How to hunt a hare at night. All about night hare hunting

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 hare, because 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 hare, because 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 down the animal the first time. Even experienced hunters cannot always quickly unravel hare loops.

The favorite habitat of hares is forests, as well as open areas with difficult terrain, with dense and high grassiness and small ravines. In such places, animals like to arrange their haulouts, and hunters manage to quickly find prey, waiting for such places. Hare hunting, as a rule, 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 traces of a hare from a hare. In a hare, the foot is more elongated, and in a hare, having screwed up, it is rounded.

Traces: on the left is a hare, on the right and below is a hare

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

You can meet hare 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 you can easily disguise yourself. These two species of hares still have one thing in common - they are able to completely burrow into the snow, so that only one nose will be visible.

Hunters prefer to hunt for a hare, since it is much more difficult to catch a white hare, it more carefully confuses its tracks.

In order for the 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 beginner hunter, before heading into the forest.

Be sure to have warm and comfortable clothes with you, which should also be functional.

If you fail to catch a hare the first time, do not be upset. Enjoy the hunting process itself, gain experience and skills.

Features of winter hare hunting

Winter means the search for an animal on a fresh track left in the snow. This hunting process is most effective when the first snow falls, on which the tracks of the hare 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 laid out. During the search, the most important thing is not to frighten away the hare. If you find a bed, then it is important to know how to approach it correctly. Hares usually sit with their muzzle turned towards the wind so that it does not blow against the wool.

Therefore, you need to approach the bed against the wind so that the animal does not see you and does not 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 must study the area and decide on the direction. The distance between hunters should be between fifteen and thirty meters. So, the hare can be detected faster, because he can rise from the bed and give himself 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, because you have to run a lot through forests and fields and it’s not a fact that you can make a good shot and return home with prey.

Trail hunting. We have already mentioned this method. The main thing here is to unravel the hare tracks and find a place to lay. This method, it is worth noting, is very exciting. Sometimes the hare confuses the tracks so much that it is not possible to find the location of the animal. 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 smells of various animals. and lead you to the place where the hare lies.

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 closer than one meter to another person. Also, be extremely careful while 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 arrange surveillance of the animal, then it is better to do it at such an earlier time. Don't forget to take care of your appearance. Try to be as inconspicuous as possible. If you find an animal, try to be motionless, if possible, hide behind a tree, a large bush or in any other secluded place so as not to frighten away the hare.

Sunny and calm weather is not best time when you can go hunting for a hare. And the most unfavorable for such activities is rainy weather, because it is at this time that the hares become more cautious and shy, and make accurate shot during the rain is almost impossible.

If you still decide to hunt a hare in rainy weather, then we recommend that in this case you look for an animal in plowing. He 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 frighten away the animal, especially if you are hunting in creaky snow. Any careless movement - and all surveillance will be in vain, the hare will rush to his heels, having heard the slightest rustle.

How to untangle hare tracks

As a rule, hares go out to feed at night or early in the morning, so it is advisable to start hunting for them at this time. In the daytime, hares usually sleep, but before climbing into the hay, they carefully obscure their tracks.

To find the location of the hare, you need to follow not 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 it is not so difficult to find the entrance to the lair. As a rule, the tracks leading to the hare habitat look like uniform dents, not chaotic. If you find footprints that repeat every three meters, then you are probably on the right track.

In frosty weather, it is quite difficult to catch a hare. During this period, the animal practically does not let anyone near itself. Also, a windy day will not be very successful for hunting, since snow can simply cover the hare's tracks and it will be difficult for you to find out where the animal hid.

If you managed to raise a hare, but by chance you frightened him away and could not fire a shot, then in next time We advise you to return to the same place. There is a high probability of finding this oblique again, since hares very rarely change their places of lying.

How to aim a hare

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

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

If you have taken a lying position, and the hare is running straight at you, you should not get up abruptly and scare the animal. Get him as close to you as possible. The hare, when it sees you, will run in the opposite direction, and then you can already take a shot in pursuit, it is important not to miss.

If the hare runs away from you - aim at his ears, and if the animal runs straight at you - aim under the front paws.

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

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

Use our tips and you will be able to return. Learn hare habits, learn how to shoot accurately and be patient before you go hunting.

The hunting season for hares starts in November and lasts until the beginning of January. The hare is a very cunning and fast animal, so for a successful hunt you should gain experience, because this animal is able to deceive even experienced, professional hunters.

Video: Hunting for a hare in winter

Video about Hunting for a hare with hounds

Video about winter hare hunting

For a successful hunt, you should determine how to hunt a hare at night correctly. To do this, first of all, you need to find a place where a hare will 100% meet. Hares willingly visit places where there is food, it can be a hayloft, heaps of unharvested sugar beets in the fields, pits with silage. In the hayloft it is warm and comfortable for the eared. Often hares visit summer cottages and villages. Usually they come from the back - from the garden or vegetable garden. You can analyze, choose the best place for an ambush.

