How to hunt in winter without a dog. Hunting a hare in winter: an overview of different methods

Hunting a hare from the approach requires certain skills, dexterity and experience in shooting this cunning animal, distinguished by its intelligence and constantly changing behavior patterns. To understand this, just watch a video illustrating this complex, but crazy exciting activity. The method is ideal for those who have not yet acquired a specially trained dog or enjoy long walks in the first snow. Its essence is to find the animal’s feeding area, scare it and hit it at the moment when it tries to hide.

The main difficulty of approach hunting is that the hunter must be well versed in the area and be familiar first-hand with the behavioral characteristics of his target. The task is significantly complicated by the fact that the hare notices a person before he himself comes into the latter’s field of vision. Secondly, the hunter should be prepared to walk for many hours in the snow. Sometimes you have to walk up to 20-30 kilometers in a day, which, taking into account the capricious autumn weather, requires stamina and good physical fitness.

Such an unfortunate circumstance as the lack of a sufficient amount of game in the hunting zone will make the outing ineffective, turning it into just a long walk, during which not a single shot will be fired. Successful hunting from the approach is greatly facilitated by a detailed study of the habits of the hare and typical places of its days. In order not to waste time, you can find video files in advance that capture the habits of the animal and the characteristic shelters of its daytime rest. However, only on personal experience you can feel the beauty of hunting from the approach and learn the intricacies of this matter.

When and where is hunting a hare from the approach effective?

The optimal period for approach hunting is considered to be the end of autumn - the very beginning of winter, when the ground is not yet covered with snow and raindrops from the branches force the animals to rest in open areas of the area. As a rule, hares lie in ditches surrounded by natural or artificial barriers, under uprooted snags and any structures where they can feel safe, having a clear view of the territory and remaining hidden from the eyes of predators and humans.

During a snowfall, hares do not hesitate to take cover under drifts. In places with difficult visibility, approach hunting is ineffective, since hares, especially if we're talking about about mature individuals, they are able to leave the feeding site quietly and disappear without attracting the attention of hunters. It is best to go for prey on a fine, bright day, as the animals will be more active and will not remain in shelter until the last minute, as happens during rain or snowfall. Most often, hare are located in meadows, harvested fields and clearings, where there are many potential shelters and a good view opens from any point.

It is customary to distinguish between day and night hunting. In the first case, it is advisable to go out at dawn, since at this time of year the duration of daylight hours is not long, and you need to cover huge areas. It is convenient to hunt at night if the first snow falls, since tracks of the animal become visible on the ground, based on the clarity of which one can make an accurate conclusion about the remoteness of the feeding site. However, it is difficult to find video recordings of night hunting, since poor lighting is not the best in the best possible way affects the quality of the recording.

Equipment and choice of weapons for hunting

Careful preparation and selection of equipment is of great importance for the success of a hunt. Considering the fact that hunting is carried out in late autumn or at the very beginning of winter, it is necessary to take care of the availability of comfortable camouflage clothing and waterproof shoes with high tops. Training videos usually show white robes, allowing you to blend into the surrounding landscape.

Equipment a hunter will need:

1. A well-aimed gun. Of primary importance is not so much the quality of the weapon and its ammunition, but rather the skill and reaction speed of the hunter;
2. Loot Bag;
3. Hunting knife;
4. Skis for moving on loose snow;
5. Goggles to protect your eyes from snow;
6. Video camera to capture the foray and take into account any mistakes made later.

Hunting on horseback is not so tiring and the hares let you get much closer. However, when moving on foot, the hunter can notice many more signs indicating the location of the bedding and more accurately determine the direction of movement. Be sure to take a thermos with hot drinks and packed lunches with you. Not only video reviews on the Internet, but even professional literature are silent about this, and after walking for half a day through the autumn forest, a person urgently needs support.

