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Well it's dawned damp and foggy here in France.
Shot my first French stag on Saturday :thumbsup:
More driven boar today as well as hinds. Went out on Friday night for a look. I have a video of what a saw but it's not uploading.
Anyway I'll write up a full review when I get back to the uk.
Let's hope my luck is in for today. ;)
Look forward to the report.
Splendid !
And the photo's :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Mooseman
Just gotten back I'll post a report as soon as I've down loaded the photos.
Just to add had an awesome time and met some really good buggers:thumbsup:
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by jakewire
Well done,Quote:
Originally Posted by Sideshow
I'm heading to England this year with the wife, really tempted to head to France to visit my relatives there, if only they hunted!
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
A few years ago my wife and I got to know a lovely French family.
He is mad keen on hunting, so we decided to swap hunts. He came over to England to sample our driven game birds and we went to France to discover driven boar and hinds. It’s a great way to experience a different way of life.
So as another year starts the wife and I set of from Berkshire for the eight hour drive to just north of Paris.
We made good time with light traffic. The only interesting thing was a Spanish truck driver that was asleep while driving and that it was a good two degrees colder in France.
Once there, we settled into our host home and caught up on what they had gotten up to over Christmas and New Year’s.
As it got dark we went out to have a look at what was around in the area we were to hunt.
It’s rather eerie to walk around in a big forest at night and we did come across rather a few pigs or Sanglier as they are known. We came across a boar that had died and was in the process of being eaten. Because it was so cold he was like a pigsuckel and there must have been around thirteen odd beasty’s around him trying to chew through the frozen remains.
With the town so close it would not be a place to fall over drunk at night let alone sleep out.
Once back from our little tour we were invited out to dine in a lovely French restaurant.
It was to be an early start the next morning we were all wrapped up warm with a heavy frost on the ground and grey skies.
We drove the fifteen minutes to where the day’s hunting was to take place and meet the guns and beaters. This hunt was rather a special one, as they only hunt this forest six times a year.
We had our safety briefing, which let us know what we could shoot. They also gave us a very good briefing on firing zones. No shots were to be taken out past one hundred and forty meters.
This was not really a big deal for me as I was using and under and over 8x57 with iron sites. Past one hundred at moving game and it’s beyond me.
During the briefing I was told by the owner of the shoot that I, as a guest, could take a stag. This was extremely generous as usually all the stags where reserved for the owner.
The game that was on the card for the day for all guns was, Boar, piglets, hinds, fawns, spikers and fox.
To give you an idea of what this driven shoot is about. Everyone must wear blaze orange. The beaters will also be wearing orange jackets.
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Each gun is driven to a high stand. This is around two and a half meters of the ground with no roof. You can shoot three hundred and sixty degrees. Because the stands are high the shots are angled into the ground. This is important as the forests are public and you will see people out walking running and riding. Signs are posted that hunting is taking place. It is up to you to really make sure that you identify the firing zones that are safe!
The beaters will start at one end of the forestry block and walk very fast in an extended line with dogs and head to the far end. Then they swing around in an arch and come back towards where they started.
We all have horns but the beaters use these most to signal to the guns what they have seen. 3 blasts for Boar, 3 blasts with little blasts at the end is sow with piglets, 4 blasts is Deer and so on.
I had a piece of paper with all the signals in front of me, so that I could try to keep track of what was going on.
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My wife and I were dropped at our stand. On getting out the first thing that I noticed was a pine tree that had been really marked up by some stags. While the car drove off we very quickly made our way over to the high stand and climbed up. We needed to be careful as the ladder and platform was covered in ice. Once up we set up the camera and I loaded up as well as sticking a few cartridges in each corner so that I could reload quickly.
Or stand was total isolated off the side of two vehicle tracks and we could see no other stands or shoot participants around us. But we were not alone as soon a walker came into view on one of the tracks. This was the first of a few locals that we saw but they all did not seem bothered by the hunting. At one stage we had a bit of a good laugh as a meals on wheels van drove past, which we hoped was for us.
We looked out into the forest and tried to guess in which way the animals would come! We heard shoots, but saw no game for the first hour. I suddenly saw five very large black boar moving across or front at a steady trot. But they kept parallel with us and did not come close enough for a good shot. We watched as they paused just before crossing the track then bolted across before pausing again on the other side. I had one lined up and if I’d had a scoped rifle Id have fired but with the iron sites it all but block out the boar at that range.
By now we were getting very cold feet even with two pairs of socks on. Still the drive went on and we had not seen one person form the shoot. The phone then went and we were informed that I was now not able to take a stag as the quota had been filled.
Around twenty minutes after the phone call, my wife spied movement away through the trees to our left. Deer that appeared dark grey against white oaks. I watched as they came closer and saw that the middle two were stags I thought that the first one was a spiker and chose this as the one to take. We lost sight of them as they paused behind some trees. I was hoping that they would take the game trail that passed right in front of our stand but they kept moving toward the track on our left.
