Macnab Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 Just back from a couple of days of driven boar and deer in Germany. Should say that I have only done this once before and am now totally addicted. Beware and be warned, I think heroin may be a better option..... Shooting was 150 kms North of Berlin in a large forest. Not overly beautiful countryside but definitely made for shooting with a highseat looking onto every field as you drove through. My largest rifle is a 6.5 x 55 and set up for long shots so I left it at home as I was told I could borrow a 7 x 64, in fact I was given a lovely old 8 x 68S with an ancient Zeiss 1.5-6x42 scope but more on that later. First day was a bit of a wash-out for me. We were all placed in our miradors (large wooden high seat platforms) and I could hear a few shots but didn't see anything and as we only did one long drive that day I had to content myself with hearing other people's stories of success when we all finished. The bag that day was nine roe, five boar and four fallow. I am a keen salmon fisherman so I am happy to play the long game and I don't necessarily need to 'score' to have a good day out. Someone else's boar from first day Next day was a different day altogether with an early start after a late night of boozing with some very good fun locals. Again this day was to be only one drive but it would be five hours long and we were all placed in our miradors by 8 am, nursing dry mouths and sore heads. I had a pretty good 360 deg view from my position and could see through the mature beech woodland for up to about 200 m in some directions. There was low cover in some directions but bare woodland floor in others. There were two other miradors in view which meant no shooting in their direction even though close shots could be safe as they would be down into the soft ground. The woodland floor was covered in paths and tracks obviously used by pigs and deer and only 50 m away there was a very well used rutting stand. This certainly got the heart pounding and I didn't have to wait long before a fallow doe appeared out of nowhere 'pronking' towards and past my stand. I wound the scope back to 1.5 mag and leant into the shot as she came broadside on. There was the most almighty boom and she dropped on the spot about 30 yards away. As soon as the shot went off I felt liquid running down my face. I should say now that for anyone who hasn't fired a 8 x 68S take a quick look at the ballistics. Suffice to say that the scope had broken my nose and I had blood pouring from a gash in my nose and one of my nostrils. It didn't hurt at the time and certainly made my hangover disappear pretty quickly. Half a pint of your own blood is a great cure. But I knew I was in for some ribbing and just felt pretty stupid. I told myself 'at least you hit it!'. So that was first ever fallow and my first running deer, and my first broken nose. For the record I am just under 6'4" and 16 stone and quite used to shooting 'normal' guns and rifles. Took this on my phone during a lull The minutes and hours whizzed by as I watched several roe run past out of range and a herd of fallow milling around on a ridge which would not have been safe. I had a small fallow pricket come by very close at speed which I missed in front, mostly because I was a bit wary of the recoil as you might imagine. Then I saw my first proper big boar which came trundling through the woods between me and the next stand. Just as it was coming into range it disappeared into the cover. An hour later the beaters started coming close and the boar had obviously gone to ground as it reappeared running back the way it had come. I suddenly realised this was my chance and tracked it in the scope until it slowed to a walk. I took the precaution of sitting down and using the rail as a rest as the animal was a fair distance away, especially with only x6 mag. I let rip and saw immediately that it was hit square on and ******* out blood. It dropped pretty much immediately and was in full view. My first boar. As I was to find out later it was much bigger and further away than I thought and in fact was too big for the day's hunting. We had been asked not to shoot any boar over 50 kgs and this one was about 90 kgs but the host was very understanding, especially when he saw my nose.... Next a little piglet exploded out of the cover near me and suddenly changed angle to run past me. He got a shot and was bowled into cover. I couldn't see him and kept the scope on the point I last saw him for five minutes. We then had a pre-agreed strict no shooting break from 11.30 to 11.45 when you could come down from your platform, have a pee and collect your game. Being a bit thick I rushed up to my dead animals and found the piglet stone dead in the undergrowth. In fact of course I should have had my rifle in case there was anything just wounded. I dragged the piglet and fallow back to my stand but the boar would need a truck. View from my platform after the break 11.45 I was back on the platform and loaded up again. Things were a bit quiet in the second half. I only saw one fallow doe quite a long way off, but she made the mistake of stopping with a safe back stop. Again the x6 mag didn't seem enough but I decided there was nothing to lose. She skipped up and ran off but I lost her and it would be another hour and a half before I could go and see. That was my last shot and by 1.30 we were all down and shouting out our presence to be safe as we wandered around the wood. To my relief the last shot had struck her in the engine room and she had only gone 40 m. I was elated with two boar and two deer for the day. Five shots and four clean kills. I then just had to explain my face..... I had also had a good view of some of my neighbour's action. He had a boar, a very small roe and a fallow. The boar was only injured and was set on by the small dogs. It was a hell of a scrap and these pigs take some killing. I had to fly back that night and missed the final ceremony with the horns and the prayers to St Hubert. But I did see the final bag laid out. It was an impressive 42 boar (mine biggest - whoops), 19 roe and 17 fallow. I think there were about 23 guns. The other chap I had travelled with shot nine that day; four pigs, three fallow and two roe so he had a small grin as well as we dashed for the plane. A very poor shot of my first boar It was a great trip and I have already got a variation in the post asking for a 30-06. The 8 x 68S was fun but I don't like being scared of guns. Funny thing is the photos for the variation include my black eyes. Anyone got a 30-06 they aren't using? I am tempted by a Blaser. 