Approach hunting technique

The specificity of approach hunting is the need to read the hare's tracks and understand the animal's habits. Experienced hunters know that hares are quite smart and each individual reacts differently to approaching danger. If one takes off from lying down at the sight of people, then the other will hide, hoping to remain unnoticed until they literally step on him. To understand the intricacies of an animal’s behavior and instincts, it would be a good idea to first watch a training video, read literature and consult with professionals.

They begin the hunt by exploring the area. The hunter must have keen vision and distinguish the direction of movement of the animal, focusing on its tracks. The colder the weather during this period of autumn, the shorter the transitions are, which must be taken into account. Professionals, which is clearly visible on any video film, move in circles, slowly walking around the site. First of all, ditches and uneven ground are examined.

At the same time, the hunter must be prepared to instantly fire a shot, since the hare can literally jump out from under his feet. The most common mistake that even experienced hare hunters make is being too hasty. In an effort to hit the target, the hunter forgets that the most lethal distance is 20-30 meters and you can always give yourself a few seconds to aim without fuss.

Having noticed traces of an animal’s blood in the snow or a stray trail, which indicates its injury, you should become more active, remembering that now the hare will not be able to go further than 100-200 meters. It is much more difficult to shoot prey when it changes its resting place and hides. Merging with the surface of the earth, the hare is practically invisible to the eye and the hunter will need all his skill and luck.

Hares, especially hare, are very smart animals, fast and quick-witted. However, knowing their psychology, you can force even the most cautious and experienced ones to get out of bed. The most effective trick is to pretend that the hunter has spotted a hare. To do this, you need to, while moving along the loop of his tracks, at some point freeze and raise your gun. An animal watching a person from a hiding place will perceive this movement as if it had been noticed and will try to escape.

Hunting a hare from the approach is a very exciting activity, the success of which depends on a number of factors. Having acquired the necessary knowledge and experience, having learned to read the tracks of an animal and become familiar with its habits, the hunter will most likely be left with rich prey and will receive a lot of positive emotions. No matter how informative and educational books, notes and videos are, they cannot convey all the charm and excitement of approach hunting. Everyone should try this at least once, even if he is not an avid hunter.

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Comments

1. Timofey

   Anti-aircraft gunners!)))) Five shots is too much!) I go with MTs21-12, 3 shots is the limit. Two shots at the hare - a side dish of lead for the meat.

2. Anonymous

   I try to kill the hare with the first shot

3. Alexander

   I am from Kazakhstan and love hunting very much, but it so happened that there was no teacher, so we shoot from a car or a snowmobile.

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Hunting a hare in winter includes several hunting methods. It attracts both hunters - fans of sport hunting, and those who like to watch for their game in ambush. We will look at the most common ones below:

• hunting a hare from the approach
• rabbit hunting
• drive hunting
• coursing
• hare hunting with greyhounds

Hunting a hare from the approach

The most common and recognized hare hunting in winter is approach hunting. This hunt will be successful only if you take care in advance to choose a site where there are many hares. You should move with a gun at the ready to the hare’s favorite bedding areas, exclusively on the leeward side: to low fluffy fir trees, to juniper thickets, you also need to pay attention to fallen trees and grass on the outskirts of swamps or fields. The weather for this hunt is moderately humid, little windy, and mild. In such weather, the hare rests soundly while lying down, and since steps on the damp ground are practically inaudible, there is a large

the likelihood that you will remain invisible. You must always be ready to shoot, because the appearance of a hare often leaves you confused for a couple of seconds. He runs away very quickly, trying to move over rough terrain (bushes and grass) and therefore it is very difficult to shoot at him. The hare can reach speeds of up to sixty kilometers per hour. But if you throw the gun from your shoulder in time and manage to aim the bar at the “oblique” one, then the hunt should be crowned with haste, and a trophy is guaranteed. The most common hare shot is No. 1 or No. 2.