Those who already have the experience of night hunting for hares say that the form of the skradka does not have a strict form. It can be anything, it all depends on the situation. Skradok can be built from snow in the form of a dome, or you can simply put up a white tent.

In the light of the night moon, the hare is visible, as well as during the day.

Haystacks or straw are also ideal as a night hideout for an ambush. Hares love hay, and out of curiosity they approach haystacks out of curiosity. But the hunter must make sure in advance that the hay is not frozen, otherwise it will be very cold to expect the beast. Well, it’s best to wait for the hare from the side of the animal’s path.

Preparation for this type of hunting is quite simple: the hunter will need a white camouflage robe and a folding chair. The place must be chosen such that the wind from the path blew exactly in the direction of the hunter, and already here, comfortably sitting at a natural shelter, wait for prey. If the position is chosen correctly, and the hunter is able to sit quietly for a long time, then success is almost guaranteed.

The hare is an animal that leads a nocturnal lifestyle and, with the onset of twilight, gets up from its bed. Therefore, the hunt should begin with the onset of darkness, and it can last until the morning. When the barking of village yard dogs stops, approximately 22-23 hours and until 6 am, when the awakening begins. Hunters are accustomed to dividing the hunt into three nights.
The first evening we find traces of a hare, the second night - we check and make sure, on the third - the hunt itself. As a bait, you can use any food that is seductive for hares.

It is best to hunt on a full moon, when the month perfectly illuminates everything around, even if there are clouds in the sky. The hunter can clearly see both the fly on the gun and the hare itself. A similar type of hunting is sedentary. Therefore, the hunter should be dressed as warm as possible, but comfortable. A warm hat and warm shoes are required. The lower back should be additionally protected from cold and wind.

It will be enough to have an ordinary double-barreled shotgun that shoots at hunting distances up to 40 m. Cartridges with shot numbers from 0 to 3.

In the dark, if hunting takes place in an open area, there is no need for a special sight. The hunter's eyes quickly get used to the darkness and the hare can be seen from a great distance. But most hunters are accustomed to using remote headlights or flashlights or night vision scopes, which is also not forbidden.

The hunter must have perseverance - otherwise there will be no luck

It is necessary to smoothly raise the gun, smoothly move it and apply it to the cheek, smoothly align the front sight, then insert it into the shoulder. No sudden movement.

In the end, I would like to add about the "meanness" of night lighting. It can be deceptive, and it is difficult to understand what even the approximate distance to the target is, and the hare, which seems to be sitting far away, can actually hit much closer. And it happens vice versa. In the process of preparing for the hunt, you should notice any landmarks and calculate the affected area, and in the dark use them to determine the distance.

Good luck hunting!http://plotka.ru/vse-o-nochnoy-ohote-na-zaytsa/

In the light of the night moon, the hare is visible, as well as during the day.

Be sure to have a flashlight, a thermos with a hot drink (coffee, tea) and a folding chair with you. A bunch of wood chips, an old newspaper (a fire will help keep warm) and a first aid kit will also not interfere. For hunting, the Police 1102 stun gun is more suitable than others, which perfectly illuminates, and also adds a certain confidence when meeting with criminal elements or when attacked by dogs.

It will be enough to have an ordinary double-barreled shotgun that shoots at hunting distances up to 40 m. Cartridges with shot numbers from 0 to 3.

The hunter must have perseverance - otherwise there will be no luck

To sit in ambush for several hours, the hunter needs perseverance, sometimes you have to spend 4-6 hours as quietly as possible, without fuss. The hunter's movements should be unhurried and smooth. If he needs to either smoke, then drink tea, then scratch himself, then check the flashlight bought on the site http://shocker54.rf/ - there will be no success. You just need to wait for the appearance of the hare.

It is necessary to smoothly raise the gun, smoothly move it and apply it to the cheek, smoothly align the front sight, then insert it into the shoulder. No sudden movement.

It was customary to hunt hares in our area in ancient times, because these animals are extremely common in many regions, regardless of climatic conditions. In most cases, hunting for a hare does not even require a permit, because the population of these animals is numerous and rarely drops to a critical level.

It should be borne in mind that, despite the popularity of such active rest, it will not be so easy to get game, because hares are distinguished by amazing speed and caution, so it is extremely difficult to get close to them imperceptibly. However, armed with certain theoretical knowledge and having developed the necessary skills, you will be able to get the coveted trophy.

