How to shoot a flying duck correctly. Shooting ducks at extreme distances - types and methods of hunting - hunters forum. Shooting at capercaillie on a lek, as well as from under a husky

If you are not the most experienced hunter, or you simply have trouble shooting at moving targets, then this article will help you deal with many issues related to accuracy when hunting birds.

Weapon Selection

The quality of shooting directly depends on what weapon you choose. Longer barrels will provide greater accuracy. This allows you to hit birds at long distances, as opposed to the high spread of shot with short barrels at medium and long distances.

However, we should not forget that when using small shot at short distances, special accuracy is not needed. In such cases, a muzzle constriction of 0.25-0.5 is sufficient. Shotguns with a choke of 0.75 already require the use of more specific ammunition. Much depends on the skill of the hunter. Even with sufficient experience, shooters often shy away from using guns that are too accurate. Smooth, wide scree is indispensable when hunting birds in flight.

Duck hunting requires an active rate of fire, so hunters often prefer repeating shotguns or use ejector double-barreled shotguns to increase reload speed.

Ammo selection

The question of what kind of shot to shoot a duck with has long been resolved. Shots in the number range from 2 to 7 are used. Ducks with weak feathers can be successfully shot with number 6 or 7. Number 7 is also good for hunting teal. Number 5 is well suited for shooting birds in flight.

If you are using a gun with a choke of 0.75 or more, then the ammunition for it requires slightly different preparation. In cartridges with a large charge, other methods of equipment are used, certain wads. For long shots A concentrator container is used to increase shot accuracy.

Shooting technique

Shooting at a moving target requires knowledge of how to aim a gun and more careful preparation of the shooter. Shot shooting at a flying duck is carried out with a stationary gun or with a leash.

Shooting with a stationary gun

Such shooting is characterized by the fact that the gun is directed to a point located in front of the target, along its line of travel. When the target approaches the calculated distance to the aiming point, the trigger is released.

Shooting with a leash

Are you hunting duck? Then you need to know how to shoot a duck in years. From the moment the decision is made to fire until the shot itself, when the shot leaves the muzzle, 0.024 seconds pass. During this time the duck manages to cover 48 cm.

Accordingly, the charge passes by if you take the aim clearly at the bird. To avoid this, use a leash. That is, the gun does not stop at the moment of firing, but continues to move behind the target.

The trigger is pressed smoothly, without jerking and without stopping the weapon. To this must be added the correct calculation, called lead when shooting, depending on the number of the shot and the range of the target, as well as the speed and direction of its flight.

There are certain rules on how to shoot ducks correctly:

1. A swooping duck forces you to speed up the lead and shorten the lead.
2. A duck passing sideways at a distance of up to 40 meters significantly slows down the leash, and you have to use large leads, up to 1.5 meters. In this case, the gun may stop, so it would be more effective to use a method called shooting while overtaking, starting the leash behind the bird, and, having overtaken it by the required distance, fire a shot.
3. Game coming at a bayonet point at a low altitude requires a slow lead, and if it suddenly moves above the hunter, then the shot is fired at the moment the prey is blocked by the trunks. When flying low, it would be better to release the duck forward and shoot at the hijack.

One indisputable rule for the shooter should be: no matter in which direction the gun barrels have to be moved, this movement is made only by the body, and not by the hands.

The single arm-body-gun system remains motionless, the direction changes only with the help of the torso. The hunter must stand half a turn towards the intended point at which the ducks will be shot.

Calculation of lead when firing

A novice hunter needs to understand how lead is calculated when shooting ducks, as well as other birds. Lead can be calculated using the formula S=vt, in which v is the speed at which the bird flies, t is the time it takes for the shot to fly. The following data will help you carry out all the calculations:

Average flight speed:

• Goose - 18-22 meters per second;
• Teal - 18-35;
• Mallard - 18-27;
• Partridge - 13-14;
• Black grouse, capercaillie - 15-18.

Time of arrival of the shot depending on the number and distance

• 20 meters - N1-0.06 m/s, N3-0.06, N5-0.06, N7-0.07, N9-0.07;
• 30 m 0.10 m/s, 0.10 0.10 0.11 0.11;
• 40 m 0.14 0.14 0.15 0.16 0.17;
• 50 m 0.18 0.19 0.20 0.22 0.24.

Differences between shooting different birds

Duck

Let's look at how to shoot a duck.

There are the following types of shooting:

• hunting for stolen birds;
• semi-hijacked;
• counter;
• side.

It is preferable to hit in a half-grab, since the feather provides less resistance. But it’s not important in August, when hunting young ducks.

A shot at a retreating duck is called a stealing shot, taking into account the speed of the duck's flight.

When shooting from the side, the body is twisted and untwisted and the direction is right-left or left-right.

If the gun moves faster than a bird, overtaking her, then this is shooting while overtaking. The main thing is not to overdo it and not reach the point where the weapon stops, remembering the rules about shooting at a flying target.

A landing duck is taken at sight and a shot is fired, moving the barrels down in the direction of the target's movement.

It's easier to shoot a bird that flies vertically. You just need to cover the target with the barrels and pull the trigger.

Goose

There are two types of hunting for this bird - from a shelter and when flying from the water to feed in the fields. You should not rush to shoot from cover, waiting for the optimal moment. The initial shots are aimed at the head. If you miss, they hit the hijack or half-hijack.

You need to shoot while flying, standing at the edge of the reservoir. At the same time, shoot at the carjacker. This is necessary to make it easier to pick up prey.

Migrating geese walk high and fast. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the lead sufficiently.

Woodcocks and wading birds

When shooting, you should make sure that it happens in an open place and that tree branches and bushes do not interfere. In the forest, the shot range is short; the woodcock will not have time to gain speed. Therefore, lead is practically not used; the sight is aimed at the beak or body of the bird.

Pheasant and black grouse

A black grouse walking vertically can easily be shot offhand. Those who move away from the person are shot from the approach.

The pheasant goes into horizontal flight about one and a half meters from the ground, freezing in extreme point rise. Here you should take advantage of the moment and shoot at a stationary target. If you miss this moment, the shots are fired in overtaking with clearance, without stopping the gun.

Wild pigeons

The process of shooting at these birds is similar to shooting at ducks, but a pigeon, frightened by a shot or sudden movements, becomes unpredictable, and it is impossible to predict the flight path. You should wait a little and continue hunting.

Video

Watch detailed video instructions on lead shooting techniques.

What does it take to successfully hunt waterfowl? Keep your excitement in check, not allowing it to interfere with thoughtful and accurate shooting. Choose the right cartridges so that the shot charge will hit the bird with a guarantee. To have an efficient dog, capable, if necessary, of finding both a wounded animal and a dead duck in the swamp thickets; Otherwise, you’ve ruined the bird’s life in vain and ruined your mood.

There will be no further talk about the dog, but let's talk about the cartridges. Shooting ducks with a cartridge with a high-quality polyethylene wad will provide the sharpness of combat necessary in such a case. The shooting area is covered with pellets widely and evenly. If cartridges with an increased charge are used, it is advisable to increase the diameter of the shot pellet using special wads or loading methods; this is important for shooting at close ranges, especially in the evening. Practice, however, shows that excellent results are achieved not only by standard 12-caliber cartridges, but also by sporting cartridges. And when shooting, even shooters with considerable experience prefer flat, wide scree to heaped combat.

Duck shooting does not require any special gun system, and each hunter chooses it according to his taste. The main thing is not in the system. The gun would have been well balanced, the mechanism would have worked smoothly, and the stock would have suited the build of a game hunter.

The moment when a duck finds itself in the hemisphere of a confident kill by fly-in shooting can be very fleeting. Therefore, the hunter has to turn his head almost like an air defense locator. The main thing is to hear the duck wings whistling through the air in time, so that the flying game does not come as a surprise. The technique of shooting ducks requires clear skill in throwing a gun. If it is not there yet, you will have to put the butt into the shoulder in advance. This must be done carefully, and best behind cover, so as not to scare the bird away with careless movements. In the hut and at dusk you don’t have to worry about this.

Shooting ducks in flight must be done with a leash. It, like any other movement of the gun, is made only by turning the body. When pulling the trigger, you cannot slow down the movement of the gun, much less stop it. Only the front phalanx of the index finger presses on the trigger; its movement is even and smooth, without jerking. The phalanges of two fingers cannot be placed on the trigger at once.

Another key to an accurate shot is anticipation when shooting at ducks, which depends on the situation at hand. Of course, it is impossible to predict all of them; experience and skill will only come with time. But if the hunter's head rotates 360 degrees, then most of the targets will be flying (oncoming ducks) passing from his left or right. At the same time, the distance between him and the game is continuously decreasing, which is why the gun is moved with acceleration. The larger it is, the smaller the lead value, decreasing at a distance of 25-30 meters to almost a meter. Lead is calculated mentally using the silhouette of the game and an imaginary line connecting the eye and the target through the middle of the sighting bar and the front sight.

There are situations when doubts arise about the success of defeating a flying duck; then it’s better to let her through and try to hit her. If the first shot ends in a miss, in the second you need to continue the leash and try to make an amendment; if there was a hit, you can try to shoot the duck flying behind, slightly increasing the lead.

Shooting ducks requires skills that can be practiced at home ahead of time, or in the absence of ducks in the summer, arrange a mini-training right at the hunting site. At the same time, you can warm up a little.

