Animals.

The structure of wild boars. Animals of large or medium size. The height at the withers of adult male Caucasian boars is on average 103 cm, with fluctuations from 93 to 120 cm, in females - on average 75 cm (61-96 cm). Body length in males is from 150 to 205 cm, in females - from 129 to 169 cm (on average 144 cm). The overall value is an indicator of racial disparities. The wild boars of Western Europe and the western regions of Russia are smaller than the wild boars of the Caucasus and Central Asia. For males from Germany, figures are given for a body length of 168 cm and a height at the withers of 89 cm. The largest are the wild boars of the Far East, but a smaller race lives in Transbaikalia and Mongolia. The live weight of adult males from the environs of the Caucasian Nature Reserve ranges from 64 to 178 kg, females - from 48 to 109 kg (on average 68 kg - Donaurov and Teplov, 1938). As you can see, males are much larger than females. Average value animals in a particular population depends to a large extent on the conditions of existence and on the degree of persecution by humans. Even at the beginning of this century, when they were hunted less, in the Caucasus there were animals weighing up to 250-300 kg (Markov, 1932) and with a body length without a tail of about 2 m (Dinnik, 1910). With the increase in fishing, a small proportion of animals reach the age limit.

In the area of ​​Ordzhonikidze, where they are intensively hunted, the average and maximum weight of wild boars is less than in areas adjacent to the Caucasus Nature Reserve, where they are persecuted to a much lesser extent (Donaurov and Teplov, 1938).

The peculiarities of the wild boar's constitution in comparison with the domestic pig are a large head with a long elongated muzzle and powerfully developed fangs in adult males, as well as a relatively short and laterally compressed flattened body on high strong legs. It is characteristic of a wild pig that the height at the withers is noticeably higher than the height at the rump (high anteriority). In general, the front part of the body gives the impression of being more powerfully developed than the back.

The length of the head in large specimens can reach up to 60 cm. The chest circumference in adults is on average about 145 cm. The tail is about 24-25 cm long (maximum 32 cm), but, in contrast to the domestic pig, is not twisted in the form of a spiral, but straight; when running it rises vertically. There are no warty skin projections on the face, as in S. verrucosus.

The “piglet” at the end of the muzzle has the shape of a transverse oval with convex outer and upper edges. Its height is about 3/4 of its greatest width. The upper half of the surface of the patch is bare and wet; the lower one is seated with very sparse short hair. The edges of the patch protrude somewhat beyond the level of neighboring areas of hair-covered skin of the muzzle. The ears are erect with pointed ends.

One of the notable features of adult male wild boars is the so-called “kalkan”. The latter is a thickening of the connective tissue layer of skin on the sides of the back of the chest and neck. It reaches its greatest thickness, up to 4 cm, in the area of ​​the shoulders and shoulder blades, gradually thinning towards the back, head and stomach. Kalkan is so dense that it is difficult to cut sharp knife even in fresh. When cut open, it has the appearance and consistency of a callus or fibrocartilage. The statement that the boar is a layer of resin on the surface of the skin as a result of the friction of the wild boar on the trees is based on a misunderstanding. In females, the Kalkan does not develop. In males it becomes especially thick during estrus.

The body, like that of other types of pigs, is covered with bristles, between which in the cold season there is a thick, rather coarse, but still crimped undercoat (in the southern races it may be completely absent). On the underside of the neck and back of the abdomen, the hair is directed forward (towards the head), on the rest of the body - back. The length of the guard hairs on the body is about 6-7 cm. On the back of the head, dorsal part of the neck and withers, the bristles are lengthened to 12-13 cm, but do not form a prominent mane or comb. The ends of the hair that forms the bristles are usually split into 3-6 thinner bristles, usually curved to the sides. The bristle hairs are finer in females compared to males, and also appear to be finer in western boars compared to eastern ones. On the head, ears, and limbs below the hock and carpal joints, the hair is shorter and, in addition, the ends of the bristles are not split. At the end of the tail, coarse hair forms a brush up to 20 cm long.

General color of the boar winter time brown with various shades from almost black to gray or yellow. Wild pigs in the western part of their range are darker in color. The wild boars of the Caucasus and Central Asia are lighter in color. The undercoat is light brown or dark chestnut in color, lighter on the lower parts of the body. In summer it is short, sometimes it can be completely absent. Differences in the color shades of wild boars from different regions and on individual parts of the body of one animal depend on the size of the lightened ends of the bristles, the degree of their lightening, the color and density of the undercoat. Shorter and lighter hair almost throughout the entire length causes the whitish coloration of the end of the muzzle and light stripes on its sides, on the cheeks and throat, especially clearly expressed in boars of the Far East. In this case, white spots and stripes clearly demarcated from neighboring areas are not formed. The color of the forehead is sometimes lighter than the body, sometimes, on the contrary, darker (in wild boars eastern Siberia and the Far East). The color zonation of individual hairs on the forehead is characteristic; the light area is not the end of the hair, but middle part, while its base and top are black.

The skull of a wild boar has a moderately developed facial and brain part in length compared to other species. The length of the skull in small races is from 345 to 375 mm, in large ones it exceeds 400 mm, and in males it can reach 490 mm. Some features of the skull (the nature of the frontal-facial profile, the shape and proportions of the lacrimal bones, the relative length of the facial part) are differences between the subspecies. Of the incisors, the first two (middle) pairs are more developed; the third pair is underdeveloped. In the upper jaw, the incisors are wide, curved and set apart from each other, especially the last (third) pair; the first and second pairs are directed downwards and towards the teeth of the same name on the other side. The narrow chisel-shaped incisors of the lower jaw are directed almost straight forward, located close to each other; only the alveoli of the last (third) bunk are sometimes separated from the neighboring ones, as well as from the fangs, by a gap of 2-3 mm. Between the incisors and canines in the upper jaw there is a more significant toothless gap 2-3.5 cm long. The length of the lower canines in adult males is 6-10 cm. Their posterior edge, in contrast to some other types of pigs, is wider than the outer one and is worn against the front surface of the curved teeth. sides and up the upper canines. The abrasion surface on both the lower and upper canines also includes the top of the tooth. This determines, on the one hand, constant sharpness and refinement, and on the other, limits their growth, especially the upper ones, and length. In rare cases, when the abrasion does not involve the top of the upper canines, the latter continue to grow and, bending in a ring upward and inward, can perforate the nasal bones. These cases of excessive canine growth should, however, be classified as anomalies and not the norm. Of the molars, the last posterior molars (M3 and M3) are the best developed. The cusps on the back of these teeth (hypocone) usually form an additional row; The hypocone is especially well developed in wild boars in the western part of their range. Those located in front of the last posterior root tooth gradually decrease in size.

