Winter Hunting

Hunting in winter

In some northern countries, winter lasts up to half a year. Besides the usual winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and winter fishing, winter hunting is an interesting and exciting activity.

The combination with nature, when hunting on skis through the winter forests, gives unique feelings. For this reason, winter hunting is becoming more and more popular.

Specifics of winter hunting

According to the calendar, winter begins in December and ends in February, but in northern regions snow can begin as early as the end of October and remain until April. This makes it possible to hunt for a long time in winter if the hunting regulations of the particular region allow it. Winter hunting also has its advantages and disadvantages. Let us take a look at them.

The advantage of winter hunting is the absence of blood-sucking insects, the possibility to communicate with nature and, of course, the improvement of health, since hunting in the frosty air can replace outdoor sports with the participation of all muscle groups. The disadvantages of winter hunting are cold weather with frequent snowfalls and snowstorms; in such weather it' is better to stay at home and wait for the calm. Another disadvantage is that most forest dwellers are in hibernation and waterfowl will fly away until spring.
But that doesn't stop you from going rabbit or fox hunting or trying to wake a bear from its hibernation there are plenty of winter hunting opportunities. There are hunters who enjoy tracking hares in the snow or hunting wild boar. There are trap hunters who can even catch a clever wolf.

 

What about winter gear? We've discussed types of hunting, but what about winter gear?

Prepare thoroughly. Make sure your backpack includes spare socks, mittens, hot tea in a thermos, and bags for the prey you intend to catch. It is important to wear warm upper clothing that does not restrict movement.

Choosing your clothing based on the forecast is important, since sweating in the forest is bad. Snow and branches of trees dominate the winter forest, so the range of colours is black, brown, and white, and the choice of outwear should reflect these colors, in order to avoid causing suspicion among forest dwellers.

 

The footwear should also not be overlooked. EVA boots are the best choice for winter hunting, since they keep you warm when falling into a snowdrift. You should also protect your head and hands from the cold.

 

In the winter, you'll need extra energy while hunting, so make sure you have something to eat while you're out. You should buy hunting skis if you want to travel comfortably in snowy areas.

 

Ways of winter hunting

 

With the first snowfall the winter season begins, and the snow makes hare or fox tracks easily and perfectly visible and facilitates makes hunting much easier. There are many ways to hunt in winter round-up, driven hunt, and many more. A hunting dog is a great help in hunting.

 

A well-trained and properly educated hunting dog can track animals in winter and distinguish the tracks of different forest animals. Normally, dogs chase animals toward the hunter or bark until the dog owner gets close enough to take a clear shot.

The dog chases after the injured animal and may even give its life to save the hunter if the hunter is threatened. A fox hunter may be attacked by a pack of wolves or injured by a bear. Very often dogs are bitten by wolves or wild boars, usually fighting for their lives to the end.

A wild boar is usually hunted down. A group of hunters is divided into drivers and shooters who follow the barking dogs.

 

The thugs, for their part, chase the beast, and the shooters calmly position themselves ready to fire.

 

Small forest animals are hunted in winter on skis or snowshoes. Traps are set along animal tracks, in places where the animals feed or rest. Traps for foxes are usually set near human settlements, as these animals are no longer cautious and often come very close to human houses. To lure a fox or wolf out of the forest, a piece of meat is placed on the trap as bait.

The good result is a winter hunt from cover. Cover is made in the fall before the hunt with branches, boards and ropes. In such a hunt you do not need a hunting dog, it is enough to sit quietly, do not smoke, do not smell of perfume and alcohol, and the animal will come to you. But for this kind of hunting you need a good amount of patience, because you need to be outside in the cold and can hunt for hours.

Many hunters prefer night hunting because most forest creatures are active at night. To hunt elk, deer and roe deer, hunters go in groups and use the method of driven hunting. While one hunter makes noise and drives the game, the other hunter waits to make an accurate shot.

 

You can also try your luck at beaver hunting in the winter; beavers live in water areas in their lodges, from which they are driven out to trap.

Beavers love the ponds where they build dams. But increasing beaver populations are turning them into pests in some forests.

 

Despite the popularity of hunting, do not become a poacher. To become a hunter, you need a hunting license. Collecting the documents depends on your region and legal requirements and can take a long time. So it is worth to take care of it before the season starts and follow all the legal requirements.