Photo by Oleg Panteleev Boar ( wild pig) has long been a coveted trophy of hunters all over the world. This 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 can be very dangerous. Here is what Alexander Aleksandrovich Cherkasov writes about this in his book “Notes of a Hunter of Eastern Siberia”: “...look at the cleaver when the dogs catch up with him, stop him, the hunters fly up and surround him from all sides, and he, seeing trouble, begins to defend himself All the fur on it stands on end, its eyes burn with courage and throw terrible sparks, white foam pours out of its mouth in clouds, and the cleaver either stands motionless, waiting for an attack, puffs and furiously sharpens its huge white fangs, then rushes like an arrow at the enemies and boldly, With a swift, elastic attack, he knocks down brave fighters, crosses him in two like a gauntlet, throws him up with his snout, slashes with his fangs like a knife, makes terrible mortal wounds, releases his intestines... One turn of his snout is enough to kill a careless hunter who decides to get too close to him close and somehow makes a mistake..." It’s not for nothing that the Russian people still have a saying: “If you go to a bear, take a straw, if you go to a wild boar, drag a coffin.” And yet you should not be in awe of the boar. You just always have to be careful and restrained when meeting him. And most importantly, you should not fuss and allow fear to paralyze your mind. In appearance The wild boar's adaptation to life in dense forest thickets and reed supports is clearly visible. A large wedge-shaped head, occupying almost a third of the entire body, a massive neck and a powerful, laterally compressed body, allow it, in case of danger, to run in impassable forest creases and through thickets of thorny bushes with amazing speed. The boar's legs are short, strong, covered with coarse hair.
The tail is of moderate length, with a brush at the end, reaching the heel joint. When running away from danger, the wild boar is capable of reaching speeds of up to 40 km/h, jumping up to 4 meters in length, up to 1.5 meters in height, and running 10-15 kilometers without rest. It swims quickly and easily, coping with fairly strong currents, confidently walks through swamps, and climbs steep slopes. The boar is a born all-terrain vehicle, and only deep snow hinders his maneuverability. He just seems overweight and clumsy. In fact, the boar is fast and agile. His throws are lightning fast. An adult boar reaches impressive sizes. 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 canines of the upper jaw are blunt and short, emerging from the gums and bending upward. The canines of the lower jaw (triangular and very sharp) grow in males throughout their lives and by the age of 7 they reach a length of 8-10 centimeters. They are never dull, since the upper ones, which are in close contact with them, serve as a touchstone for their constant sharpening. It is with the lower fangs that the boar “does wonders: with them he breaks, stabs, flogs and cuts.” It is not for nothing that male boars are often called cleavers. Although the female has fangs, they are much smaller than those of the males and do not protrude outward, and therefore she is not so dangerous. The hair of boars is well developed. In winter, it consists of hard and long bristles, split at the end, which form a kind of mane on the back, and coarse, dense undercoat. The color of the bristles is dark brown with light ends, sometimes grayish, almost white. The undercoat is chestnut-brown. The most characteristic color for wild boars is dark brown or dark brown with darker colored legs, sometimes completely black. Summer hair 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 persecution, he often abandons all caution and rushes at the hunter. He has perfectly developed hearing and sense of smell. Vision is less developed. However, he should not be underestimated. Even from 100-150 meters away, the wild boar notices the slightest movement of the hunter and immediately changes the direction of its movement. The lifestyle is gregarious, and only old males live alone. Each herd has a strict chain of command. The leader of the herd is usually the oldest pig. Before the start of estrus, which occurs in November-December, a male cleaver comes to 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 the 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 over 9-10 months of age are expelled from the herd. The cleaver copulates with all mature females of the herd and jealously protects its harem from the invasion of other males. A wild and terrible fight ensues with the newcomer, and more often than with other animals, the fight ends in death or terrible wounds of one or the other male. But especially brutal battles take place between fighters of equal strength and the same age. They always end with the death of one of the opponents. Males aged 6-7 years are considered the strongest, most lively and dangerous. At this time they are in their prime. After all the females of the herd are covered, the cutters 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 fertilized females until the beginning of spring. The age limit for wild pigs in a herd is 8-10 years. Pregnancy in females lasts about 4 months. In the second half of March or April, piglets are born, usually 5-7 per litter, in some cases up to 10. The weight of newborn piglets ranges from 750 to 1200 grams. The piglets will be born sighted, well furred and striped - against a brown background of fur there are longitudinal stripes running along the back and sides. light stripes about 2 cm wide. Hunters call piglets at this time “sailors”. In the first days, the piglets do not leave their mother. In cold weather, they do not appear outside for up to two weeks or more.
Pigs are very caring mothers, they boldly protect their cubs and in the first month after farrowing they are especially aggressive, rushing towards any animal or person who dares to approach the brood closer than 30-40 meters. In a herd, every pig protects every piglet as if it were her own. The fact is that quite often several females with piglets unite into one herd, to which piglets driven away during farrowing also join. The 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 dwarf trees and entwined with thorny vines. Being omnivores, wild boars nevertheless mainly consume easily obtained food. plant foods. They feed on rhizomes of cattails, reeds, reeds, grass, fruits of wild apple trees, nuts and acorns. Among cultivated plants, they prefer corn. In addition, crops of wheat, barley, potatoes, and especially buckwheat and millet are subject to their raids. They also eat mollusks, worms, frogs, snakes, and sometimes carrion. When feeding, they always move against the wind in order to sense danger in advance. In summer, wild boars feed throughout the night, rising from their beds before sunset. In winter, especially in very coldy They are active later in the day and feed during the warmest part of the day. Characteristic feature their behavior is bathing. They bathe every day, 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 is so necessary for wild boars that they travel as much to find it as they do to search 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 reduction 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 grouse clutches and about 30% of hazel grouse clutches are killed by wild boars. The numbers are impressive! Eating a large number of acorns, wild boars significantly undermine the food supply of deer and almost completely stop the oak seed reproduction. In the cold season, they often arrange roosts on anthills, which they first tear up. After this, the anthills freeze and the ants die. Wild boars cause great damage to agricultural crops, and fields located in forests or in close proximity to them suffer most 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 be shot 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 one last thing. Many people believe that the meat of wild boars has an unpleasant specific smell, which reduces its taste, and sometimes makes it completely unsuitable for food. This is a deep misconception. The unpleasant odor of boar meat is not its primary property. It is acquired as a result of careless and improper cutting of the carcass. Until recently, the wild boar's range in Russia was limited to the North Caucasus, the lower Volga, southeastern Altai, Transbaikalia, the middle reaches of the Amur and the Ussuri region. It was not in the central part, including the Moscow region. 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 Nature Reserve, and since January 1953 they began to be systematically observed in the Arkhangelsk region. They are rapidly exploring more and more new spaces. By 1970, wild boars had already populated most of the European Russia and have become quite common throughout the Moscow region, often found in its forests and agricultural lands. Currently, the northern border of the wild boar’s 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 ebbs and flows are observed all the time, the so-called “pulsation” of the range, characteristic of the wild boar at the northern limit habitat in Eurasia. Now within Russia there are three subspecies of wild boars: - European-Caucasian, which is firmly established in the European part of the Federation and the North Caucasus. Adults weigh from 160 to 260 kg; - Mongolian (Transbaikal), widespread in Transbaikalia. This is the smallest of our wild 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 Boar is a game animal that provides meat, skin and bristles. Hunting for him is very emotional. Hunting methods are varied. Let us dwell on the main ones and, first of all, on in individual ways hunting.
Hunting from ambushes 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 should blow from the feeding field towards the blind and in no case vice versa. Ambushes are usually arranged on suitable trees at the edge of the field, not far from the boar paths, since it is better to observe the animal from above. In this case, the intended shooting sector is always chosen so that the shooting is carried out in open space, and not in the direction of the edge, since at dusk, and especially at night, against the background of the forest, wild boars will be invisible. You can, of course, arrange a hide on the ground, but it is more difficult to see wild boars below, since the stems of plants will get in the way, and the animals can smell the hunter faster. You need to hide at least an hour and a half before the arrival of the wild boars, so that during this time the smell of your tracks disappears. The approaching herd can be heard from afar (crunching of dead wood, stomping, squealing of piglets). In front of a field, animals usually stop and listen. Gilts are the first to come out into the open, then pigs with piglets. The cleaver always comes out last. Ambush hunting in the North Caucasus has its own characteristics. Boars have a sweet tooth and love to eat melons and watermelons, and they always choose the ripest ones. They are also hungry for apple orchards. With the onset of moonlit nights, some hunters dig deep blinds during the day right in melon fields and gardens. And when darkness falls, they wait for hours for the arrival of wild boars. No matter how careful the wild boar is, sometimes it comes within 10-15 steps of the shooter.
Hunting from a feeding tower This method is a type of blind hunting and is fundamentally not much different from it. The difference is that you don’t need to look for and choose a place to hang out, since it has already been chosen, and the hangout itself has already been done and, as a rule, thoroughly. You don’t need to look for wild boars either, they will come on their own and hang out in a clean place some 15-20 meters from the tower. The whole point of hunting this way comes down to waiting for the wild boars to arrive without smoking or coughing, and then firing a gun at a large and motionless target. It seems like that's all there is to it! However, in practice everything is much more complicated. It is only for the “cool” that the feeding areas at the towers are illuminated, and in their hands they have large-caliber hunting carbines with night vision sights. Mere mortals, especially if there is no moon, often have to sit in pitch darkness. Shooting in these conditions is not easy. While it is still possible to aim in the direction, since the wild boars are quite clearly visible against the background of snow, it is almost impossible to aim correctly in the 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 covering the front sight with a luminous compound does not give the desired effect. Someone came up with the idea of ​​using LEDs complete with a 1.5 volt coin cell battery. And it went! One LED was mounted near the front sight, the second - in the middle of the sighting bar. Well, then who will adapt? This “system” turns on only at the moment of aiming.
