... and some rabbits and hares thrown in for good measure.

This is another report not strictly about hunting crows but with a crowd I do hunt crows with sometimes...

The story starts with a four hour drive to our hosts appartement. We stayed there before (rembember, six lads, two dogs two rooms...). Once again I had been planning to pick up a friend and his dog, but unfortunately due to health reasons he could not make it. So I had to drive on my own...  I am glad that all seems to be well now.

The other lads had also just arrived when I touched down so we got the gear in the house after celebrating our reunification. In no time stories were swapped and the pan was on the cooker to fry some saussages my dad had made. A bear, fresh bread and meat and likeminded friends, what more does one need? After a little while our host said we'll look after geese, if they are not there we'll catch some rabbits for another friend who wants to get some fresh blood for the local rabbit population. Geese were not there, so on we went to the local rabbit settlement where we set up the nets and made plans for driving them into the waiting net. This was the first time some of us (incl. me) did this, so fun was had by everybody (well, nearly). We got seven of them in the end who went straight into the box to be resettled....

Me with one of my fluffy friends before he went into the box...

The next morning we drove to the place where the hunt was to happen. On arrival it turns out that there was an american ex-soldier who had started a business in germany but never had been to a driven hare hunt in germany. Since the host knew that my english was tolerable I was to look after the guest. Turns out he is quite a nice guy - for a yank anyway (just kidding ;) ) 

The first drive of the day was in the field with Al right beside me (the first guy in the pic is me, the second is Al). The drive was on the way and a hare started running toward a hunter 100 yards away from him. The guy shoots, the hare changes directions without a sign of slowing down, runs straight at Al, slows down 30 yds in front of him, stops - and drops stone dead... It looks like he was lethally wounded without ever knowing....

But as you can see, our new fried was luckier a bit later in the woods...

The rest of the drives was mainly in the forrest. Forrest hunts are usually not too exhausting because you walk a bit to surround a bit of wood, then wait for the beaters to do their job. Then you walk a bit and so on. What I did not know, that this hunt was to be in an area that is not known for its "flatness". So up and down the hills we went. I did not sweat like that all year. Good thing I was wearing long ski underwear - NOOOOOOT!

The lunchbreak did not come too early - actually I was quite hungry when we stopped for some excellent soup and fresh bread. The Coffee and homemade cake afterwards did not help to get re-started! For desert I had a lovely pipe...

Oh, you wanted to know how big hares really are. Well this guy is about 7"10! ;) Nah, about 6" really. 

The final count was 75 hares (one was pulled out of a draintube that he went into after being shot at - sometimes they do that when they are wounded. We had blocked the entrances so Mr. Fox did not get him and got him once the right dog for the job was handy) and three blue jays. I have not seen so may blue jays in a long time, but they were very hard to get due to the dense treetops... The fact that not a single fox was seen, shows, that the locals are doing their jobs. They did not have a result like this in over 40 years, so it's really nice to know that all the hard work finally shows results....

So after "Streckelegen" and the usual horn signals we went off to get some refreshments (Schnitzel, fries, salad and finally - BEER. Boy was I thirsty!)

At this stage I was asked by the host if I would christen one of their young hunters (the last time I did this I had two days to prepare - this time: One hour). But since I knew the guy and since it is a nice tradition I promised to do the best I could. I won't bore you with ALL the ins and outs of the christening again, but I'll give you some of the texts that are being recited... (It was a great honour that was offered to me. After all they don't know me in this area!)

Usually (not this time) the "Priest" has a priests robe and a helper or two. The guy to be christened gets two "godfathers" who sit beside him to support and him and to vouch for him. 

This is one poem by Oskar von Wiesenthal that pretty much rounds up what it means to us to be a true hunter:

This is the hunter’s badge of glory,
That he protect and tend his quarry,
Hunt with honour, as is due,
And through the beast to God is true!

(You'll find that verse on the Jägermeister bottle!!!)

Weapons of war are by hate run, 
yet love for game fires our gun. 
Therefore ponder, your daily bread;
Did your game not suffer dread?

Guard game from man and beast alike,
Make brief its death and sure your strike!
Be outside rough, yet mild inside,
And badge of glory pure abide!

So during the christening this poem is recited to the youngster to remind him that hunting is not about shooting alone. In the process the other hunters are being asked if they accept him in their midst and he is asked if he wants to respect the values passed down over the years. (both sides usually agree ;) )

The next step is the actual christening. It's a bit like knighting, well, a knight ;) Instead of a sword we use a "Hirschfänger" basically a very large knife that they used to kill deer and boar with after the hounds had chased them for a while. 

He is touched twice on the shoulder with the knife. The first strike is to make him symbolically a true hunter (before he was a heathon!) the second strike to give him strength to always do the right thing. The third to give him pride in what he does.

The third strike however is being followed by the words: Suffer this once from me and after this never again! This is where he gets a symbolical smack in the face! (Now, THIS smack was not that symbolical ;) after all, I knew the guy.... and we don't want our youngsters go grow up as weaklings...

The entire ceremony takes about 25 minutes (including some singing etc.), but the newby usually never forgets it. It is festive with candles, a branch of pine, crossed shotguns and good friends around. But it is also despite the seriousness a humerous celebration, sometimes even some drinking is involved afterwards...

I do not have pictures from this christening, but next week there will be another one, and if possible I'll post some pics up then...

So, once again I hope you've enjoyed the story. Talk to you soon. 

Waidmannsheil, 
Zeddicus