Training and Certification for European driven hunts

skydiver386

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I'm trying to gather information on European driven hunting, and what would be required for a foreign hunter to participate in a driven hunt, say in Austria, Germany, or Hungary. Last year at the SCI show, I asked at several booths offering boar hunts in those Countries, but none of them were offering the large driven hunts most of us have seen on "Wild Boar Fever", etc.

None of them specified that training and licenses were an issue, but having done just a small bit of research online brought out several training courses and licensing requirements, mostly in the U.K. I would imagine that most training and licenses required are similar on the continent.

Can any of our European brothers guide me in what would be required to participate in a large scale driven hunt of this type?


Would a course like this one offered in the U.K. meet the requirements for hunting in Austria?
 
While I'm not a European my response is not from experience, but I've looked into to these hunts quite a bit and I've not seen anything indicating training was required. From the course you shared it looked like the main benefit was to gain experience in order to make your driven shoot successful based upon your skills development.

Recently I got some information from one of Craig Boddington's endorsed outfitters who he recently added. They do driven boar hunts in several European countries and sent me some information on a driven hunt this month in Slovakia if I was interested in joining. Their website info is at www.premium-jagdreisen.de

I think this would be a fun hunt to get a group of AH members together to do one of these driven hunts if anyone is interested.
 
The online videos make it look easy, but I have a sneaking suspicion that most filmed hunts are extensively edited to avoid embarrassment. To be fair, I’m not sure that I’d want to be filmed missing four or five shots in a row. Bad for the ego, and all that.
 
I have participated in a “Monterria” in Spain several years ago. No mention of training needed just a quick rules and traditions briefing beforehand. A course sounds like fun.
 
Every country has their own rules. Some countries will accept your hunting license from back home, others not. I’ve hunted driven boar in Germany and a shooting test was required to be granted a license. Hungary i seem to remember just required my hunting license from home. Poland I don’t think I had to do anything but I cannot remember exactly.

Your best bet is to speak to outfitters from the countries you are interested in.
 
Go to a shooting kino and they can help you. It is not too hard.
 
Which countries require certification? I’ve simply sent my US hunting license to the outfitter and they’ve converted to a license for that country so far. For an American, I think Spain offers the most opportunity for an organized driven hunt. Most Spanish outfitters at shows would offer spots on Monterias. Other areas I’ve hunted it’s much more reserved for locals on an invitation basis. Swine fever has had a big impact too both because of the disease and attempts to lower the boar population through hunting because of it. In Southern France the outfitter told me they generally wouldn’t organize a driven hunt for a client because they can’t guarantee success although that’s how they do a lot of hunting themselves. Where I hunted in Sweden that game keeper has the same groups rebook driven hunts each year. In Poland, that club does a once a year big driven hunt where they invite other clubs to participate then they get invited to their driven hunt in exchange. There are still many opportunities for driven hunts though if you speak with different European agencies.
 
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In Germany, a training certificate must be presented in every federal state in order to be able to take part in driven hunts, in all cases in state forests and, depending on the states, also in the other areas. In France, training is only recommended, but is not mandatory for taking part on driven hunts. In Austria you also need shooting certificates, but I don't know for what in detail.

I don't think foreign certificates will be accepted, but I would contact an outfitter in the country where you want to hunt and if something is needed, it will organize that for you without any problems, so in all cases in Germany. Members of the US armed forces regularly train at our hunting association's shooting range in order to acquire their German hunting license.
 
While I'm not a European my response is not from experience, but I've looked into to these hunts quite a bit and I've not seen anything indicating training was required. From the course you shared it looked like the main benefit was to gain experience in order to make your driven shoot successful based upon your skills development.

Recently I got some information from one of Craig Boddington's endorsed outfitters who he recently added. They do driven boar hunts in several European countries and sent me some information on a driven hunt this month in Slovakia if I was interested in joining. Their website info is at www.premium-jagdreisen.de

I think this would be a fun hunt to get a group of AH members together to do one of these driven hunts if anyone is interested.
I've seen quite a few of the videos they have on YouTube. If there's ever an AH member driven hunt of this type, I'd certainly join.
 

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