Hunting from under a dog from the approach This is one of the most interesting and prey ways of hunting. But in this case, you need to have fortitude, iron endurance and self-confidence, and your dogs must “handle” the animal well. Otherwise, I don’t recommend tempting fate! Perhaps yes, I suppose they are unacceptable here! If a dog barking is heard all the time from one place, it means that the dogs have stopped and are “holding” the boar. In this case, you need to rush to the aid of your friends without delay. four-legged friends. If the dogs' voices move, it means the animal is leaving, and the dogs are chasing it. You need to either intercept or give chase: 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 your knees, so that if you miss, the charge will go into the ground and not rush off 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, huskies and hounds were used when hunting wild boar. The latter, by the way, soon had to be abandoned, since, baited by the wild boar, they refused to work on other objects. But likes are still used today and deserve the highest praise. They found themselves out of competition. West Siberian huskies work on the boar excitedly, with great anger, stop it with painful grips from behind (in place), deftly bounce away from the beast’s blows, not allowing it to move. However, due to their gladiatorial character, they often die.
Stealth hunting without a dog This is the most difficult method of hunting. It is best to hide wild boars after dark, in mild, windy weather, when they are feeding. A feeding herd of pigs usually creates a lot of noise. Hunters take advantage of this and sometimes come close to the boars. But to do 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 it is eating (you can hear slurping) and wagging its tail. If he stops eating (no slurping is heard), and his tail hangs, it means that he paid attention to something and is listening - freeze and do not move. The movement can be resumed when the slurping is heard again. You can also hide wild boars while lying down, but this is done during the day, along a white path. You should move carefully, stopping often and carefully examining all suspicious places: dug up anthills, black spots under the paws of spreading spruce trees, where wild boars like to set up their hideouts. Some individuals sleep so soundly that you can literally approach them within 20-30 steps.
Watching for wild boars in reed beds This method is especially emotional, since there are no trees to hide behind if necessary, no stumps or boulders to jump into to evade a wild boar's attack. And there is always a quagmire underfoot, which significantly hampers the hunter’s movements. Once, while in Poland, I had the opportunity to take part in a similar hunt. There were three of us. The ranger showed us the rough paths along which wild boars move in the reed jungle. It is appropriate to note here that wild boars are conservative by nature. They love to walk the same paths, fatten and spend the day resting in permanent places. I chose a place about 10 meters from the hole trampled by wild boars, loaded the gun and began to wait. Dusk was quickly falling. The place where I recklessly stood turned out to be quite swampy, and within a few minutes my feet were immersed up to my ankles in black, fetid mud. “We should put a board under our feet,” an afterthought flashed through my head. But, as they say, “a good thought comes later!” it would spread that further stalking of wild boars would lose all meaning. I had to come to terms with the situation that had arisen and watch with anguish as my legs sank deeper and deeper into the quagmire. The situation was stupid, and I felt somehow uneasy. But then there was a crash very close by a shot, I heard the squeal of a gilt and the tramp of a running herd. I took my Merkel off the safety and prepared to meet this running horde. But this, fortunately for me, did not happen. The chomping sound of dozens of hooves began to recede and soon disappeared completely. A ringing silence was established again With great difficulty, I freed my legs from the quagmire and lit a cigarette. My hands trembled treacherously... And now, if possible, we will dwell in detail on the collective wild boar hunt. The most widespread and popular method of such hunting, undoubtedly, is the drive. Outwardly, it is very similar to a moose 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 out to places they don’t 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 we successfully surrounded a small herd in the first paddock. Mostly these were pigs from last year's litter, which every now and then flashed before the eyes of the beaters, preferring their noisy proximity to the ominous silence standing on the shooting lines. We combed this area three times, but did not expose any wild boars to the shooters. Obviously, the herd was led by someone with considerable experience and who knew that the silence ahead was deceptive and that at any moment it could explode with the roar of gunfire. Then we left the shooting line only at the end of the corral, and everyone else, in a dense line, once again tried to push this cunning company out under the shots. If the boars broke through the chain of beaters, it was allowed to shoot in the frame, but only “to drive away.” And so, when the line of beaters approached the shooting line for the fourth time, the boars began to break through. One of the participants in the hunt later said: “I heard a boar hooting ahead and the bushes rustling. My first thought was to determine the direction of its movement and give way.” He barely had time to jump to the side when a huge cleaver jumped out of the thicket, two meters to the left. The stubble on the back of his neck stands on end, white foam falls from his fanged mouth... Without having time to properly place the gun, he fired. Naturally, by. Following the cleaver, a large pig jumped out and just under the strap of the hunter's gun. The shot hit the slaughter area, and nevertheless the pig ran another 100 meters. They found it without much difficulty: the bushes to the left and right along the direction of its movement were abundantly splattered with blood. If there are no dogs in the pen, then the pigs with piglets are always the first to leave the pen. In front of the shooting line, which stands, as a rule, in 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 standing shooters, nor the screams of the beaters , nor the roar of shots. As a rule, this occurs in areas with the densest vegetation and poor visibility. It is useless to wait for wild boars to emerge in a clear place. If there are dogs in the pack, and even more so if they have already discovered the pigs and are chasing them with a voice, the latter always leave their pursuers at a run and no longer make any stops. They rush, as they say, “at breakneck speed.” In Germany and Eastern European countries, Jagdterriers and dachshunds are often used as hound dogs, which the beaters usually carry in their arms and are released “on the crawl” only at the beginning of the drive. Of course, they cannot stop the boar, but they indicate the direction of its movement quite clearly. Cleavers almost always stand in one place during round-ups. They warily listen to what is happening, sniff and leave their “sludge” only after the end of the rut and the hunters have removed their shooting numbers. Sometimes they go in the direction of the greatest noise and break through the chain of beaters. Unlike their brothers, cleavers usually leave the frame where it would never even occur to anyone to place shooters: in bare clearings, towards the village, etc. Choppers are not afraid of dogs. Catching an old cleaver in a raid is a matter of chance, and this happens extremely rarely. I will tell you about one such case. It was in Germany. That time we hunted together with the Germans. And according to their rules, shooters are placed in numbers with their backs to the pen and shooting is allowed only at the animal emerging from the cage. I was placed on a forest road that passed through a dense planting of young spruce trees, the tops of which barely reached my chin. A light rain mixed with snow fell continuously from above. We were all pretty wet and chilled. To prevent the cartridges in the bandoleer from swelling, I hid it under my camouflage suit and fastened it with all the buttons. In the first two pens, the animal did not enter the shooting line, and, frankly speaking, I no longer counted on meeting a wild boar. But as soon as the horn sounded, notifying the hunters of the start of the rut, something incredible began to happen behind me: barking dogs, shooting, screams of beaters. The feeling is as if, with a large crowd of spectators at a skeet shooting competition, you are standing on the fourth number of the round stand and waiting for the skeet to fly out, but you don’t know when and in which direction you will have to shoot, and therefore you look left and right. As the beaters approached, the tension grew. In the room there is still the furious barking of dogs and the screams of the beaters, but in my room it is dull, “like in a tank.” I was about to say an unkind word to the leader of the hunt, when a branch snapped to the right. I sharply turn my body to the right: about 12 meters from me, a huge cleaver runs across the road. At some point, it blocked the entire road, like a dam to a river. I shoot offhand. Past! And the front part of the boar’s body had already disappeared into the spruce forest. I almost throw the gun to the left and press the second trigger. Eat! I see how the tops of the spruce forest “boiled”, indicating the movements of the wild boar. Having run about 10 meters by inertia, he energetically turns in my direction. I frantically tear at the fasteners on the camouflage suit, trying to get to the cartridge belt, the valves of which (what carelessness! ) are also buttoned. The neighbor on the left is running down the road to my rescue. But I had already pulled out one cartridge and put it in the chamber. "Stop!" I give him a sign with my hand and see a whole herd of wild boars rushing through the place where he had just stood, pursued by dogs. And ahead of me, in the spruce forest, there was an angry bark and some kind of squelching wheezes. The tops of the Christmas trees have calmed down. I catch my breath. Finally, the forest is filled with the sound of a horn - the all-clear signal. I begin to make my way through the spruce forest to my trophy, guided by the dog’s voice. Yes, here he is! He lies with his head in my direction: his ears droop, his stubble does not stand on end. The dog, sensing my approach, boldly rushes at the carcass and begins to tug at the boar for the “penny” - no response. It seems that he has "arrived". But nevertheless, I walk around the boar to approach from behind, gun at the ready. I touched the boar with my foot, its body swayed like jellied meat. Now I'm definitely ready. The neighbor is nearby. Other hunters appear. The hunting leader approaches and breaks spruce twig and, having soaked it in blood, he solemnly attaches it to my headdress.
Behavior of a wild boar after a shot A wild boar is surprisingly strong in the face of a wound. If a moose wounded in the stomach walks 200-300 meters, a wild boar with such a wound walks several kilometers. Sometimes, after a successful shot at an elk, the forest giant falls as if cut down and remains in place. But when hunting wild boar, I don’t remember a single case where even after shooting “on the spot,” the boar fell dead. He usually runs for some time. With a broken heart, he can walk 100 meters. The wild boar is especially susceptible to wounds in late autumn, when a wild boar forms under its skin. A sure sign of a wounded boar is a drooping tail. Compared to other ungulates, a wounded boar produces significantly less blood, which is explained by the healing of the wound by 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 a shot animal for at least 250 meters, even if the shooter claims that he missed. The abundance of blood on 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 injury to the lungs. Sometimes when a charge hits, the boar makes a groaning sound, and the gilts squeal. When a charge enters top part The boar writhes in its torso and jumps up in its lower body. If an animal tries to rise to its front legs after a fall, the spine is damaged. If after the shot the boar falls and struggles on the ground for several seconds, and then gets up and rushes away, this indicates a tangential wound to the skull.
Precautions If possible, always take shooting station near a tree, stump or boulder, so that in case of danger you can hide behind them. When standing on a number, first understand the location of the neighboring numbers, identify yourself by raising your hand, and only then load the gun. Under no circumstances should you shoot at a target that is not clearly visible, or at a rustle or noise. Do not leave the number until the hang up command is given. But even after this command, approach the fallen animal carefully, with a gun ready to fire. It is best to approach from behind or from the side. You can't approach from the front. Quite often, a boar that appears to be killed is actually still alive and has enough strength to rush at the hunter approaching it. Always pay attention to his ears and the fur on the back of his neck: if the ears are flattened and the stubble on the back of his neck stands on end, it means the animal is still alive and dangerous. But if you get too close, take a control shot in the ear. Keep in mind that an old cleaver can rush at a hunter with barely a shot, even without being wounded. Never shoot at a boar with a bayonet; it’s better to let it pass and hit it at 6 o’clock or along the ridge to steal it. The best shots are under the ear and under the front shoulder blade. Chasing a wounded wild boar; always dangerous. In these cases, he gets into the very stronghold, 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 tracking a wounded wild boar at dusk, and also do not let two dogs follow the trail at once, as they become less careful when paired together.
Boris Abramov National hunting magazine "Hunting" No. 5 - 2002


