Recommendations on European boar hunts

[Green Chile]

The recent topic on running shots gets close to a topic I've been considering...for your first boar hunt in Europe, would you recommend a driven shoot or something else like stalking and/or high stands for individual boars? Also, where would you go and any recommendations on what time of year and outfitters? Is there any combo that could be recommended like adding roe, stag or fallow deer or is it best to separate these hunts?

 

[Red Leg]

Give Bob or Rob Kern a call at the Hunting Consortium. https://huntingconsortium.com/ They have been doing this sort of thing for European bound sportsmen for a very long time. They will be delighted to talk you through all the options and give you solid planning data with respect to times of year, alternative game, and costs.

There are two basic types of driven boar hunts. One will be a fenced estate where the pigs are raised for that purpose, and the other will be large free range estate in good wild boar country (typically Eastern Europe). From an actual shooting perspective, they are essentially the same.

Driven hunts are normally done in the fall generally after the red stag rut. Roe deer are hunted in the spring and summer. However, it is fairly easy to combine a wild boar with another game animal in most parts of Europe. But these will be hunted individually rather than as driven game.

One additional point. Not every spouse enjoys spending long days in the bush. Few regret time spent exploring Europe. A three or four day European hunt combines very well with a week to ten days playing tourist.

The first boar below was in addition to an Ibex in Spain, and the second in addition to a fallow stag in Austria.

 

[Green Chile]

Thanks for your reply. I was hoping to get a response from you. I will reach out to HC. I always enjoy reading their materials.

Does anyone have any experience with Diana Hunting Tours?

 

[375Fox]

I hunted roe deer and boar in Sweden this spring. Boar was 132 kgs/290 lbs with 19 cm tusks. All spot and stalk. I really enjoyed the hunt and weather. It was 11000 acres 30 minutes from Stockholm but separated by a national park so you can easily do some touring if you’d like during the day.

 

[375Fox]

If you PM me your email. I will send you a Spanish Monteria brochure for their planned hunts this year with who I hunted in Spain. Depending on the hunt includes boar, stag, mouflon, and combination.

 

[Green Chile]

PM sent. Thanks for the replies so far.

 

[mark-hunter]

The recent topic on running shots gets close to a topic I've been considering...for your first boar hunt in Europe, would you recommend a driven shoot or something else like stalking and/or high stands for individual boars?

Under usual circumstances I would recommend to take a look to Croatia.
But, now we have epidemic of African swine flu, and special regulations and govt directives in force. (culling)
This may apply to neighboring countries as well, where African swine flu is present.

So before going hunting somewhere you must have clear insurances about feasibility of hunt. And local status of epidemic.

High volume shooting, in driven hunt, most likely will be in fenced areas. (YT type, "wild boar fever")
Not necessarily, but most likely.

Non fenced areas, some are better then others, there will be less chances for a shot.
I often go to driven hunts in my area, but with participation of 30-40 hunters (beaters and shooters) average harvest is just few. less then 5. Zero boars shot is also a possibility.

So, finding recommended place to hunt is a challenge

Next thing, is:
trophy boar.
Old boar is very smart. he will hardly get in front of the rifle. Driven or on stand. Not to mention stalking.
Trophy boar hunting from blind are usually done by night, with night vision scope. (not my cup of tea)
Very often unpredictable, and very cautious. he stands in the edge of woods, would not come out, and on first sounds just moves away.

This means that hunting in non fenced area, on baited boar, there is no guarantee of success.

However, baiting works, and in a night or in few nights some boars will come out, but can be saws with piglets, or young boars, non trophy or if the luck wants a trophy boar.

But for trophy boar there is no guarantee in non fenced areas.

Now, travelling overseas to experience "wild boar fever hunt", driven hunt, I think the best would be to mix a bit of everything.

One day, fenced area driven hunt. Next day non fenced area driven hunt, and have few days to spend a night in the blind. Thats what I would look for. So to clarify this with specialized hunting agent.