Hunting for a hare from ambush

Hare hunting in winter also includes the option of hunting from ambush. But this type of hunting is most suitable for those places where the hare population is large. Hares feed in stacks of straw, stay close to the barn, and during blizzards and blizzards they can arrange for themselves to lie down in the barn itself, covered with straw, or even under the barn itself. The shelter must be set up on the outskirts of the village; for convenience, it is better to build it in any abandoned barn or in the attic of a house, perhaps near a stack. Since the nights are very cold at this time, it is necessary to dress comfortably and warmly. Clothing will hinder some of your movements, but haste is inappropriate here - the animal will be passive, which will make aiming and shooting easier. Before dusk sets in, you need to hide in a shelter you have chosen in advance and wait. Hares generally emerge from their roosts at night and begin to wander in search of some kind of food source. Favorable conditions are considered to be a moonlit and cloudless night. A hunter needs to learn one most important rule: if you can’t see or barely see your target, don’t shoot. The eyes see worse in the twilight than during the day, and even in the moonlight the situation is not completely visible, so you can inadvertently shoot some village animals. And this, at a minimum, will darken your mood and ruin all the previous positive emotions from hunting. For the best result, you need to prepare an ambush in advance, preferably a couple or three days in advance. In a place more favorable for viewing, we place several sheaves of oats and dig it in with snow. The traces left behind must be covered with a homemade broom or branch. If it is noticeable that the hare periodically feeds near the threshing floor and other buildings, then it is even easier to create an ambush here - it will be placed against a wall or under a sweep of straw. In the steppe, hunters usually hide in a haystack, having previously laid out a cavity, to reduce the noise from the rustling of the straw. The blind must be arranged in such a way that the moon shines from the back and cannot interfere with the hunter’s view. If the hare is in an awkward position for shooting, you can whistle softly to force the hare to rise on its hind legs to improve shooting conditions.

Hunting for a hare by driving

There is also a collective method of hunting a hare - hunting a hare by driving. In this hunt, the more friends you gather, the more exciting and effective the hunt. The team is divided into beaters and shooters. On hare trails, arrows are placed in clearings or clearings. At this moment, the beaters, making noise, knocking branches, shouting, walk towards the shooters, thereby “pushing” the hares to their fighting positions. The hares try to keep the beater at a distance, but do not immediately jump out at the shooters. The hare will move to the sides, try to jump where the gaps between the shooters or beaters are large, so the beaters need to move with the same distance between each other, and the shooters need to keep their ears sharp. If the farm where you are going to hunt is rich in hares, drive hunting can be carried out by three people. It’s true that someone needs to know the hare holes and places well. One shooter is left on the hole, along which the hare will probably run, and two other hunters come from opposite sides, driving the hare towards the shooter.

Coursing

The beauty of hare hunting with hounds is very spectacular. Favorable weather for this type of hunting is 10 degrees and shallow snow. If the ground is frozen, the hound may become confused and lose the trail. And when the snow generally lies unevenly, only in places, this is the most inconvenient weather for hounds, since the trail is very quickly lost.

When hunting with hounds, you need to be quiet and observe your surroundings. As soon as the dog picks up the trail and begins to chase the hare, the hunter should listen and find the place where the hare began to run; most likely, he will run through the same path again. If you can’t find the place where the rut began, then estimate approximately where the hare will run, and wait for him on the way. The hare loves to go along paths and through bushes. The hare almost always walks slowly, far from the hound, but if the hounds are very aggressive and run quickly along the trail, then he runs away as fast as he can. In this situation, hare shooting becomes very professional and sporty. If the hare is coming at you, aim at the legs, if from the side, at the head or a little in front of it. If the target is difficult to see, do not shoot at it.

Hare hunting with greyhounds

Hare hunting with greyhounds consists of the following: hunters with dogs (on horseback or on foot) walk around a section of the steppe in a free search. A hare rises from under them. The greyhounds rush after him and catch the hare, grabbing him almost on the run. For such a hunt, you don’t have to take a gun. This is at personal discretion.

