Proper Wild Boar Hunting...at last.
Morning. Day two of the driven hunt
We're shooting in Hightower's today. So I'm not going to need all the normal
stuff that we take when we normally go stalking. Already got me Muflon jacket
on and my Muflon bibs, which is the Deerhaunter cold weather gear which is
absolutely fantastic if you stood in there cold all day. We've got all our kit stored
in under trays so we've got all our luggage and we've got the guns the
rifles, the ammunition sticks and everything, binos, night vision, it's all
stored away in its own compartment. Makes everything really easy, especially
if you're traveling you can just go to it, you know where your stuff is you can get it
out no problem at all. So in the drawers here got various things. Right at the
back, we'll put it at the back because that's where we're not going to use it
all the time to grab as quick, is the cleaning kit. All various oils rods
brushes everything else that we normally use. Then we've got the ammo can
Got the ammo in there. We've got Ian's ammo at the front
separated by the box of the 308 ammo which is useful to spare rifle and then we've
got my ammo at the back 300 Win Mag. Imperative that you make sure that
you've picked the right ammo box up because there's nothing worse than trying to
shove the wrong bullet in the wrong gun, doesn't go well. Now we've got boxes of
various bits of kit. This one's mine, that one's Ian's. In here we have
my high vis hat so you don't get shot. Pellets or ear defenders then I've got my
spare mags for my gun which also my trigger mex both hold three rounds
each and I've got two of those. So I've got plenty of ammo we've got my rifle
which is in this case
And my sticks. I always take my sticks even though we're not stalking as we normally
stalk through the woods with everything else. If we just stood on our pegs my sticks would
support the rifle as you've seen it yesterday
they're always handy if you get a long shot 200 yard shot with relatively small
mag scoping everything else you can steady it. So obviously common sense so it's
always good to take. That's pretty much it
we'll just load up now and get on our way.
Okay so I'm just going to drop this into my pockets now, shut up and we're on our way
Magazines away. Ear defenders in my other pocket.
Right, hopefully go and get some pigs.
As the morning briefing takes place,
the excitement and anticipation starts to build. It's an amazing opportunity to be
able to hunt here in Hungary once again. This hunt has been organized by Tamas
Tacaks of Wonderheart hunting who ensures everyone is fully briefed on the
day's proceedings before we set off
Steve has positioned in a high seat for the first drive
that offers a great view of the ground ahead. This also
provides a safer angle to shoot running game when the terrain is relatively flat
or sloping away from you. Particularly when your neighboring guns are
positioned nearby
So today, first drive of the day, we're in a high seat which we weren't yesterday
at all so I'm quite happy about that. Got guns to my right and obviously guns to
my left, but this is pretty much our field of view here points where we can
shoot and where we can't. We've seen a group of fallow come running through
unfortunately they were all bunched together say they didn't present a shot
a nice buck in there so I was seeing game already when he just literally
walked into the seat. Hopefully things are going to be good.
I'm using the same set up as I've been using for
the last two days. I'm using my Blaser R8
Professional Success in 300 Win Mag. Absolutely love this rifle, it's so fast
at recycling the rounds with it being a straight pull and it's such a safe rifle
as well. The safety catches on the back so you can flick it off like a shotgun
but when it's decock word is decocked. Decocks the spring from the firing pin so
it doesn't matter if I dropped it or whatever there is no chance of it going
off whatsoever. Really quick, really safe. Love it to bits. On top again, we've got
to Hawke Frontier 30 1-6 x 24 illuminated tactical reticle. 6 levels of
brightness it's got the exposed lockable turrets on the side which are 1/10 mrad
So, all in all, it's a really good pig killing combination
All's we need is some pigs
Well that looks like first drives over. Been a couple of shots off up to my
right but apart from that group of fallow we saw first thing, nothing doing
Nevermind, onwards and upwards. Whilst philosophical, you can hear the tension
creeping into Steve's voice with all of the time and effort he's put into his
preparation for this trip, he's eager to put his skills and equipment to the test
but alas that's hunting
Never seen anything!
As the beaters prepare for the next drive, we reconvene with the rest of the guns
for a short break
The sun is shining and everyone's in good spirits
it's great to be able to socialize and share experiences with fellow hunters
from many different walks of life
It's gone warm hasn't it. Could you just pass him a stick sir. Thank you very much.
The second drive is on top of a hill offering a spectacular view of the surrounding
countryside. The scenery is just breathtaking
This drive is located in a ride with woods and high seats on either side
initially the beaters will push the game across from one side to the other.