Hare hunting in winter

When planning to go hunting for a hare in winter, you should be prepared for the fact that the extraction of a trophy will not at all look like a pleasure walk through a snowy forest. First of all, you will have to track down the habitat of the animal, and in the future - spend long hours in ambush. Only under these conditions will you be able to shoot the prey.

Experienced hunters recommend going fishing with dogs, because these animals make game hunting much more productive. However, if you do not have such an assistant, you can easily cope on your own. Naturally, for this it is desirable to study in advance the habits of the beast and the types of hunting for it, as well as learn how to determine the habitats of the scythes.

Description and characteristic features of the beast

The main feature of the hares is that they have extremely thin hearing, but their eyesight is very poor. Accordingly, the animal first hears the enemy, and only then notices him visually, but this does not at all prevent him from immediately fleeing in case of danger.

Note: Kosachs have very well developed hind limbs, which allow them to develop surprisingly high speed. In extreme cases, the hare can inflict deep jagged cuts with these same limbs in order to weaken the enemy.

The family of wild hares includes many breeds, or rather subspecies, and they differ in many ways not only from domestic rabbits, but also from wild rabbits. First, hares have much longer ears. Secondly, depending on the season, they change their coat color, while rabbits do not molt (Figure 1).

In our country, such breeds of wild hares as the hare, hare, tolai and Manchurian hare have become widespread, although there are about 30 species of these animals all over the world. They prefer to live alone, in burrows and various depressions. It is impossible to call females good mothers - already a week after the birth of the cubs, she forever abandons her offspring, so young individuals often become the prey of hunters or predators.

In more detail, you should dwell on the habitats of hares:

From the European part of Russia to the Middle East, whites are found everywhere, who prefer to settle in the forest-steppe zone. The weight of such an individual can reach 4.5 kg with a body length of 50 cm.
In the open areas of the European part of the country, there are hares, which are slightly larger than whites: their body length is about 65 cm, and their weight is about 7 kg. Unlike whites, these animals never turn white, and their coat only slightly lightens for the winter.
Tolai looks like a hare, but its habitat is limited to Transbaikalia and South Siberia.
The Manchurian breed is found exclusively in the Far East, and it is these hares that most of all resemble ordinary rabbits in appearance.

Figure 1. Main breeds: 1 - hare, 2 - hare, 3 - tolai, 4 - Manchurian

Having studied the main features and regions of residence of these animals, we can conclude that you can hunt animals in almost any region and at any time of the year.

Hare behavior in winter

In winter, hares do not hibernate, but continue to live in minks and look for food under the snow (Figure 2). This feature makes winter hunting for them effective and productive, and in some cases even looks like an exciting game.

Figure 2. In winter, hares lead an isolated lifestyle

The best weather for going to the forest for a trophy is the time when the first snow falls, because it clearly shows the traces of an animal that left its haul in search of food. Naturally, you can try to follow the animal on the trail, but in most cases, such an undertaking will not lead to anything: hares can reach speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour, so it will not be possible to catch up with them.

It is much more efficient to find the habitat of the animal, set up an ambush and wait for the time when the animal can appear. At the same time, it is important to be very quiet, as the slightest rustle or noise can frighten away the game. It is important to ambush upwind, as hares tend to sit downwind to keep the air from blowing against their fur. By positioning yourself in this way, you will protect yourself from the situation when the beast smells you before you make the first shot.

Features of winter hunting

Winter hunting for hares, due to weather conditions, has certain features. First of all, you need to take care of the equipment, since the extraction of a trophy involves not only constant movement through the forest, but also sitting in ambush for a long time.

Note: Clothing must be selected depending on the weather conditions. For example, in the rain you will need a waterproof jacket, and it is better to travel long distances in the snow on a snowmobile. However, it should be borne in mind that you still have to walk to the habitat of the animals so that the noise of traffic and the smell of gasoline do not frighten the prey.

The importance of proper equipment is well known to hunters who hunt in Siberia. They can go to the forest for several days at once, so the equipment should include not only warm waterproof clothes and shoes, but also a minimum set of food and water, a first aid kit, a thermos and a lantern. If you have never hunted such a trophy before, the tips in the following sections will help you properly prepare for the hunt.

When and where is the best time to hunt?

In order for the winter hare hunting to be truly successful, it is better to conduct reconnaissance in advance and determine the habitats or feeding of the animals. In the future, you can simply drive to right place by car, choose a location for an ambush and wait for the right time to shoot (Figure 3).