Hunters usually include wood grouse, hazel grouse, black grouse, white and tundra partridge, and sometimes woodcock as upland game.

The wood grouse is a typical taiga bird. Leads a sedentary lifestyle, only occasionally, irregularly, and migrates nearby in the autumn-winter period. Distributed in the forest belt of Europe, western and central Siberia(to Baikal). It begins to show even before the first thawed patches appear. The displaying male spreads his tail like a fan, quietly clicks and chirps. Where there are few wood grouse, the males display alone. The height of the current coincides with the intense melting of snow in the forest. After the mating period, wood grouse begin to molt, and they hide in dense and cluttered areas of the forest. Only the female participates in raising 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, wood grouse feed almost exclusively on pine needles. The larch forests of Eastern Siberia are inhabited by the stone capercaillie, a close relative of the common capercaillie, with which it sometimes forms hybrids. The rock capercaillie differs from the common capercaillie in its smaller size, black beak, long tail. It talks on the ground (although it often starts singing 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. A sedentary bird, it occasionally and irregularly migrates in winter. Willingly settles in the valleys of streams and small taiga rivers. Sexual maturity occurs at the age of one year. IN mating season, which begins in late March - early April, hazel grouse can form pairs. The male is always close to the brooding female, and then the brood. Usually there are no more than 10 eggs, rarely up to 15. They are shiny brown in color with rare reddish spots and streaks, sometimes without them. The female sits firmly in the nest, takes off from under her very feet and sometimes allows herself to be picked up by 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 grouse spend the night in trees, and in August they are already indistinguishable from adults. They feed on insects, mollusks, berries, alder and birch leaves, and peck tree buds, birch inflorescences and young shoots. In autumn, the broods break up. Hazel grouse spend the winter in pairs or alone in the same places where they nest.
The black grouse lives in the forest and forest-steppe zones of Europe and Asia. Prefers edges, clearings, sparse deciduous forests alternating with fields; avoids the remote taiga. A sedentary bird, only occasionally undertaking long migrations in winter in search of places rich in food. In the past, when there were many black grouse, wandering flocks of 300-500 birds were not uncommon even in the European part of the country, but now their winter flocks do not exceed several dozen. The grouse's winter food consists mainly of plant buds, primarily birch. During the day, the flock feeds in trees, at night it buries itself in 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 fly out to feed at dawn. If the thaw gives way to frost at night, the black grouse sleeping under the snow find themselves trapped in the ice in the morning. This is one of the reasons why black grouse die in winter. In the spring - in March - grouse currents begin with the first thawed patches. The place for leks is chosen at the edges, among the swamp. The scythes that have flown here “chuff”, “mutter”, fan out their tails, and fight. Where there are few black grouse, they display alone, sometimes in the middle of a field, away from the edges or in trees, without descending to the ground. The peak of the currents occurs in April. Black grouse do not form permanent pairs, and males do not take part in incubation and caring for the offspring. Nests are made under a bush or small tree, not far from the lek and near the berry patches. If the eggs of the first clutch die, the female lays another 2-4 eggs. In June - early July, chicks hatch from the eggs, and within a week they grow feathers on their wings. In the morning they feed in berry fields, burnt areas and unmown meadows and clearings; When the grains ripen, birds visit them regularly. At the end of August and beginning of September, young black grouse fight off the female and lead independent life. The summer food of black grouse is berries, cereal grains, inflorescences of forest grasses, and partly insects.
The Caucasian black grouse lives in the alpine belt of the Main Caucasian ridge and the Lesser Caucasus. It differs from the ordinary one in its smaller size; Males have tail braids that are curved downwards, while females have a smaller “streamy” 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 its range - along river valleys and willow thickets. In winter, it undertakes irregular migrations, the length of which depends on the food harvest. In the alpine belt of mountains and tundra, partridges wander, moving to places more suitable for wintering. These birds are interesting because of their protective plumage. In winter they are snow-white, with a black beak and black outer tail feathers; in summer the plumage is red-brown. Various combinations of red-brown and white are characteristic of the spring and autumn plumage of these birds. In winter, a flock of partridges stays among the bushy willows and birches, occasionally flying up onto trees and pecking at the buds. At night, birds climb under the snow. Their legs are densely covered with feathers, so the birds easily move on soft snow, almost without falling through. In addition to the kidneys winter time partridges feed on shoots and berries dug out from under the snow. In early spring, even before thawed areas, males begin to display. Then the birds are divided into pairs and placed in nesting areas, which are vigilantly guarded from other males. At this time, fights are common among cockerels. The nest is made in a fairly secluded place and is well camouflaged. An important condition for the chosen location is the possibility of quick takeoff and good review. In the tundra, where humans do not disturb birds, there are open nests. The incubating female sits very tightly. 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 bushes, to berry fields, where they remain until the young rise to the wing. It is not uncommon for several families to 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 its food. Chicks also readily eat insects.
The tundra partridge is a medium-sized bird. The body 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 toes are fully feathered. The tundra partridge lives in the arctic and moss tundras, subalpine and alpine mountain belts, and to the north it penetrates further 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, northern parts Ural mountains and the Yamal and Gydan peninsulas, on 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 covers the Verkhoyansk Range and the Aldan Highlands and along the southern slopes of the Stanovoy Range reaches the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. Within the indicated boundaries there are no partridges in the lowlands of Kamchatka, the valleys of Anadyr and Penzhina, and the tundra of the lower Kolyma and Alazeya. The tundra partridge also inhabits mountain systems Altai, Sayan and Khamar-Daban, found on the Commander and Kuril Islands and Franz Josef Land. This species lives in North America, Greenland, Iceland, Spitsbergen, the northern parts of Great Britain and Scandinavia, and the Alps and Pyrenees. Within the range of partridges, 26 subspecies are distinguished. 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 “frenulum” - 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 individual black feathers in these places. In spring, males acquire their breeding plumage, characterized by the presence of brown feathers scattered over the head, neck and shoulders. Females do not have spring plumage. 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. The autumn outfit is similar to the summer one, but white winter feathers are already appearing in it. The winter moult is extended, which is an adaptation of birds to living in landscapes where snowless areas of the tundra alternate with spaces covered with snow. Overall appearance The tundra partridge is very similar to its relative, the white partridge, and in field conditions (especially in winter) it is not easy to distinguish them. The tundra duck differs from the latter in the grayer color of its plumage during the snowless period, the dark claws and shafts of the primary flight feathers, the presence of a “frenum” in males, a thinner and more graceful beak and somewhat smaller size. The tundra partridge leads a predominantly terrestrial lifestyle and moves well both on hard ground and loose snow. Like ptarmigans, in winter the birds sometimes fly up into trees when feeding, but this behavior is observed much less frequently among tundra birds. The periods of feeding activity are morning and evening. In winter, when daylight hours are short and feeding time is limited, daytime rest is poorly expressed. In winter, tundra partridges keep in flocks, which, however, are smaller in size than those of white partridges, and, as a rule, do not exceed 60-90 individuals. The most common are flocks of 5-10 birds. In places where they live together, white and tundra partridges often stay in the same flocks; the ratio of species in this case, as a rule, is in favor of the former. Living in mixed flocks, tundra partridges largely adopt the behavior traits of white partridges: they stay in stages that are not typical for them - willow forests, become more cautious and, in case of danger, are guided by the reaction of their more “vigilant” relatives. The tundra partridges themselves are very trusting birds: in every second case, even a relatively large flock of them can be approached quite openly to 40-50 meters before they begin to show signs of anxiety. Solitary birds allow a person to approach even closer, and it is often possible to approach 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 can you hear the male’s voice, reminiscent of a booming “Crrrr...”. The female makes quiet moaning sounds. The favorite habitats of tundra partridges are rocky tundras, characterized by alternating stone placers and areas with grassy, ​​moss, lichen or sparse shrub cover. In lowland tundras, partridges usually stay on the tops and slopes of hills. These birds avoid thickets of bushes during the snowless period. In winter, the distribution of partridges is determined by areas of the tundra bare of snow, where the birds can find food. In many areas they migrate from the breeding area. In wintering areas they stick to shrubs (alder forests, dwarf birch forests, dwarf cedar thickets, less often willow forests), since their buds and catkins form the basis of the birds’ diet during this period. The diet of tundra partridges within their range is very diverse. During the snowless period, the basis of the diet consists of 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, leaves of dryad and various types willows, moss boxes. In the north of the Far East, along with the listed food, birds eat dwarf pine nuts. Animal food is rare in the diet of adult partridges, more often in chicks, 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 a nesting site, which protects it from invasion by others. First of all, birds occupy territories freed from snow. As a rule, males display in the morning and evening hours. The timing of nesting is determined by the geographical location of the area and weather conditions in the spring. The nest is primitive and differs little from the nests of other grouse birds. Usually the female makes a nest in an open place among stones or low shrubs, sometimes among hummocks; the mottled grayish color of the female’s plumage makes her invisible against the background of the surrounding area. The size of a complete clutch usually ranges from 5 to 9 eggs, although in some cases it may be larger. Incubation duration is 20 days. The chicks leave the nest a few hours after hatching. One-day old chicks weigh 13-14 g. The chicks grow quickly and at the age of 10 days they can already flutter, and after one and a half to two months they reach the size of their parents. In most of their range, tundra partridges make seasonal migrations. The direction of migration of partridges is determined primarily by the direction of the river beds along whose valleys the partridges migrate. The return of tundra partridges to their nesting sites is timed to coincide with the beginning of intense snow melting.
Woodcock is widespread throughout the forest zone of the CIS, with the exception of its northern strip. Winters in Southern and Central Asia and in southern Europe, partly in Crimea, in the Caucasus. Woodcock arrives in April. Soon after arrival, the draft begins - the current of the woodcock. The craving begins at sunset, continues until dark and stops briefly, resuming at dawn. This pine sandpiper nests in dense and dark forests, rich in ravines, country roads and wet lowlands. It feeds mainly on soil invertebrates (worms and insect larvae), which it extracts from soft soil with its long beak, and in smaller quantities on plant food. The female incubates and raises the chicks alone. Having barely dried, the chicks can run and feed on their own. In case of danger, the female carries them through the air, pinching them between her legs.
Pigeons Of the representatives of this order, the most common among us is the wood pigeon or vitiuten. It is widespread in the European part of the CIS, Western Siberia, east to the Irtysh and in Central Asia. Migrant. Appears at the end of April May. Soon after arrival, it builds a nest on a tree (mostly CONIFEROUS) or finds a suitable (empty) crow. Both parents participate in incubating the eggs and in all other care of the chicks. Young chicks are completely helpless. Adult birds feed them by regurgitating “goiter milk”. Grown-up young animals, like adults, feed on plant foods. In autumn, wood pigeons often fly to the fields to feed. They drink often and willingly, flying to a watering hole in the same place several times a day. Wood pigeons spend the night in tall trees. In addition to the wood pigeon, in hunting grounds In our country, there are also other pigeons - smaller and of less importance for commercial and amateur hunting: rock pigeon, clint pigeon, common and ringed doves, etc. Traveling abroad is always an important step and in order not to “fly over” 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 from Russian designers Viktor Polev (Polev bullet 1, 2, 3, 3E, 5, 6, 7) and Viktor Shashkov (PPS-E, Grizzly-35, Grizzly-36 , "Grizzly-40"). Bullets “Grizzly-35”, “Grizzly-36”, “Grizzly-40” are intended primarily for shooting from “paradox” weapons, but can also be used in smooth-bore weapons. The PPTs-E bullet is produced specifically by order of the Tula Cartridge Plant (TPZ) under the name “Target sub-caliber bullet (expansive)”, abbreviated as PPTs-E. The Tula Cartridge Plant equips WOLF cartridges with PPTs-E bullets. When independently loading the above bullets, it is better to use Sunar-42 and Sokol gunpowder.
Bullets for smoothbore weapons Polev bullets, PPTs-E, “Grizzly” Good and predictable results in terms of accuracy and lethality are given by bullets from Russian designers Viktor Polev (Polev bullet 1, 2, 3, 3E, 5, 6, 7) and Viktor Shashkov (PPS-E, “ Grizzly-35", "Grizzly-36", "Grizzly-40"). Bullets “Grizzly-35”, “Grizzly-36”, “Grizzly-40” are intended primarily for shooting from “paradox” weapons, but can also be used in smooth-bore weapons. The PPTs-E bullet is produced specifically by order of the Tula Cartridge Plant (TPZ) under the name “Target sub-caliber bullet (expansive)”, abbreviated as PPTs-E. The Tula Cartridge Plant equips WOLF cartridges with PPTs-E bullets. When independently loading the above bullets, it is better to use Sunar-42 and Sokol gunpowder. Polev sub-caliber bullets and PPTs-E bullets can be fired from smooth-bore weapons with choke constrictions up to full choke (1 mm) inclusive. All of the above bullets can be used from semi-automatic and magazine weapons without restrictions. To kill a large (300 kg or more) elk, it is hardly advisable to use Polev bullets (except Polev 1; 6) at a distance of more than 70 m, despite the excellent accuracy indicators.
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 chambered for industrial cartridges. Bullet material is brass. Bullet qualities: 1 – good stopping effect. Even if hit in the wrong place, the animal quickly dies. Thanks to the sharp edges of the head, the wound does not heal and always bleeds profusely; 2 – good accuracy and accuracy of combat even when shooting at extreme distances; 3 – the bullet confidently overcomes the bushes and does not change its flight path. Equipment: 1 – match the diameter of the container with the bullet with the diameter of the barrel; in this case, the stiffening ribs in the container that prevent the free placement of the bullet must be removed; 2 – separate the seal from the container and remove the jumpers connecting them; 3 – cut the container with the connecting jumpers removed lengthwise into two parts. 2.3–2.5 g of Sokol gunpowder is poured into a cartridge case, preferably a plastic one. A plastic seal without a hole is applied 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 spacers; if you use felt, it should be soft, and it should be cut lengthwise into 4 parts to soften the impact of the bullet during the aftereffect period. 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 that the height of the sleeve neck for the twist is approximately 5 mm. The halves of the container are folded together, a bullet is inserted, sent into the cartridge case 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 equipped in this way guarantees an accurate shot. Bullet Sauvestre (BFS – Balle Fleche Sauvestre)
Until recently, only a few types of bullets for smoothbore ammunition were the most popular in Europe - Brenneke, Gualandi, and McElveen bullets. All of 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 of up to 100 m, which allows it to be successfully used for shooting large animals. In this case, there is no need to make vertical corrections when shooting at a distance of up to 100 m. The probability of a hit in real conditions greatly depends on this. 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 a bullet hitting. In rapidly changing hunting conditions, it is easy to make a mistake by 10–15 m, and as a result you may miss. The difference between the impact points of a Sovestra bullet at distances of 50 and 75 m is only 6 cm. The decrease in trajectory at a distance of 100 m from the aiming line is 18 cm. The Sovestra bullet is not a cheap pleasure, and this seriously hinders its widespread use in Russia for animal hunting. It should be noted that reviews from hunters about the accuracy of the bullet are far from ambiguous. In a word, each barrel needs to select its own cartridge. To confidently shoot at a distance of 100 meters or more, you must use an optical sight. When shooting a Sovestra bullet in winter, when the air temperature is -25 °C or lower, it is not recommended to use choke constrictions of more than 0.25 mm, since the container may rupture, which will affect the shooting accuracy. Time-tested examples of imported bullets include bullets such as Brenneke and Gualandi.
Brenneke Bullet Although 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, providing good accuracy and lethality up to 80 m. The classic Brenneke bullet was specially developed for shotguns with chokes. And the best performance, according to the manufacturers, is achieved precisely from full chokes (for the 12-gauge - 1 mm), this statement also applies to the Brenneke-Magnum bullet weighing 39 g. Cartridges with 12-gauge Brenneke Silver, Bronze and Emerald bullets are equipped with companies "Tehkrim" and "SCM". For game hunting, I would still like to recommend cartridges from Brenneke-Classic and Brenneke-Exakt from RWS, because all experiments in our country with this bullet often led to inadequate results. This bullet is too simple in design, but as experience shows, this “simplicity” has ruined many attempts to recreate it elsewhere.
The Gualandi bullet is available in three versions: Gualandi 28 g; Gualandi 32 g; Gualandi 40 g. Gualandi bullet 28 g. Sub-caliber bullet, designed for firing from barrels with choke constrictions. At the same time, complete safety of the choke 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 choke constrictions of more than 1 mm, due to the possibility of dismantling the plastic bullet tray in the choke, as well as in weapons with an under-barrel magazine.
Gualandi 32 g bullet This is a typical representative of a 12-gauge hunting bullet. This cartridge can be used to catch medium elk and large 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 shotguns. Frequent shooting of a Gualandi caliber bullet weighing 32 g from a barrel with a 1 mm choke is not recommended. This bullet cannot be fired from guns with a barrel with a “reinforced choke” choke (more than 1 mm). It is better to use choke constrictions of 0.5 and 0.25 mm. Gualandi bullet 40 g The Gualandi bullet weighing 40 g has a good stopping effect. At a distance of 50 m, the lethality of the bullet exceeds the stopping effect of almost all bullets from 7.62 mm caliber rifles and is practically equivalent to a shot from a 9.3 mm rifled weapon. The cartridge with the Gualandi 40 g bullet can be successfully used for hunting large elk and wild boars. This bullet is used in magnum class cartridges, so your weapon must have a chamber of at least 76 mm. The good ballistic characteristics of the bullet and excellent stopping power allow it to be used effectively at a distance of up to 70 m. Due to the design features of the forty-gram Gualandi bullet, shooting from guns that have any kind of muzzle constriction (cylinder only) is strictly prohibited. IN Lately the number has increased sharply various models bullets made from materials alternative to lead (steel, brass, bronze). Steel with a specific gravity of 7.8 g/cm3 is a material that is resistant to deformation at the moment of firing, and allows you to give the bullet a complex shape that is favorable from the point of view of flight aerodynamics. 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 probability of ricochet, as a rule, the ability to shoot from any drill barrel, and the ability to overcome obstacles in the form of branches and grass without changing the trajectory. Steel bullets framed with polyethylene elements are well proven today. The most successful bullets from this group in terms of design are: the Ivanov bullet, the Udar bullet, the Blondeau bullet, the Rubeykin bullet, and the bullets from the D Dupleks company (Dupo 28; Monolit 32; Monolit 28; Rossa 32; Hexolit 32). To improve energy delivery efficiency, the front of these bullets is straight and flat. Such bullets partially lose their aerodynamic qualities, but have a strong impact effect due to the wide and flat frontal surface. Experience and statistical data on the range of shots in hunting show that the deteriorated aerodynamic characteristics of a flat frontal surface cannot have a negative impact on the fairly 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 at very long distances. This is explained simply: the large frontal surface of a 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 drag, other factors are decisive for accurate and successful shooting at a long distance - the initial speed of the bullet and the nature of the weapon’s recoil, which determines the angle of the bullet’s ejection relative to the weapon’s reference point. These bullets are indispensable, especially when shooting wild boar in driven hunts, stealth hunting and shooting from under a dog. To shoot confidently while 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 expands, holds mass, hits vital organs and leaves a good wound channel. This allows you to more effectively search for an animal using its blood trail. Choosing the right bullet type and caliber for a successful shot is very important. And, of course, the weapon must be well-shot with the type of cartridge appropriate for hunting.


