Crow Busters Forum

Hi lads,

my report from a hunt near Bamberg/Oberfranken.

Left the office at three, car loaded full of gear.... Picked up my friend, his dog and gear 120 km down the road. Arrived at basecamp 2,5 hours later after good ole Burgerking and dehydration stop to meet the lads. After celebrating our meeting of six crowhunters from all over southern germany (+ two dogs) we 8 souls pitched up camp in two rooms of an appartement, provided by our host. Three in a room with gear and dog. It does not get much better (in a fierce manly kind of way)! ;)

The next morning at 8:30 am we set out with 15 guns and about ten beaters. The first drive of the day, the first driven hunt of the year, and Zeddicus got his first hare hopping down a little hill in front of him with hedges to the left and right. I could have had another one, but at first it would not have been a clean kill, when the chance for the kill came up, the shot would have been unsafe. Oh well. I missed a partridge on the second drive. I was, lets say, caught off guard? And so the day went on over fields of mustard, stubble, rape and some kind of feeding turnips. Some Hedges were checked, some woods were combed through... And bunnies and partridges picked up on the way. I picked up four more hares and helped out with two. Another chance for partridges was duly missed. First they were too close and when I had finally committed to one... Well, lets save it under experience made... We also checked an old part of the river (the Main) for ducks. None were there...

The final count was 58 hares, five partridge and one blue jay. The result, and the fact that not a single fox was seen, shows, that the locals have been doing their homework.

After a shower and a meal and drinks we helped skinning the hares and cleaning up until 2am...

Next day wake up call at 7:30am. Wild boar time! Pickup by host at 8:30, meeting at rally point at 9:00 in position at 9:30 waiting for the driven hunt to start. (We were not an official part of the hunt but sat near the "border" of the hunting area trying to pick up the pigs that crossed!) Early single shots from across (roe deer?!). A buck and female passed by, (bucks out of season), female stops behind a bush, then runs off - oh well #1!

Then lots of shots and the sound of dogs coming my direction.... 10 pigs in full speed raced across a small forrest "road" (6ft wide) trailing two terriers - no hope for a safe shot at 70yds distance! Oh well #2!

Then, a small group of six small/mid size pigs (around 90pounds) aproaching slowly in heavy cover. They stopped where I could see them - did they smell my presence? - usually never happens for me (the stopping part, obviously!) ! Bundled up of course! No chance for a clean shot! Then movement from the left - one of the terriers comes back!! The pigs spread out, up goes the Blaser (R93, 30/06) again! One pig stod out of the bunch! And at the same moment two guys walk into the picture on the left who should not be there! Hardly any visibility past the treeline behind the pigs! If there are two guys where they should not be, there could be more..... The pig lives on. Oh well #3 and also some serious "¥^%{|,"!! (In my head-obviously!)

But! Better safe than sorry! If you shoot a hunter here, unspoken law is to marry the widow! And I had not seen any pictures - too risky... ;)

Three times unlucky - called it a day! Btw: The guys were from my lot, trying to catch the stray dogs!

We got a deer and a 45kg pig in the end.

Alltogether it was a fantastic, but exhausting weekend with lots of fun and mischief ;) I wonder when I'll get a call from the guy whose cartridge bag I kept filling up with spent Hull cartridges ;) I met lots of good people! And already got invited to another weekend hunting in the same area!!! Booyah!

Take care,
Zeddicus

Pics to follow!

Ulli: The fine description of your hunt, is exceeded only by your super photos. Excellent post and thanks for sharing!!

 

Skip

Great report and beautiful photos!

Hi Bob, I am truly honoured by that invitation. If I ever come to Texas I will gladly take you up on it. This might have to wait a while though. Wifey does not really agree on a crow hunting trip to Texas ;) (yet!)

Jon, I fully agree. I hope you don't mind our somewhat black humor. We do take safety VERY seriously. In Germany we have about 5 lethal Hunting accidents a year. I talked to a guy who hunts in france and according to him the french are proud of reducing their lethalities to 300!!! a year. Now, I have not checked these figures, but I make it a point not to accept invitations where I know they are somewhat careless. The people I hunt with are very experienced an I never saw something serious happen, and I mean to keep it that way.

All the best,
Ulli

-- Edited by Zeddicus on Wednesday 24th of October 2012 06:37:20 AM

German hunters are fastidious and well-versed in the art and traditions of the hunt because they (a few decades ago at least) were required to. The requirements to earn the Jägerbrief (German hunting "diploma") were extensive and memorable back when I went through the course in the mid-70s. It was quite an honor to have graduated from the course, which took many weeks, much study and a fairy tough exam.

Zeddicus: Do they still do that?

That's a bit more than what's required here, in the basic hunter's education course. However, I would say that the majority of our hunters both young and old, have grown up around firearms and are at least familiar with the basics and safety. That helps. Always good to keep watch on what's in front, left and right, and behind.

Good reason to know your partners well and where they are, always. Like our former, late, great President Reagan used to say, "Trust, but verify."

Thanks for your input. Always enjoy seeing what's going on, on your side.

BTW, I can't quite make out what's on the small chalkboard on the wall--says something in rhyme, about smiling and writing notes.

That's the one word that was sort of smeared. I thought it might have been Alzheimer, but could not see it well enough to understand the context. Humor can get a bit wierd after a few 1/2 liters of the substance seen on the table .

I assumed it was the owners, "Gisela and Harold," as posted on the board. I would never accuse fellow (crow) hunters of questionable behavior.

Have fun.