There are some tips for successful hunting on a hare in the tundra or on another hare:

You need to shoot exactly at the animal itself, and not at its shadow, which is always darker than the main silhouette.
An ambush shelter should preferably be located in such a way that it is directly opposite the hare path. In this case, the shadow of the animal will not prevent you from making a successful shot.
If you have to shoot an animal in the back, it is better to aim at upper part his torso. However, this condition is relevant only if the animal did not start to flee. If necessary, shoot a running hare, it is best to shoot at the tips of his ears.
The best time for hunting is early morning, and even better - dawn. At this time, the animals crawl out of their shelters and, without feeling a sense of danger, go to feed.

Figure 3. The extraction of a trophy largely depends on the right place for fishing and shooting accuracy.

Going to the forest, be interested in the weather forecast in advance. For example, in heavy snowfall, the animals become more cautious, and it will be very problematic to hit the game in a snowstorm. If a heavy snowfall still caught you fishing, it is best to look for game in plowing. The rest of the time you can meet hares in ordinary open fields.

What does a hunter need?

Hunting a hare in winter is difficult mainly due to weather conditions. Since it is easiest to track the animal in the footsteps immediately after a snowfall, the fisherman will need warm clothes and shoes, as well as a backpack with everything you might need in the process.

Naturally, the hunter's equipment includes not only personal equipment, but also weapons with ammunition. To make sure you feel comfortable when tracking game, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the tips on equipment.

Equipment

The first thing to take care of when going to the forest is clothing. Keep in mind in advance that you will have to walk through the forest for a long time or sit in ambush, waiting for the appearance of the animal. Therefore, clothing should be warm, waterproof and spacious enough so that during movement it does not hinder movement (Figure 4).

For beginners, choosing the right clothing can be difficult, but experienced fishermen know that one of key requirements Silence to her. The jacket should not rustle so that the hare does not hear your approach. Also keep in mind that you will have to move through the snow, the layer of which can be quite deep. To make it easier for yourself, it is better to move through the forest on skis. So you will not only increase the speed of movement, but also reduce fatigue. In addition, you will need a thermos with a warm drink, a lantern and other things necessary for a comfortable stay in the forest.

Figure 4. Required equipment

In addition to the selection of equipment, you need to take care of the selection of the right weapons and ammunition. Since it is they who play a decisive role in the extraction of a trophy, we will dwell on their selection in more detail.

How to pick up weapons and ammo

The right choice of weapons and ammunition can play a decisive role in hare hunting. It should be borne in mind that the acquisition of any firearms is accompanied by the issuance of a license.

When choosing guns, consider the following nuances:

Most often, hunters buy double-barreled shotguns of 12-16 gauge, as they are light and do not cause inconvenience to the hunter when moving through the forest.
Fraction, like air, is not the most the best choice for hare hunting. Despite the lightness, such a weapon does not have a high lethal force, and can only injure the animal. As a result, you will need to look for a wounded animal in order to finish it off, and this takes a lot of time and effort.
Recently, pneumatic guns have been popular, which are distinguished by their ease and accuracy of shots, which plays an important role in hare hunting. In addition, these guns have another feature - a regular sight, which will help novice hunters make an accurate shot.

Some prefer to hunt a hare with a bow. Indeed, this weapon is completely silent, and is able to kill the animal with one shot. However, it should be borne in mind that archery requires certain skills, without which prey can leave.

Varieties of winter hare hunting

Many people think that winter hunting for a hare comes down only to the fact that the hunter constantly walks through the forest, hoping to find a trace of an animal or the animal itself. In fact, the movement of fishermen through the forest has a certain logic, because they are not just looking for traces of hares, but also their intended habitats or feeding.

There are quite a few varieties of hunting, and each of them has its own characteristics and rules, following which you can get a trophy without much difficulty. Next, we will look at their main features so that novice hunters can choose their preferred method of catching game.

Tracking

Hare hunting by trailing is considered one of the most exciting types of fishing. essence this method comes down to correctly reading and deciphering the traces of the animal. Accordingly, the key role in this case is played not so much by the selection of the right weapon, but by the endurance of the hunter, his ingenuity and tracker skills (Figure 5).

Note: Hares are very good at confusing tracks, so when you go hunting for the first time by trailing, it is better to take a more experienced hunter with you who will help you read the tracks correctly.

Tracking hunting is carried out only if snow has recently fallen. This will greatly facilitate the task, since you will not be confused in the tracks previously left by the beast. As a rule, in the daytime, hares lie down in their mink and only come out to feed in the late afternoon, leaving traces in the snow. You can track the animal using them.

Figure 5. You can track the animal by its tracks

Since, after eating, hares like to run and additionally confuse their tracks, it is better to immediately follow the path from the tracks and find the animal's mink, wait for it to appear and make an accurate aimed shot. Tracking the animal in circular tracks is difficult, and only an experienced fisherman can cope with this task.