You can shoot a hare, and after it is wounded, the greyhounds will get it. It is better if there are two greyhounds: one chases the hare, the other runs across it. If there are more than three dogs, they should run with different agility, that is, at different speeds. Greyhounds must work together, not interfere with each other, be well trained, have good instincts and endurance. Dogs should not chase livestock and poultry. The greyhound must grab the hare as soon as it catches up with him. They should also not tear the caught hare, spoil the skin, or play with it, tearing it out of each other’s teeth. Dogs must be hardy. If an unprepared dog is immediately sent after a hare, it may become exhausted and stop working. Usually, for preparation, competitions are organized - greyhound racing.

Hare hunting in winter - great way test yourself for strength. This timid and harmless-looking animal will make you experience the whole gamut of experiences from mild excitement to the utmost intensity of emotions, and will not allow you to relax for a minute. Before you go hunting for prey, study its habits and characteristics.

Brief description of the species

The elongated slender body of the animal is covered with soft fluffy fur, changing color depending on the season. Small round eyes long ears, short tail, unevenly developed limbs - the hind legs are more powerful than the front ones. Body length is on average 45-70 cm.

They live both in pairs and alone. They reproduce quickly; a female can give birth 3-4 times in a year. Rabbits are born already developed, with a fur coat and with open eyes. The mother takes care of them for only a short time; she feeds them for no more than a week, so that a significant part of the offspring die from predators.

Hares have a sensitive sense of hearing and smell, but their eyesight is weak..

Favorite habitats are open forests, fresh clearings, bushes along river banks and ravines, deserts and steppes. They often settle in close proximity to humans, where they cause great damage to garden and vegetable crops. In nature, they do not build special dwellings for themselves, but use natural shelters under the rubble of branches, in holes and ravines. Sometimes they live in abandoned holes of foxes and other animals. They feed at twilight and at night, hiding from prying eyes during the day.

Allowed hunting periods

To hunt on public lands, you must contact the Department of Hunting that controls this territory. There, based on your application and verification of documents, you will be issued a permit for the extraction of hunting resources (voucher) indicating the dates of the hunt. It is allowed to hunt hare from mid-September until February 28. Private hunting farms on their territories may regulate other hunting conditions - at the same time as obtaining permission, they offer related services, such as escort by huntsmen, cutting up harvested carcasses, providing overnight accommodations, etc. Obtaining a permit from private organizations is usually several orders of magnitude more expensive than a permit to hunt in public lands.

When going hunting, be sure to have a hunting license and permits with you.

How do they hunt a hare?

There are several classic types of hare hunting:

1. Collective– a corral, when participants are divided into shooters and beaters and each performs its own function. It’s an exciting activity, but it requires a lot of discipline because it’s not safe.
2. Trapping– this requires a lot of experience and knowledge of the animal’s habits. Hares are very careful and cunning animals; they know how to confuse their tracks, and they do this deliberately. It’s difficult for a beginner to understand their intricacies, but at some point you have to start. Listen to the advice of experienced people, study the theory, use your powers of observation and over time you will be able to understand all the subtleties.
3. From the approach– the hunter’s task is to find the animal’s resting place and approach it within shooting distance. Used when it is impossible to calculate prey from tracks. Only a truly passionate hunter is ready to walk tens of kilometers off-road for the sake of a trophy.
4. In the Uzerka– when the bunnies have already changed their summer color to winter, and the oncoming thaw has driven the snow away from the fields, a short period of exciting hunting begins, based on looking out for animals in a light fur coat against a dark background.
5. Out of hiding– this method involves determining where the hare is feeding and waiting for them to come out of the shelter to feed. This type of hunting is most successful on bright moonlit nights.

Let's take a closer look at how hunting is done from the approach, since this is the method most often used.

Winter hunting from the approach

It is carried out both with dogs and without. If you have good trained dogs, and the snow is not covered with a thin crust that cuts their paws, then be sure to take them with you. They will greatly simplify your task of detecting a hare's bed and raising it at your command.

If the snow is bad, then better than dogs leave home and hunt on your own.

