Seeing a wild boar in a tree. Boar hunting from a tower

What types of towers are there?

Towers are divided into two types:

• stationary;
• mobile.

Depending on this, they have design differences. A tower – sometimes called a “storage shed” – is a durable structure that is erected near the feeding area of ​​wild boars. A small “house” is built on high supports - at least 5-7 meters from the ground. It has a roof, walls and windows. Inside there is a bench, sometimes even a bed. The tower windows open inward.

The tower is usually built near an array of trees so that it does not stand out too much among the terrain. The location for the construction of the tower is chosen taking into account the wind rose. Sometimes they put several towers at different ends of the bait area so as not to depend on the vagaries of the weather.

A mobile or portable tower can also be of two types:

• homemade from natural materials;
• factory

Tower design features

As already mentioned, a hunting tower can be stationary or portable. Stationary towers are equipped by hunting enterprises and are strong wooden structures in which you can not only wait for a long time for the arrival of the animal, but also spend the night if necessary to wait out bad weather.

These are often storage sheds with walls and a roof. The roof for a stationary tower is a mandatory element, and the walls can be minimized depending on the climate. Briefly, such structures can be characterized by several parameters recommended in the specialized literature for hunting farms. The optimal height of the platform is 4 - 4.5 meters, the area of ​​the platform is at least 1.5 x 1.5 meters, corner supports (pillars) are traditionally arranged in the amount of 4 pieces. The angle of inclination of the stairs is recommended 65˚-75˚ from the horizontal, the distance between the rungs is 25-30 cm.

The strongest geometric figure is a triangle, the most stable vertical structure is a pyramid. It is logical to build a tower on three support pillars, but in this case many other problems would arise, such as the arrangement and fastening of the platform, the construction of walls or simply supports for the shooter’s back. The compromise lies in the correct separation of the supports at a slight angle to the vertical and their installation along the supporting area, like a truncated triangle. The rungs on the stairs must be secured to the longitudinal poles for better support. The platform is made from both boards and hewn logs. Gaps must be left between the laid elements for quick drying. A lining can be laid on the storage shed floor. After all, the wait at a boar hunt can last several hours.

How to build it yourself

If there are no places suitable for hunters in the feeding areas, you can equip them with your own hands.

Tower

It is not difficult to build a successful – from a hunting point of view – and safe tower. The main thing to remember is the basic principles of arranging a storage shed:

• it is necessary to build a tower ahead of time, before the animals come to feed;
• materials for the construction of the tower are taken from the very place where the hunting will take place;
• The poles and boards should be fastened together with bolts to avoid squeaks that would scare the wild boars;
• the height of the stationary tower must be at least 5-7 meters;
• the location of the tower depends on the wind rose;

The design of the tower can be anything, but it must contain the following elements:

• the simplest possible roof;
• windows that open inward;
• hunter's bench;
• It is advisable to cover the floor with a soft material that conceals steps, for example, felt.

Important! You cannot build a tower in an open area. There should be a forest area directly next to it.

In addition to what has been described, there are also simple storage sheds that are located between two neighboring trees. Tree trunks are used as vertical posts. Cross members are placed between them, creating an improvised staircase.

At a height of about three meters, a seat is arranged: a transverse board or beam is firmly fixed between the trunks. Around this place, the shoots and branches are cleared so that they do not interfere with the view and the shot.

Remember! The hunter's legs should firmly, firmly rest against the last crossbar so that they do not become numb from sitting for a long time.

A mobile tower is even easier to build. There are several options for such a structure. A simple option is a ladder with a crossbar-seat, which is attached to a tree. However, although this option is more mobile, it is not always convenient.

The second option: a kind of stepladder with a seat for the hunter is knocked together from long poles. The bottom “step” is positioned in such a way that the hunter rests his feet firmly on it. Two poles at approximately chest level in front and behind the hunter will serve as the crossbar for the gun and the “back” of the seat, respectively. The height of the mobile tower is about three meters. The installation of the tower is carried out according to the general principle: under the cover of the surrounding trees, but so that the branches do not interfere with the view and the shot.

Video: Mobile tower for DIY hunting

Stay on the ground

Setting up a shelter on the ground is not a difficult task. Sit-ins are made: - in the fields;

• on the trails;
• on the baths (kupava).

