Success factors and reliability
How did you find your way to hunting and what does hunting mean to you?My father is a passionate hunter, and I went hunting with him for the first time when I was five years old. He shot an elk on my first day – and I’ve been addicted ever since. From that point onwards, he took me hunting with him for elk, roe deer and hares on a regular basis, but as I got older he taught me how to hunt and shoot alone. Because he has his own shoot, I’ve always been able to hunt as much as I want. Growing up this way has made me thankful for what animals and nature can offer us. My father taught me that nature can be a huge resource for us if we treat it well. He also taught me how to respect animals and enjoy nature. I now have my own farm with my own hunting ground and can still hunt as much as I want. I’m also a teacher at a secondary school, which allows me to spend time outdoors with my pupils, bringing them closer to nature.
What are your special hunting experiences during driven hunts?When hunting in a different way – either in a new country or a different type of game – I have to be confident that my equipment is reliable. During a driven hunt I have to stay extra sharp, as this is not a common form of hunting in Norway and I’m delighted to have the ZEISS Victory V8 1.1-8X30 by my side. This is a steady and reliable scope for hunting when time is of the essence and it gives me the certainty I need.
Often the area is in the middle of the forest surrounded by lots of trees, resulting in predominantly short-range shooting. The animals also often move fast, and so a clear scope with low magnification is important as I need to see spot the animal quickly, but I also need to be able to see the whole animal to be sure of the surroundings. The V8 also has the red dot that makes me, as a huntress, more confident. With the red dot I know exactly where the bullet will hit when I pull the trigger, and it’s easier to remember the moment of the shot. The use of low magnification is also very helpful, due to it being easier to follow the animal from when the shot was taken until the animal is down.
On a driven hunt I try to envisage all the different possibilities of where the animals might appear, which is almost impossible, as they are not easy to predict.
ANETTE DAHL
On my latest driven hunt in Germany, I got a fantastic high seat location. I had an old road behind me, forest on both of my sides and a small open area in front of me. In the early morning I learned from a German hunter that the first twenty minutes of the hunt are the most exciting, because at that time the animals first start to move and everything could happen. I was standing in my high seat with the rifle in my hands, ready and waiting to see if anything was going to happen in the woods… and it did.
On the right side of me two wild boars came out of the forest. I saw them before I heard them due to the heavy rain, and I had to act fast if I wanted to have the chance of a shot, so I mounted the rifle. With a well-fitted rifle and with a crystal-clear scope I could spot the first boar easily and shoot within seconds. I could easily see that the shot was perfect and that the boar had hit the ground. I was then able to move over to the next boar and repeat the success. The perfect match between the seconds of spotting the animals, the fine adjustment of the red dot and the general reliability of the equipment was just perfect. I could not have been as successful without my reliable companion, the Victory V8 1,1-8X30. I have been very lucky during my driven hunts and have been able to bring home several wild boars: for me there is no doubt that confidence in the equipment is one of the key success factors.
Equipment Used
Boar Hunting like Kings
Schoenbuch as Hunting Destination
In Schoenbuch, south of Stuttgart, there are three primeval forests in which nature is allowed to take its course. Ancient oaks and beech trees reach into the sky, some of these are more than 300 years old.
The Dukes and Kings of Wuerttemberg once hunted here – the most beautiful forest in the country. The starting point of many hunts though was the monastery of Bebenhausen. It was expanded into a hunting castle after the monks had to leave the country due to the reformation. Even today, the small village in the Schoenbuch has its own, very special atmosphere. Bebenhausen is considered the “pearl of the Schoenbuch”.
Then the bugling of the horn signals the beginning of the hunt. The hunters take up their positions.
Forestry director Goetz Graf Buelow instructs the hunting guests early in the morning and explains the safety regulations, and discusses the beginning and the end of the hunt. Then the bugling of the horn signals the beginning of the hunt. The hunters take up their positions. Dozens of drivers put the game on the run. The terrain is rough. The height difference between the low-lying valley and the upper ridge is about 250 meters. Difficult for the drivers, but heaven for the boar. Suddenly there is a rustling in the thicket. A herd of wild boar is on the run from drivers and hunting dogs. They are moving up the hill directly to the hunters waiting at the top, suddenly the shots ring out.
Schoenbuch is like a hunting ground from a fairy tale
Briefing:
Forestry director Goetz Graf Buelow instructs the hunting guests and explains the safety regulations, and discusses the process of the hunt.
Hunt like in olden days
Now the horn bugles to announce the end of the hunt. Like in olden days the game is laid out in front of the royal hunting lodge. As a last sign of respect the bugles blow the “Sau tot,” a typical German hunting call. The hunters are completely satisfied with the hunt, as are the dogs. The day winds down in the warm hunting lodge; the later the evening, the merrier the party. At this point everyone is busy with only one thing: spinning yarns.
Call for hunting
Boars are very adaptable and find great hiding places in the uncleared wood areas of the Schoenbuch.
About driven hunts
Both Eyes Wide Open
Perfect Driven Hunt Optics
If you ask German hunters what their favorite type of hunting is, most of them will surely answer that it’s the driven hunt. In this exciting form of hunting you work together with others in a group, supported by beaters and dogs. You have to be constantly on alert as you are an important part of the team. Because of this, taking part in an organized drive can be one of the most exciting ways to hunt.
Keeping both eyes open while aiming during a driven hunt is key. It enhances depth perception and maintains a wider field of view, allowing you to detect movement and stay aware of your surroundings. Additionally, you remain better connected to the dynamic environment, essential for reacting swiftly to fast-moving game, which can be critical in ensuring a successful and ethical shot as well as the safety of your fellow hunters.
Rapid Target Acquisition
Fast target acquisition is essential in driven hunts where quick reactions are crucial. The ZEISS V8 1.1-8×24 riflescope offers a large eyebox and low magnification for easy and rapid target identification. This allows you to maintain a wide field of view and use both eyes while aiming, ensuring faster target engagement. These features significantly improve success rates in fast-paced hunting scenarios where split-second decisions make a difference.
The ZEISS V8 1.1–8×24, is considered the most versatile driven hunt riflescope in the entire ZEISS product line. It enables fast and reliable targeting with both eyes open and allows you to fire accurate shots over long distances, as well as quick shots at short distances.
Unusually Large Field of View
In practical tests, the V8 1.1-8×24 impresses all along the line. Flexibility and speed are the keywords: the 8x magnification plus the 10 mm exit pupil ensure extremely fast aiming whilst the high level of light transmission provides bright, high-contrast images. Moreover, the unusually large field of view enables you to keep the surrounding area in view at all times – a very important issue in the driven hunt, because minimizing the danger to beaters and fellow huntsmen is crucial.
Extra Large Eyebox
A large eyebox offers more flexibility in head positioning, ensuring quicker target acquisition and clear sight alignment without straining the eyes. This is particularly important in dynamic hunting situations where unpredictable angles are common.