If somebody offers guarantee of trophy boar, something is fishy.
This can be in some fence.
or it can be a boar raised in pen, a house pet, released a day before hunter arrives. He will not move from his food, and his tusks will be in gold medal.

Wild trophy boar cannot be guaranteed.

Poland, Slovakia, France, Serbia, Croatia, Czech republic, Spain, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria i would suggest as destinations, under condition that hunt and area is cleared from issues of African swine flu.

The countries that are fighting African swine flu, are culling wild boars and domestic pigs in mass, under government directives.
So, after the swine flu is declared gone, hunting areas may remain devastated from this game. It will take years to recover.

What my friend veterinarean and passionate hunter tells me, African swine flu virus is very resilient and can stay alive in infested ground for more then year (after all boars are culled), so can easily return within a year, when new population comes to area.

 

[Sika98k]

mark-hunter makes some pretty good points about boar hunting. I’ve done a fair bit of it in Europe and Morocco. I’m sure anyone wanting to go on a driven boar hunt looks at “Wild Boar Fever” on uTube. Ok,it’s brilliant ! The reality of it for us mere mortals is 2 hours on a stand and maybe, only maybe , 30 seconds of adrenaline rush as some boar go past.
or maybe you see nothing ! Meanwhile the forest is echoing with gunfire and you’re wondering if your deodorant is too strong.
I’ve been on trips that were a blast for me and some guys never got a shot off. What Mark suggests is good, a mix, bit of high seat over bait, bit of fenced and a wild, open area.
Below was last December in Slovakia, 2 days, 3 cartridges fired, 2 boar shot. Still, I was deliriously happy. Both out of the same sounder, both head shots and both on the run. First trip ever I did I shot 6 foxes, never saw a boar.
Croatia, Serbia and Bulgaria are out for the foreseeable future. ASF and a really bad storm has wrecked it for at least 3 years, trees down all over the place.

 

[mark-hunter]

Another two stories:

Just now, I remember a story, from a hunting area in Croatia where I go few times a year.
Non fenced area.

I go there for roe deer stalking, in the spring, wild pheasants in the winter.
And if I have time or plan for boar, I go in the blind over night.

In the same time, they take hunting guests, on a BIG driven hunt once or twice a year. (not wild boar fever type, but very good and attractive annual shoot)
So, few years ago, I was there at winter, for my annual pheasant hunt.
I came there few days after a LARGE group of French hunters visited for big driven hunt

So, what happened is this. Hunting lounge first hand talks:

Every year they host one or two big driven hunts.
Over the year they prepare for this occasion. Big event and financial income for local hunting club.

The best part of woods over the year is spared for big annual boar driven hunt.
Food is brought for the boars in cold months, cameras take photos. Area is dense with oak, that produce acorn in winter. Crop fields all around, which boars visit when collecting fat in summer
And nobody touches the boars during year, so they stick around and feel safe, being well pampered.
So, all perfect and spared, except there is no fence.

So, few days before arrival of French hunters, area was scouted and all was perfect. Plenty boars.
Then the boars just left the area a day or two before the hunt, for no apparent reasons.

The French came, and there was no boars at all. Just 2-3 "Keilers" shot.
So, this happens.

Another story. Getting to the group.
Big driven hunts are organized for big group of hunters.

I spoke with my hunting agent about "boar fever driven hunt", high volume how to get to it?
There is a problem.
Me, as an individual, will hardly get to unknown group, because the groups that go hunting in such hunts are usually closed, from one club, one agency, or large group of friends that know each other.

So, best is to have a group of hunting friends jointly looking for driven hunt, and bigger the group, probably better offer will come out.

 

[VertigoBE]

@mark-hunter speaks volumes of truth.

With wild boar there are no guarantees, with trophy keilers even less. Countless are the days spent in the field, never seeing one come out. They are hyper alert animals and will run from the first indication that something is off.

For the high-volume driven hunts, I've never participated in one. And do not plan to do so any time soon. But despite the videos of Franz-Albrecht making it look all too easy, the reality is many shots missed, many animals wounded, many animals never found "I'm sure I missed". After the driven hunts, we used to come out for high seat and count the injured animals, trying to shoot them if possible.