All names speak for themselves. The first is the fattening site, often an agricultural field with corn or oats. The second is the boar paths, transitions from the bedding area to the feeding area, the third is the places where the wild boars bathe, whether in water or mud.

Taking into account the direction of the wind, the hunter chooses a place from where the herd of wild boars will be clearly visible. And sit there or lie down on the ground.

Remember! When choosing a hiding place, take into account natural shelters: boulder, stump, tree.

Boar hunting from ambush

Hunting for wild boar from ambush is perhaps the most popular way of hunting this ungulate animal. Usually the cleaver is waited for where they usually feed and on Kupala. It is not difficult to determine the feeding area of ​​a wild boar.

As a rule, you can find pores, excrement and traces of the animal there. If the tracks and holes are fresh, then a “sit” can be made in this place. Of course, the hiding place needs to be arranged where the wind will blow in your direction.

How to make an ambush in fields and paths

Wild boar hunting can be done both in fields and on boar trails. Most often, hunters make ambushes in the fields in winter, since the visibility at this time of year is much better. Wild boar hunting is usually carried out in fields that are sown with oats, since this is the food they prefer most.

In winter, as in summer, it is quite simple to arrange a “seed” in the fields. You need to find a place where animals come out to feed and lie down on the side where the wind blows. It is advisable to position yourself behind a rock or tree.

How to make a stop on a pond

The hunter must position himself close to the pond so that he can see the path along which the animals should move. The place should be chosen in such a way that the view of the trail is ideal, and from this place you can shoot the boar in the side.

It is necessary to move to the hiding place before the sun sets, since the animal can go out to the reservoir at the first twilight. During the sitting you need to follow a few simple rules:

1. It is not recommended to smoke, as the wild boar, thanks to its good sense of smell, can easily smell you, even if you are perched against the wind.
2. During the sit-down, use a camouflage suit.
3. Clothes should not make rustling or other sounds.

Boar hunting from a tower

One of the varieties of ambush hunting is boar hunting from a tower. The main advantage of using a tower is that the hunter has the opportunity to selectively shoot animals, thus increasing visibility significantly. Moreover, in such storage sheds it is safer than if you hunt on the ground.

Towers should be installed close to the animal’s feeding area. The success of hunting wild boar from a storage shed directly depends on two factors. This is the activity of visiting animals to feeding places and taking precautions that are no different from hunting from ambush on the ground.

Wild boar hunting is most effective in winter, when natural food is difficult to obtain. Piglets with sows are the first to come to the feeding site, since in winter it is most difficult for them to obtain food. Large boars are more cautious and may not come out at all. But if a sow with piglets comes to feed, the likelihood that a wild boar is nearby is very high.

For the hunt to be successful, you should adhere to the same rules as when hunting from ambush on the ground. Boars are very smart and cautious, and before going out into the open to the feeding area, they will stop several times and listen to sounds. If the cleaver suspects something, you can be sure that you won’t see him today.

How to hunt properly

Boars are cautious animals. They are nocturnal, so their vision is poorly developed, but their excellent hearing and sense of smell perfectly compensate for this deficiency. Therefore, in order to catch a boar, you must always take into account the direction and strength of the wind. Key points that a hunter should remember:

• maximum camouflage;
• patience, silence, concentration;
• confident shot.

What to feed a boar

Boars are omnivores, but they also have their own food preferences. Also, the boar “menu” depends on the time of year.

Autumn-summer period

In summer, wild boars eat:

• all edible plants, leaves, rhizomes;
• larvae, earthworms;
• locusts;
• bird eggs;
• in July they like to eat wild apples, cherry plums, and pears.

The autumn “dining room” offers:

• acorns;
• field and agricultural crops: potatoes, beets, rye, oats, corn (depending on the region);
• rhizomes of marsh and river plants along river banks.

Feeding animals during this period may be unproductive. When there is a rich food supply around, there is no guarantee that wild boars will choose a clearing with your bait. It should also be noted that during this period, wild boars teach young animals to feed, to obtain food on their own, therefore they try to cover as many food bases as possible in a given area.

However, in the warm season, wild boar can be taken “on fuel oil”. Boars, like any other animals, are susceptible to insect attacks. Mud baths help wild boars fight them. You can pour fuel oil, diesel fuel or waste into the discovered mud puddle. This smell attracts wild boars and helps them get rid of annoying insects.

