Tips for planning, organizing, and carrying out a driven hunt
Driven hunts are an effective hunting method to adapt game populations to their habitat, to avoid hunting pressure and damage caused by game, and, last but not least, to obtain game meat as a natural food in a hygienic way.
When planning, organizing, and carrying out a hunt, safety is the top priority and MORE important than the success of the hunt – extending from raised hides that are suitable for driven hunts to first aid equipment and warning signs for forest visitors and road users. Everyone that hunts as part of a hunting party assumes responsibility. This responsibility is not only incumbent on the participating hunters, but also on the individual leading the hunt. This person plays an extremely important role. Their instructions must be followed at all times without exception.
Measures to help prevent accidents
Informing the doctor and veterinarian (hunting day, location, etc.); selection of raised hides (accident prevention regulation governing hunting, cover); selection of hunters (education, training, sense of responsibility); safety instruction (status, start and end of hunt, hazardous area, penalties in the event of violations); safety-related equipment and measures (high-visibility vest, hatband, collar, roadblocks, modern means of communication).
The German Hunting Association recommends that hunters generally only shoot from elevated hunting positions – in this case, raised hides for driven hunts that are open on all sides and offer the hunter opportunities to move in all directions are particularly suitable – since there must always be an adequate “bullet trap” available. Natural soil is the only thing suitable for this purpose. This alone, however, does not constitute a sufficient backstop for the shot – the terrain must also offer the greatest possible angle of entry for the projectile. The firing angle relative to the next hunter must be greater than 30 degrees.
When hunting as a party, all of the participants must wear clothing that stands out clearly from the surroundings. Brightly colored vests or clothing are suitable – a hat band alone is not enough.
To ensure that the four-legged hunting companions are also easily recognizable, the use of brightly colored dog vests and collars, ideally labeled with a telephone number, is highly recommended. The use of small bells offers additional safety.
As a general rule, alcohol is taboo before and during hunting. The German Hunting Association also recommends that hunters practice shooting at moving targets and check their accuracy at a firing range or at a shooting simulator before the driven hunt season.
A sophisticated safety strategy also includes ensuring that the series of first aid measures are carried out smoothly in the event of an emergency.
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