Training and Certification for European driven hunts

[skydiver386]

I'm trying to gather information on European driven hunting, and what would be required for a foreign hunter to participate in a driven hunt, say in Austria, Germany, or Hungary. Last year at the SCI show, I asked at several booths offering boar hunts in those Countries, but none of them were offering the large driven hunts most of us have seen on "Wild Boar Fever", etc.

None of them specified that training and licenses were an issue, but having done just a small bit of research online brought out several training courses and licensing requirements, mostly in the U.K. I would imagine that most training and licenses required are similar on the continent.

Can any of our European brothers guide me in what would be required to participate in a large scale driven hunt of this type?

Driven Boar Shooting Masterclass

UK CEO of Blaser Group and highly acclaimed driven boar shooter Frederic Hanner, delivers an in depth and insightful look at shooting driven Boar on the continent. The class is perfect for those traveling abroad to shoot driven boar and shines a light on elements such as; What to expect? How to...

www.shootingandhuntingacademy.co.uk

Would a course like this one offered in the U.K. meet the requirements for hunting in Austria?

 

[MontanaPat]

While I'm not a European my response is not from experience, but I've looked into to these hunts quite a bit and I've not seen anything indicating training was required. From the course you shared it looked like the main benefit was to gain experience in order to make your driven shoot successful based upon your skills development.

Recently I got some information from one of Craig Boddington's endorsed outfitters who he recently added. They do driven boar hunts in several European countries and sent me some information on a driven hunt this month in Slovakia if I was interested in joining. Their website info is at www.premium-jagdreisen.de

I think this would be a fun hunt to get a group of AH members together to do one of these driven hunts if anyone is interested.

 

[analog_peninsula]

The online videos make it look easy, but I have a sneaking suspicion that most filmed hunts are extensively edited to avoid embarrassment. To be fair, I’m not sure that I’d want to be filmed missing four or five shots in a row. Bad for the ego, and all that.

 

[K-man]

I have participated in a “Monterria” in Spain several years ago. No mention of training needed just a quick rules and traditions briefing beforehand. A course sounds like fun.

 

[UKHunter]

Every country has their own rules. Some countries will accept your hunting license from back home, others not. I’ve hunted driven boar in Germany and a shooting test was required to be granted a license. Hungary i seem to remember just required my hunting license from home. Poland I don’t think I had to do anything but I cannot remember exactly.

Your best bet is to speak to outfitters from the countries you are interested in.

 

[DieJager]

Go to a shooting kino and they can help you. It is not too hard.

 

[spike.t]

Did a few driven boar hunts in France and Hungary....didn't need anything...but was a long time ago

 

[375Fox]

Which countries require certification? I’ve simply sent my US hunting license to the outfitter and they’ve converted to a license for that country so far. For an American, I think Spain offers the most opportunity for an organized driven hunt. Most Spanish outfitters at shows would offer spots on Monterias. Other areas I’ve hunted it’s much more reserved for locals on an invitation basis. Swine fever has had a big impact too both because of the disease and attempts to lower the boar population through hunting because of it. In Southern France the outfitter told me they generally wouldn’t organize a driven hunt for a client because they can’t guarantee success although that’s how they do a lot of hunting themselves. Where I hunted in Sweden that game keeper has the same groups rebook driven hunts each year. In Poland, that club does a once a year big driven hunt where they invite other clubs to participate then they get invited to their driven hunt in exchange. There are still many opportunities for driven hunts though if you speak with different European agencies.

 

[grand veneur]

In Germany, a training certificate must be presented in every federal state in order to be able to take part in driven hunts, in all cases in state forests and, depending on the states, also in the other areas. In France, training is only recommended, but is not mandatory for taking part on driven hunts. In Austria you also need shooting certificates, but I don't know for what in detail.

I don't think foreign certificates will be accepted, but I would contact an outfitter in the country where you want to hunt and if something is needed, it will organize that for you without any problems, so in all cases in Germany. Members of the US armed forces regularly train at our hunting association's shooting range in order to acquire their German hunting license.

 

[skydiver386]

While I'm not a European my response is not from experience, but I've looked into to these hunts quite a bit and I've not seen anything indicating training was required. From the course you shared it looked like the main benefit was to gain experience in order to make your driven shoot successful based upon your skills development.

Recently I got some information from one of Craig Boddington's endorsed outfitters who he recently added. They do driven boar hunts in several European countries and sent me some information on a driven hunt this month in Slovakia if I was interested in joining. Their website info is at www.premium-jagdreisen.de

I think this would be a fun hunt to get a group of AH members together to do one of these driven hunts if anyone is interested.

I've seen quite a few of the videos they have on YouTube. If there's ever an AH member driven hunt of this type, I'd certainly join.

 

[DieJager]

I've seen quite a few of the videos they have on YouTube. If there's ever an AH member driven hunt of this type, I'd certainly join.

This is an idea I was contemplating for a while. Maybe something to reconsider. Maybe organizing it with a few European members. You got me thinking again.

 

[Red Leg]

I'm trying to gather information on European driven hunting, and what would be required for a foreign hunter to participate in a driven hunt, say in Austria, Germany, or Hungary. Last year at the SCI show, I asked at several booths offering boar hunts in those Countries, but none of them were offering the large driven hunts most of us have seen on "Wild Boar Fever", etc.

None of them specified that training and licenses were an issue, but having done just a small bit of research online brought out several training courses and licensing requirements, mostly in the U.K. I would imagine that most training and licenses required are similar on the continent.

Can any of our European brothers guide me in what would be required to participate in a large scale driven hunt of this type?