Your task is to find the place where the bunny is hiding, pick it up and have time to make an aimed shot. It is easier to find the hare in open clearings with hillocks and ravines, among dead grasses and shrubs. The white hare hides in more forested areas. A well-prepared hunter must study the area in advance and find out the approximate habitats of the hare.

Hunting in winter from the approach will be successful only if:

• the number of hares is quite high;
• you have good physical fitness and endurance;
• you have excellent shooting accuracy;
• you know the habits of hares and know how to correctly decipher the tracks;
• you have good equipment, comfortable and warm clothes;
• you are passionate and persistent.

You will have to walk a lot and for a long time, a lot of disappointments await you when, after a difficult approach through snowy rough terrain, you do not find the desired animal. You shouldn't be upset. Rest for a while, set your next goal and move in that direction.

In order not to waste time and effort in vain, you first need to determine possible lying areas. As you know, hares always try to confuse the trail, for which they can change direction, make discounts by jumping to the side at a decent distance. It is in places where the tracks begin to meander and get lost that you should pay closer attention and be prepared for the fact that at any moment a bunny will jump out very close, even from the side where you did not expect to see it at all.

During the day, hares choose a place to hide with good review, so there is very little chance of approaching unnoticed. And even when you pass very close, the hare can simply hide and not come out of hiding until the last moment. Especially if the weather is windy or cloudy with snowfall. For approach hunting, it is better to choose clear and quiet days with little frost. If the temperature drops below 15 degrees, then it is almost impossible to raise a hare from its bed, and the hunter himself will be too uncomfortable on such a day. However, the luck factor plays a big role in such a hunt. A lucky hunter can take a hare in any weather.

Secrets of successful hare shooting

In open areas, the hunter has a better chance of getting a successful shot. Success depends on his endurance and ability to correctly assess the distance to the target, the aiming point and the lethality of the gun.

The aiming point depends on the position of the hare relative to the hunter. When aiming, the person running away is covered with the barrel, the person running on the counter is targeted under the front paws, and the person running from the side is aimed right in front of the chest.

If the hunt takes place in the forest and visibility is limited, then the hunter must have excellent reaction time in order not to miss the opportunity until the target disappears from sight again. Moreover, excessive haste is also harmful.

Shooting from a distance of less than twenty steps and more than fifty is also not recommended, as it is more difficult to ensure accuracy and you can either release the wounded animal or ruin the skin. When hunting with dogs, you can try to hit the target from a greater distance, because your four-legged friends will help you catch up with the wounded animal.

The choice of weapons for shooting a hare is limited to double-barreled models of 12-16 caliber and self-loading ones.

Single-barreled ones are not suitable, since there will be no time to reload, and carbines with optics are prohibited for use when hunting hares.

The hare is not particularly strong when wounded, but shot that is too small for its slaughter is not suitable. Each hunter individually decides the question of what shot to shoot; most often they use shot from 0 to 5 numbers.

Train as often as possible, study the capabilities of your gun in terms of firing strength, shot accuracy and aiming, and you will have your own secrets of successful hunting.

It is not only sporting interest and the desire to test their capabilities that drive game lovers out of their homes. Hare meat is a real delicacy, and the catch will delight not only you, but the whole family.

Hunting for hare or hare is a sporting and gambling hobby that helps you actively relax in nature and maintain good health. physical fitness. Knowing how to hunt a hare, you can usefully spend free time and provide yourself with dietary meat and fluffy fur. The hare is quite widespread and is hunted often and everywhere. Another important factor is that when hunting this animal, as a rule, no additional permission is required, with the exception of a noose for a white hare.

Hare as a hunting object

There are several species in the hare family, the main ones - the hare and the hare - differ from each other in habitat, lifestyle and some biological characteristics. When choosing a way to catch a hare, you need to understand what its habitat is. White hare - lives in the forest, where he finds food for himself: grass, sedge, tree leaves, twigs, tree bark. The hare is the largest representative of the family; it leads a sedentary lifestyle in open places: fields, meadows, and steppes. Hunting for hare, as an inhabitant of open spaces, is of greater interest. Looking for food, it often runs into gardens, where it gnaws the bark of fruit trees, eats cereals and digs up winter seedlings in winter, causing significant damage.