Spring-winter period

Spring diet:

• plant rhizomes;
• last year's acorns;
• small vertebrates;
• spawning fish;
• fresh greens - sow thistle, impatiens, nettle, gravy.

We recommend learning how to hunt wild boar from the approach.

Winter is a difficult time for any animal. Boars eat:

• rhizomes of plants - while they can be undermined;
• mosses, dry grass, tree bark;
• rodents – voles, rats.

Based on this, it is more advisable to feed wild boars or install baits during the cold period, when the natural food supply has become scarce. When it comes to what to feed, it is necessary to take into account the region where it lives and the crops that grow here.

If there are no corn fields in the wild boar's habitat, for example, then first you need the animal to taste the corn. And only then use it as bait.

Boars take food from the ground, so boar bait can simply be scattered on the ground. But not in one heap, otherwise the animals will start squabbling and fighting. In this case, it will be difficult for the hunter to choose an animal, take aim and fire a killing shot. Usually bait (grain waste, corn in grain or on the cob, root vegetables, mixed feed, etc.) is scattered in “paths” along the perimeter of the entire clearing in front of the storage shed. Or they make shallow holes in the ground and fill them with grain.

How to behave in an ambush

For productive ambush hunting, the following rules should be observed:

• arrive at the place 1.5-2 hours before sunset;
• do not smoke, do not drink alcohol;
• do not use hygiene products with fragrances;
• do not wear new clothes and shoes - the smell will scare away the boars;
• all auxiliary items, for example, binoculars, must be wrapped in cloth in advance to avoid accidental sound that is not typical for the forest;
• You must change clothes immediately upon arriving at the tower.

Attention! If you are in a makeshift or mobile storage facility, be sure to buckle up so as not to accidentally fall.

Where to shoot a wild boar from a tower

The herd does not all go to the feeding place at once. First, the older female (or several older sows) appears, then the young animals, and then the gilts. And only then, when everyone is calmly feeding, the cleavers will come out.

Therefore, the hunter must have good self-control: not twitch, not make noise ahead of time, wait for the favorable moment when the herd in the fattening area will calmly feast.

You should pay attention to how to shoot a wild boar from a tower. Usually the animal is shot under the ear or shoulder blade. However, shooting from a storage shed is done from top to bottom, so you need to know exactly how to shoot. In this situation, it is recommended to aim for the spine at the base of the neck.

After the shot, you should wait a while and approach the boar only with a loaded gun from behind or from the side. And be sure to fire a control shot in the ear.

Before guarding the boar

photo: Sergey Fokin
Wild boar hunting can be different. But I would like to focus on two options: hunting from towers and blinds.

HUNTING FROM THE ROW

First, let's look at hunting from a tower, since it is simpler than hunting from a stand.

The location of the towers and blinds is almost the same. Towers are installed in the forest in wide clearings (the distance to the feeders should primarily be calculated for smooth-bore weapons and range from 30 to 50 meters), on the edge of the forest, where grain fields are almost always sown on hunting farms. Clothing should be such that you can, if necessary and desire, sit on the tower until the morning.

Weapons and equipment

Personally, I use both a smooth barrel (with a boar headlight or an FO-2M under-barrel flashlight), and a carbine with a Didal-450 night sight. It all depends on the individual capabilities of the hunter: someone tapes a flashlight to the gun with tape , someone attaches “fireflies” from fishing gear to the front sight, while others install illuminated optics.

Tower safety

1. Weapons need to be uncovered and sheathed; charge and discharge while directly on the tower. 2. If the hunt is carried out with a firefly, you need to fire a shot only after making sure that the animal in front of you is the one for which you have a permit; This also applies to other weapon attachments. 3. It is advisable not to drink alcohol, smoke, or talk on the phone.

Hunting technique

As soon as you sit on the tower and load the weapon, you need to open the window and listen to whether it creaks. And then try to prepare to shoot to see if you can put the weapon out the window without noise. Once all preparations are completed, all that remains is to wait for the beast to come out. He can come out even during the day, so when you sit on the tower, do everything quickly and do not make any noise.