Driven Boar Shooting Masterclass

UK CEO of Blaser Group and highly acclaimed driven boar shooter Frederic Hanner, delivers an in depth and insightful look at shooting driven Boar on the continent. The class is perfect for those traveling abroad to shoot driven boar and shines a light on elements such as; What to expect? How to...

www.shootingandhuntingacademy.co.uk

Would a course like this one offered in the U.K. meet the requirements for hunting in Austria?

In none of the European countries I have hunted is any specific training for a drive hunt required. All, of which I am aware, do require you to have a valid US hunting license to be issued a permit in that country. Some, like Spain, will require you to apply for the permit through a consulat in the US. Your outfitter will help you through that process. I have participated in driven hunts in Spain and Austria. Germany also, but that was too long ago to be relevant. Eastern Europe is a very popular destination, particularly for driven boar.

Contact the Bob Kern and the other good folks at the Hunting Consortium. https://huntingconsortium.com/about-us/ He can talk you through all the options for driven hunting wherever you might want to go and whatever you might want to hunt from partridge to wild boar.

 

[Sika98k]

I’ve hunted driven boar in Hungary, Romania, Czech, Croatia , Turkey and recently Germany. Nowhere required any certificate especially for driven hunts. We do have to supply a copy of our hunting licence. In my case this is my deer hunting license.
The likes of where “Wild Boar Fever” is filmed are in fenced areas maybe 1500-2000 acres or more. That kind of hunting is spendy ! A driven hunt is 1-2 hours of waiting silently in the forest for a boar to appear. You may be lucky or not. You may get a shot or two. You will probably miss ! . Been there, done that.
On the other hand you may be in the hot seat. Last year in Czech I had to stand and watch the rifles to my left and right shooting multiple boar. One young Dutch cherub shot 5 ! His first trip. I didn’t get to dirty my barrel.
There was a lot of boar shot that day. It is a great experience.
Boar are very smart. It took me time to realise that. They will sneak up to a forest ride and dart across.

 

[analog_peninsula]

Many states are switching over to electronic licenses. Providing copies of your license may become problematic in the future.

 

[375Fox]

Many states are switching over to electronic licenses. Providing copies of your license may become problematic in the future.

This will sound like a dumb question but what does an electronic license mean and which states are doing that? I find it difficult to believe wardens wouldn’t want to see a physical license since some areas don’t have service and batteries can die.

 

[grand veneur]

Despite the fact that we are a so-called European Union, when it comes to weapons and ammunition in the various countries, we only have one thing in common: the European Firearms Pass. Although there is a European division of weapons into categories, the gun-laws of the different countries are still in force, with Germany having the strictest. The same applies to hunting licenses. In addition, the laws in all countries often change and in particular acts are regularly tightened. There is therefore only one thing that can be recommended if a foreigner wants to hunt in a European country; to contact the outfitter and ask what requirements are necessary to import guns or rifles and to be able to hunt in the country. The person who organizes hunts should know best how something like this is possible for foreigners und especially for his clients. Asking locals or even authorities does not help because the majority of us citizens of the different countries and also many authorities often don't understand exactly the very different laws.

 

[analog_peninsula]

Texas implements a currently optional electronic license in a mobile app. You add your license information while you have connectivity and can add your harvest whether on or offline. It transmits your harvest data the next time you have connectivity. Failing to update the app with your kill is treated the same way as failing to tag it.

 

[skydiver386]

This will sound like a dumb question but what does an electronic license mean and which states are doing that? I find it difficult to believe wardens wouldn’t want to see a physical license since some areas don’t have service and batteries can die.

My home State of Ohio does nearly everything electronically. Once you have your Hunter Education certificate, or a previous license, you can go online to buy a new license, deer tags, etc. No need to print a license or tag in many States, it's all on your phone. Yes, you have to be in possession of a license and tags, but an electronic copy on your phone is sufficient.

When a deer is harvested, you open the app and check your deer electronically before you move it from the place it fell. You are given a confirmation number that you use while transporting the animal, and also provide this number to the processer or taxidermist.

When I started hunting in the 1970's, you bought a paper license at a State authorized dealer, along with any specific animal tags. When you shot your deer, you attached the tag to the animal before moving it, transported it to a check station where your tag was verified, and the animal logged in on a bound folder. After that you could take it to be processed.

When I tell the younger generation that the deer check station was a cool place to check out all the big deer coming through, they act like I'm some kind of neanderthal. To them, a pen and paper might as well be a hammer, chisel and stone tablets.

 

[Nyati]

When I hunted in Finland , I was required to pass a test and was issued a Finnish Hunting License, but that was many years ago.

In Spain, it´s as Redled said.

 

[Kalthoff]

Each country in Europe has their own laws on hunting and weapons. They differ quire a lot.

I've participated in about a dozen driven hunts. From my experience:

• Be prepared to see nothing and shoot nothing all day
• Be capable of sitting still like a statue for hours in freezing/rainy/snowy conditions
• Be constantly on the alert for hours, do not miss any sound or any movement
• Be capable of switching from sitting absolutely still, to full on action, in a second
• Be capable of judging game correctly in a few seconds
• Be capable of making a swift and correct decision
• Be capable of doing all this flawlessly, within ten seconds:
  • switch mentally and physically out of your "still like a statue" position
  • judge the game correctly
  • ensure the shot can be taken safely
  • shoulder the rifle
  • identify and enter a stable shooting position to a moving target
  • take and hold aim on a moving target
  • make a final decision on safety
  • fire an accurate shot at a moving target
• Be prepared to consider it a good day and be a good dinnerguests afterwards, no matter if you saw nothing all day, or if your animal is placed at the front of the parade
• Be a good guest. The social side of the event is equally as important as the hunt