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 incredibly 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 the moment 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 through personal experience can one experience the beauty of approach hunting 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 are talking about mature individuals, are able to leave the feeding area 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 is not long, and you need to go around huge areas. It is convenient to hunt at night if the first snow falls, since the 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 a video recording of a night hunt, since poor lighting does not have the best effect on 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 in 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, 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 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’m 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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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 its amazing ability to camouflage itself well in winter that is the main difficult factor for hunting a hare in the snow, on which its tracks would 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! 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” to hunt brown hare?

Professionals who have a lot of “skins” on their “balance sheet” - people who are able to chase two birds with one stone and catch three, testify 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 follow the trail “directly”. 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 a 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.

This type of leisure activity is popular among those hunters who know how to read hare tracks. Although hunting a hare in winter is a very entertaining process, it is not as simple and productive for trophies as it may seem to beginners.

For most people who like to hunt with a gun, tracking down hare is practically the only available way to get game in the winter. The main role here is played by the recognition of hare prints, which are very diverse in nature.

The trophy is certainly important - you can easily find many ways to prepare and use it, as well as dishes that are prepared from hare meat. But a real hunter is interested in the process itself.

Hare hunting in winter is not always carried out under favorable conditions. It is very complex and requires the development of intellectual skills - knowledge of animal habits, good and quick reading of tracks. The campaign is ideal at a temperature of about 2 degrees below zero, no wind and snow that has fallen in the evening (Figure 1).

It is most difficult to implement the plan in severe frost and biting wind. The situation is also bad during powdering and in blacktops, when paw marks are almost invisible.

In the absence of fresh snow in the morning, animals are reluctant to get up from their beds and leave short tracks.

Hunting a hare with a dog in winter is especially popular, but it has its own clear rules about where to look for prey:

1. The optimal time for it is black trail or the first snow that falls.
2. On the fresh crust, an alarmed bunny rises like a dog from his bed and runs around it until the hunter fires a shot.
3. During the thaw, the four-legged assistant also finds a resting place where the target hides, pressing tightly to the ground so that it can be approached for a volley.
4. It is worth remembering that there is not the slightest point in searching the same places, since the animals are constantly changing their feeding and bedding areas.
5. When the weather is damp, they go to higher ground, and when it’s dry outside, they hide in the lowlands.

Figure 1. Winter hare hunting

The most important thing is to obtain a shooting license, so as not to later pay a fine for illegal actions. If we talk about choosing an assistant, then representatives of hound breeds will best cope with this task.

Let's look at what their strengths are so that winter hare hunting with hounds is successful:

1. First of all, dogs need to be trained and constantly given opportunities to practice.
2. They need to be taught that if during the process they see the same fox, they should not switch to it from the previous task.
3. You also need to give them a taste of hare meat so that they develop an interest in this game; without it, the cunning animal will easily slow down the pace of pursuit and disappear from view.
4. More strict training is needed if dogs work not only with small fur-bearing animals, but also with other animals.

Hare hunting in winter with hounds is carried out as follows: representatives of the breed, as a rule, already know their tracks and follow them well. They vocalize as soon as they come across hare prints, letting the owner know about their location. Hiding from them, the game runs in a circle and returns to its previous position, where a loaded gun is waiting for it.

From the approach

Hare hunting is carried out in winter from the approach before the first snow falls or after the absence of powder for a long enough time so that the hare is clearly visible. You should be prepared for the fact that this method will require a lot of patience and endurance from you (Figure 2).

Hunting a hare in winter from the approach has three extremely important conditions:

1. The presence of a large number of animals in relatively open areas- if there are few of them, it will turn into fruitless wandering through meadows, fields and clearings, reducing all chances of raising game to zero, and in a poorly visible area where there are weeds and bushes, small animals are almost impossible to detect.
2. Knowledge of animal resting places where they rest for the day- although these cute creatures settle down to rest almost anywhere, where they are reliably hidden and can easily escape when danger approaches, it is worth giving preference to areas of land untouched by the plow near large stones, individual bushes, ditches and holes near pillars, clearings with piles of brushwood and fallen tree tops .
3. The endurance and strong legs of the hunter himself- you will have to walk a lot off-road, leaving up to ten kilometers behind, until you pick up the scythe and get closer to him to shoot him.