At around ninety yards I lined on the lead deer and squeezed of a shot to his front shoulder just as he started to move. His back arched up and over he went. As the deer ran back to our right, I was looking for my next target, when I noticed that my animal had gotten back to his feet. I lined his front leg up once more and got a good solid hit. This time I saw the bullet strike. He ran toward the track before I lost sight of him. I was sure that he had gone down, as there was rising ground beyond the track. I reloaded and lined up on a deer, but I could not tell if it was a stag! I asked my wife if she could see what it was through the camera.
“No! But you just shot a stag”.
“What! No I shot a spiker”!
This went on for a bit. She also told me that the last of the four animals was a monster stag. I suspect, he was the one that had been pushing them along.
I climbed down and walked over to wear I had last seen him. Sure enough six points on his head. Bugger! I was not happy. His antlers were the same colour as the oaks behind him.
The first shot had taken him a bit far back and I think clipped the back of his lungs and hit his rib. The second had gone straight through the heart, lungs and taken out his off side front shoulder leg.
The 8x57 is a very comfortable calibre to shoot. This rifle felt like using a 12gauge.
I made my way back to the high stand and told my wife the news.
About fifteen minutes later all the shoot cars turned up. We went straight to our host and informed him of the bad news. We then told the shoot owner who clapped me on the shoulder and pumped my hand say well done, great news. To say that I was relived is an understatement. The last thing that I would have wanted to do was to abuse my host’s hospitality.
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We then had some hot soup and sausages. I showed the guys where the stag was so that they could pick it up later. They were happy because it had fallen right next to the track.
We had one more drive that day where I saw no game.
We were then taken back to the shoot lodge. We were greeted with a lovely glass of champagne, before sitting down for a sumptuous four course meal.
They brought the game back to the lodge so we could all get a few photos. Luckily my host’s stag was also a six pointer.
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While shooting a stag was great. What really made the whole day memorable was the friendly welcome that we received. How people went out of their way to speak English, as my French is non-existent.
With Saturdays shoot finished we now looked forward to Mondays shoot.
If someone can change those rotate those bottom two photos thanks:oh noes:
Mondays shoot to follow:thumbsup:
cool :)
VeryQuote:
Originally Posted by sometimes
Here you go. Awesome trip :thumbsup:
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Good write up ...what did the biggest pig weigh ?
Boaraxa small one is around 20kg big one I think 55 to 58kg.
Stags 102 to 106 kg.
They move the shoot along at a fair clip. So if you have the chance you need to get your photos quick. As they load them straight away no mucking around.
If I get invited back next year I'll take my rifle and a range finder as well as a seat, binoculars and warmer socks!
What a neat experience, it is great to hunt in another land. Totally different style to our bush hunting but looks to be effective. Look forward to Mondays hunt.
Year Mooseman chalk and cheese!
But the guys that I talked too are all mad keen to have a go down nz way. They could not believe that we don't pay for access to public land. They did once I showed them a few choke filled supplejack bully's of the Kaimias:D one guy that was on the next stand on Monday also shot on Saturday wants to come to nz when I'm next there. He was good company spoke good English so he will get an invite to sample a bit of NZ, it's the lest I can do after the generosity that these guys have shown me.
Monday dawned cold and frosty.
Like the last two years, a group of the guns and beaters meet up to have brunch in a restaurant.
This is a very relaxed get together, where you have a nice meal and a glass of wine. All the talk is of shooting and hunting. The guys are of all ages.
(Please note that a glass of wine is just that, this does not mean getting drunk. You would not be allowed to shoot if intoxicated)!
Once we had had our fill, we were told to meet up to have our hunting licences checked. They also make sure that you have shoot insurance. The cost of the licences is 66.27 EUR for three days.
Then we all gathered for the safety briefing before getting into the shoot wagons to be dropped at our stands.
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You are shooting in a public forest. Monday helps as most people are at work. But you still need to make sure of your firing zones as there are roads around the forest. Walkers, runners and horse riders are in the forest.
This shoot is run a little differently to the one on Saturday.
First of all the guns are all within 50 to 60 yards of one another.
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Each gun is stood on a little stand so that your shot is angled into the ground. We are all lined up on forestry tracks that surround the block that is to be pushed through by the beaters.
You stand looking into the block. But under no circumstances are you to shoot into this!
You must wait till the game runs past you out of the block and then you may take a shot.
But only up to 50 yards! Past that and they must be left!
Once I was dropped at my stand I climbed up and put my electronic ear defenders on. These I turned up full and then loaded up my 8x57 double rifle. Checked my firing zone, I then turned to face into the woods from where I hoped the game would come from.
Today we could only shoot boar and hinds. No sows with piglets and no stags.
From where I was standing I could see up to a main road which had a roundabout, on which a lager bronze sculpture of a stag stood in the middle.
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The horn sounded for the start of the drive.
From behind me I could hear some scuffling noises. I turned to see a young boar!
He saw me at the same time. My first shot missed, but the second hit him hard. I watched the spot where he had disappeared, making sure to mark it well in case the trackers where needed.