Bullets for rifled weapons All cartridges of the listed calibers work well against elk and wild boar in combination with Norma bullets (Oryx; Vulkan; Alaska; Nosler Partition; Swift A-Frame; Barnes Triple-Shock bullets).
Oryx Oryx bullet - has high accuracy, good expansion in the diameter of the projectile, high penetrating ability and very high residual weight (up to 96%), as well as high effectiveness on all European ungulates.
Vulkan The Vulkan bullet is a classic, time-tested bullet with a thin jacket in the front part, resulting in rapid expansion in diameter and high energy return (residual weight up to 78%).
Alaska The Alaska Bullet is a classic among Scandinavian elk hunters. The proven lead-tipped, tombac-jacketed projectile is known for its fast and good expansion.
Nosler Partition Nosler Partition bullet – with controlled (limited) expansion (residual weight up to 64%). For a large and wound-resistant animal.
Swift A-Frame Swift A-Frame bullet – with very high residual weight (up to 98%) and high penetration ability. For a large and wound-resistant animal.
Barnes Triple-Shock The Barnes Triple-Shock is a new bullet that has the highest resistance of any similar projectile on the market (100% residual weight). This is a bullet for high speeds and hard bones of large game. Oryx, Swift A-Frame and Barnes Triple-Shock bullets allow you to take elk and large wild boar from any angle with high efficiency where a flat shot is also required. Cartridge 308Win. It is better to use for catching 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 and is highly accurate. The Evolution provides very good stopping power even at long ranges, and its high penetration power makes the bullet particularly effective when hunting large animals. Thanks to the design of the Rapid-X-Tip ballistic tip, the deformation process of the bullet begins immediately after hitting the target. Already at the very first stage, the Evolution bullet transfers a sufficient amount of energy to the target, providing the required stopping effect. The residual mass of the bullet after impact is close to 100%.