Figure 2. Hunting from the approach

Such an event is very exhausting and keeps you in constant tension. Its significant disadvantage is that, even after spending the whole day, you can return home empty-handed.

Trapping

This method is used after powdering or when strong drifting snow has hidden old animal tracks. Winter hare hunting by tracking is good because it reduces the hunter's adventures to a minimum, guaranteeing him more likely success.

Having found a fresh malik, you need to follow the animal along it to its resting place, pick it up and immediately put it down with an accurate shot. Good endurance and openness, a wide view of the hunting grounds are also important here. In addition, it is necessary to understand the intricacy of prints left by hare's feet, and their numbers can be very high (Figure 3).

It is worth considering that each individual covers a considerable distance in circles during one night and it will be easier to find its little one than its owner. But you only need to follow the morning tracks, or, in extreme cases, the night tracks left by the animal when it left the shelter and went to feed at night. It’s worth choosing the freshest malik and following its route; sooner or later it will lead you to the oblique, which in any case is located somewhere nearby.

On trails left by game, it is also possible to hunt a hare with a loop in winter:

1. The best place to set the trap is in a ditch or a fallen tree on the trail.
2. The free end of the loop is attached to a tree or bush using a belt or cord, and twigs are stuck into the snow around it, on which it is stretched.
3. Such a trap is placed at the level of the hare's head, about 10 cm from the ground, the diameter of the noose is about 20 cm and the same length is left for fastenings.
4. To camouflage the loops, they use a ski track, hiding the trap under a ski trail on an already beaten path.
5. Up to 10 pieces of loops are installed at a time to increase the likelihood of getting caught obliquely - they are left for a couple of days, especially if the installation was carried out without ski tracks.

Figure 3. Obtaining a trophy by tracking

At first, the hare is cautious and does not approach the trap at first, but then it gets used to the situation and gets caught, which makes this method one of the most productive.

In the Uzerka

This method is applicable for a very short time, when a thaw sets in or the winter turns out to be snowless (Figure 4).

This winter hare hunt is entirely based on the habits of the obliques:

• In frosty weather, the animals lie tightly pressed to the ground in their thickets;
• When the snow and ice melt or there is heavy rain, drops begin to fall from the branches, which drive the hares out of their hiding places;
• They go to the clearings, fields and edges adjacent to the forest, since they cannot stand raindrops;
• In open areas, it is much easier to hit the animal, which makes it easier to shoot at it, although the same hare is not easy to spot because of its fur, faded in the cold, which blends into the snowless landscape.

Figure 4. Tracking a hare by its tracks

Out of hiding

For those who like to hunt at night and have the proper patience, hunting a hare without a dog in winter from an ambush is perfect. For this purpose, a moonlit and bright night is chosen and a place where the animals go to feed in abundant quantities. They come to stacks, haystacks, and fields with crop residues, where they can find some kind of food (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Ambushing a hare

In the evening, the hunter chooses a position where he can sit comfortably for a long time and then make a successful shot. As a rule, animals reveal themselves by a characteristic noise, which is clearly audible when the snow is covered with crust and the grass and leaves covering the ground have already frozen.

It is very difficult to hit such a fast target, since it is very difficult to see the outlines of the oblique and not confuse them with a shadow or a domestic cat. Therefore, the method is rarely extractable and very unique, requiring absolute silence.

For such a winter hare hunt to be successful, you should follow these rules:

1. Choose cover so that the hare's stitch goes towards it and the shadow of the animal does not prevent you from making an accurate shot.
2. While in an ambush, you should absolutely not make noise, move suddenly, or smoke.
3. You need to raise the gun at the moment when potential prey begins to eat complementary food - apple tree branches, hay or cabbage.
4. In order not to get caught in the shadow, it is worth remembering that the silhouette of the animal will always be lighter than its projection in the snow.
5. To shoot in the back, they aim at the front of the body, and if the prey senses danger and begins to run, shots are fired at the tips of its ears.
6. When the target panics and rushes towards you in a panic, the volley is fired at the front paws.

