(Sent 15 November 2001)
My friend down in Sweden work as the gamekeeper's assistant on the estate with the densest wild boar population in Scandinavia. They usually hunt the boar either over a bait, or with hounds. Their preference is Laika's, who hold the boar at bay. Terriers (German jagdterriers etc.) are also used. Don't you guys have Fell or Patterdale's up there ? The biggest problem isn't getting in for the kill, but _how_ to kill them when there are dogs all around the boar. I've also heard some reports about some of the dogs being a little too agressive, leaving the boars earless after the hunt... In any case, this is probably the only efficient way to hunt wild boar in dense cover.
When baiting the boar, they hunt even though its 100% dark, and no snow on the ground. Their tactics is to place loads of hay on the ground around the bait. That way, they can see the boars' silhouette easily, even in complete darkness. Two weeks ago they arranged a bait hunt with 6 hunters, who shot 26 wild boar between them, in 3 nights. They get bait from a nearby pasta factory - left over pasta, cut-off, samples etc. etc. I think they use something like 6 tonnes per week...
>Could have shot at least 5 deer so far, but gave them up to avoid disturbance.
>They can wait till I've at least made an impression on the pigs.
My friend has experienced several times that the boar come running when they hear a shot. They eat the intestines/gut of the animals that are shot, and obviously have learned that the sound of a gunshot means food. Thats the only time, he says, he can get really close to them, except when hunting with dogs...