Some hunting bullets have a negative impact on barrel survivability. This is due to the design of the shell. The new Evolution bullet does not have this drawback. Due to the presence of a notch in the bottom, 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 Bullet DK – with a double core, consists of two lead cores of different hardness and a bullet shell made of tombac. The weight ratio of the cores is 50:50. Features of the bullet: – good and clear trace of the affected game; – very short distance for game to escape after a shot; – the design of the bullet (cutting edge) ensures even cutting of hair at the entrance hole; – optimal expansion in the first half of the game’s body; – slight damage to game meat.

HMK HMK bullet – a feature of this bullet is the famous H-bridge, which defines the exact deformation limit 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. The cylindrical rear part separates along the H-groove, providing end-to-end penetration even when hitting the bone of large game. Features of the bullet: – limited formation of fragments, thanks to the H-shaped jumper; – reliable provision of an outlet; – slight damage to game meat; – rapid death of game from shock.

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

KS KS bullet – provides controlled deformation and uniform expansion regardless of the size of the game. External form bullet creates ideal conditions for high accuracy and flatness. Features of the bullet: – very high accuracy, thanks to the long leading belt; – low formation of fragments; – a groove in the design of the rear of the bullet provides the required exit hole.

TMR TMR bullet – 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 hunts. Features of the bullet: – high breaking ability in hunting small game; – good value for money. Federal Premium cartridges equipped with Barnes Triple-Shock X-Bullet, Barnes MRX-Bullet bullets will cope well with the task 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, warming periods are interrupted by the return of cold weather. In late spring the first summer months warmer, which is beneficial for wildlife. Hence the saying: “Late spring will not deceive.”
Late springs recur more often, arriving in early April. In the center of the EPR, spring snowmelt most often begins on March 18. Then there will be other phenological subseasons - the revival and height of spring, and only then, on the 20th of May, the pre-summer season will begin.

Autumn is rainy - there will be a rainy spring. Last autumn was not stormy.
If snow falls early in the fall, then spring is early. There was no early snow.
If September is cold, the snow will melt in March. September was warm
Early snow in winter - by early spring. Winter snow arrived late this winter.
If it melts early, it won’t melt for a long time. It didn't melt down early in February.
Long icicles - for a long spring. There are no long icicles yet.
Snowy winter means a long spring and rainy summer. Winter this year is quite snowy.
Early fall of leaves on trees (birch, maple, aspen) - by early spring next year. Last fall, leaf fall in the Moscow region was delayed for almost a month
If the edges of the melting snow around the trees are steep, it means a cold spring, if they are flat, it means a long spring.
Mice make nests at the bottom of the mounds or in the ground - in the dry spring.
The woodpecker knocks early (back in January) - by early spring. In January, the woodpecker remained silent, he was cold and had no time to knock.
The colder it gets the last week February, the warmer it is in March.
In January - March, in March - January. January was “January”, not March. One might think that March will also be “March”.
If February is rainy, then spring and summer can be expected to be rainy. February was not rainy.

What does he prophesy for us? Folk calendar:
23.07. If the birch leaves begin to turn yellow from the top (third decade of July), wait for early spring (next). And if from below, next spring will be late. If evenly - average. In our area, the leaves of birch trees at the tops and bottom turned yellow at about the same time, later than usual. 07.10. Thekla-zarevnitsa. As is October, so is April. Last October was good 11/08. Demetrius of Solunsky. Dimitri's day. Grandfather's week. If November 8th is cold and snowy, spring is late and cold, and if there is a thaw, winter and spring are warm. IN central regions ETR on this day the air temperature was positive, in some places there was heavy rain and drizzle. We are looking forward to a warm spring. 09.11. As 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 stormy May. Cloudy weather with snowfalls was observed throughout the EPR. 28.12. The day shows what March will be like. Over most of the EPR, cloudy weather prevailed; snowfalls were observed in the zone of the passing atmospheric cold front. 29.12. Haggai. The day shows what April will be like. During the day, a warm atmospheric front passed through, which brought cloudy weather with snowfalls turning into continuous rain during the day. 30.12. Ananias, Azarius, Misail. The day shows what May will be like. The southeastern periphery of the cyclone was located above the center of the EPR, in which atmospheric fronts “provided” cloudy weather, with snowfall in places in the southeast, and rain in places in the northwest. 06.01. If it is warm on this day, spring will be cold. It was cold. 07.01. Nativity. In the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, founded by Abbot Sergius of Radonezh, there is a 15th-century manuscript “Kolyadnik”. This manuscript contains signs determined by the days on which the Nativity of Christ falls (the holiday of Kolyada). Christmas this year fell on Saturday, and this is what is written in the manuscript: “And even if the Nativity of Christ is on Saturday - winter is windy, fruit is scarce for good, autumn is dry, spring and summer are wet, destruction for sheep, deaths in abundance, three-day shaking, destruction." In other words, we should expect a “wet” spring. 24.01. Fedosei-Vesnyak. Fedoseevo's warmth has begun to feel like early spring. The warm days of January are not good. It was cold, don't expect early spring. 25.01. Tatiana. The sun will shine on Tatiana - for the early arrival of birds. Early sun - early birds. The sun will shine through - to an early and friendly spring. Didn't show up. 26.01. The first “tsi-tsi-fi” of the great tit heralds early spring. As of mid-February, the first spring songs of titmouses had not yet sounded. 31.01. Athanasius the Clematis, Kirill. At noon the sun is early spring. The sun “peeled through”. 01.02. Macarius day. A clear sunny Makaryev day - early spring. If there are drops, believe in early spring. There was no clear sunny day, but as for the drops... During the day the air temperature was -20...-24°. 02.02. Euthymius. On Euthymius at noon the sun is early spring. The second day of February shows spring: sunny - for a red spring, cloudy - wait for late snowstorms. The weather was cloudy and cold. 04.02. Timofey-half-winter. If the sun is visible at noon on this day, then spring will be early. Almost the entire EPR was completely cloudy and snowing at the atmospheric front. 06.02. Aksinya-half-winter, half-bread girl Ksenia. Like Aksinya, like spring. In the half-winter season, a bucket - spring is red. There was no bucket. The weather was cloudy and frosty, with snowfalls occurring in places in the northwest in the frontal zone. 14.02. Tryphon. It's starry on Tryphon - late spring. If many stars appear in the sky, then winter will remain for a long time and spring will be late. There were no stars. 15.02. Candlemas. Sustretev Day (meeting of winter and spring). What is the weather at Candlemas, such will be the spring. There is snow on Candlemas Day - rain in the spring. Snow is blowing across the road - there will be late spring, and if it doesn’t sweep, then it’s early. If the rooster drinks water 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 EPR was cloudy, with snowfalls of varying intensity, only to the north of St. Petersburg there were breaks in the clouds. The results of checks carried out by climatologists revealed that after a very warm December, April is also warm in 70% of years, and in 60% of cases it is very warm. December was relatively warm, and we 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:
Deadlines. The vast majority of signs indicate the onset of spring neither early nor late, but at the usual time.
Cloudiness. More normal than cloudy.
Precipitation. You can expect a lot of precipitation; as they say, it will be a “wet” spring.
Air temperature. Opinions are divided approximately equally between “normal” and “warm”, but “with a slight advantage” towards a warm spring. According to the advice, March and April can be expected to be cloudy, “wet” and warm. May can also be expected to be cloudy with precipitation - not warm in temperature, but close to the average long-term temperatures.
Golovko is jealous

