Decoration of boar tusks. Processing and registration of hunting trophies. General information about the head department

Kaliningrad hunting club

Boar tusks - a valuable trophy

At the IV All-Union Hunting Exhibition in 1985, first and second places with a score of 148.85 and 143.40 points were taken by wild boar tusks from the Vitebsk region. Vitebsk hunters have other wonderful trophies: at the World Exhibition in Plovdiv (1981), the fangs exhibited by hunter I. A. Shipulo were valued at 136.00 points; hunter I.F. Luzgin is the owner of the trophy with 129.90 points.

The most obvious reason for the good trophy qualities of wild boar in the Vitebsk region is the selectivity of the hunting method existing here. In the region, as in Belarus generally, there are practically no individual wild boar hunts; licenses are issued only to teams of hunters. During collective hunts, hunters prefer to go around the herd of wild boars, and then drive it out to a chain of shooters with the help of beaters with dogs, that is, conduct a round-up. The usual result of such hunts is young-of-the-year piglets and pigs attached to the herd. Cleavers aged one and a half years and older, who, as a rule, lead a solitary lifestyle, if they find themselves in a salary, they are well oriented in the environment by sounds and smells. They are not afraid of the noise of the corral and the barking of dogs, they often hide and leave the enclosure unnoticed, and when raised, they leave unharmed through the flanks or a rare chain of beaters. As a result, the wild boar population has had a high proportion of old loppers for many years.

Other possible reason- traditions of caring attitude of Vitebsk hunters to feeding wild boar in winter. Even on farms Belarusian Society hunters and fishermen fishing public principles, feeding areas where up to 40 wild boars gather are not uncommon. Feeding is carried out in an exemplary manner in farms with a ranger service. And the feeding conditions in the first two years of the animal’s life, according to the most authoritative expert on wild boar Professor from the GDR L. Briedermann (Briedermann, 1986), provide big influence on the development of fangs. From piglets that have retarded development due to a poor feed harvest, harsh conditions wintering, you can’t expect good trophies. There is another reason - low standards for wild boar production in the republic. The influence of good hereditary inclinations of the wild boar population in the north of the republic - the Belarusian Lake District - cannot be ruled out.

The size of the fangs depends primarily on the age of the animal. The prevailing opinion among hunters that the size of the tusks does not depend on the weight of the boar is apparently explained by the fact that the loppers participating in the rut lose a lot of weight. Of course, individual variability also matters. Already in a one-and-a-half-year-old pig, 3.5-4.0-centimeter fangs protrude from the lower jaw. Their width when emerging from the gums is about 14 mm, at the base about 21 mm. This unevenness in width is hallmark youth of the beast. Boars at the age of 2.5 years are the most dangerous for dogs; they are light (75 kg), fast animals, their fangs are sharply sharpened and protrude by 5-6 cm. However, only the tusks of a wild boar at the age of 4-5 years are of trophy value; they protrude a little more (6-7 cm) with a total length of about 21 cm, but their width evens out and is 24-26 mm. The fangs reach full development in cleavers at 7-8 years of age; their length is usually 21-23 cm, width - 28-29 mm.

Later, the tops of the fangs become less sharp and often break off. The development of fangs stops, and the length may even decrease due to wear. Such animals do not participate in the rut, their meat does not have a specific smell, and they are well nourished.

However, for the most part, our hunters do not know how to correctly remove boar tusks from the jaw or preserve them. It is a shame to see damaged fangs, which, if properly processed, could decorate any exhibition. Every boar hunter should know for sure that only a third of the lower canines are visible from the outside, and two-thirds are in the jaw. Attempts to cut out fangs with an ax, in which their lower ends are broken, are by no means uncommon. Most common cause The death of trophies is their cracking.

Processing of tusks consists of the following: the skin is removed from the boar's head, the tongue and the largest muscles are separated. Although the ends of the canines of the lower jaw are located at the level of the fourth premolar tooth, it is recommended that sawing be carried out behind the last molar. Of course, the lower jaw can be boiled whole, if the dishes allow it. There are no mistakes when sawing off the upper jaw; it is enough to step back 2-3 cm beyond the characteristic, highly developed ridge of the alveolus of the upper canines, which corresponds to the level of the third premolar tooth. The usual tool for this operation is a hacksaw.