We will then swap over to the opposite high seats as they push the game back across
This is a well-rehearsed ritual that we hope proved successful. Okay, so it's just
lined out for the second drive. It is a bit more, shall we say, wild boar-ish
if you like. We're all in a line, we're all in seats our stands got brush either
side say the plan is for this drive they're coming this way and then they're
going to go past us and then come back the other way
so a couple of minutes after they've gone past us we shall turn around and
what you'll get in that stand which is just behind us there but you can see it
Got a shelf for the ammo not spare mag our guns ready to go. We need a pig, man!
We need a pig!
Woah, that's a big Keiler there's a big Keiler
Steve readies himself as he can
hear the sound of game approaching. Shouldering the rifle into the ride he's
carefully to swing through the line of his fellow guns
Ah, I missed! I don't believe that! Seen quite a lot of action on this drive so
far I've had three shots. I think I hit my first one. I was in the bush here but he was
down by my other gun we've had nothing really straightforward. I think the
bottom gun and we see him in the red sweater now I think he's just shot a nice
pig. We missed it first shot and then he hit it second shot. But dogs are barking
further back in the wood. Usually there barking at it because it's led
there hopefully he has but drives not over yet. We'll keep our eyes peeled
Okay so that's the first part the drive over. Beaters have come through as you can see run
the ride in front of us and now they're going to go well down and round I
presume and bring you back towards as the other side of the forest with a bore
of 1/3 no good. There on a pig. As you can see the dogs are barking. They've found a
dead one or a wounded one. All very exciting that was though. Really good.
It's nice to see a smile back on Steve's face
Okay, so we've just had the nod
we've got a crossover and do the second part of the drive
Down we go
The beaters are just leaving. I'm starting second off the drive. They disappear in
that way so I don't know how they're gonna work it but they know what they are
doing so we'll see what comes now
Okay, So we've crossed over from one side of the road to the other side of
the road and now I've crossed back to this side of the road. Rob, my neighbor, shot
a nice boar there. Off to our right hand side never saw it never heard it
but there you go you got it. Saw a nice Muflon ram on that drive. Came right
through, if they'd have been on the menu we would have been okay with him but alas
they're not so we're back in the same seat as we had to go at the frischlinge with
as we're crossing the ride in the first part of the drive so I don't know what
we're doing now but we're back in here and presumably gonna bring another
block into this bit. We shall see.
That marks the end of the second drive and for Steve the most exciting part of
the trip so far. He managed to get his first pig down and could have had a few
more. We now start the arduous trek back up the hill and have another short break
before heading on to the third and final drive of the day
So here we are, the lucky last arriving for their trip. That's our seat
there in front of us the guys are just getting dropped off now so go and get in
a seat get me jacket back on. Suns going in
so it's starting to go a bit chilly and hopefully we'll get some fur on the ground
It's great to hear a more enthusiastic tone as Steve heads into
the high seat for one last Drive. Even though he didn't connect with all of his
opportunities on the last Drive he's clearly now enjoying the experience
Hunters often arrive at driven hunts with an unrealistic expectation of the
number of animals they might see. Whilst this hunt has clearly been quiet in
terms of game numbers we've also missed a number of clear cut chances. This is
where your experience really comes into play. No amount of training or simulation
can fully prepare you for the real thing
Okay, so that looks like is about it. Pig gods definitely haven't been with us today or
all week really. We saw a few earlier on I did get three or four shots off but they were
little pigs crossing the ride. I've not seen anything again on this Drive so
that's about it some you win some you lose. It all even
itself out at the end of the day but now it's been a good trick you enjoyed it
I reckon it's time for a beer
A Steve reflects on another uneventful drive
it's important to recognize that hunting is just that. In some ways I'm a little
disappointed for Steve as he's fully committed to his preparation for this
trip and it's not quite met his expectations. In other ways I'm glad he's
enjoyed what has been a fabulous experience and made new friends it makes
his next driven trip all the more exciting. As we return to the lodge at
the end of the day all of the game is collected and laid out in the tableau
As in many of the European countries, Hungary has many respectful hunting
traditions. Celebrating the Fallen game and given thanks for its bounty but also
initiating those new to hunting into our ranks. So we're done ceremonies done
So we're done, ceremonies done
We've had a nice shot of Parlinka, the boys have been initiated into the
wild boar hunting fraternity with the old smack on the bum as you go along
So it's been an enjoyable two days and I've had a bonus later. The pig that I
thought I'd shot on the second drive and I said I'm pretty sure I've hit that
well I did they picked it he's only like handbag size but Pig nevertheless right
So all good! We're at a really really nice time I'd like to thank Wonderheart
hunting and Tamas for looking after us. Made us feel very special
and it's happy days so I reckon definitely now it's beer o'clock