Habitat and distribution of wild boars

The ancestor of the modern Palaearctic wild boar is probably S. priscus Serr. from the Upper Pliocene. The earliest boar-related remains are known from the early Quaternary layers of Syria and the British Isles, and in the Pleistocene the boar inhabited the temperate and warm regions of southern, western and eastern Europe and at least Central Asia.

Currently, the distribution area of ​​this species extends from the Atlantic to Pacific Ocean and covers northern Africa, middle, southern and eastern Europe, as well as Minor, Central, Central and Eastern Asia north of the Himalayas, to southern Siberia, Transbaikalia, the Far East and some islands of Japan inclusive. In earlier times, the range was even wider and, in addition to the British Isles, also included the southern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, where wild boar is currently absent in the wild. The once continuous habitat of the wild boar appeared relatively recently (probably in the middle of the 18th or early XIX c.) torn apart in the European part of the Soviet Union.

On the territory of Russia, the area of ​​distribution of the wild boar has significantly decreased already in historical time. During the time of the Novgorod principality, for example, there were a lot of wild boars near Novgorod itself,1 in the 13th century. even 60 miles north of the latter. In the Kostroma governorate, wild boars were found at the end of the 18th century. (Kirikov, 1953). A. N. Formozov (1946) northern border wild boar distribution is associated with the line of the average maximum depth of snow cover of 30-40 cm. In addition to the depth of snow cover, undoubtedly, the degree of soil freezing (i.e., sub-zero winter temperatures), which makes it difficult to dig in the soil in search of food, plays an important limiting role.

As for the territory of the Ukrainian and Moldavian SSR, back in the 30s of the last century the wild boar was a common animal in all the forests of Volyn and Podolia (Eichwald, 1830). In addition, it was not only found in the floodplains of large rivers, but even entered the steppe along the valleys of small rivers. In the middle of the last century, it was a common animal in the northern parts of the Kyiv and Chernigov provinces.

Biology of wild boars

The wild boar's habitats are varied and depend largely on natural conditions one area or another. It can inhabit valleys and deltas of large and small rivers, coastal lowlands, forests, mountains, up to the alpine zone. In certain seasons, it does not even avoid desert landscapes. However, wild pigs tend to stick to damp, swampy areas near water bodies, where they can find mud puddles in which they love to swim.

The seasonality of habitats is determined to a large extent by the availability and accessibility of food supply. A necessary condition is also the presence of reliable shelters in the habitat area. As the latter, the wild boar serves dense thickets of reeds, thorny and intertwining bushes, tall weeds, creases, and young growth. coniferous forest. The wild boar not only passes freely, but also rushes in places where it is almost impossible not only for a person, but also for a dog to pass. The entire body of the animal is adapted to movement under these conditions with a streamlined, laterally compressed shape, on short legs, with a cone-shaped head, and small, deep-set eyes.

In the western regions of Europe (in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, and the forests of Belarus, Ukrainian Polesie, in Smolensk and Bryansk regions) the favorite habitats of the wild boar are low-lying wetlands of mixed and broadleaf forest. In densely populated areas, they stay in the most remote areas of the forest, near rivers and streams with thickets of tall reeds. In autumn and winter, especially during years of abundant acorn harvest, oak groves are typical habitats. In the Eastern Carpathians in summer period wild boars climb the mountains above the crooked forest zone and graze in open meadows at night.

In the Caucasus, wild pigs live both in lowlands and in the mountain belt. Their favorite habitats are reed thickets in the floodplains of large rivers (Kuban, Terek, Kuma, Kura, etc.), as well as damp swampy lowlands to the very coast, the Black and Caspian Seas. During the daytime, wild boars hide in the reeds, trampling numerous paths diverging in all directions. At night they go out to feed in more open places - meadows, fields and even vegetable gardens. In the mountains, wild boars stick mainly to the forest zone. In places of intense persecution, daylight hours are spent in the most “strong” (difficult to pass) places: in thickets of rhododendron, thorns, boxwood, dense small oak trees, spruce forests, and thorny bushes. Seasonal features in the placement of wild boars are determined by the food supply, and in winter, in addition, by the nature of the snow cover; cover. A significant part of the wild boars (females with piglets, old males) spend the summer in the lower forest zone, in the cultural zone; part of the population (young males, gilts, single pigs) rises to the mountains, often reaching the zone of alpine meadows up to 2500 m above sea level. m., and occasionally even into the habitats of tur and chamois. From the end of summer and throughout autumn, the bulk of animals concentrate in groves of wild fruit (apple, pear, cherry plum) and nut trees (oak, beech, chestnut, plane tree). The location of animals in winter also largely depends on the presence of fallen acorns and nuts. However, the limiting factor at this time is also the depth of the snow cover. With a snow depth of 60-80 cm, movement and obtaining food becomes very difficult, even for large animals.

In some cases, wild boars do not avoid the proximity of human settlements. Their damage to agricultural crops, even located on personal plots, is widely known. In a number of areas in winter, wild pigs stay close to haystacks, which serve as both protection from the cold and a source of food for them.

Boar feeding

All members of the pig family, including the wild boar, are omnivores. Along with the plant food that constitutes their main diet, wild pigs willingly eat animal products available to them, from earthworms to the corpses of birds and large mammals.

The composition of plant feed depends on the natural conditions of the habitat and varies seasonally. A constant component of a wild boar's food, especially in the absence or lack of fruit-bearing trees, are herbaceous plants, both in the form of their underground parts (rhizomes, tubers, bulbs) and above-ground ones. In a number of regions of Central Asia, rhizomes and shoots of reeds, cattails and other coastal plants, apart from animal food, constitute almost the only source of existence for wild boars throughout the year. The above-ground green parts of herbaceous plants (cereals, forbs) are of greatest importance in the food of wild boars in spring and early summer. In the Caucasus Nature Reserve, the plants in which they eat the aerial parts include wild garlic, whorled rose, orchis, sorrel, core, cuff and some others (Donaurov and Teplov, 1938). In the lower reaches of the Volga, the favorite food of wild boars is water chestnut fruits (chilim).

The proportion of herbaceous plants in the diet of wild boars in forest areas decreases greatly, starting from the end of summer, when fruits and later nuts ripen and fall. Wild fruits that boar eat in the Caucasus include cherries, dogwoods, cherry plums, apples, and pears. The greatest preference is given to the latter. Along with the pulp, fruit seeds, previously crushed by molars, are also eaten. For a significant part of the year, sometimes six to seven months from September to April, the main food of wild boar in forest areas is the fruits of nutbearers - oak, chestnut, beech, walnut, plane tree, pistachio, and less often hazel. Highest value has oak, widespread in the European part of the wild boar's range. Acorns sometimes serve as food for wild pigs even in the spring, in a sprouted state.