Hunting a hare in winter along the black trail

If hunters decide to hunt along the black trail, they most often target hare, since tracking the hare is very difficult due to its careful tangling of its tracks and its white skin blending into the landscape (Figure 6).

Figure 5. Hare hunting along the black trail

As a rule, this is a hare hunt with a dog in winter:

• It also requires silence and extreme concentration, the ability to shoot on time;
• A large company of 5-7 people takes part in the action, which is divided into shooters and beaters with hounds;
• For this, large areas with hare stitches trampled on the ground are selected;
• When a fresh malik is discovered, the dogs are lowered along it and they silently lead to the prey, giving voice only when it is discovered.

Hare hunting in a very snowy winter

During heavy snowfalls, the animals become more cautious, so it is very difficult to hit them. They hide well and do not give themselves away under any circumstances. Hunting a hare with a dog in winter at this time is also very difficult, due to the fact that it will be difficult for the dog to chase prey in deep snow, and the hunter himself cannot do without skis or snowshoes.

As the hare hunt in winter 2018 video shows, the event in snowy weather is best started early in the morning. At dawn, scythes like to go out to feed, experiencing virtually no danger.

From this moment on, you can monitor the behavior of the animals, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, hiding behind the nearest snow-covered tree or bush, or large snowdrift.

Since animals become more cautious during snowfalls, the best places to search for them will be fields and plowed fields, where they will try to lie down in ditches or hide in loose snow.

Selection of equipment for winter hare hunting

Preparation for the event deserves special attention. Winter hare hunting requires special equipment and warm clothing that does not restrict movement. It is best to place some additional warm clothes and equipment in a backpack, and put on overalls to protect your lower back from the cold. In addition to clothes, you should take with you a first aid kit, a thermos and a flashlight, a folding chair and, if necessary, a newspaper for lighting a fire.

Hunting a hare with small animals in winter also has its own characteristics:

1. Small guns are suitable for distances of no more than 70 m; it is better if it is a simple double-barreled shotgun of 12-16 caliber, since a single-shot gun will be ineffective.
2. The ideal distance to the target is 15-20 m, so the shot for shooting from long distances with long-range cartridges is all numbers from 1 to 0.
3. When shooting from 30-40 m, choose standard cartridges with shot sizes 2 and 3; from 25 m, you can use No. 4.
4. If the temperature is below 15 degrees, shoot bullets with felt or wood-fiber wads.
5. Long-range cartridges are loaded into plastic bags or containers with dry potato flour, after which they are taken out on the spot and carried in a closed bandoleer.
6. When using rifled weapons on individuals weighing more than 4 kg, the main requirement is that it can hit the target in a range of up to 300 m.

Hunting a hare with a bow in winter, as the first winter campaign, is a very difficult task in terms of finding and killing game, since it is not difficult to track it. Problems arise with the actual shooting of the gun, since the waxed bowstring becomes woody in severe frosts, and the moisture accumulated in the blocks jams them.

Most hunters almost immediately abandon this idea, since preparing archery equipment will take a lot of time, and the event itself will be unpleasant and unlikely to bring any prey.

Russian hunters have long been especially fond of hunting hares, because they are widespread in forests throughout almost the entire country. As a rule, beginners believe that hunting a hare is much easier than challenging a boar or a wolf, but in reality this is not at all the case. The hunter will need certain knowledge and skills, as well as stamina and attention.

Peculiarities of behavior of hares

The caution of these animals is one of the main problems when hunting a hare. Professionals act as carefully as possible, approaching only from the leeward side, otherwise the animal will most likely sense the approaching danger. The fact is that hares often rest on their beds with their muzzles turned against the wind so that the wind does not blow against their fur.