Out of the ambush

If the snow layer is thin, or you went fishing at the end of winter, when the snow cover begins to melt, the best option the trophy will be the hunt for a hare from an ambush. In addition, at the end of winter it is already very difficult for animals to find food and, despite their caution, they come closer to human habitation (Figure 6).

Since this type of hunting involves waiting for the appearance of the animal, you will have to build a shelter:

Build a structure that looks like a snowdrift from compressed blocks of snow.
You can use a white tent that will not stand out on the ground.
If there is a stack of straw or selenium nearby that is not too cold, you can use that as well.

The haystack is considered the most profitable shelter, since hares, in search of food, often get very close to them. If you set up a hiding place here, you will have a much better chance of shooting game. That is why this type of hunting is most often recommended for beginner fishermen.

Figure 6. The place for the ambush must be chosen very carefully.

If you don’t have the opportunity to build a capital shelter, you can easily put on a camouflage robe and sit on a regular folding chair. However, it is better to take a position from the side of the hare path, so that it is more convenient to aim at the animal, and the prey does not smell you ahead of time.

In addition to the proper organization of a place for a sit-in, the habits of the animal itself should also be taken into account. Remember that hares are predominantly nocturnal: they spend the day in a mink, and in the late afternoon they begin to get out of hiding in search of food. Therefore, it is better to ambush in the evening or even at night.

Note: Many are worried that it will be difficult to hit the animal at night. In fact, in moonlight, reflected even from a minimal amount of light, a hare can be seen just as well as during the day.

There is a secret that all experienced hunters use. They divide the hunt for a hare into three nights: on the first night they look out and read the tracks, on the second they check the feeding place, and on the third they hunt directly. In addition, you can place bait at the feeding point, which will help attract more animals and increase the chances of getting a trophy.

With a dog

Hunting for a hare in winter with hounds is also very popular. The fact is that these dogs are well aware of the tracks of animals and can quickly lead the hunter to prey (Figure 7).

Note: Running away from the dog, the hare makes a circle and still returns to its original place. Therefore, the hunter can only wait for the return of the animal and make a well-aimed shot.

Figure 7. Dogs help track and catch game

Naturally, in order for hare hunting with a dog to be effective, an assistant must be properly trained. Fortunately, training for hunting a hare is not difficult. The most important thing is to teach the dog not to be distracted by other animals, for example, by a fox, which can get into the sight of a hound while hunting a hare. In addition, hunting with a husky involves rewarding the animal: be sure to let the dog taste the taste of hare. So she will have an incentive to catch up with the beast and will not lose interest in hunting.

with loops

There are enough effective ways hare hunting without a dog. One of the most effective - with the use of loops. They can be installed both as an independent structure and in combination with traps or other fishing devices (Figure 8).

Note: Please note that this method of fishing is not allowed in all regions, so be sure to check local laws before sending to the forest.

Catching a hare with loops has certain features:

It is desirable to tie the trap to a thin and flexible tree so that the animal, once caught in the loop, cannot escape.
If the loop is equipped with a lift, it is desirable that the animal suffocates quickly: then it will not break the structure.
It is better to put the loop in such a way that the hare gets into it with his head. Based on this, experienced fishermen recommend setting traps over a fallen tree.
To be guaranteed to get a trophy, it is advisable to install the structures directly on the hare trails. They are very visible in winter, as the animals usually run along the same route.

Figure 8. Scheme for self-manufacturing and loop installation

It is also important to consider that the loop should be almost invisible. For its manufacture, it is better to use thin wire: it does not stand out in the surrounding landscape, but at the same time it is strong enough. Immediately before installation, be sure to wipe the wire with any odorous grass that grows in the forest to kill the metallic smell.

From the approach

Hunting for a hare in winter from an approach is the most common way to get this game. But at the same time, fishing will be successful only if there is calm weather with high humidity outside. In summer, such weather contributes to almost noiseless movement through the forest, and in winter it helps to track down a hare spending time in a mink (Figure 9).

Figure 9. Hunting from the approach involves the study of the habits of the beast

Despite the popularity of this method, one should be prepared for a sudden shot, especially in open space, because the game can get scared and jump out of its hiding place at any moment.

With traps

Traps can also help catch a hare, but this method of catching is not in great demand among hunters who prefer to get game in more interesting ways. However, this method should still be considered, as it is often used in regions where catching hares with loops is prohibited.

They begin to set traps immediately after the first snow falls, and it is advisable to use traps with large numbers. This is due to the fact that hares have very strong paws. However, it should be borne in mind that the trap should not have a too tight spring that can break the limb of the animal (Figure 10).

Note: As a rule, hunters set pressure and passage traps, but you should be prepared in advance for the fact that after them you will have to spend a lot of time masking traces.