The animal food of the wild boar is extremely diverse. One of the first places is occupied by earthworms and insect larvae living in the ground (beetles, darkling beetles). On occasion, they also willingly eat adult insects, especially large beetles, and in years of mass reproduction, locusts. They also feed on snails and catch frogs. On occasion, they dig up burrows of mouse-like rodents, the remains of which are often found in their stomach. The main food of wild boars in the summer is, according to B.K. Stegman (1949), fish remaining after the spring flood subsides in closed drying lakes along the banks of river channels.

The maximum amount of food eaten by an adult boar in one feeding is determined to be 2-3 kg; Dinnik (1910) found half a bucket of chewed acorns in the stomach of a boar he killed. If there is a shortage or difficulty in obtaining food (in winter), they eat mushrooms, roots, bark and even tree branches, moss, dry leaves, and rotten wood. They do not disdain the corpses of animals. Looking for roots, bulbs and earthworms, wild boars tear up the soil with a snout perfectly adapted for this purpose, sometimes “plowing” entire hectares. These “diggings”, or sometimes serve as a sure sign of the presence of wild boars in a given area.

Lifestyle of wild boars

Wild boars, as a rule, live in small groups, rarely more than 10-20 animals, although herds of over 100 animals are occasionally found in the Ussuri taiga. Usually the group consists of a female and her offspring. The young stay with their mother until they are one and a half to two years old, so that two generations usually go with her - the current and the previous year. Several females with their piglets can unite into one herd; at the same time, they not only walk, but also lie down together. Males from the age of 1%-2 years, as a rule, lead a solitary lifestyle, joining herds of females only for the mating period.

The wild boar's lifestyle, its seasonal and daily cycle are highly dependent on natural conditions, food harvest, and the degree of human persecution. The seasonality of accommodation is especially pronounced in mountainous areas.

In summer, some animals, as already noted, rise into the mountains to the alpine and subalpine zones. In winter, snow cover forces most of the population to concentrate in the area deciduous forests, which is most favorable during this period and in terms of feeding (Donaurov and Teplov, 1938). In the forest belt of the European part of the range, in summer wild boars prefer young forests, reed swamps and river banks; autumn and winter are spent in oak groves, which provide the best food supply during acorn harvest years. We have already mentioned the seasonal migrations of wild boars in desert areas. If wild boars are not pursued, they can go out to feed during the day and rest near the feeding area. However, in most areas they are forced to hide in “strong” places during the daytime, and feed only after dark or in the early morning hours. At the same time, pigs are often forced to travel 15-20 km to the feeding area. Daily movements have a greater amplitude during the period of mass ripening of fruits and nuts, as well as during the rutting period; They are reduced in winter due to the depth of snow and frost. The movements of wild boars in deltas and river valleys are relatively small. Usually here they wander in the reeds, tearing out rhizomes and earthworms from the ground, biting off green shoots of plants, and at night they come out to neighboring meadows and crops. Only high floods force animals to leave the floodplain and sometimes move quite considerable distances.

The majority of wild boars (both males and females) make so-called beds, or nests. In the simplest cases, the bed is a small depression in the soil. In the cold season, the animal rakes or drags brushwood, ferns, dry grass and leaves into one place, resulting in the formation of a kind of bed, sometimes almost half a meter high. Pigs lie down, especially in the cold season, close to each other, with their heads towards the wind. The beds are located secretly under trees, near stones or in the thicket of the forest, and in river deltas and swamps - among the reeds on an elevated, dry place. Wild boars use a single bed for a more or less long time only in winter, when their mobility becomes less. In the southern regions of Central Asia, bedding areas serve as protection for wild boars from the summer heat and sandstorms. In these cases, they represent holes dug by pigs in the ground under coastal cliffs, under tree roots, in gorges and sometimes reaching a depth of 1 m. In Latvia, wild boars sometimes climb into haystacks in winter.

The boar's voice is similar to that of a domestic pig and consists mainly of grunts and squeals. When attacked or frightened, pigs may make short sounds such as “doo-doo-doo” or “o-o-o” (“buzz”), and males may sniffle or roar. In general, even when wounded, they are very silent. Among the senses, the boar has well-developed hearing and smell. In the wind, he sometimes senses a person 350-400 m away. But his eyesight is poor (Dinnik, 1910). The boar does not have the ability to run fast. On level ground, dogs and a riding horse easily catch up with him. Swims well, easily swims across wide rivers and, if necessary, swims a kilometer or more deep into the sea.

Wild pigs begin molting in April. In the Caucasus, by the end of May - beginning of June, the old stubble and fluff completely fall out and the animals become almost naked. Suffering greatly from the bites of blood-sucking insects, wild boars climb into dense bushes, into piles of brushwood and weeds pulled for this purpose, or into puddles of mud, which form a temporary protective shell on their body. Stubble growth begins by the end of June, and in September it becomes long. The fluff reaches full development only in November.

Boar breeding

Wild boars reach sexual maturity by the age of one and a half years, but a significant part of them, born late or in years with unfavorable feeding conditions, begin to reproduce only in the third year. The sexual season (mating) covers the period from November to January. Its beginning and end not only fluctuate from year to year, depending on food and climatic conditions, but are not the same even for different areas in a relatively small area within one year (Donaurov and Teplov, 1938). In young females, sexual heat and mating occur at a later date. During this period, females stay in relatively large groups, up to 8-10 animals, if possible in places remote from human settlements. During the rut, pigs behave restlessly and move a lot. Males are very excited and eat little. Brutal tournament fights with the help of fangs take place between them, sometimes ending in the death or severe injury of one of the participants in the fight. Under these conditions, the Kalkan becomes important, protecting parts of the body exposed to impacts from deep damage. The most vulnerable and dangerous areas for damage are the abdominal walls, groin and hind legs, which do not have thickened skin. The sharpest fangs are possessed and therefore the most dangerous are males aged about 4-6 years, called cleavers. The fangs of older ones, although larger in size, are not so terrible, since their sharp ends become more curved not to the sides, but inward.

The duration of pregnancy is about four months. The young are born from March to May, the bulk - in April. The number of piglets in a litter ranges from 3 to 10, depending on the age of the female and the conditions of the previous autumn and wintering. The average figure in the Caucasus is currently 4-5 piglets. Young females have fewer cubs in their litter than adults. Before farrowing, the female or several of them together make a thick bed (nest) with high edges in a secluded place, in which childbirth takes place. The piglets are born helpless and do not leave the nest during the first week. Pig - good mother, protects its children, sometimes even rushes at a person (Dinnik, 1910).