How to properly aim at a sitting duck, how to aim at a flying duck, how to shoot ducks while hunting? Shooting ducks while hunting is not an easy task, since it is associated with the diversity of duck species, and the fact that even ducks of the same species in different flight conditions can create different conditions for shooting. Not only the flight of ducks is varied, but also the duck hunting environment in which the hunter will have to shoot at them. Therefore, there is nothing simple in such a matter as duck hunting.

How to properly aim at a sitting duck

When hunting ducks, you need to take into account that if a duck sits or swims on the water, then it is less vulnerable to shot than a flying duck, and the distance can be the same. This is explained by the fact that the feathers of a sitting duck fit tightly, and if you consider that in addition to feathers, the duck also has down, then all together it forms a very solid shell. In addition, a sitting or swimming duck is a smaller target compared to a flying duck. If possible, when hunting ducks over long distances, avoid shooting sitting ducks. Spring and late autumn are the times when ducks are well feathered, so they are stronger for shot at this time. In summer, ducks are most vulnerable.

How to shoot a sitting duck:

• When hunting a duck, it is advisable to shoot at a swimming bird, aiming slightly below it, that is, you need to aim at the middle of the line formed by the contact of the duck carcass with the surface of the water.
• If a duck is sitting on a stone, on the shore, then you need to aim and shoot at the center of its carcass.
• When hunting ducks, it is advisable to shoot in the side or back.
• Do not aim at the chest, because in this place the bird is most protected from shotgun pellets by its down and feathers.

How to properly aim at a flying duck

Surely, every hunter knows that in order to catch a flying duck while hunting, you need to aim and shoot not at the bird’s carcass, but slightly ahead of it. This is explained simply. After all, some time will pass between pressing the trigger of the gun and the moment when the ejected shot reaches the target, in our case a flying bird. And the bird that came under the gun will have time to fly a certain distance. Therefore, when hunting ducks, you need to aim and shoot in front of the target. But at what distance to shoot in front of the target depends on how fast the target moves, what is the distance between the muzzle of the gun and the target. The greater the distance and speed of the target, the greater the distance you need to take in front of the target and then you can hit the target directly. So duck hunting is also about math. If you shoot at flying birds with normal shooting, as a result of a decent killing circle of a hunting rifle, then it is advisable to aim at the duck at its front part, then it will not escape the charge. Experienced hunters Those who have the dexterity and skill of duck hunting are able, in any conditions, at any moment, to almost instantly weigh at what speed the duck is flying, what is the distance between the muzzle of the gun and the duck. All this allows them to consciously and confidently select the desired “front” and shoot.

How to shoot a flying duck:

• When hunting ducks in the summer, as well as if you are going to shoot at ducks flying up to a decoy or a decoy, it is recommended to aim at the duck’s head.
• When hunting flying ducks in autumn, and also if duck hunting is carried out on flyways, it is recommended to aim one, two or three arshins ahead of the bird. We remember that the greater the distance from the shooter to the bird, the greater the distance you need to take in front of the target.

Duck hunting

Diving ducks swimming on the water are especially strong against incoming shot. When hunting diving ducks in the fall, it is recommended not to use sitting ducks, but to use ducks on the rise. It is easy to shoot at dives that are just rising from the water and with a successful shot, the duck, as a rule, hits cleanly. If you shoot at sitting ducks, wounded animals are possible. In this case, it is also possible to chase a wounded duck, which also dives, which means you will have to shoot at it several times. Do not hesitate to shoot if a duck lands on a stuffed animal, especially when hunting in the fall.

Autumn duck hunting

Depending on the region, duck hunting opens on the second or third Saturday in August. By this time, almost all the young ducks are already flying. Duck broods continue to stay in the thickets of horsetail, reeds and other supports. Therefore, in the first days of opening, duck hunting is carried out by approaching or approaching them by boat for a flight. As soon as ducks begin to make mass flights to feed during the evening dawns, hunting for ducks on flights begins. At the end of September - beginning of October, ducks gather in flocks and fly south. From the beginning of the flight, ducks are hunted from huts with stuffed animals, profiles and decoy ducks.

Duck hunting from a fly-by approach

How does duck hunting work from the approach? Walking duck hunting by fording is usually carried out in small, shallow reservoirs with marsh vegetation, along rivers overgrown with horsetail, grasses and bushes, and in abandoned quarries overgrown with grass. During such a duck hunt, a trained dog can be of great benefit: it will find the hidden duck, drive it out of the supports on clean water or force him to rise on the wing, catch a wounded animal and bring the killed bird to the hunter. The best dogs Wire-haired pointers and spaniels are considered for duck hunting. It is also advisable to have a boat that the hunter can use on the water.

Shooting on such a duck hunt It is usually carried out at short ranges with shot No. 5 or No. 6.

Duck hunting on flights

From the second half of August, ducks make regular flights from their daytime sites to fields and reservoirs that serve as feeding grounds. They usually fly the same routes. At the end of August, ducks fly out to feed before dark, and in later autumn - at dusk and even in the dark. Ducks return from feeding before sunrise. In the evening they fly alone, in groups and in large flocks. They return to their daytime sites in small groups, often in pairs.

How does duck hunting happen on flights? The hunter needs to determine the path along which the flights take place, and choose a place where the ducks fly in large numbers, low, within a sure shot. In the light of the evening dawn, camouflage is advisable; later, it is enough to stand near a bush or tree and not make sudden movements when a bird approaches. The evening dawn is used for fly-by shooting, the morning dawn is used for hunting ducks from a hut with stuffed animals in daytime areas. In the evening dawn, the hunter faces the place of the day, and in the morning - faces the place of feeding. You cannot hunt ducks in bird feeding areas or build huts there, as this may scare the birds away from regularly visited areas. The course of the flight is greatly influenced by the weather. The best times for duck hunting are quiet, cloudy days with drizzling rain, when the duck flies low and calm. In clear weather, ducks fly high, and in windy weather they fly very quickly.

Shoot ducks while hunting in flight possible only when they are within the correct shot, taking the correct lead. It is advisable to shoot during a duck hunt like this when the duck is on the move or at the moment when the duck is above the hunter. Counter shots are not always successful, since the dense and smooth plumage of the chest can protect the duck from injury. When flying very quickly in windy weather, it is useful for the hunter to suddenly stand up from behind the cover at full height at the moment when a flock of ducks swooped down on him. This unexpected appearance of a person frightens the ducks. They rush up, the flock is mixed, and the hunter is given the opportunity to choose the desired goal for a shot.

Shoot while hunting ducks on flights followed by shot No. 5 or No. 4. Shooting at flocks is unacceptable. It leads to massive injuries and unnecessary loss of game.

Daytime duck hunting

How does daytime duck hunting work? The hunter determines the daytime places of ducks by observing their morning and evening flights. At the end of the day, you need to go around the area where the ducks are supposed to spend their days on a boat in order to accurately determine their locations based on the trampled grass, feathers and droppings. The ducks, raised on the wing, fly off to reaches or feeding areas, and usually return the next morning.

In the place of the largest concentration of ducks, a shelter is made from improvised material, from which ducks are hunted with stuffed animals in the mornings. The dimensions of the shelter for duck hunting should allow you to shoot while standing. It is advisable to place shelters so that the sun does not shine in your eyes. You should go to the spot before sunrise.

Duck hunting shooting is carried out at close range, so you need to use shot No. 5 or No. 6.

A huge selection of stuffed animals for hunting and their varieties can confuse novice hunters. Therefore, they are recommended to contact specialized duck hunting stores, where competent specialists will help with the choice and give practical advice on how to choose stuffed animals. These, for example, include Akvazon.ru. Large selection of lightweight, modern, crushable duck hunting decoys .