You need to choose how to hunt a hare based on your capabilities, preferences and weather conditions. Hunting is divided into species:

• from the approach– requires knowledge of the terrain and the ability to travel off-road for a long time;
• on the Uzerka– late autumn, when the animal, which has lightened for winter, is clearly visible;
• trailing– in the footsteps of a hare, after freshly fallen snow;
• from hiding- at night, on the full moon;
• paddock– one group of hunters drives the prey towards another;
• with dogs– the most spectacular and exciting types of hunting.

If there is no gun and hunting dogs, then various devices, both factory-made and home-made, are used to hunt hare or hare. However, it is necessary to take into account changes in legislative acts that may impose restrictions on the use of certain methods of hunting and trapping. The best traps for hare are snares and snares.

Hare hunting with hounds and greyhounds

Hunting for hare is in itself a very exciting activity. The hare is a cunning, fast and cautious animal, so it is often difficult to approach it with a gun at the optimal distance for a shot. In this case, our friends – dogs – come to the rescue. For this purpose, the following breeds are used: hounds - Anglo-Russian, Russian piebald, Estonian and greyhounds - Russian canine, Hortaya, greyhound.

The peculiarity of hare hunting with hounds is that the hunter needs to constantly interact with the dogs: click and encourage. The hound's job is to pick up the hare and drive it out into the open, after which it's up to the hunter. The advantage of dogs of this breed is that they can pursue prey for a long time. And thanks to their relatively small size, these dogs are easier to maintain and transport.

In addition to hunting a hare with hounds, catching a hare with other dogs - greyhounds - is no less interesting. This is a single catcher, but for real hunting it is advisable to have at least a small pack of 2-3 dogs. Unlike hounds, hunting a hare with greyhounds has its own characteristics: the dogs chase the prey silently, and when they catch it, they grab it and strangle it without damaging the skin. Another nuance - as a rule, fishing is carried out without the use of weapons: this breed is itself a “running gun”. Essentially, a greyhound dog frees the hunter from many actions, which is why hare hunting with greyhounds is called “royal” or “lazy”. A limitation for such a hunt is unfavorable weather conditions for dogs.

In addition to the methods listed above, hunting for hare or hare can be combined - with the simultaneous involvement of different hunting dogs. In this case, the hounds chase the hare along the trail and drive it out to the hunters, who are waiting for the prey with the greyhounds. The hunter either shoots or releases the greyhounds: if they miss or are wounded, the dogs will quickly catch up and take the animal.

Although hunting hares with hounds and greyhounds is much more productive, it is not always and not possible everywhere. However, hare fishing with dogs is still popular and in demand at different times of the year. This fishing without weapons is allowed from September 1, and with weapons - from September 15.

Features of hare hunting in winter

With the fall of snow comes a difficult, but most interesting time for hunting animals. By this time, the hare becomes significantly lighter, but never becomes completely white, making it quite visible in the snow. Therefore, hunting a hare in winter, when it also leaves noticeable tracks on the snow cover, is especially interesting. However, it is necessary to prepare equipment for it more carefully so that it is not only comfortable, but also designed for cold weather.

You need to follow the trail of a hare in the snow to the side so as not to trample the path. The animal often uses various tricks to confuse pursuers:

1. Returns to the path and changes direction.
2. Makes loops of different sizes in the snow.
3. Returns for the day following in the footsteps of other hares.

Knowing the habits of the animal at this time, it is easy to construct an algorithm for how to catch a hare at this time. Winter roosts are often located near food sources. While the snow cover is low and loose, the hare feeds on winter crops. On a snow-covered field, an animal's resting position can be identified by a mound of discarded snow. When there is an abundance of high crust, it moves into gardens, forest belts and the edges of forests. It is easiest to track him early in the morning, in the powder, when the hare trail is clearly visible. During the cold winter season, the following methods of hunting animals are mainly practiced:

• roundup or drive;
• with hound dogs;
• various traps.