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Dunkield Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 Great write up of an interesting trip well done, hope the nose gets better Without wishing to rub salt into that open wound the 6.5 would have been fine IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deny essex Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 A nice write up, im not a rifleman but i enjoyed the read. Hope the hooter heals quickly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macnab Posted December 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 Thanks chaps. Bugle is on the mend although face looking like an over ripe banana right now. Stuart - my 6.5 is too long and too heavy for this type of work (it's a Finnlight but with mod and bipod and scope seems to weigh a bloody ton and is not well balanced) and the scope isn't right. Plus when the locals all said the 6.5 is too small I didn't feel qualified to argue with them. I have just thoroughly enjoyed reading your write-up from a few weeks ago and see that it worked admirably for you. Great shooting. Maybe I would take it next time, but then I lose my excuse to add to the cabinet.... M PS for the fans of ballistics the 6.5 is about 2700 fps and 2250 foot pounds and the 8 x 68S is about 2950 fps and 3875 foot pounds, hence one slightly off centre hooter....especially if you take the shot like a shotgun and lean into the swinging rifle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traztaz Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 guys, this is why the larger stronger calibers are prefered here in Germany for driven shooting.the 8mm caliber is good, but not as good as the 9mm calibers.You just have to get used to shooting them is all.I love my 9.3x62, its big slow and hard, and defo stopps pig!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth Stalker Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 Enjoyed reading that Hope your hooter feels better soon SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killer_pigeon Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 blood spilled from both sides then ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 Excellent write up and pictures, well done and hope the shnozzle gets better soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groach1234 Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 Sounds like one amazing trip, if i end up taking a gap year im not going traveling, this is what i want to do Sounds like one amazing trip and like your friend really filled his boots and bad luck on the nose George Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tikkamark Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 Excellent write up,really enjoyed reading that Fair play to you for continuing shooting after the rifle broke your nose! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Dog Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 Great write up, and I promise I didn't have a wee snigger at the photo of your hooter. Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rimotu66 Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 Hell, my nose has been broken 3 times and it isnt as bent as yours Seriously well done on carrying on with the drive mate. Good bag as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMcC Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 (edited) My Mistake!! Edited December 17, 2009 by EMcC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ishapoor Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 Macnab, good effort all round. I hear that the bloke that you were travelling with is infact a complete legend? Must email that von for better pics of your hooter... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 That looks painful! Good on you for keeping going after that. Don't lose faith in the bigger calibres though, if the rifle is set up nicely for you they're not so bad. I had a BRNO .375H&H Mag and I can honestly say it wasn't much harder on my shoulder than my T3 6.5x55. I think gun fit is very important when you start playing with the bigger toys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holland&Holland Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 Congratulations, well done. Was the 90kg big boar you shot a sow or a keiler? When it was the last did you get the thropy teeth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macnab Posted December 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 njc - yes I agree, a proper fit would have made a big difference. This rifle was deceptively small and light, and every shot after the first was a bit of a challenge not to flinch. In fact I really liked it because it was showing some age and would definitely have had a few good stories to tell. I would still look into a bigger calibre and it hasn't put me off but I want a rifle I can still use in the UK for deer without too much fuss with my FEO. I will keep my 6.5 for long range hill stalking and use the 30-06 for closer range stuff in woodland and driven in Europe. H&H - it turns out she was a barren sow, but being inexperienced I thought she was a boar, so no teeth although the flukey chap I was travelling with is expecting a bucket full of teeth from his