The sawn-off jaws are placed in cold water and boil for about an hour, for older animals - longer, then allow the water to cool. The fangs of old cleavers are extracted (pulled out) easily, but in young ones, due to the mentioned unevenness in width, they can be extracted only by sawing off the lower jaw at the level of the fourth premolar tooth and pushing them in the opposite direction.

From the extracted fangs, a thin adhesive layer of soft tissue is carefully removed with a blunt scraper, and the pulp is removed from the cavity using tweezers or a wire hook. The fangs are wiped and left to dry in a cool room. Here comes the most dangerous moment: in a village house later, and in a city apartment, where the air is very dry in winter, longitudinal cracks may appear on the fangs already on the third day, and then entire pieces often fall off.

Therefore, it is advisable to fill the fangs no later than 24 hours after drying. In the hunting literature there are recommendations to fill the fangs with paraffin, wax (M. Kulich, 1980), and rub them with paraffin (I. Roskopf, 1977). However, when sudden changes air temperature, especially when transporting trophies to exhibitions in winter, and when the air is very dry, paraffin does not protect fangs from cracking. Filling fangs in several layers with BF glue is equally ineffective.

The most reliable product is a two-component epoxy-based casting composition (E. House, V. Vernits, 1975; M. Kulich, 1980; A. A. Fandeev, V. P. Nikolskaya, 1983).

Before filling, the internal cavities of the fangs must be degreased with gasoline, alcohol, ether, and acetone. The resin consumption for filling all four fangs is about 40 ml (the capacity of one lower fang is 9-12 cm 3, the capacity of the upper fang is about 4 cm 3). Before the resin hardens, it is recommended to insert a piece of copper wire into the cavity of the fangs, with which the fangs will be attached to the stand. You need to wear rubber gloves when working with the hardener. The fumes generated when mixing resin and hardener are undesirable for people prone to allergic diseases.

Unfortunately, filling does not protect the enamel along the outer edge of the lower fangs from destruction; the enamel on the upper fangs also crumbles. Realizing that covering trophies with varnish or glue spoils them appearance, in this case, for the sake of preserving the trophy, we would recommend applying two layers of colorless PVA glue, produced by p/o Azot, to the surface susceptible to destruction. A.A. Fandeev and V.P. Nikolskaya (1983) advise covering the fangs with a thin layer of colorless synthetic varnish. L. Briderman (1986) advises soaking the outer surface of the fangs with a fatty composition to avoid drying out. But you need to know that all efforts to treat fangs will be in vain if you store them near heating devices.

It is not recommended to bleach fangs in hydrogen peroxide; it is advisable to leave a dark strip decorating them on the fangs just below the polishing. Bursted fangs should not be thrown away; they can still be saved by applying Moment glue and bandaging tightly with insulating tape, followed by filling.

The rules for evaluating boar tusks are the simplest in comparison with other trophies and are accessible to every hunter.

The length of the lower canines is measured to the nearest 1 mm from the base to the tip along the outer edge using a tape measure, the average value in centimeters serves as a score.

The width of the lower canines is measured to the nearest 0.1 mm using a caliper at the widest point; the average value in mm multiplied by a factor of 3 serves as the score.

The circumference of the upper canines is measured at the widest point with a narrow tape, the sum of the values ​​​​of both canines in centimeters serves as a score.

A markup of up to five points is given for the symmetry of the fangs, the curl of the upper fangs, and the presence of a dark stripe at the polishing. A discount is given for asymmetry of fangs and other shortcomings.

A bronze medal is awarded to canines that score from 110 to 114.9 points, a silver medal - from 115 to 119.9, and a gold medal - from 120 points and above.

As an example, we give the price of fangs that took first place at the All-Union Hunting Exhibition in 1985. Thus, the main thing when assessing canines is their width. If we look at the exhibition catalogues, we will notice that the most common widths of fangs rated “for bronze” are 24-25 mm, “for silver” - 26-27 mm, “for gold” - 28-29 mm.