More females will be born, but the sex ratio subsequently levels out as a result of the death of part of the population and in adults turns out to be almost the same (48% males and 52% females, according to Donaurov and Teplov, 1938).

It is believed that in natural conditions a wild boar can live up to 15-20, and in exceptional cases even up to 30 years. There are no exact data on this issue. The maximum lifespan in captivity (at the London Zoological Garden) is set at 19 years 6 months and 6 days (Flower, 1931).

The number of wild boars in the same area can change dramatically from year to year. Its fluctuations are caused by the unevenness of the feed harvest and their varying availability during the most difficult winter period, as well as the death of animals from predators, diseases and natural disasters. Poor feed harvests, deep snow and severe frosts cause mass deaths of wild pigs from starvation. Repeated cases of this phenomenon took place in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Latvia, the Caucasus, the Carpathians and Central Asia. When the snow depth is more than 55 cm, obtaining food for pigs is very difficult. The formation of crust after a thaw has the same consequences, and in treeless areas the freezing of the soil, when animals severely injure their snouts and legs, but cannot get food. A hunger strike affects not only the immediate death of animals, but also affects the quantity and quality of the offspring. Only the high fertility of pigs makes it possible to restore their numbers relatively quickly after the spontaneous death of animals. Due to a lack of food, wild boars sometimes migrate to other places and can disappear from one area or another for a number of years.

The wild boar's predatory enemies are the wolf, the tiger and, occasionally, the leopard. IN normal conditions A wolf cannot defeat an adult male boar not only alone, but even in a pack. There are known cases when an attacking wolf died from the fangs of a wild boar (Stegman, 1949). Young pigs, gilts and piglets become victims of wolves in large numbers. Adult wild boars die from this predator only in deep snowy winters and during hunger strikes, when they can be killed in droves. Leopards in the mountains often attack wild boars; due to the rarity of the predator itself, the harm it causes does not play a significant role (Donaurov and Teplov, 1938).

In Central Asia and the Far East, wild boars are exterminated in significant numbers by tigers. It is not for nothing that the latter is called in Primorye the “Shepherd” of wild boar herds. Attacks on wild boar by other predators are random.

In deltas and river valleys, the cause of death of newly born piglets is fires in last year's reeds or high and prolonged floods; from the latter, in some years, not only the entire offspring perishes, but also a significant part of the adult animals that did not have time to move to the upper parts of the delta and remained on the narrow unflooded ridges (Isakov, 1951). In the Astrakhan Nature Reserve, artificial hummocks are successfully used to protect wild boars from floods. The latter are earthen embankments reinforced with logs on the elevated parts of the flooded islands (Dubinin, 1953).

Economic importance of wild boars

Boar is valuable as a meat animal. The meat yield, depending on the fatness of the animal, is about 55-70% of live weight. An adult male can therefore produce over 100 kg of meat; But large animals are now found relatively rarely and the average weight of a carcass in the Caucasus during procurement is determined to be 50 kg; The bulk of the population consists of six-month-old and one-and-a-half-year-old animals. Wild boars reach their best condition in November. At this time, an adult boar, weighing 160-180 kg, can produce about 18-20 kg of internal and 30-40 kg of subcutaneous fat (Vereshchagin, 1947). Males quickly lose weight during the 1st rutting period. Females retain fatness longer and lose fat only before farrowing. The marketable yield of meat in most areas is still insignificant, but with proper organization of wild boar harvesting, it can play a very significant role in creating the local food supply. In some areas of the Primorsky Territory, wild pigs have long been a source of meat for the Russian population, who store it for future use by salting. The taste and nutritional qualities of wild boar meat are very high compared to other wild ungulates. Only the meat of males during estrus has a specific smell and taste.

In addition to meat and lard, leather and bristles are used. The first can be subjected, like the skins of domestic pigs, to factory dressing. In addition, the local population in the Caucasus makes durable shoes from it - pistons or kalamani (Markov, 1932). The bristles, which are better in elasticity than those of domestic pigs (about 350-400 g per head), are used in saddlery and brush production. Finer hair and fluff are suitable for stuffing mattresses and upholstered furniture. The fangs of adult males are used as decoration. Caught in at a young age piglets of wild pigs easily get used to humans and become tame, but cases of reproduction wild boars in a home environment we are not aware of. In wild boar habitats, crosses with domestic pigs are common. Thus, it is believed that Kakheti domestic pigs grazed in oak and beech forests are a product of such crossbreeding. The domestication of wild boar and its crossbreeding with domestic pigs can have practical significance in three ways: improving existing ones and creating new breeds of domestic pigs adapted to local conditions. Fertile hybrids of the European wild boar and bearded pig (£. barbatus Mull., Gray, 1954) are known.

The wild boar brings certain benefits by exterminating harmful insects and their larvae. However, this benefit outweighs the harm caused by the extermination of earthworms, which play a prominent role in soil formation, and by digging the soil. Sometimes entire hectares are “plowed up”, seedlings and young growth of trees are destroyed (Donaurov and Teplov, 1938), the integrity of the plant cover is damaged, and hayfields are spoiled. Wild pigs cause great harm to agricultural crops. Millet and corn crops are especially affected, sometimes completely destroyed. In hunting farms, wild boars can cause harm by destroying eggs and young birds. In Belovezhskaya Pushcha, there are even known cases of wild boars attacking young large animals.

Boar hunting

The most common methods of hunting wild boar are sneaking, stalking, hunting with dogs and rounding up.

Stealth is one of the most difficult ways to catch this animal. It is possible mainly only in those areas where wild boars are relatively little persecuted by humans and are grazed during daylight hours. They hide animals at feeding areas. The main attention should be paid to ensuring that the animal does not smell a person ahead of time; therefore, the approach should be made against the wind, and not vice versa. Hunter's clothes and shoes should not emit a strong odor. Strict observance of silence upon approach is also required; excessive camouflage is not necessary. When feeding calmly, the boar wags its tail all the time, but at the slightest anxiety and alertness of the animal, even if it continues to feed, the tail stops moving. Therefore, for a sneaking hunter, it is a sure indicator of the behavior of the animal, signaling the need to stop.

Watching for wild boars is carried out on crops and melon fields, where wild boars usually come at night. They also watch for them in feeding areas under fruit and nut trees or on paths leading from bedding areas to feeding areas, in places where animals roll in the mud. In all these cases, the hunter must choose a hiding place in the shelter of reeds, trees, large stones, etc., and always so that the wind blows not from him, but towards him. Since stalking hunting is carried out at night, the hunter must arrive at the hiding place before sunset. For obvious reasons, bright moonlit nights are chosen for hunting.