haul. M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 I would like to know from some of the more experienced boar shooters how the hell you can tell the sex of the beast when you have about half a second to get a decent shot into it? One of the guns in our group shot a boar and when asked what type it was he said " big, grey and very fast" which isn't a daft as it sounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holland&Holland Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 (edited) Well that is always difficult. I have experience in driven hunts, stalking and hunting from high seats on wild boar for 19 years now. I look at first at body size, is it a piglet, uberlaufer or adult. If it is the first two you can pull the trigger. When it is an adult i look for visible teeth itself or the "humb" on the snout which big males have because the outgrowing teeth "curl" the lip upwards. When you see "cigarettes" you know it is a big male. When not, i look at the underside if i see a **** or titty (sorry do not know how to call it otherwise) You cannot actually see the **** but you can see the hair beside it what can be quite long. Also big males have a humb on their back end. Known as an "keiler humb". Last i look for the tail. Small tail is young, long tail with a lot of hairy brushes is old. But again, i have seen old boar with a bitten off tail.... I also look if a boar comes alone or in a group. When you you have plentyfull of clear view take you're time to look if other boar will follow out of cover. Most posts, if set out correctly, will allow you to have some time for this before you take the shot. When no other boar trail the boar you aim for, it is most likely a male one. But that is not 100% sure unfortunately (as in the story of Macnab), depends on the time of year. When a female boar has just delivered a litter she can be on her own. That is why we (in the Netherlands) do not shoot single wild boar coming on the feeding area during winternight times because it is so difficult to see what they are (NV is illegal) . If boar come in a group during driven hunts never shoot the big one in front. That will be 95% sure the lead sow. The smaller ones that are behind her are likely to be the piglets and uberlaufer ones. They are save shots. When a big boar ends the row, that is the one you're after, most likely it is a big male. When there is a mixed group with several sows and piglets / uberlaufer go for the smaller ones. Part of the fun, excitement and skill in driven hunts for boar is to recognize you're quarry correctly and place a good shot. It is not easy and can be extremely difficult. When not sure, take you're time, look again, and when still not sure.... I do not pull the trigger. But again, when you have to think about the above in a split second a boar crosses you're path In the case of Macnab; i think you did ok. You saw the boar at first going into cover alone. During the time in cover no other boar came across. She came out on her own again. Just focus more on body size and gender next time. But for a first timer Weidmannsheil ! Pity you didn't have enough time for the ceremony afterwards. That is really a big part of the driven hunting experience and should not be forgotten. Edited December 18, 2009 by Holland&Holland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 Thank you for sharing your experience H&H - much appreciated I waited about for the Croatian version of the 'ceremony' after my first boar - I sort of wish I hadn't :yp: But I have put people up for it before, so you have to take your medication when it is due. At lest I got to keep the stick they beat me with (signed by the beaters) Macnab- sorry for the derailment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macnab Posted December 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 H&H - thank you for the full explanation. It's much more than we got on the day or the night before. We were merely told not to shoot any sows with young in tow. To be perfectly frank the fact she was alone, so big and so 'beautifully ugly' made me think she couldn't be anything other than a boar. I will know better next time. Afterwards, having checked her teats, it was clear she had no dependent young. Stuart - great question and no apology required. The wife wasn't keen on me going on the trip in first place so arriving back with stories of group flagellation might have confirmed all her suspicions. The broken nose was enough... M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holland&Holland Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 (edited) Forgot 1 thing: color, if they have stripes they are piglets. In wintertime if they are brown, they are piglets or still just Uberlaufer. If they are black, adults. During spring adults go from dark black to brownish black. Some pictures about big keiler with the humb on the back end, you can see the hair at the underside and long ! tail. If the tail is over the back heel it is more then two years old. The longer the tail, the older it is. The humb at the snout and white cigarettes. And a Uberlaufer that is brown with a short tail. Edited December 18, 2009 by Holland&Holland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blaser Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 Nice story and sounds like a good hunt..... You just need a Blaser and a few different barrels, then you ready for hunting all over the world Olsen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMcC Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 Hi Blaser, Or one of the new Steyr Luxus like mine:rolleyes: The barrel is cheaper than a Blaser and comes with a standard weaver type 'scope rail so no need for a £300 mount Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC45 Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 Hi Macnab, any idea of costs for this sort of trip?? Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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