The fangs are usually placed on round stands of commensurate size, painted with dark brown stain; against this background the fangs stand out well.

The wild boar is a fairly large animal that can reach up to one and a half meters in length. The weight of an adult varies from 150 to 300 kilograms. The boar's bristly fur resembles the coloration of a bear with a slight reddish tint. Their distinctive feature can be called large lower fangs, the size of which can be about 25 centimeters. This dexterous and agile animal is capable of accelerating up to 40 km per hour, which makes it elusive for both wild animals and hunters. On top of that, the wild boar swims well and jumps at a distance of 3.5 meters.

The role of fangs

The main function performed by the fangs of a wild boar is defense and attack. The main threat to this animal may be a pack of wolves, hunters or a bear. When attacked, a boar is capable of inflicting lacerations thanks to its tusks. Everyone knows that the boar is an animal that people hunt with pleasure. You should know that this beast is not so stupid. There have been many cases when wild boars lured a person to the reeds using various tricks, after which they suddenly attacked. It is very difficult to escape from the fangs of an angry boar; they are deadly. When an animal is wounded, it becomes enraged and may attack in response. In such a wounded and enraged state, even the wolves do not touch him.

Wild boar habitats

The boar (wild boar) is a fairly common species that lives throughout Europe, Asia, America and other tropical places. This animal has taken root in coniferous forests, and in deserts. The most favorite place for such wild boars is oak forests. Very often like this big boar found in the Caucasus, Transbaikalia mountain rivers. The boar is a herd animal. Females are smaller in size than males and have a smaller habitat with piglets than a male. Its territory depends on the saturation of food in a particular place. These stray animals are capable of traveling several kilometers in one day in search of food.

Animal nutrition

The boar is an animal that eats quite varied. The boar's most favorite delicacies are:

• Bulbous plants.
• Various roots.
• Nuts, acorns, berries.
• Herbaceous plants.
• Frogs, lizards, snakes.
• Various insects.
• Bird eggs.

Wild boar offspring

An animal such as a boar (boar) is divided into 25 subspecies, for which characteristic features are a stocky body with a large head, wide ears and small eyes. All adults protect their herds. Each female is capable of producing approximately five piglets annually, each of which can weigh about half a kilogram after birth. Nature itself took care of the safety of the babies and painted them with stripes, which makes small wild boars less noticeable, unlike adult boars with a dark color. Since wild pigs most often unite in huge herds in autumn time In order to protect their young, even wolves do not always decide to attack pig offspring.

Boar character

Most boars prefer to spend their day in gray, marshy areas, wallowing in holes. In case of danger, this huge boar is able to escape through thickets impenetrable to other animals and swim across water obstacle, and, if necessary, attack. After all, everyone knows that best protection- this is an attack. The big boar tries to avoid meeting people, but there are often cases when hunters and dogs run into trouble themselves and they can find it. A pig's hearing is quite well developed, so for everyone's safety, feeding is done at night. The behavior of females should also be noted, because for the sake of their offspring they are ready to go into fire, into water, and even into an armed man, whom they will pursue to the last.

Precautionary measures

In order not to run into such a deadly animal as a boar once again, it is recommended to act as follows:

1. Be as careful as possible and do not come close to a flock of wild boars. It's best to leave before the person is spotted.
2. If you happen to stumble upon a piglet, you should keep in mind that the mother is definitely somewhere nearby.
3. If tracks of a boar are found, it is better to go in the other direction, away from this pig trail.
4. When a boar takes a person by surprise, there is no need to attack him. The best way out of this situation is to climb onto tall tree and hide for a while.

Hatching of offspring

Pregnancy of females can last about 120 days, after which they are temporarily separated from their herd to build a nest in some quiet place. The new “home” for the brood looks more like a hut made of branches. During this crucial period, the mother becomes as aggressive as possible, which allows her to reliably protect and protect her cubs. Unlike males, the female does not have huge, terrifying fangs, but this does not mean at all that she is not dangerous. When defending or attacking, she is capable of overpowering and trampling her victim to death. After the offspring grow up, all family members return to the herd.