A roundup or drive in winter differs little from this method of extraction at other times of the year. But hunting a hare in winter with dogs has some limitations: heavy snowfall, frosts below 20 degrees, the presence of crust, ice and too deep snow are unfavorable for the successful work of hunting dogs. The most common hunting for a hare in winter is with hounds, which, due to their constitution, move more easily through the snow than other hunting dogs. To achieve success in winter, you need to prepare your dog well. Ideal conditions for hunting hare in winter with hounds - wet weather in the morning hours, with some freshly fallen snow.

How to put loops on hares?

Hunting a hare with snares or snares is especially successful in the snow in late autumn or winter. During the day, the animal moves along one route: from its resting place to its feeding place. Well-trodden hare paths that stand out in the snow are an ideal place for setting traps.

The simplest hunting device - a hare noose - is not permitted everywhere, but only in certain regions. In addition, there is a standard for the technical characteristics of popular traps: it is allowed to use loops made of single-core wire with a thickness of up to 0.8 mm and a length of up to 80 cm, with a loop opening up to a diameter of 24 cm.

Loops for hares are made various materials: hemp, bast, horse mane, soft metal wire, or thick nylon cord. We must not forget that the loop should have the same smell familiar to the animal as the surrounding objects. When in stock required material, it's easy to figure out How do loop on hare:

1. Twist a ~7 mm ring on one side of the wire.
2. Thread the other end of the wire into it.
3. You will get a loop with a circumference of about 20 cm.

When making a loop for a hare, it is necessary to take into account that it is advisable to install at least 7 such devices, keeping a distance between them of about 4 meters - therefore, it is advisable to make the required number of devices at once.

Some important points in question how to put loops on a hare:

• trap camouflage is required natural materials(foliage, branches);
• maintaining the distance of the loop from the ground or snow cover: from 5 to 10 cm;
• Snares are not placed in areas where hunting with dogs is possible.

When the hare traps are made, all that remains is to choose a place and place them. Typically, installation is carried out on paths that run through dense bushes and small trees. If this happens in winter, then a snare on a ski track parallel to the path will not interfere.

Installation of traps for hares

Another trap for a hare is a trap, which, unlike a noose, is allowed in most regions. When catching animals, crushing, hanging, tracking or pinching traps are used. The first - using a heavy stone - is the most traumatic and spoils the animal’s skin. The second is similar to a loop trap.

When installing a hanging trap on a hare, the loop is attached to a branch at the height of the animal's head. Its free end is fixed to a young tree or strong branch, to the end of which a bar with a notch is wound. The branch is bent to the ground and attached to a similar bar fixed in the ground. As soon as the animal gets into the loop, it knocks down the block - the trap for the hare is triggered - the branch straightens, and the prey hangs in the loop.

Winter hare hunting

But winter hare hunting much more difficult than summer! What is the reason for the “complications”? Of course, the fact is that moving through snowdrifts at sub-zero temperatures is much more difficult than “jumping over bumps” in the middle of autumn.

In winter, the hare becomes a real “conspirator”!

It is precisely his amazing ability to camouflage himself well in winter period is the main difficult factor for hunting a hare in the snow, on which its tracks seem to be so clearly visible.

What you need to know when going to recreation centers for winter hunting in central Russia and expecting success?

Hunting is a small war against the beast. And in it, the one who has chosen the right strategy for himself and managed to turn the animal behavior patterns known to every good hunter against the “eared enemy” returns with prey.

Let's start with the fact that hares are bad at playing hide and seek. Their habits are such that, sensing danger, they simply try to run away from it, which compensates the hunter for the “virtual invisibility” of the brown hare when hunting in the snow.

But tracking down the “oblique” one is really difficult. Therefore, for effective surveillance, hunting masters advise going on a “winter adventure with a gun” not alone, but in a group, with several wide-eyed assistants.