These animals are excellent at confusing their own tracks and throwing off their pursuers. Having caught the hare by surprise, the hunter must shoot for sure, because he most likely will not have a second chance. When a hare runs away, it can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h and calmly get lost in the forest.

Types and habitat of hares

There are two main species of hares living in Russia - hare and white hare. The former prefer to live in areas with complex terrain, places with small ravines and tall grass. Often the hare can be found in an open field. Snowshoe hares prefer wooded areas, as there is a lot of vegetation in the forest and it is easier to hide or escape.

Some people mistakenly believe that during the winter hare hunting season it is easier to catch a hare than a hare. In reality, the gray or white color of the fur coat is not of fundamental importance, because both species are capable of burying themselves deeply in the snow if desired, leaving only their nose visible.

Necessary equipment and preparation

Of course, the hunter will need to acquire weapons and ammunition. Experienced hunters advise choosing shotguns with 12, 16 or 20 gauge. If the choice fell on a weapon with the largest caliber, then it is best to load it with magnum cartridges. To increase your effectiveness, you should learn the basics of how to hunt a hare with a semi-automatic weapon, because many beginners hastily, out of surprise, shoot a doublet at a hare that appears right in front of them. Usually, after such a shot, all that remains is to watch as the animal rushes as fast as it can across the field.

By the way, the size of the caliber in hare hunting is not so critical. It is possible to mortally wound an animal with fairly modest calibers, so the use of large shot is not at all necessary. You should always follow all safety measures, especially when hunting hare in the forest in winter. In a semi-enclosed area, you should shoot from a position below human height, and also be sure to track the movements of your comrades in arms and hunting dogs so that they do not end up in the line of fire immediately at the moment of the shot.

Main types of hunting

Depending on experience, personal preferences, financial capabilities, seasonality, terrain and other factors, the priority is a specific type of hare hunting: from the approach, tracking in the fall, with hounds.

Hunting with hounds

One of the most poetic types of hunting. The bottom line is that the dogs drive the hare from its resting place directly towards the hunter. With such a hunt, the level of physical fitness is important - you will have to run a lot through forests and fields.

The best time to hunt with hounds is early in the morning, when the dogs can easily follow fresh tracks. The hunter encourages the hounds with his voice to search for hares, and he himself, alone or with his comrades, slowly moves behind them in anticipation of a loud bark, which will mean the successful discovery of a hare's bed.

Tracking in autumn

Relevant in the presence of the first snow and drifting snow. The hunter easily finds fresh tracks and traces. In this case, you need to take into account morning or night tracks; following the older ones does not make much sense. You can learn to find a hare's bed in this way only with experience, tracking the animal's ornate wanderings.

Every hare knows how to confuse their tracks and use cunning - this fact should never be overlooked. When looking for an animal's shelter, it is best to walk next to the tracks, looking at the horizon. It happens that a hare returns in its own old tracks and looks for a new shelter or bed in an area that has already been previously explored.

Hunting from the approach

This type involves a measured and leisurely process of tracking a hare. The hunter carefully approaches the animal, which immediately gets up and begins to run away. As a rule, the hunter does not have much time to make the right shot before the animal disappears from sight.

During the long autumn and late onset of winter, hunting a hare from the approach brings the best results, because hare and hare already have time to go through the molting period and become clearly visible in predominantly monochromatic terrain.

Experienced hunters undoubtedly know some tricks and techniques that will help make it easier for beginners on their first hare hunt. Among the recommendations, professionals especially highlight the following:

1. Shooting at a distance of more than 50 meters rarely makes sense.
2. The first shot usually decides everything, because you almost never manage to hit with the second.
3. The best weather for hunting hares is a frost of about 15 degrees.
4. You need to wait for the hare calmly, without unnecessary movements.
5. To warm up, it is enough to relax and tense your muscles without giving away your location.
6. Hares often show their main activity late at night and lie down during the day.
7. To wait for game, you should take a chair. You won’t be able to sit on a stone or snag for a long time, as your back will become very tired.
8. Warm clothing will help you avoid freezing ahead of time and feel comfortable at all stages of the hunt.