It was strange to see him on his own and he was very surprised to see me. I think that he would have crossed the track and walked right past my stand if I had not moved. The electronic ear defenders are really good at enhancing what you are hearing.
The drive continued and we could hear shoots coming from the beaters. They carry shot guns and are allowed to shot wood cock. These are a small brown bird with a long thin beak. They are also very challenging to shoot at and good are eating.
A long blast from a horn soon sounded the end of the drive. I unloaded and climbed down. Meeting up with my neighbouring guns, we walked to where I had last seen the boar. Casting around one of the guns found blood. So he marked this with a small tissue and we all left the area so that the trackers could come and do their thing. The edge of the track was also marked with tissue.
We all moved off to the next drive.
My wife told me latter, that she came with the tracker. He had a little dachshund which he used for this job. The boar had only run another 10 or so yards from where we had marked the blood.
The next drive was more of the same. I was at the end of the block and stood on the ground this time. Pairing into the wood and trying to guess where the game would come from.
About 20 minutes into the drive while looking to my left I could hear a dog sounding. I heard a crash and hoofs to my right! By the time I turned, I saw a large black boar disappearing out of the firing zone. He had smelt us for sure, but with the dog on his ass he had snuck as close as he could before leaping the track and bolting for it. Soon a small dog came barking along his trail. He followed him to the nearby road before breaking off the chase, to return to the beaters.
There was a little confusion to whether the drive had finished. My neighbour and I meet up before being told that it had not ended! We hurried back into our spots.
Just as well, as we once more heard the beaters and there dogs. This time we could also hear deer crashing around. They could soon be seen turning and moving along the line of guns and getting around the beaters line to escape! Even though you could see them inside the block you could not take a shot, as this was not in the firing zone!
With the drive over, one spiker had been shot. The gun, a game keeper had not seen the small horns hiding behind its ears, when he took the shot.
I was also told that my little pig had been found. My First French boar even if he was the most unlucky pig, I was more than happy! I was also ribbed for having been asleep and letting the bigger one through the line. But then some kind soul pointed out that it’s harder to hit the little ones.
For the third and final drive of the day, we were told that we would all be dropped at the head of the drive and that we had to be very quiet and walk to our stands. This was because the drive itself was on a long narrow bit of wood that had a railway line down one side. If we had been driven to our spots the game would have soon know what was up.
The horn sounded and the drive was soon underway. Within minutes I could hear a lot of animals crashing through the tight woods. I crouched down as low as I could get as I watch a herd of deer come into view and start to run straight at me. They turned and looked as though they would come out between my neighbour and me!
I thought I’ll take the fourth animal as that will give the guns either side of me a chance at the lead animals, as they cross the track. The track here is used as a training track for horses, so is very wide.
But it was not to be. A yard before coming out onto the track they all turned and headed back along the line of guns. A shot has heard from the top of the line and a hind was taken by the last gun. The herd of 15 also animals had made good there escape.
What a shame, as had they come out it would be amazing. With that many animals trying to break across the track I would have had a front row seat of the action.
The drive carried on and again the dogs sounded off. A horn sounded letting us know that boar had been seen, followed by a shot. This was the last of the day. A beater had taken a nice boar as it tried to make an escape across the railway tracks.
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With the day gone, we made our way back to the club rooms. Here the deer and boar are weighed in. My unlucky little guy, weighed in at 20kg. The two deer weighed in at 105/107kg each and the last boar at around 80kg. The guys insisted on blooding my face with boar blood Indian style, as this was my first French boar.
All animals are tagged on being recovered and are recorded into a game register. There is a quota system and you are only aloud to shoot so many animals a year. They are having trouble keeping up with the numbers! If the quota is not meet, then they will use tree stands to try to make up the difference.
The animals were then butchered in a very clean small processing shed. The meat was given to who every wanted some the rest is sent to a game dealer.
We then all retired to the club rooms to have a beer and lots of gin, which the French are really into. We had a great evening and I have made a lot of new friends that are mad keen to try hunting down in NZ. So it looks like I may have to organise a trip for them.
Again another great day’s shooting and hunting in a different country.
Really sorry but Im damed if I can get these bloody photos to do what I want them to do:pissed off::omg:
Anyway enjoy.
If one of you coyuld turn them around that would be great:thumbsup:
Well done, it's interesting seeing how others hunt, quite amazing shooting in public areas but it must work ok otherwise it wouldn't be done like that.
Year the public just carry on. I've not asked if they get anties like we get here sometimes in the UK.
There having more trouble at present with the stag hunting which goes through once a week. This they do with hounds and horses.
It's pushed the boar and deer to the edgers of the forests which is closer to the roads. Which makes it a lot harder to shoot safely.
In the colder weather the boar and deer gather into very large groups. -11 in France yesterday and my host shot 4 boar and one hind whilst shooting there yesterday!
Fabulous!!!
French hunting sounds alot like french skiing, lots of breaks for wine and food....
No on both days when we finished only then would the food and wine come out.
No stopping!
Day light hours are too short in winter.
Good food and wine once the guns where away though:thumbsup:
