands ready with a gun. Move against the wind. It is very important to remember about safety precautions in order to avoid accidents or "bathing" in the reservoir. Moreover, after such water procedures, a gun will be lost.

How to shoot a duck in autumn

Autumn hunting is somewhat different from summer hunting. In autumn, ducks are covered with a layer of subcutaneous fat, they have fluff, and the amount of feathers has increased. Accordingly, all this is an additional barrier to fractions.

Gun

When hunting ducks, guns with a barrel length of up to 80 cm are used, choke and pay choke. Such a gun allows the hunter to get game at a considerable distance.

Caliber

The best option for duck hunting is 12 gauge. It is preferred due to the harshness of the combat for maximum stopping power. Otherwise, the bird can only be hurt, and it will fly away.

Cartridge

When reloading a cartridge, shot No. 4-7 is used, depending on the size of the duck and the hunting season. In the autumn, when the birds have gained fat, acquired a solid down and feather attire, they use fractions Nos. 3 and 4.

Also in this regard, it is necessary to increase the weight of gunpowder. The amount of weight depends on the brand of gunpowder. For example, when using the Sokol brand, the weight will be 0.25 grams.

When you look at experienced hunters, it seems that they hunt ducks effortlessly. But hunting luck does not immediately smile at newcomers. To hunt was productive, you should heed the advice of experienced:

• select weapons strictly individually;
• pre-shoot and regularly train in shooting at twilight;
• move as quietly as possible, against the wind;
• the optimal distance for shooting is 45-60 meters, no more;
• stuffed animals should be as similar as possible to real ducks, not shine;
• put a scarecrow about 20 meters from the hiding place;
• clothing should be as comfortable as possible so that you do not sweat when walking, and do not freeze while sitting in the bunker;
• use insecticides to avoid being distracted by mosquitoes;
• shoot only for sure when you see a duck, you should not shoot at the noise in the reeds - it may be another hunter.

Video: Duck hunting in autumn