ooh fun... you better bring a big game bag LOL.

Zeddicus, really enjoyed reading your hunting report, and must have been nice to have a few days hunting with like minded people, and you had a good time by the looks of things, and well done on the hares, we have several hares around here but they dont like you shooting them, but they certainly make a nice meal, you saw a great selection of game on your hunt and will look forward to the pics, cheers.

-- Edited by corvid on Tuesday 23rd of October 2012 01:35:36 PM

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!

Great report and lots of fun.  Most impressed with all the crow calls if they are all crow related? You impressed me, I only carry three calls to the field.  The pics are beautiful as well.  Your background selection was great.