It’s good if the hunt takes place in the snow, then there will be no problems, but if along the black trail, then you need to not only strain your eyesight, but also your hearing. An unafraid animal can immediately jump out to the grain, or it can stand for about an hour, exhausting you with this. But here, as they say, who will outplay whom. When the animal approaches the grain, there is no need to rush - give it about five minutes to calm down and start eating. After some time, his wariness will subside, and then he will need to prepare for the shot.

Shot

The first rule when shooting at a black trail from a tower is to shoot in the side. Secondly, immediately, if you see that the animal did not fall with the first shot or wounded animal, add a second shot, because running after a wounded animal along the black trail is a difficult matter. If the animal lays down after the first shot, then hold it at gunpoint for three or four minutes to avoid being wounded. A friend had a case when after the first shot the gilt lay down in place. My friend, let's call the huntsman and tell our friends, and at that time the little boar came to his senses and began to get up. The hunter holds a gun in one hand, a phone in the other, the result is a wounded animal, which was not found the next day.

HUNTING FROM ABSTRACT

This hunt is more difficult than from a tower, because you are closer to the animal and you need to control all your movements so as not to frighten the animal. Zasidki seem to me more promising and compact compared to towers. They can be installed on any part of the forest, and they practically do not require a large area. The distance from the tree can be from 10 to 15 meters. True, they have one drawback: you are under the open sky.

Cloth

It should be such that you can sit in it until the morning if you wish, without rustling, since you are practically above the animal. You can take some soft seat with you.

Weapons and equipment remain unchanged.

Safety precautions at the stand

The weapon must be unsheathed at the car, and the cartridge must be inserted into the chamber or barrels already at the stand. There, on the spot, I make sure to run my hand along the trunk of the tree against which I will have to lean my back or on which I will lean when shooting, in order to brush off the rustling bark from it. Be sure to sit down so that your legs or back can remain motionless for a long time. If there is a need for this, you need to fasten (or tie) yourself to the tree with an additional belt so that you don’t accidentally fall asleep and dive down. Naturally, there can be no question of any smoking, telephone conversations and sniffing. As I wrote above, while on a hiding place, you are practically in contact with the animal.

Hunting technique and shot

They are almost similar to tower hunting, but there is one detail. Based on many years of experience as rangers and my own, I want to clarify. A shot from a stand has a greater angle of inclination than a shot from a tower, and here you need to shoot the animal not in the side, but along the ridge. This is especially important when hunting along a black trail: here you either hit and the animal lay down in place, or you missed and the animal remained unharmed. If you shoot an animal in the side, the bullet will almost always pierce the stomach, the animal will go far and it will not always be possible to reach it along the black trail. And when shooting along, the probability of fatally hitting the animal is greater.

Victor Zalogin, game manager December 20, 2011 at 00:00

Recommendations depending on the season

Hunting in different seasons will have a number of differences. And this applies not only to equipment.

Learn how to hunt wild boar with huskies.

Hunting in summer

In summer there comes a period of active feeding, but also of dense green thickets. Therefore, for effective hunting, you should choose places where the feeding animal will be clearly visible: forest clearings, forest edges, food fields, etc. In this case, mobile towers will come in handy for hunters.

Winter sitting

The algorithm for such a hunt is theoretically simple:

• the location of the fat is determined;
• a seat is arranged - against the wind - before sunset;
• if the hiding place is on the ground, the hunter must definitely use natural shelters - a boulder, a powerful tree, a stump;
• use camouflage clothing.

Equipment

When hunting wild boar, special attention should be paid to equipment. A hunter, in addition to a gun, must have with him:

• first aid kit;
• thermos (bottle) with water or tea;
• cutting tool - knife, multitool.

Weapon

A weapon for a boar is a smoothbore of more than 12 caliber or a rifled weapon of at least 7.62 mm caliber. It must be perfectly lubricated, targeted, and be in perfect condition so as not to let the hunter down at the crucial moment. They load only with bullets, do not use buckshot.

Cloth

Clothes for hunting should be practical, made of non-rusting fabrics. For hunting from a blind spot or a portable tower, use camouflage robes or overalls. In summer, you should use a hat with a mosquito net to protect against midges and mosquitoes. In winter, be sure to use thermal underwear and warm shoes.

Experienced hunters advise getting a set of clothes specifically for hunting, storing it separately from other things, rearranging it with pine, spruce or fir branches so that it does not become saturated with the odors of human habitation.