Hunting with dogs requires a significant number of the latter, moreover, well-trained and vicious ones. It consists in the fact that the unleashed dogs search for, stop and detain the wild boar until the hunter approaches. All that remains for the latter is to finish off the beast, sometimes with the help of a spear or dagger. Hounds are suitable for this hunt, but local mongrel, specially poisoned dogs are more often used. A good boar dog requires courage, viciousness and dexterity, the ability to grab the animal in places where it cannot reach with its fangs. A large percentage of dogs during these hunts die from the fangs of an angry beast. The hunter must also be careful when approaching an animal detained by dogs; the latter, seeing a man approaching directly, can rush at him, regardless of the dogs, and cripple him; Therefore, it is recommended to approach unnoticed from the side or behind.

Wild boar hunting can be very productive (Markov, 1932). In its technique, it differs little from round-up hunts for other large animals and consists in the fact that a group of beaters, surrounding a section of the forest, directs the animals to the line of shooters. And in this case, hunters must stand against the wind and maintain absolute silence. Both in the Caucasus and Central Asia, hunting wild boars on horseback is practiced. On a good horse, catching him is not difficult. It is only important to force the animal to go out into the open and cut off its retreat into thickets or rocky mountains.

Occasionally, they practice “combing” the reeds with a dog and shooting the animals that turn up. Other methods of catching wild boars (for example, catching with pits, mouths, etc.) are random in nature and large practical significance don't have.

Wild boar hunting involves known risks. There are no known cases of unprovoked attacks on humans, and even a wounded boar most often tries to hide. However, a wounded animal, and especially one enraged by dogs, can rush at the hunter and inflict severe injuries on him. Males deliver sharp short blows with their fangs from bottom to top. Females, on the contrary, try to knock down the enemy with a blow and then tear him with their teeth, like a dog. Males never do this. The best way to get rid of a boar's blow is to jump to the side or behind a tree; the animal rushes straight and, once missing, never returns.

Class - mammals

Infraclass - placental

Genus - pigs

Species – wild boar

Literature:

1. I.I. Sokolov "Fauna of the USSR, Hoofed Animals" Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 1959.

Fingerlings

They have a child's head shape, a short snout, small ears, covered with short stubble. Light spots are clearly visible on the head. The color of the body is striped, yellowish-brown, which lasts up to 5-6 months, completely disappears in August. The tail is short and thin, reaching mid-thigh. In winter attire, the body seems more powerful due to the regrown underfur. The legs are relatively short and covered dark hair. In good lighting and short distance at this time the tassel on the tail is already noticeable. In the illustration on the right, the letter A denotes a yearling at the age of 4 months, the letter B - 8 months.

Gilt

Next age class "pig." It is considered from one to 2 years. More precise definition no, since even boars a year older often look like a classic gilt. Due to the growing winter stubble, the head appears short and blunt, and childish forms completely disappear. The shape of the body becomes more powerful, especially in the front part. Light stripes are not visible. On the lips, a swelling is clearly visible, through which the tips of the lower fangs are visible. The ears are short and covered with powerful bristles. The tail is long, almost to the hock joint, with a tassel at the end. By December, the length of the lower canines is on average 116 mm. The width at the base is 19.0 mm, at the beginning of the section - 12.0 mm. Brandt number - 1.6 The girth of the upper canines is 54 mm. Average weight 38.0 kg. In the illustration on the left is a male, on the right is a female. The issue of weight is quite controversial. since it depends entirely either on the abundance of natural food or on appropriate feeding. For example, in the Moscow regional society fingerlings reach a weight of 41 kg. Thanks to abundant feeding, the weight of gilts is naturally much higher. At the same time, in societies where not everything is so prosperous, weight indicators are much lower. This example is given to emphasize the exceptional importance of winter feeding.

Dimensions and weight of the boar.

Currently in the river delta. Volga, according to A. A. Lavrovsky (1952), adult males sometimes weigh 250-270 kg. It is characteristic that at the end of the last century, when wild boar was intensively hunted in the Volga delta, the largest males there weighed only 12 pounds (192 kg, - HP), while most animals weighed 3-7 pounds (48-112 kg ) (I. Yavlensky, 1875). It should be noted that even in the 18th and 19th centuries, wild boars of larger sizes lived there. For example, P. S. Pallas (1786), speaking about Western Kazakhstan animals, notes that they were “extraordinary in size” and weighed up to “15 pounds” ( 240 kg). According to G.S. Karelin (1875), in the 40-50s of the 19th century, two wild boars were caught on the northern coast of the Caspian Sea, which allegedly weighed one 19 and the other 20 pounds (304 and 320 kg, - A.S. .). Archaeological finds also testify to the existence of very large wild boars in past centuries. For example, judging by materials from the Neolithic Mariupol burial ground (in the Azov region), wild boars living in the valley of the river. Mius, reached enormous sizes (the width of the lower fangs is up to 3 cm). According to Boplan, in the Dnieper valley in the 17th century there were wild boars of “monstrous growth.” Large boar sizes in the past are also confirmed by the finds of their remains in the peat bogs of the Kyiv and Zhitomir regions (I. G. Pidoplichko, 1951) - It is obvious that under the direct and indirect influence of anthropic factors, the wild boar has been crushed over the past centuries. It is interesting to note that during the same period, the reduction of bison, red deer, European roe deer and other animals was observed. The grinding of wild boars continues to this day, since in any area where they live one can hear stories from many hunters that they used to hunt larger animals than now.

In the river valley Syr Darya, according to N.A. Severtsov (1874), males aged 5-8 years weighed 8-10 pounds (128-160 kg) and very rarely up to 12 pounds (192 kg). According to many hunters I interviewed, in the 30s of this century on the Syr Darya, the maximum weight of wild boars they caught reached 240 kg. It is possible that there were larger boars here before. For example, Skorobogatov (1924), describing wild boar hunting in the south of modern Kazakhstan in the last century, wrote that “in the reeds there are wild boars, up to 20 pounds (320 kg). I myself once had to kill one that weighed 17 pounds (272 kg).” It is difficult to say how reliable this information is.

About the weight and body size of wild boars currently living in the lower reaches of the river. Or, one can judge from the data given in the table.

