Wild boar hattrick in France
Photo: Tweed Media - Hattrick on wild boar with support from Philippe Lavit
“I have never tried that before, so I think I should definitely be able to do that.”
The same did I say, when I received the invitation for Wild Boar Fever X driven hunt in France, back in 2019. This is a story from an unforgettable hunt. My frist driven hunt.
Drivenhunt? Shooting running game?
It was with the depest respect for this difficult type of hunting, that I replied yes to the invitation from Tweed Media and My Outdoor TV. I knew it required a serious amount of training. With only 14 days of notice, I managed to visit the shooting cinema and the range more than a handful of times.
Running boar at 50 m.
The location is Loire Valley, in the center of France. The area is known as one of the absolute best places for driven hunt on wild boar. It is also right here, that the Wild Boar Fever X is filmed.
With sweaty hands and a high heart rate I’m standing in a high seat. The Wild Boar Fever X team members, a production team and rest of the hunters is all looking at me. My rifle setup is a Sauer 404 30.06 mounted with an Aimpoint Micro H-2. An ergonomic designed rifle with a synthetic stock. A paper target, that looks like a 40 kg. wild boar, is running back and forth in front of me. I load with 5 cartridges and mount the rifle to the shoulder, to the sound of a drone flying just above me. Filming every breath and movement that I do. I was nervous, even though I knew I had been training so intensively and therefore knew, that I could place a good shot on this running target. With a deep breath and a sharp focus I follow through the wild boar, watching the red dot from the Aimpoint and pulled the trigger. The manager of the shooting range gave me a smile. 4 perfectly placed shots and 1 shot a bit behind, but approved.
Photo: Tweed Media - running target at the shooting range
Placed in a high seat with Feliew
Feliew is one of the Wild Boar Fever team members and have hunted hundreds of wild boars. Here we were standing. My first driven hunt and with his support and guidance. More than 30 beaters and double as many dogs is working. Within a few minutes we hear the first shot. The second shot. The third - and so one. I was more than ready. With the butt stock mounted to my shoulder at all times, I was ready for a running wild boar. The adrenaline pumps around in my body. I haven’t seen a wild boar in real life. I try to imagine all possible scenarios.
Action, adrenaline and a hattrick
In front of me there’s an open field and behind me there’s a gravel road only a few metres wide. I’m not allowed to shoot on the field, because this is where the beaters and dogs are working. That means I have the gravel road only to mount, follow and shoot. I knew it would be difficult, almost impossible - for a newbie like me.
He whispers. Feliew whispers: ‘‘In front of you, Mette!’’. A group of 12 wild boars was running straight towards us. Moving over the field, which is forbidden area. I slowly place my feet in the only direction that would be possible to shoot, if they choose to cross the gravel road. They keep running. In the direction I want them too. Suddenly they change their mind and instead of crossing the road, they ran out next to my neighbor. Bang! Bang! A wild boar tumbled around and everything got quiet. Great shot from my British neighbor.
Photo: Tweed Media - wild boar
From a corner on the field a new group of wild boars are coming in. Also full speed. I prepared myself, again. I’m focusing on wild boar number 3. I pulled the trigger as soon as the wild boar stepped into the gravel road. It fell down in the shot. Due to the high speed, he slided straight into the thick bushes. The wild boar fever hits me! I start shaking all over my body. A state of chock and happiness - and approval. I did it! All that training and reading into wild boars gave me success. I was over the moon happy and couldn’t wait to get down to touch and see my very first wild boar.
With a smile bigger than ever, I managed to pull the trigger once, in every group of wild boars that passed my gravel road. A total of 3 perfect shots and 3 beautiful wild boars.
Photo: Tweed Media - Feliew and I dragging one of the wild boars to the pick up car
Wild Boar Fever X with succes
How to define a succesful hunt? To me, a succesful hunt is about the whole experience and can’t be defined from only one element. Which means, the hunt didn’t get better the more wild boars I got. The amount of wild boars was not a criteria of succes to me. Instead, success can be defined in a well organized hunt, the community, the hunting dogs, great food, an insight in a hunting culture and of course the unique nature and wildlife experience it gives you. The cherry on top is the shot opportunities I got.
Hunting is unpredictable and you must be lucky to get the good shot opportunities - and talented to take them. For that reason, the amount of dead animals in the end of the hunt is secondary. It’s the total experience that defines the succes.
Wild Boar Fever X was a succes. A huge success. I’ve met a bunch of new great people from all over Europe and a hunting experience above anything that I could ever imagine.
Photo: Tweed Media - Anette Dahl and me, both happy hunters after a great day