The main thing to remember is that not every hunt is successful. This rule is true even for seasoned hunters. A gradual gain of experience and proper adherence to advice will help you not only achieve success, but also enjoy the hunting process itself.

Hunting is a favorite pastime for many men. But to become a really good hunter, you need to know some secrets and features. This article will allow you to learn about the main secrets of hare hunting. Before you go hunting, you need to study all the habits of hares, since these animals are very shy, and catching them is not as easy as it might seem at first glance.

Hunting is a favorite pastime for many men. But to become a really good hunter, you need to know some secrets and features. This article will allow you to learn about the main secrets. Before you go hunting, you need to study all the habits of hares, since these animals are very shy, and catching them is not as easy as it might seem at first glance.

Hares are very cowardly and cautious animals, and also very fast. Due to the fact that they have rather large ears, they are able to hear any, even the slightest rustle in the forest.

In addition, hares can easily confuse their own tracks so that a novice hunter is unlikely to be able to track the animal the first time. Even experienced hunters cannot always quickly untangle hare loops.

The favorite habitat of hares is forests, as well as open areas with complex terrain, with thick and tall grass and small ravines. Animals like to arrange their roosts in such places, and hunters are able to find prey faster by preying on such places. As a rule, the hare hunt begins. This period is the most successful and there is a high probability of quickly finding the animal.

A little about hares

There are two breeds of hares - hare and hare. Only experienced professional hunters are able to distinguish the tracks of a hare from a hare. The hare's paw is more elongated, while the hare's, spoiled, is rounded.

Traces: on the left of a hare, on the right and below - of a hare

It is also worth considering the fact that while running, hares extend their hind legs higher than their front legs, which is why they manage to confuse the tracks and lead the hunter in a completely different direction.

You can meet brown hares mainly in fields, steppes, and meadows. They love mostly flat terrain. White hares, on the contrary, are more willing to settle in forests where there is a lot of vegetation and they can easily camouflage themselves. These two types of hares still have one common feature - they are able to bury themselves completely in the snow, so that only their nose is visible.

Hunters prefer to hunt hare, since it is much more difficult to catch hare; it confuses its tracks more thoroughly.

For a hare hunt to be successful, the hunter must be patient. This activity is suitable for hardy people who are ready to spend several hours on their feet. In case you are just a novice hunter, before heading into the forest.

It is imperative to have warm and comfortable clothes with you, which should also be functional.

If you don't manage to catch the hare the first time, don't be upset. Enjoy the hunting process itself, gain experience and skills.

Features of winter hare hunting

Winter means searching for an animal using a fresh footprint left in the snow. This hunting process is most effective when the first snow falls, on which the hare's tracks are best visible. If you find fresh tracks (clear and not crushed by snow), then with a high probability you can find where the animal has settled down. During the search, the most important thing is not to scare off the hare. If you find a nest, it is important to know how to approach it correctly. Hares usually sit with their muzzles turned towards the wind so that it does not blow against their fur.

Therefore, you need to approach the bed against the wind so that the animal does not see you and run away.

Tracking a hare is not so easy, and when running it can reach speeds of up to sixty kilometers per hour. So, having missed the animal once, you are unlikely to be able to catch it again.

Types of hare hunting

Collective. Before you go hunting with friends, you should study the area and decide on a direction. The distance between hunters should be between fifteen and thirty meters. Thus, a hare can be detected faster, since it can get up from its prone position and give itself away. usually before dusk.

Hunting with a dog. The purpose of this method of hunting is to lead it towards the hunters. This method of catching a hare is not so common, since you have to run a lot through forests and fields and it is not a fact that you will be able to make a successful shot and return home with the prey.