Like loops, it is desirable to process traps. For example, in the forest they can be rubbed with needles, and in the field with wormwood, however, even without such a disguise, hares are unlikely to pay attention to the metallic smell.

In order for the prey to definitely fall into the trap, the trap must be set correctly:

Location selection: It is advisable to set traps after snow falls. Traces of animals will be clearly visible on its surface, and you can easily determine the place of their fattening. There you should put one or more traps.
Track traps: usually set on the trail of a hare at the turn of the path, along which the animals follow to the feeding place after leaving the holes. So the probability of the animal falling into the trap will be much higher.
Disguise: so that the hare does not notice the structure, you need to carefully cut a layer of snow, set a trap and return the snow to its place.
Bait: selected depending on the breed, which is most often found in a particular region. For example, whites love to eat aspen, and one that has lain down a bit. You can also use birch or mountain ash branches covered with oats or snow. Rusaks are more fond of hay and straw, and feast on branches mainly at the end of winter. You can use any vegetables as bait, or pour a weak saline solution on the bait.

Figure 10. Trap design

When setting a trap, be sure to keep in mind that white hares are much more careful than hares, and it will be more difficult to catch them. In addition, it must be taken into account that with a sufficient amount of natural food, hares are unlikely to go out into the open, so it is better to set traps where animals are more common.

Game search rules

Experienced hunters recommend not going blindly into the forest, but following certain rules for finding game. First of all, it should be borne in mind that animals constantly change their places of lying and feeding. The choice of such a location is influenced by the weather: when it is damp outside, the animals prefer to settle on the hills, and dry weather - in the lowlands.

Of course, the easiest way to look for game is with dogs that can smell and frighten off a hare. But even for such fishing it is better to go on the first snow. An alarmed animal will run around its bed, and the hunter will be able to make an accurate shot.

Tips for unraveling hare tracks

Finding a trail of a hare in the forest is not a problem, but its correct decoding can cause certain difficulties. The fact is that hares are extremely cunning animals and so many traces of their stay are left that an inexperienced hunter can easily get confused in them (Figure 11).

To navigate the hare trails correctly, follow these tips:

Try not to follow the trail itself, but next to it, so as not to accidentally step on the marks of the paws.
Watch not only for the snow, but also periodically raise your eyes to the horizon. Confusing the tracks, the hare often makes a circle and returns to its previous place in order to lay down for itself.
Look closely not only at the trail, but also at the surroundings, especially at places that can serve as good cover: dense thickets, snowdrifts or hillocks.
If you find a fat spot, do not try to unravel a huge number of traces. Just go around the location, find the exiting single trail and follow it already.

Figure 11. Deciphering hare tracks

If at any point you find twos, threes, and discounts, slow down and keep a close eye on your surroundings. Such traces mean that the place where the hare is lying is already nearby and at any moment you can frighten it away.

How to properly shoot an animal

Hares are very fast animals, so you should be prepared for an unexpected shot. In addition, you may not have enough time to aim well, so it's best to familiarize yourself with the tips in advance, which will affect successful shooting.

Firstly, you need to remember that the silhouette of the animal itself is always lighter than its shadow, so you need to aim at the brighter place on the snow. Secondly, when shooting from a possible shelter, it is better to position yourself so that the trace of the hare path goes towards your ambush. Then the shadow e will interfere with a well-aimed shot.

In addition, you need to know which part of the body to aim for. If you come to a distance sufficient for a shot, it is better to aim at the upper body, and if the animal starts to run away, then it is better to shoot at the tips of its ears. If there is a situation in which the animal runs straight at you, aim at its front paws.

For the extraction of the beast to be successful, it is necessary to take into account the advice of experienced hunters. First of all, when going fishing, consider the weather conditions. Windless weather with temperatures just below zero is ideal. It is also advisable to go to the forest on freshly fallen snow, on which the animal's track will be better visible.

In addition, study the habits, types of tracks and habits of the animal in advance. So you will have a better chance of finding prey without a long walk through the forest. If you are interested in the secrets of successful hare hunting, we recommend watching a video that shows the main nuances of this fishery.

This hunt is good for those. that there is no need to keep hunting dogs, to coordinate the time of departure with comrades, to provide for the availability of transport, a hunting base, boats, stuffed animals, flags, etc. Here the main props are a gun, a white camouflage coat, a high chair, a hunting spotlight, a sheepskin coat and felt boots.

Hunting, of course, is carried out in late autumn and winter. Strict binding to any month is optional. November and December are good because the beast is not flooded (not fired upon), and there are still many of them. In February, the rut begins for the hares, they move more and the likelihood of seeing them increases.