Life in the wild

Nature provides for everything, but this does not mean at all that life in this world will be without difficulties and obstacles, even for wild boars. Without a doubt the tusks of the boar are powerful weapon and assistant during the entire period of their existence. But to predict weather, which significantly complicate their lives, is impossible. Snow makes it difficult for them to move, as a result of which the animals are able to overcome only one and a half kilometers, which threatens them with hunger and no fangs or speed of the animal will help with this.

The skin of a boar is quite thick, especially in the thigh area. Many hunters know this firsthand. An animal wounded in the thigh is worse than a healthy one, since such an angry animal is capable of fighting the offender to the last.

Everyone knows that the boar is an animal that emits a terrible roar that can put anyone into a stupor. When meeting an animal, you need to remember that it has an excellent sense of smell and hearing, but its vision is slightly impaired - this can be used in certain situations to save itself. IN wildlife When this huge boar comes face to face with an opponent, he will never retreat, no matter how many enemies surround him.

wild boar

The boar is an animal with a rather unusual appearance. Its body can be divided into two parts: back and front. From the front, the boar is huge and massive, with a smooth flowing body that tapers strongly at the back. That's why he looks slightly hunched over. The comb, which stretches along the entire back, gives aggressiveness. When the boar reaches three years of age, it has two pairs. powerful fangs. Females are very different in this matter from their partners. These weapons can become sharper and more dangerous over the years, since wild boars constantly sharpen them on stones and frozen ground. The wild boar is an animal that resembles a kind of tank, capable of making its way through even the most impenetrable thickets with lightning speed. This allows you to save your life if necessary. And the animal’s favorite pastime is mud baths.

The body of a boar is so dense and knitted that it more closely resembles a bristly shell, which not every hunter can pierce, but can easily irritate the animal. This animal is unusually strong and is capable of turning over huge stones and picking out ground frozen to 10 centimeters. Of course, meeting one-on-one with such a powerful killer as a boar is a sad story, but one should not give in to panic, even if the beast squeals and tries to intimidate a person. You must always soberly assess the situation. If you do not approach the animal and its cubs, do not provoke it, and do not get noticed, then problems can be avoided. As a last resort, it is recommended to climb the nearest tree - this is the only correct option.

Boar tusk processing

To extract the tusks of a boar, a part of the animal’s muzzle is sawed off between the eyes and the tusks, as shown in Figure 69. This piece of the muzzle must be at least three and a half times longer than the visible part of the lower tusks. The sawn-off part is placed in a cauldron with cold water so that it completely disappears under water. The water is brought to a boil and simmered over low heat for 2–3 hours. After cooking, the jaws with fangs are removed from the cauldron and, without allowing them to cool, the fangs are removed. To avoid getting burns, use mittens or rags. The upper fangs are usually removed easily, but to remove the lower ones, they need to be pulled forward 3–5 cm, and then carefully open the jaw bones from the back so that the fangs come out freely. Then the fangs are placed in a cauldron of hot, oily water until it cools. They should not be left without water and should not be washed with cold water. The fang, cooling in oily water, becomes saturated with fat and acquires a protective layer. After cooling, the nerves are removed from the fangs and the inner surface is wiped with cotton wool, dried in a damp and warm place to avoid cracking.

Rice. 69. Extracting boar tusks

After drying, the fangs are degreased with gasoline. It is recommended to fill the inside of the fangs with BF glue (any) and, after holding it inside for 5–10 s, pour it out, repeating this two or three times at intervals of 30 minutes. Before doing this, the glue is heated in a bowl with warm water so that it pours out more easily. Instead of BF glue, the inside of the fangs can be filled with epoxy resin of the following composition: 80 parts filler and 20 hardener. Instead of glue, the cavities of the fangs can be filled with tweezers with cotton wool soaked in epoxy resin; after 12 hours the glue hardens, giving them greater strength.

To prevent fangs from deteriorating due to changes in humidity, they can be coated with a thin layer of colorless synthetic varnish. Fangs cannot be bleached.

Wood processing Before you start cutting out a part, you first need to form a rough blank. This is the name given to a piece of wood of the appropriate size, which is made with allowance for further processing. Moreover, the rougher the instrument and the