Hunting with tracking. We have already mentioned this method. The main thing here is to untangle the hare's tracks and discover the place of the bedding. This method, it is worth noting, is very exciting. Sometimes the hare confuses its tracks so much that it is impossible to find the animal’s location. This method of hunting is suitable for experienced hunters who, over many years of practice, have acquired the necessary skills and knowledge.

At the beginning of winter, it is best to hunt a hare with a dog. The reason for this is the low level of snow cover, which perfectly absorbs the odors of various animals. and lead you to the hare's lying area.

When hunting with a dog, be extremely careful not to accidentally shoot it.

If you decide to go hunting with your friends, then the main rule in this case is. Do not come within one meter of another person. Also be extremely careful when shooting. To lure the animal, you can use various treats in the form of carrots, cabbage leaves, clover and many other goodies.

It is important to know that at dawn hares like to go out to feed without much fear. Therefore, if you decide to spy on an animal, then it is better to do it at such an early time. Don't forget to take care of your appearance. Try to be as invisible as possible. If you find an animal, try to be motionless, if possible, hide behind a tree, large bush or any other secluded place so as not to scare off the hare.

Sunny and calm weather is not the best time to go hare hunting. And the most unfavorable weather for such activities is rainy weather, since it is at such times that hares become more cautious and timid, and it is almost impossible to make an accurate shot during the rain.

If you nevertheless decide to hunt a hare in rainy weather, then we recommend that you look for the animal in the plowed land. It feels great in wet stubble.

The best time to shoot is when the hare stands on its hind legs. It is important for the hunter to have time to shoot at this moment. The main thing is not to scare off the animal, especially if you are hunting in creaky snow. Any careless movement and all surveillance will be in vain; the hare will run away upon hearing the slightest rustle.

How to untangle hare tracks

As a rule, hares come out to feed at night or early in the morning, so it is advisable to start hunting them at this time. During the daytime, hares usually sleep, but before they climb into their bed, they carefully confuse their tracks.

To discover the location of a hare, you do not need to follow all the tracks, but look for a fork. Experienced trappers are able to quickly untangle hare tracks, despite the many loops.

Hares confuse their tracks in different ways, but the entrance to the nest is not so difficult to detect. As a rule, the tracks leading to the hare's habitat look like uniform dents, not chaotic. If you find tracks that repeat every three meters, then you are probably on the right track.

In frosty weather, catching a hare is quite difficult. During this period, the animal practically does not let anyone near it. Also, a windy day will not be very successful for hunting, since the snow may simply cover up the hare’s tracks and it will be difficult for you to discover where the animal is hiding.

If you managed to lift the hare, but accidentally scared him away and were unable to fire a shot, then next time we advise you to return to the same place. There is a high probability of finding this slant again, since hares very rarely change their roosting places.

How to target a hare

In the case of a group hunt, it is important to choose the right location. Remember that the hare always runs diagonally from the field and leaves the territory only through a corner.

That is why try to stand on the corner of the field to be able to catch the hare.

If you are in a lying position, and the hare is running straight towards you, you should not stand up suddenly and scare the animal. Let him get as close to you as possible. When the hare sees you, it will run in the opposite direction, and then you can shoot after you, it is important not to miss.

If a hare runs away from you, aim for its ears, and if the animal runs straight at you, aim for its front paws.

Before you go hunting, carefully study the area where eared animals live. Learn to recognize hare burrows - they have special edges.

If you decide to go hunting in the fall, then in this case it is better to use. Remember that during this period of the year it can be quite difficult to detect the animal, since it has a gray-brown color and blends in with the surrounding foliage. When approach hunting, you should carefully study those places that hares usually love very much - these are various areas with dense vegetation, small ravines, open areas with difficult terrain.

Use our tips and you can return. Learn the hare's habits, learn how to shoot accurately, and be patient before you go hunting.

The hare hunting season begins in November and lasts until early January. The hare is a very cunning and fast animal, so for a successful hunt you should gain experience, because this animal is capable of deceiving even experienced, professional hunters.

Video: Hunting a hare in winter

Video about Hare Hunting with hounds