Seating places. Old guides (L. Sabaneev) advise guarding the Rusaks at the threshing floor. But where now to find this barn? New approaches are needed. Russians love to eat on melted winters, and in the second half of winter they settle in sagebrush. The former cabbage fields are also trampled. But this does not mean at all that you can land anywhere on the field. It is advisable to examine it and find the places where the hare pass most often. As a rule, these are crossroads of field roads (especially with deep ditches), reclamation ditches, forest plantations, ravines, shafts with wormwood.

This is where you need to look for specific places of sit-ins with convenient sectors of fire and natural shelters for camouflage. When going to an ambush, you need to know the lighting conditions - the phases of the moon. On the new moon it is dark, the most effective shooting will be only with a hunting spotlight (halogen headlight 6 V 15W). In the first quarter, the moon shines in the evening, in the full moon - at midnight, in the last quarter - in the morning. With the "night light" facilitates aiming laser pointer or LED on the front sight. Rubbing the aiming bar with chalk, gluing white stripes to it, installing phosphorescent flies are less effective: when shooting quickly at a moving animal, the eye does not have time to distinguish them.

So, specifically about the means that facilitate hunting in the dark. Spotlight. In hunting shops it is sold under the designation OP-1 (“Boar”). Personally, I don't like it. The fact is that its headlight is mounted above the aiming bar, so aiming is not very convenient. I have mounted the headlight mount under the trunks. Switch - on the left handguard (on a common bracket) under thumb left hand. The switch is silent. The click is unacceptable, it greatly frightens the beast. The spotlight is easy to make yourself. A 6V 15 Watt halogen lamp can be mounted in a 2.5-ZV conventional light bulb socket, filled with epoxy. Then it will fit any reflector from a battery flashlight. It remains to adapt the bracket so that it wraps around the lower barrel.

I attach the laser designator (LTC) in a similar way, close to the trunks. Then the ray-point will be less "baptized" with the aiming line. Shooting comfort is exceptional. It is enough to combine the point with the target, and you can press the shutter. There is no need to aim in the usual way (with the comb pressed against the cheek). This is especially convenient in winter thick attire. If the batteries are located inside the LCC, they must be taken out separately on wires about 150 cm long. In cold weather, it is better to carry the batteries under a warm jacket, and stretch the wires through the left sleeve or under the hollow. Otherwise, the LCC will fail. The point fades in the cold and does not “beat” further than 10-15 m.

A 1.5-3 V LED is placed in a tube with a diameter of 4-5 mm and a length of 12-16 mm. The tube is attached to the aiming bar close to the front sight. The mirror is directed towards the shooter's eye. Batteries - 2 "pancakes" from an electric flashlight with the help of a bracket are attached under the trunks close to the forearm. On the same bracket there is a switch (on the left, under the thumb). I note that the switches of all devices are of the same type. After all, there is no time to think at night with the sudden appearance of the beast. When you turn on the LED, you can see it in the tube only after you have correctly attached to the gun. If the attachment is incorrect, you will not see the LED. For the shooter, this is a signal: the gun is directed past the target.

Night vision sight (NVD). I do not consider it in detail due to its high cost, heavy weight, bulkiness, imbalance. The specifics of aiming makes it impossible to make an accurate shot at 30-50 meters at a suddenly appeared beast. Another thing is a bullet shot at a long distance at an inactive target (deer, wild boar).

Collimator sight. It's not that easy with him. Aiming - specific: with two eyes. It covers the target a lot. With the right eye, it is necessary to combine the mark in the collimator, and the left eye looks at the target. The brain connects everything together. Personally, I do not want to retrain in aiming. Maybe you can get used to collimator sights, but from the beginning of your hunting career. Another important detail. With night vision devices, optical and collimator sights, you cannot make an instant vskid and a quick shot. But the beast does not wait. Frightened by the rustle and movement, he seeks to hide.

It is desirable to have a 12-gauge or 16-gauge shotgun, double-barreled or self-loading. Cartridges: No. 2 shot, Sokol powder 2:2 g, 2 cardboard spacers, one salted and one non-salted felt wad, container or cylinder. Tight twist: when shaking, the shot should not be heard. It is better to remove the running belt and the receiver swivel.

Cloth. Two sweaters, a fur or cloth sleeveless jacket, a down jacket or a sheepskin coat. I have a spetsnaz jacket with fur. Instead of a scarf (it gets tangled) I use a woolen "bib". Wrapped in half, it protects well from wind and frost. Woolen linen and wadded or fur trousers, woolen socks, cloth footcloths and felt boots with galoshes, fur mittens and double five-fingered gloves are required.

A folding chair (preferably with a back) is a mandatory accessory for an intruder. You can’t sit silently for a long time on a stone, log, shorter, and you can catch a cold.