What is optimal weather for hare hunting?

Experienced hunters say that correctly “guessing the weather in central Russia” is 40% successful. It is good to go hare hunting when the temperature ranges from -2 to -15º. And lower temperatures:

• impair a person's attentiveness
• increase the intensity of the hunt
• reduce the pleasure you get from it

Besides this! In extreme cold, the beast does not allow us to get as close to ourselves as we would like. Therefore, it is best to choose the moment when the recently fallen snow begins to melt.

Having managed to “change clothes”, the hare will be clearly visible on the wet ground!

The hunter should also take care of clothing; when going to recreation centers with a gun, he must clearly understand that hunting a hare in the snow will definitely take more than one hour. Equipment must be warm and of high quality.

Are there " ideal places"for hunting a hare?

Professionals who have a lot of “skin” on their “balance” - people who are able to chase two birds with one stone and catch three, testify to the fact that the best places for hunting this animal in the winter in central Russia are:

• reclamation ditches
• meadows with copses
• hayfields
• and, of course, arable fields

After all, it is there that the hares go to “profit” from the remains of unharvested vegetables.

Hares are very fond of open areas, which are replete with small shelters.

In an effort to catch a fresh scent in these places, hare catchers go hunting early in the morning. They know that it’s just great if it snowed at night, on which the tracks of the animal will definitely be “repelled”, allowing them to count on a successful hunt for a hare in the snow.

Strategies for successful winter hare hunting

• Start making a detour not through the field, but around it.
• Did you notice the trail? Only an amateur will go “directly”, following the trail. Move nearby, nearby.
• Are there three of you? Determine which of you will play the role of a beater in this winter hare hunt, and which will become a shooter?
• Look with all your eyes! A trained look around allows you to recognize the secluded places of the “hare’s bed”, its “secret hiding places”.

How does the hare go? What are his key habits?

Its course forms a kind of “arc”, laid in a wide variety of ways. An experienced hunter, having noticed that a hare has passed at least once twice in the same place, immediately understands that the animal is nearby and the hunt may well take place.

Important! Once you realize that the beast is close, don’t even think about stopping. Continue to walk slowly, because the hare may perceive your stop as a threat to its safety!

• Keep your gun ready, knowing that the scythe can literally jump out from under your feet.
• Continuously look around, tracing a circle/semicircle with your gaze, carefully studying the space around you. However, keep in mind the fact that the key to a good hare hunt is a good reaction from the hunter. After all, the rise of the beast will be unexpected, sharp, noisy, giving only half a second to shoot.

The target, as a rule, will be 10-15 meters away from you!

The mistake of many novice hunters is to rush to shoot at the moment when the hare finally appears. Shouting “Well, wait a minute!”, of course, is unnecessary, but taking good aim, realizing that there will be no second attempt, is quite reasonable... Otherwise, you will have to look for a “new hare.”

Give the hare a good “round-up” - This is the name of the method in which the beaters direct the target closer to the shooters, blocking the hare’s escape route during the winter hunt.

There may be a “reliable trap” - Using technical devices of handicraft (and factory) production when hunting in winter, in general, is not forbidden. But is the game worth the candle? After all, having driven an animal into a trap, you can get the carcass of a killed animal, but you are unlikely to experience the excitement of the hunt and the joy of a well-aimed shot. However, everyone chooses the “hunting format” for themselves!

Take the brown hare in a noose! Its use is not permitted everywhere. But, if you use it, we recommend that you “adopt” a soft loop, because when using a hard “structure” there is a high probability that the animal may break out.

Are you going hunting with dogs? This is separate and very beautiful story, in which there is a confrontation not only between man and beast, but also one beast against another. Such a trip can bring wonderful results.

Where to go for winter hunting? Where to go?

You can find a suitable recreation center yourself. Or you can turn to the services of Nabazu.ru specialists who will help you decide on a suitable location in the region you are interested in.