The leaf season is over, the forests and young stands are thinning out a bit again, and anticipation and excitement are growing in the hunting community. Anticipation and excitement for the driven hunt season. For many hunters, hunting parties and hunting clubs, the driven hunt season represents the hunting highlight of the year. It is a time filled with excitement, tension, hunting success, tradition, community and unique stories.

Will driven hunts take place in 2022 despite ASP and Corona?

Already last year, many driven hunts were in danger of being cancelled due to the Corona pandemic. However, since the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture classified the hunt as systemically relevant just in a time of the outbreak of African swine fever in Germany and the corresponding state ministries followed suit, a hunting operation with movement hunts was possible almost nationwide.

Of course, due to the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic and the ASF, these movement hunts / driven hunts / driven hunts took place under conditions that the hunting community had not seen before and which meant all the more detailed planning and effort for the organizers, but also for the participants.

In many places, the handling of wild boar turned into the complete opposite of previous years. Due to the ASF, a more intensive hunting, especially of the multipliers, i.e. the strong bucks, was mostly on the agenda. The hunt for the trophy bearers of the wild boar, the strong boars, took a back seat. There was also a need for much more sampling, and the procedures for retrieving, breaking open and caring for the sows changed considerably in some cases. However, there were regional differences due to the fact that the new federal states in particular are threatened by ASF due to their proximity to Poland.

Corona also had a firm grip on the organization and execution of movement hunts. For the first time, social hunts could only be carried out under the observance of strict hygiene concepts. And yet one can proudly say: with success! Also at the end of 2021 numerous society hunts took place in the whole country and the hunting community presented itself in many places as model regarding the execution of events with several participants in the context of ingenious hygiene concepts.

Unfortunately, it must be stated that although a lot has been done in the year, the ASP - at least in the eastern states - will continue to dominate events this year. Therefore, it will come down to the fact that driven hunts and driven hunts again under concepts to prevent the spread of African swine fever. BUT: We can assume that they will take place. Because hunting is relevant to the system! Especially in the fight against this pandemic!

Regarding the pandemic of the so-called Corona virus, which is mainly relevant for human health, there is fortunately a positive development to report after two hard years marked by restrictions. Although the number of cases is expected to increase again this year in autumn and winter, the organizers of the driven hunts are well prepared due to the previous years and by a few restrictions, a little distance and above all by acting according to common sense, chains of infection can be avoided during social hunts and thus smooth processes can be guaranteed. Also here applies again: The hunt is system-relevant!

How can one participate in driven hunts?

Every young hunter who did not grow up with a proverbial golden spoon in his mouth knows the problem of searching and finding hunting connections. This also applies to driven hunts.

A hot tip here: forest enterprises and hunting associations. Forestry companies are regularly looking for so-called hunting assistants, these can be drivers, dog handlers but also shooters. They are all important to be able to guarantee a successful hunting operation and are not available in abundance everywhere. Often one finds in the net on the sides of the forest enterprises dates and announcing possibilities for movement hunts.

Also hunting associations organize movement hunts and or mediate gladly members and young hunters to those, which still have need of hunt aids. Accordingly it can be quite worthwhile to take up also to these contact.

Furthermore, many hunters now organize themselves through hunting groups in social networks such as Facebook. Again and again, in such groups hunters still offer shooting places for their hunts or are looking for diligent and reliable hunting assistants. here, too, it is usually worthwhile to make contact.

What should I pay attention to during a driven hunt?

The absolute priority in driven hunts is the safety of all participants. Accordingly, the hunt leader always draws up a safety concept to ensure that all shooters, drivers, dog handlers and other hunting assistants are safe during the drive and the hunt.

As a participant in a movement hunt, you are therefore always required to adhere to the previously issued safety regulations and to always place the safety of all those involved in the hunt above the distance and the success of the hunt.

Also the release must be considered, so that one can be pleased afterwards about a successful and good hunt result. Missed kills are to be avoided as well as solo hunts that run contrary to the rules set up by the hunting guide.

In order to be able to guarantee a safe and smooth course of the hunt, it is also important that every hunt participant takes the necessary safety precautions, such as wearing signal clothing during the hunt. It is also essential to observe the accident prevention regulations(UVV forshort), with which every hunter wanted to be familiar.

Do I need a shooting certificate for driven hunts?

As a rule, a proof of having successfully participated in a test shooting or in shooting exercises in the not too distant past is a prerequisite for participation in a driven hunt.

If it concerns smaller privately held hunts, the hunt leader sometimes waives such a proof, nevertheless: Each hunter should be sure to be able to handle its weapon also correctly and to exercise the hunt handicraft so in the sense of the animal protection and the security of all successfully.

What does the equipment for a driven hunt consist of?

Very important on movement hunts is the suitable clothing! As already mentioned, signal clothing is essential for your own safety. Since movement hunts usually take place in the winter months of the year, one should also dress weather-consciously. Since individual hunts can last for several hours and shooters are usually unable to leave their stands, it is also advisable to wear clothing that is as warm as possible but still practical.

It should also be taken into account that you will have to move around a bit on the stand, among other things, in order to turn to another shooting area or to be able to react to growing game. Therefore, it is also advisable to make sure that the clothing is as quiet as possible, even when moving, so as not to attract the attention of approaching game unnecessarily.

Especially due to rain and frost, hunting equipment can be a source of danger during driven hunts and rungs as well as stand boards can be very slippery. It is therefore advisable to wear sturdy and slip-resistant footwear.

What is the best weapon for a driven hunt?

Since hunters on driven hunts are more often in situations where they have to fire several shots in succession in a short period of time, it is advisable to use a weapon for driven hunts that can be fired in quick succession. The absolute classic for driven hunts is still the bolt action rifle. However, self-loading rifles, so-called semi-automatic rifles, are also becoming increasingly popular among hunters due to their functionality.

Gunfinder introduces you to a few bolt action rifles suitable for driven hunts!

In any case, however, it should be noted that there is a legal framework for how many cartridges may be loaded into such a weapon, or into the magazine used with it.

Some hunters, however, rely on double rifles or triple rifles for driven hunts. However, these combined weapons are usually exotic.

Just as important as the weapon itself is the aiming optics used with it. Here, too, there are certain models designed for movement hunting. Gunfinder presents 55 optics for driven hunts!

You can also easily find a suitable rifle, partly already with matching driven hunt optics, via Gunfinder.com. With the help of the many filter functions and categories, you can use the search engine to find and purchase your new dream gun for driven hunt!

Good hunting!