In this area, the 11 males studied, at least 5-6 years old, weighed (without stomach, intestines and blood) from 80 to 183 kg, and on average - 106.4 kg. If we assume that the filled stomach and intestines, as well as blood, all together weigh about 15-20 kg, the live weight of wild boars will vary from 95-100 to 200 kg and average 120-125 kg. In addition, I also examined several dozen cleavers, the live weight of which was approximately 80-150 kg. According to many hunters interviewed, in the lower reaches of the river. Or the maximum weight of gutted males very rarely reaches 205-220 kg; thus, their live weight was 220-240 kg. The weight of the eight gutted females varied from 49 to 80 kg, with an average of 68.7 kg. Consequently, their live weight ranged from 65-70 to 95-100 kg, but on average a female wild boar weighs about 83 kg. For example, two queens we caught in December had a live weight of one - 75, the second - 85 kg. Alive weight of adult Ili boars, kept in the Alma-Ata Zoo, the male had!

Table 1

Data on the size and weight of an adult wild boar in the lower reaches of the river. Or

Dimensions (cm)
Body length
Oblique torso length
Height at the withers
Height at the sacrum
Height to hock
Metacarpal height
Front leg height
up to the elbow
Tail length
Ear height
Head length
Bust
Carpal circumference
Weight (in kg)

142 n for a female - 118 kg. Based on the above data, we can conclude that currently, in the entire desert part of the wild boar’s range in Kazakhstan, the maximum weight of males reaches 220-240 g, females - 100-120 kg. Consequently, the boars living in this large area have more or less the same weight.

In the semi-desert zone on the lake. The male Kurgaldzhin wild boar, killed in November, weighed (gutted) 144 kg (live weight about 160 kg), and the second animal, killed in March (very thin), weighed 100 kg (live weight about 115). The cleaver caught near Biysk weighed about 150 kg.

Wild boars living in Western Europe and the European part of the Soviet Union also have similar weights to those given above for Kazakhstan. For example, in Germany the maximum weight of this animal reaches 150-200 kg (W. Haacke, 1901).

In the Latvian SSR, the largest animals also weigh up to 200 kg, and once an old cleaver weighing 236 kg was caught there (A.I. Kalnins, 1950). In “Belarus, in the Khoiniki region, an old male weighing 256 kg was killed in 1951 (I.N. Serzhanin, 1955). Two females from Belovezhskaya Pushcha at the age of 4-5 years weighed 84 and 96.4 kg (S.A. Severtsov and T.B. Sablina, 1953). In the Caucasus Nature Reserve, the weight of male boars now ranges from 64 to 178 kg, with an average of 166 kg (12 specimens each), females from 48 to 108, with an average of 68 kg ( S. S. Donaurov and V. P. Teplov, 1938), while in the time of N. Ya. Dinnik (1910) old male boars there weighed 240-255 kg and females - 120-145 kg.

Siberia in the last century most large boars weighed up to 240 kg and, as an exception, animals weighing 272 kg were encountered (A. Cherkasov, 1884). Very large wild boars live in the Soviet Far East. Weight Limit males there supposedly reach 300-320 kg (Yu. A. Liverovsky and Yu. A. Kolesnikov, 1949), and according to the latest data of V. P. Sysoev (1952) - only 200 kg.

The sizes of various parts of the body of an adult Kazakhstani wild boar and the characteristics of its physique can be judged from the data given in tables 1 and 2.

Body indices of the Kazakhstan wild boar from the lower reaches of the river. Or

Judging by the weight and size of adult wild boars, these animals have fairly well-defined sexual dimorphism. Males are larger than females.

Due to the fact that wild boars grow relatively slowly, they also have pronounced age dimorphism. Young animals under the age of 12 months are called piglets (among the Kazakhs - “ggurai>). The size and weight of piglets in winter at the age of 8-11 months can be judged from the data given in Table 3. Considering that the piglet has a full stomach and intestines, as well as blood, together weigh an average of 4 kg, its live weight at the age of 8- 11: months ranges from 21 to 30 for males and from 20 to 30 for females

Data on the size and weight of gilts and piglets in the lower reaches of the river. Or

Half a pig

Piglets

Dimensions (in cm)

Body length

Oblique torso length

Height at withers

Height at the sacrum

Height to hock joint

Front leg height to elbow

Tail length

Ear height

Carpal circumference

Weight (in kg)

1 Weight without stomach, intestinal tract and blood.

29 kg. Thus, by the age of one year, piglets reach only about 7% of the weight of an adult animal. Their body sizes increase much faster (see Table 3).

Between 12 and 23 months of age, young boars are called gilts.

The data in Table 3 give an idea of ​​their weight and size. Considering that a full stomach, intestines and blood of a gilt weigh on average about 10 kg, its live weight ranges from 25 to 54 kg for males and 35 to 44 kg for females. . According to hunters, there are male gilts weighing up to 60 kg. Hence, gilts weigh about half as much as adult boars. Our data on the weight of wild boars at different ages are also confirmed by materials from other authors. For example, according to V. Haacke (1901), the weight of wild boars living in Central Europe in the first year of life is 25-40, in the second 50-70, in the third 80-100, and in the fourth 100-185 kg. They believe that full height wild boars reach the age of 5 - 6 years. They live 20 - 30 years.

The weight of a gutted animal without stomach, intestines and blood.

In addition, on many farms there is a fine for shooting a pig, and the cleaver, with his characteristic caution, rarely goes out to the numbers, so it turns out that our animal is a wild boar for up to a year. And if we take into account the current prices for the production of ungulates, one elk “pulls” 6-8 wild boars, so after performing simple arithmetic operations, our company came to the conclusion that a dozen and a half, albeit less valuable trophies, are much nicer than the pair of elk that were originally “ included" in the "financial estimate" of our team.

The planned trip was not a weekend hunt, but five full hunting days; under certain circumstances, the trip could last a week, because in addition to wild boars, there was a desire to chase small game - a hare and a fox. So, in addition to a slug gun, they also needed a shotgun, but they were allowed to take only one thing - border and customs restrictions that were difficult to understand. The hunting area where the “big” hunt was to take place was already outside our new homeland, as they say now, in the near abroad. Considering our residence in the capital, we can say in the near future, since the distance to the hunting place was not at all critical, and taking into account the hunting conditions and the prices set, the extra hundred kilometers did not play a special role.

The difficulty, it turned out, was different. It was decided to go with smoothbore weapons. For someone who did not have a rifled barrel, this decision did not matter; others who were accustomed to using a carbine on game hunts were a little upset. But it would seem - a trifle, it doesn’t matter what kind of gun you’ll be on the show with, the main thing is that there is game. Taking a serious approach to the upcoming hunt, it turned out that this was not entirely true. Possible fines for a miss and a wounded person imposed a certain responsibility on the participants in the hunt for the accuracy of the shot. But sending a bullet, aiming correctly from a smooth-bore gun, is not a guarantee that it will definitely hit the target. Much depends not only on the characteristics of the gun, but also on the ammunition used, mainly on the design of the bullet used. And besides, the young wild boar is a small animal; in its winter tousled stubble it seems much larger than it really is, and a deviation of 20-30 cm - the usual spread of lead bullets, even with precise aiming, can leave the shooter without a trophy.