A white camouflage coat with long floors, so that, sitting on a chair, they cover both their knees and felt boots.

I take a rechargeable flashlight, I recharge it before hunting. Beneficial for the family budget: no need to buy batteries.

Knife - taiga, with a blade length of up to 150 mm, a handle of 130 mm. They are good at chopping bushes when clearing a sector of fire, chipping ice from skis, etc.

If there are no roads, I go skiing. For the field, I have them 11 cm wide, for the forest - "Taiga" 16 cm wide. Conveyor belts, wide, adjustable with leather drawstrings. They are elastic and keep their shape. On ski pads - linings from a bicycle tire. It "bubbles", and snow freezes less on it.

Bag: Large canvas bag with wide shoulder straps. It includes weapons, equipment and a spare sweater, which, like a sleeveless jacket, I put on already in place so as not to sweat on the road.

The weather for sitting on a hare is desirable frosty - up to -150C. It is noticed that when it gets cold, hares move more in search of food. But in a crackling, especially with wind, frost, it is uncomfortable to sit on your own. According to my long-term observations, hares run no less in strong winds.

In the rain, sleet, you rarely see a hare, he hides, afraid to wet his fur coat, under sloping trees, stumps. In the fog, too, there is little good, the target is poorly visible.

There is no need to rush from the evening to go hunting. Go not to the foxes, which must be intercepted on the way from the forest to the fattening. Rusaks have the most intense fattening from about 22-00 to 24-00. Be sure to have a hearty meal. I don’t take anything from food with me, since I hunt only the first half of the night (4-5 hours). It is pointless to sit all night: arms, back, eyes get tired, and when the beast appears, it is almost impossible to take it.

On a sit-in, it is not necessary to take into account the direction of the wind, as is done when hunting foxes. But disguise should not be neglected. Of course, the vision of a hare is worse than that of a fox, but he will notice a black “carcass” on a white field and be alert. The exit of the fox is not excluded.

If I hunt with a spotlight, I choose a place so that there is a clearing ahead without bushes and grass. When you turn on the headlights, they will create an invisible background. When “arming” with a laser pointer or an LED, rare bushes, reeds are not a hindrance. I study the shooting sector in advance, memorize bumps, stones, writhing, stumps, so as not to confuse them with the beast in the dark. I determine the distance to them by eye. I think about all the possible options for the exit of the hare, this helps to react faster when it suddenly appears.

On the seat, any movement is undesirable. We must learn to warm ourselves in the taiga way, without moving, drawing in and lowering the stomach, tensing and weakening the muscles of the back and shoulders. This procedure must be repeated periodically, only the cold begins to pester. Turning your head, trying to see something from behind or from the side, makes no sense. Even if you see an oblique one, you will not be able to silently turn around for a shot.

The shooting technique is the most diverse. It depends on the behavior of the animal, lighting, devices that facilitate aiming. Often, when the headlight is turned on, the hare stops and sits down. It's easier to hit him. If the hare is caught up, shot, he may not stop. You have to jump up and hit the running one. If the hare did not notice the hunter (in thick grass, reeds), then with a laser pointer or LED, a leisurely shot at a sitting animal is possible. Sometimes the hare stops from the rustle when the gun is raised, and sometimes you just need to snort with your lips.

The first shot plays a big role. Having missed, it is extremely difficult to take the beast at night with the second shot. It is impossible to hit an animal hiding in a dense bush, shooting at a distance of more than 50 meters is also undesirable, especially in the chest and hijacking.

The fabulousness of the moonlit night, the uniqueness of the situation make this seemingly passive hunt attractive and interesting. Of course, a lot of patience is required from the hunter - not every ambush ends with the extraction of a trophy.

It is better for restless people not to start. But if you find the strength to sit in the cold for several hours, success is guaranteed. I had seasons when I took up to 30 hares and 7-8 foxes. Many in my memory and instructive examples. Somehow I settled down on the slope of a ravine with IZH-27 (with a headlight). In front of me is a cleanup. Dark. About three hours later I saw a hare on the opposite slope. He raised his gun, turned on the searchlight. He blinked and faded away. The hare ran. After the flash of the headlights, I go blind for a while. Here the "halogen" again snatches the rushing animal. I can't hit. Conclusion: it is advisable to solder all connections of the battery and wires well and pre-check.

On another occasion, I took up position at a crossroads. Full moon, snow sparkles, frost -130C. A dot approaches. Closer and closer. Runs to the crossroads. Sits down at the crossroads. Obviously, he is considering which way to run. I'm waiting. Of course he saw me. Ran. I snorted - it wasn't there! He added speed. I hit from 15 - 17 meters and unsuccessfully. I shoot at the scythe hiding behind the tall grass - a miss.