Duck hunting from the porch

How does duck hunting work from a porch? Duck hunting from the entrance is carried out throughout the summer and autumn period. For such a duck hunt, you need to have a boat in which two people can sail - a hunter and a rower. The boat must be light and stable so that the hunter can shoot while standing and silently pass through the reeds. The boat is equipped with one long straight oar with which you can row and push, a bailer for bailing out water and a small spare oar. The hunter is located approximately in the first third of the boat's length, the rower is at the stern. With this distribution, the bow of the boat is not overloaded and conditions are created for its better maneuverability, and therefore for successful duck hunting.

The success of duck hunting from the entrance equally depends on the accuracy of the shooter and on the ability of the rower to silently and imperceptibly bring the boat within the distance of a killing shot to the duck hidden in the support. The hunter must be attentive, self-possessed, dexterous, be able to stand in a boat and make well-aimed shots at a duck when rocking. The rower must be physically resilient and have good eyesight in order to notice where a dead bird has fallen and find a bird shot while duck hunting.

It is better to hunt ducks from the entrance on windy days and start somewhere around 9-10 o’clock in the morning, after the birds returning from night feeding have calmed down in the reeds and other supports. Daytime ducks usually spend time in the same places. Therefore, it is useful to travel around the pond before duck hunting to find out where the ducks are raised. It is better to approach the site against the wind, if possible hiding behind reeds and reeds, and silently.

Shoot on a duck hunt it must be at killing distance without delay at the moment the duck takes off. The most suitable shot is No. 5 and No. 4. There is no need to spare cartridges for finishing off a downed but moving bird. Wounded animals often dive and then hide near the shores and reeds. Finding them after this is almost impossible.

Duck hunting on flights

In September - October, ducks migrate from north to south. The first to fly away are teal and shovelers, followed by teal, pintail and wigeon; mallard and diving ducks fly off later than the others. Ducks migrate annually in flocks along the same routes.

How does duck hunting work on flights? To hunt ducks on the fly, you need to find out the paths along which ducks fly, the places where they descend, where they stop to rest and feed. Spacious, well-camouflaged huts are set up along the flight paths of ducks. Decoy ducks are planted near the hut, and stuffed animals and profiles of ducks of various breeds are placed 20 meters from it, at a sure shot distance.

Duck hunting on migration is carried out from dawn to dark. It is useful to check in advance and mark with poles the maximum shooting distances. Autumn ducks are especially careful, so the hunter, sitting in a hut, must behave very quietly. Ducks usually land in groups and even small flocks.

Shoot while hunting a duck on the fly It is necessary, targeting individual ducks, with shot No. 3 and No. 4.

In order to correctly hit a duck while hunting while shooting it in years, you need to know what lead to take when shooting a duck, which is what we will tell you about in this topic. But remember, nothing will allow you to shoot a duck well and take the correct lead as practice gained from duck and goose hunting.

Duck hunting is considered the most widespread. In swamps, lakes, and river bays you can meet thousands of hunters waiting for the morning or evening duck dawns. In this case, shooting is carried out from one place where the hunter is sitting in a barrel, boat, or hut. It is worth remembering that it is much more convenient to shoot while standing. Therefore, disguise yourself so that the hut, when you stand, only reaches your chest in height and does not interfere with 360-degree shooting.

If you are shooting at dawn, or on a flyby, then you can hunt for oncoming, stolen, side and half-creeped birds. There is an opinion that it is best to hit the bird under the feather, in a half-run, then the feather cover produces less resistance before the shot. However, in August, when the duck is still young and has weak cover, you have the opportunity to get into the most lethal places - the head and neck.

A young duck can easily be killed with seven. If you go hunting in the late period, then you need to increase the shot number.

Let the duck as close to you as possible, close it with the trunk and start walking forward, and then press the trigger. If you suddenly miss, you should turn around and hit under the duck. Such a shot is called a hijack shot.

For a side shot, use the direction from right to left or from left to right. Remember that during a shot from the left, the body spins, and during a shot from the right, on the contrary, it twists.

If you pick up a side duck, point your barrels straight at it and start overtaking until a gap appears. The clearance depends on the target range, as well as the bird's flight speed. It is known that, compared to gray or mallard ducks, diving breeds have a much faster flight speed. There are also legends about the incredible speed of teal. The essence of overtaking shooting is that the gun moves faster than the bird flies. But remember that you should not throw the trunks forward with a jerk. Otherwise, the gun may stop and result in a miss.

If you are shooting at a duck that is about to land, it is best to point the barrel at the landing bird. Fire the shot, moving away from her in a downward motion.

They usually shoot from the entrance or approach at a duck that takes off. When flying out of the reeds, the bird immediately begins to rise vertically. In such a case, you just need to close it with the barrels and press the trigger. When the duck has switched to horizontal flight, shooting should be from the side or overhead, while the barrel must be raised slightly higher than the body.

Two types of goose hunting can be distinguished: hunting from a shelter (pit, hut) and shooting, when the bird flies from the water to the food fields and vice versa. When hunting from cover, if there are decoys and profiles on the field, do not rush to shoot. The decoy is designed to ensure that the geese fly as close as possible for a shot. After 2-3 laps they seem to hover over the imitators. This moment is the most favorable for a shot. The first shots should be fired at the birds' heads. In case of delay with the shot, the shooting should be as if at half-hijacked or hijacked geese. This means that you need to shoot at the body or with clearance in the outgoing direction.

A goose that is about to land on a stuffed animal is shot in the same way as a duck, or in the case of a close landing, the body itself is aimed at.

When hunters shoot while flying, they stand close to the water's edge. In such situations, it happens that it is better to let the bird pass and shoot at the hijacker. Then it’s easier to pick up shots and pick up wounded animals on the ground. In addition, a shot under the feather is considered the most reliable. After all, the goose has a fairly strong feather on its chest, since hunting is usually carried out in the spring for seasoned birds or in late autumn for young animals that have become stronger.

Compared to geese that go for stuffing, migratory geese fly higher and much faster. You have to shoot them overhead.

Thanks to the slow flapping of the wing, hunters get the impression that the bird is flying slowly. However, this is only a deceptive appearance; in reality, a wedge of geese or a herd flying in transit have high speed. Therefore, the clearance, lead and overtaking speed must be significant.

Here are some rules that you need to know in order to accurately practice your targets. Does everyone shoot like this when hunting? You just need to learn this at the beginning, sometimes without even understanding it, but simply by memorizing it. As in the old joke: the word sol is written with a soft sign, remember, because it is impossible to understand.

Shooting a bird in flight is done like this:

1. The bird flies away from the hunter, keeping at the level of his shoulders. You need to aim directly at the bird. If the bird flies below the hunter's shoulders, you need to aim in front of it.
2. Bird on the rise. You need to aim by covering it with the trunks, keeping them above it all the time, and, at the same time, straightening your torso back, fire a shot.
3. The bird flies and lands in front of the hunter. You need to aim at the bird and, leaning your body forward, shoot.
4. The bird flies forward over the hunter's head. You need to aim under the bird and slightly forward and shoot with your torso slightly tilted.
5. The bird flies high in the air towards the hunter. You need to aim in front of the bird, covering it with the trunks, and, tilting your body back, fire a shot.
6. The bird flies crosswise or sideways, while simultaneously rising upward. You need to aim by holding the barrels on top of the bird and in front, taking the necessary, in this case double, lead, and turning your body along the line of flight, shoot.
7. The bird is landing. In this case, you need to aim in front and below the bird, maintaining the necessary lead, and, while simultaneously turning the body in the appropriate direction, transfer its weight to the right leg if the bird is flying to the right, and, conversely, to the left leg if the bird is flying to the left.

Shooting at a moving target requires knowledge of how to aim a gun and more careful preparation of the shooter. Shot shooting at a flying duck is carried out with a stationary gun or with a leash.

Shooting with a stationary gun

Such shooting is characterized by the fact that the gun is directed to a point located in front of the target, along its line of travel. When the target approaches the calculated distance to the aiming point, the trigger is released.

Are you hunting duck? Then you need to know how to shoot a duck in years. From the moment the decision is made to fire until the shot itself, when the shot leaves the muzzle, 0.024 seconds pass. During this time the duck manages to cover 48 cm.

Accordingly, the charge passes by if you take the aim clearly at the bird. To avoid this, use a leash. That is, the gun does not stop at the moment of firing, but continues to move behind the target.

The trigger is pressed smoothly, without jerking and without stopping the weapon. To this must be added the correct calculation, called lead when shooting at a duck, depending on the shot number and target range, as well as the speed and direction of its flight.

There are certain rules on how to shoot ducks correctly:

1. A swooping duck forces you to speed up the lead and shorten the lead.
2. A duck passing sideways at a distance of up to 40 meters significantly slows down the leash, and you have to use large leads, up to 1.5 meters. In this case, the gun may stop, so it would be more effective to use a method called shooting while overtaking, starting the leash behind the bird, and, having overtaken it by the required distance, fire a shot.
3. Game coming at a bayonet point at a low altitude requires a slow lead, and if it suddenly moves above the hunter, then the shot is fired at the moment the prey is blocked by the trunks. When flying low, it would be better to release the duck forward and shoot at the hijack.

One indisputable rule for the shooter should be: no matter in which direction the gun barrels have to be moved, this movement is made only by the body, and not by the hands.

The single arm-body-gun system remains motionless, the direction changes only with the help of the torso. The hunter must stand half a turn towards the intended point at which the ducks will be shot.