Therefore, before the trip, I, as having some experience in shooting, was instructed to select the appropriate cartridges for the upcoming hunting trip. The main requirement is clear, the most accurate shot. Of course, boar buckshot could solve all the problems, but the rules of driven hunts for ungulates require only a bullet cartridge.

Taking into account the above, the requirement for a bullet cartridge could be formulated according to the following points:1. Accuracy; 2. Sufficient stopping power; 3. Application in semi-automatic and double-barreled shotguns. Almost immediately, with some exceptions, cartridges with domestically produced bullets were rejected; not only the lead components of the bullets looked too makeshift, but also the plastic stabilizers and containers, if present, and the difference in weight, and sometimes in size, was not expected accurate shooting and stable hits.

Glavpatron - LLC "Cartridge Manufactory" offered cartridges with a 12-caliber bullet "Gualandi" (Italian company "Bashieri & Pellagri") weighing 32 g. Guaranteeing accuracy at 50 m of no more than 120 mm. Perhaps the results of the zeroing can be attributed to the characteristics of my gun or the skill of the shooter, but the spread of bullets turned out to be somewhat large. High accuracy was not possible with this bullet and using cartridges from other manufacturers. The light bullet 28.4 gr showed itself somewhat more reassuringly. BRENNEKE (brenneke) cartridge from Rottweil, but still I would like to have a slightly higher accuracy.

Azot Company, did not claim high accuracy of its bullets, but its “Tandem” and “Nitrogen” bullets fit within the stated 20 cm, which indicated the honesty of the manufacturer. As a backup option, I selected “Trio” cartridges, 3 lead balls (d=11.5mm) in a container (in 2 half-shells), covering a 50 m circle with a diameter of no more than 45 cm.

I really liked the dozen and a half cartridges given to me by the famous hunter writer Sergei Losev, equipped with a bullet designed by S.T. Mitichkina. There was only one drawback: after test shooting, there were only ten rounds left, which was clearly not enough for the upcoming hunt. It is a pity that this ammunition has not yet appeared on sale.

The well-known popular “POLEVA” bullets, Along with the most accurate shots, they suddenly gave such an inaccurate hit, which could only be explained by the low production standards of these sub-caliber bullets.

We admired the technical characteristics of the cartridge with the ZENIT bullet, with a fantastic ballistic coefficient - 4.7; having a dispersion diameter at a distance of 100 m - 10 cm. There was only one thing that upset me: these cartridges were never on sale. But the very design of the arrow-shaped bullet gave rise to the idea of ​​looking for similar bullet cartridges.

The search was successful. Cartridges from SAUVESTRE, almost completely coincided with the declared characteristics. Having minor differences in weight and characteristics, primarily the deformation of the bullet body when it hits an animal, the vertical deflection of the bullets was within 1-4 cm at a distance of up to 100 m from the aiming point, essentially a direct shot. The speed and energy of the bullet was more than enough not only for a young boar, but also for larger game. Depending on the weight and design, the speed and energy of the bullet were characterized by the manufacturer with the following parameters. See table (70 mm cartridge).

Distance speed, m/s.			Energy at a distance, J.
Slice	50 m	100 m	Slice	50 m	100 m
530-565	431-473	345-394	3062-3592	1951-2517	1250-1747

Cartridges loaded into a 76 mm case, such as “magnum” and “semi-magnum”, were superior in energy to a simple cartridge, depending on the firing distance from 30% to 70%.

This is how the company describes its new cartridge with a arrow-shaped bullet. The "BFS" ​​Sauvestre bullet is a two-piece arrow-bullet with a corrugated surface. The conceptually new bullet cartridge for shotguns, already used and appreciated by many hunters, was developed by the French engineer Jean-Claude Sauvestre.

The cartridge is intended for smooth-bore shotguns, both with and without choke constrictions. Its ballistic qualities come from the combination of a pointer with a very hard central core and an original container made of two annular halves that guarantee gas-tightness and flexible movement in the barrel. As soon as this part leaves the barrel, the ring halves will fall away from the bullet without disturbing its initial flight path. The BFS cartridge is safe to use and extremely comfortable to shoot.

Boar hunting is as exciting as it is dangerous. A wounded boar or a frightened female with young animals is deadly. An experienced hunter explains why it is worth risking your life. Every hunt has an ideal scenario. This is when everything goes as planned - and the animal runs out in the right place, and the hunter is always accurate, and the photo with the trophy then adorns the wall of your apartment or country house.

Driven wild boar hunting

For the most popular - driven - wild boar hunting, the ideal scenario is as follows.

In the fall, before the opening of the hunting season for ungulates, rangers travel around the grounds. They inspect the places where wild boars usually live. These are usually areas of the forest where animals feed. When traces of wild boars are found, you can set up a pen. Hunters, or as they are called in these cases - shooters (usually from six to twenty people), are located on one side of the forest in which the herd is found, and the beaters begin to make noise and move towards the shooters. The boars try to get away from danger and come to the line of shooters. Don't yawn here, because these seemingly bulky and clumsy animals actually run very fast.

In an ideal scenario, you raise your gun, shoot, and the trophy is yours. But in reality, things often happen completely differently. I will describe a few memorable cases.

• Tea with cognac and a herd of fingerlings

My friend, the hunter Gennady, stood at the number and was bored. There were 15 shooters on the clearing with an interval of 80-100 meters from each other. There were wild boars in the pen, a whole herd of young yearlings, along with a mother pig. It was strictly forbidden to shoot a pig, because in a year it would again bear offspring, and it would be possible to successfully hunt young animals again. Therefore, one had to be very careful and calm.

But the herd will only reach one shooter. In the best case, if he runs along the line of shooters for some time, then two or three hunters will be able to shoot. In this way, driven hunting is somewhat similar to roulette - one chance out of ten. On the previous hunt, Gennady took a wild boar, so the chances this time were (according to probability theory) minimal. The drive had just begun; the screams of the beaters and the barking of dogs could be heard in the distance. You can have time to drink hot tea from a thermos. The gun hung nearby on the branch of a spreading spruce tree, in the crown of which Gennady stood.

The screams and barks were getting closer, but the dogs were clearly moving away. “They pulled to the left,” the hunter thought, continuing to sip the aromatic drink, which, in addition to tea and lemon, also contained a fair amount of cognac.