Stalking wild boar, is not impossible, but very close to it. They will hear you.

I once stalked to a bait site, towards a high seat and since the wild boar were feeding, I got close enough (about 30m) that a shot was possible through the brush. I had to wait another 1hr standing with my sticks until there was enough light and legal shooting time. But otherwise stalking them is impossible.

 

[VertigoBE]

also the remark from @Sika98k is very pertinent: "the forest is echoing with gunfire" and at the end of the drive only 4 animals are down...

I once heard that the ratio is something like +10 rounds fired for each animal on the tableaux.
Some nationalities are known for more trigger happy hunters. I've heard of dogs, cows, cars, bicyclists, cats (now illegal in Belgium), pigs, and even horses get shot during driven hunts...

 

[mark-hunter]

About 80% of fatalities in hunting in my country, driven boars, or driven birds with shotgun happened in driven hunts.

It aleays comes from braking one of the 4 safety rules by Jeff Cooper.
Percentage is 8 to 10 accidents per year, on overall number of hunters around 60.000 in the country.

Recently, i checked latest hunting exams manuals and scripts. They teach new hunters dozens of safety rules, but not short version of 4 basic rules by jeff cooper. So, there is a flaw in our education system. In my humble opinion.
Primary safety rules must be simple, easy to remember, while secondary safety rules can be more detailed and specific to occassion. Like range safetu rules, specific hunt safety rules, etc

So, with 100.000 firearm owners, we have following ratio:
8 to 10 accudents per year in hunting.

Zero accidents per year in sport shooting community, issf, idpa, ipsc, icfra. In a decades never an accident in sport shoting community

Service.
Maybe 2 to 3 accidents reported in media yearly, within law enforcement, police.

Army. There was increased number above average, of pistol related accidents in army, with soldiers on a foreign mission when issued a pistol. (usually, sodiers cary rifle, and are trained with rifle, exemption for issuing pistol only on some foreign missions, have no idea of training done before, but in homeland, no pistol accident )

 

[Suera]

You have to take in count the advices that the guys give you before.
I can talk about I know, I'm from Spain. Here you can hunt driven hunt like Red Leg said you there are only two differences , fence places or free range. In fence areas the animals are raided only with the purpose of hunt usually big trophies and in many of these private areas you can also hunt red stag, fallow deer or mouflon but these fence areas are more expensive than free range and for me and other people this is not true hunting... Usually these animals are less clever...
On the other hand, in free range driven hunts you can find some places very cheap for hunt and also you can combine the other animals but usually the population is lower and there is not guarantee for hunt anything.
If you want guarantee and the money is not a problem and for you raised animals doesn't matter then fenced areas is your place, if you like true hunt and for you the experience is more important that kill the animal then free range.
There are lots of outfitters that offer driven hunts ( spanish Montería) in Spain, only be sure that who you choose is a reputable outfitter there are some scams...
If you need help send me pm and I can help you and recommend some outfitters.

 

[Mark Audino]

The world's largest boar are found in Turkey in amazing numbers (considered part of Europe). Exceptional country to hunt and very Westernized. A highly trusted specialist source is Caliber 7 Safaris, run by a genuine specialist and honorable human being, Engin Pehlivan. He speaks English very well and is most attentive to his guest-hunters. https://www.caliber7safaris.com

 

[Green Chile]

Thanks for all of the replies and shared experiences. I know the odds of finding, joining and experiencing a version of Wild Boar Fever is not likely for a host of reasons mentioned here. It seems like the best thing would be either a combination of short experiences or finding a high stand hunt for a trophy keiler. One plus seems to be European outfitters having good firearms/optics for rent. That could really simplify things.

 

[Red Leg]

Thanks for all of the replies and shared experiences. I know the odds of finding, joining and experiencing a version of Wild Boar Fever is not likely for a host of reasons mentioned here. It seems like the best thing would be either a combination of short experiences or finding a high stand hunt for a trophy keiler. One plus seems to be European outfitters having good firearms/optics for rent. That could really simplify things.