At this time, an incomprehensible crackling sound was heard from the nearby underbrush on the side of the corral. From there, a huge pig flew out like a bullet and quickly rushed under the very spruce tree where the hunter had positioned himself so comfortably. Gennady didn’t have time to think anything before the pig knocked him down. After her, a dozen young of the year ran one after another. When the stomping and grunting of the fleeing animals ceased, Gennady slowly stood up. His back was covered in cold sweat. And this did not happen out of fear that the frightened boar could cripple or even take life with her fangs and hooves. He was afraid of what he would say to his hunting companions. Why didn't he shoot at the young of the year that ran right through him? “I’ll tell the truth,” he decided, and then the pops of shots were heard three hundred meters to his left. “That means there are two herds in the pen,” a thought flashed through the hunter’s head. This changed the situation. “Or maybe they won’t understand what happened to me here. If they get wild boars, they may not realize that there were two herds.” With such thoughts, the hunter picked up a thermos and a mug with the spilled remains of the ill-fated tea from the ground.

The incident is comical, but it could also become tragic. Wild boar hunting is quite serious and dangerous. You can't relax for a minute.

• Record cleaver

Another story happened in Ukraine, also with my friend - Alexander - and also on a driven hunt. The first pen was empty. In the second, Alexander went as a beater. The local huntsman Fyodor walked not far from him. The dogs, who also worked in the pen and “tightly” knew their job well, for some reason this time ran away in a completely different direction. Fedor, even before the hunt, said that a boar was roaming here, judging by the tracks, of unprecedented, fabulous size. “Exactly! The dogs got him! I guessed it from the barking. Let’s run there quickly, Sanya!”

A couple of times I had to stop to take a breath and listen more carefully to the dog barking, the sound of which was gradually approaching and turning to the left. “This cleaver didn’t go into the swamp. Walks along the edge of the forest. I know where he should go! Let's run quickly!" - Fyodor shouted quietly, and the hunters ran again through the autumn Ukrainian forest.

Then they saw a huge cleaver crossing the swamp to the friendly barking of dogs. Fyodor, raising his gun, rushed across the boar. Alexander stopped the huntsman. “I’ll take it myself,” he shouted and went towards the boar. Usually an animal, noticing a person, turns away. This one was crashing through the forest right at the hunter. “You won’t be able to kill such a boar even with a bullet,” thought Sasha and fired the first shot. The cleaver continued to walk, as if the bullet had passed by. “It’s impossible to miss from such a distance! Even with a hangover!” - Sasha pulled the shutter and fired another shot. After the second, the boar settled on its hind legs, but continued to move towards the hunter on its front legs. The distance was quickly closing. “God loves a trinity,” thought Sasha and fired another shot, aiming for the chest. The beast staggered, fell to his knees and fell onto his side with a deep sigh. The distance between him and the hunter was no longer more than four meters.

They managed to move the carcass only with the jeep's winch. Then ten of us barely dragged the animal into the back of the UAZ. After weighing, the boar turned out to be about 400 kg, and the trophy itself was the result of measuring the fangs, which resembled small mammoth tusks, and registering in the “ International Club Safari" (SCI), took first place in the world. Unfortunately, a larger specimen has now been obtained.

Boar hunting from a tower

Another way to hunt wild boar is from a tower. At first glance, she is less emotional and attractive, but she also has her advantages. Firstly, you can hunt alone, without a team and without beaters. The probability of catching an animal is almost one hundred percent, since the towers are located right next to the feeding areas, and the animals, if they are not disturbed by frequent hunts, visit such places regularly. In good farms, for example in Zavidovo, the rangers even know the number of pigs and the time (with an accuracy of fifteen minutes!) when the animals will arrive at the tower. This usually happens at dusk. Of course, on a tower, which is a miniature hut with a door and a loophole, located on strong pillars high above the ground (3-4 meters), hunting is practically safe for the shooter.

Once I was lucky enough to sit with a colleague on a tower in Zavidovo, however, without weapons, only with a camera. At the time indicated by the huntsman, a small boar - a scout - ran out of the forest onto the area in front of the tower. The youngster twirled around the area a bit, eating food, grunted something, and half a minute later the rest appeared. It was difficult to count the boars. We constantly got lost, but there were at least 35-40 animals. Fingerlings, gilts, females, medium-sized males.

But this is in Zavidovo. On simpler farms, animals go to the towers in smaller numbers and one at a time. Females with young animals, or single loppers. Old large boars are very careful (that’s why they lived to a ripe old age!) and usually come at night. It is difficult to hunt them; sometimes you have to sit for more than one night to no avail. The animal may approach, and, sensing a foreign smell, not approach the tower. You can simply “make some noise” by awkwardly turning around on the tower and creaking your seat, coughing, or dropping something. In low light conditions, you can simply smear or easily injure the animal. There are night vision scopes, but their use for hunting is prohibited.

Boar hunting on oats

Such wild boar hunting is successful in August. It also comes from a tower at the edge of a field of oats planted specifically for this purpose. The towers are equipped very simply. Most often this is a wide board, fixed in the crown of a tree at a height of 3-4 m. Sitting on a tower at the end of August, of course, is warmer than in late autumn or winter, but mosquitoes pester you, and you can’t move much. Naturally, you should not use ointments. By the way, at the same time bears also come out to the oat fields and are hunted in the same way. In the evening, and especially at night, it is difficult to understand who came out of the forest - a wild boar or a bear. The hunter hunts the “wrong animal.” This also risks paying a fine, or you need to stock up on licenses for both wild boar and bear.

Nikolay Kokoulin

Safety rules for wild boar hunting

• “Stand on the number” - the term refers to collective, “driven” hunts, where shooters stand motionless on the “shooting line”. The point of standing on the “number” is determined by the head of the hunt. Usually the duration of the drive does not exceed an hour.
• It is strictly forbidden to shoot along the line of shooters, but only at an angle of at least 15 degrees.
• Do not shoot at a poorly visible target. Otherwise, you may hit the beater or the dog.
• You can load a weapon only while standing already at the number, and immediately unload it after the end of the corral.
• It is strictly forbidden to leave the room until the hunt director removes you.
• Shoot only at animals that are being hunted.

Boar hunting prices

• Licenses to hunt fingerlings, gilts and adult boars have different prices.
  • hunting for yearling wild boar (young piglets of this year) - from 10-15,000 rubles;
  • hunting for gilt boar (young boars from last year's farrowing) - from 15-20,000 rubles;
  • hunting for wild boar (large male with tusks) - from 25-30,000 rubles and above!
• The most expensive are large “trophy” males - loppers. The meat of such specimens is most often not suitable for food. Hunting is carried out solely for the trophy qualities of the animal, in this case the tusks.
• Add to these prices the cost of huntsman service, accommodation and other services. However, the further the farm is located from the capital and the worse the infrastructure there, the lower the prices for trophies.