Call the Hunting Consortium and review options. They can set you up with a management class stag / boar combination or a true estate driven boar experience in Hungary where you will be lodged in 5-star accommodations in a castle and many options in between. Obviously, options vary significantly with respect to cost.

 

[Doubleplay]

The world's largest boar are found in Turkey in amazing numbers (considered part of Europe). Exceptional country to hunt and very Westernized. A highly trusted specialist source is Caliber 7 Safaris, run by a genuine specialist and honorable human being, Engin Pehlivan. He speaks English very well and is most attentive to his guest-hunters. https://www.caliber7safaris.com

I second this having hunted there.
There are no fenced areas and boars are everywhere,
Because it's a predominantly Muslim country locals don't eat or kill boars unless they're raiding their crops and people hunting them are welcomed everywhere.
Prices are very reasonable, people and food are great.
There's a reason a lot of people from Europe go there every year.
Also check out:
www.gonye.com
I heard good things about them.

 

[Tanks]

The world's largest boar are found in Turkey in amazing numbers (considered part of Europe). Exceptional country to hunt and very Westernized. A highly trusted specialist source is Caliber 7 Safaris, run by a genuine specialist and honorable human being, Engin Pehlivan. He speaks English very well and is most attentive to his guest-hunters. https://www.caliber7safaris.com

Yep. I recommend these guys, they are at DSC and SCI every year.

Frontier Safaris Turkey | Frontier Safaris Worldwide

Frontier is an Official Group A Turkish Travel Agency that has a decades of experience from Recep ECER who has helped countless hunters on their succesfull hunting journeys in Tukey, Asia, Europe and Africa.

frontier.com.tr

This boar is from their web site.

 

[375Fox]

@mark-hunter speaks volumes of truth.

With wild boar there are no guarantees, with trophy keilers even less. Countless are the days spent in the field, never seeing one come out. They are hyper alert animals and will run from the first indication that something is off.

For the high-volume driven hunts, I've never participated in one. And do not plan to do so any time soon. But despite the videos of Franz-Albrecht making it look all too easy, the reality is many shots missed, many animals wounded, many animals never found "I'm sure I missed". After the driven hunts, we used to come out for high seat and count the injured animals, trying to shoot them if possible.

Stalking wild boar, is not impossible, but very close to it. They will hear you.

I once stalked to a bait site, towards a high seat and since the wild boar were feeding, I got close enough (about 30m) that a shot was possible through the brush. I had to wait another 1hr standing with my sticks until there was enough light and legal shooting time. But otherwise stalking them is impossible.

The boars were stalkable where I hunted in Sweden in spring, but definitely not guaranteed. We actually passed my boar the prior morning opting for a roe buck because we didn’t realize he was so big. The low green grass was very quiet to walk on. I’d usually see 20-30 pigs per outing but the ratio of boars to sows was heavily sows especially as it got later in morning or earlier in day, probably 80-90% sows total while hunting roe deer as primary animal. We’d also sit in one area at last light while and the pigs would come into field each evening. There was no African swine fever there so pig numbers were really good. Here was a young but big body boar in the late morning we walked up on. It’s trying to eat the food for ducks.

 

[375Fox]

Thanks for all of the replies and shared experiences. I know the odds of finding, joining and experiencing a version of Wild Boar Fever is not likely for a host of reasons mentioned here. It seems like the best thing would be either a combination of short experiences or finding a high stand hunt for a trophy keiler. One plus seems to be European outfitters having good firearms/optics for rent. That could really simplify things.

All European hunts are short by American or African hunt standards, usually only 3 or 4 days but highly successful. My first hunt in Spain I combined a Monteria with an ibex hunt to extend the hunt out a little more. Combining hunts could be a good plan. I’ve been on 8 European hunts now (mostly roe deer) the rental rifles are always high quality, typically Blaser with Swarovski illuminated scopes. I see no reason to attempt taking my own, except possibly to Spain because it’s easy there, but would make touring difficult.