Driven Hunting

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Heym SR20

Heym SR20

Well-Known Member
This is a really honest over view of driven hunting on the continent. My experience, albeit on much more farmer, local syndicate level has been pretty much the same.

One big thing I really notice on all this continental hunts is all the regeneration of forestry blocks, and an awful lot looks to be natural regeneration rather than expensive planting.

You should also note a complete absence of any form of fencing. And having sat and watched deer cleanly jump over most deer fences, I really do wonder if the only benefit of fencing is to those who actually put up the fencing, and in many cases put up thanks to grants.

Driven big game is different to phaesant shooting. One huge difference I have noticed is that alcohol is not consumed during the day. But once all the game is in the larder and guns are away - then the eating and drinking starts.

 
Most of the forest in Sweden and I guessing Germany is comercial forestry . At some stages of its life it can look a little wild and woolly. We have planted area's on our shoot that are left very thick that the boar love. Area's that are planted with broadleaf are fenced for their formative years to keep out deer and moose. I' not seen a lot of tree tubes used here. Also not a lot of barbed wire here.
Alcohol is definitely kept for after hunting and then not heavily consumed because of our strict drinking driving laws.
 
At least this guy was in a raised tower. Some of the other videos ive seen are with people just on ground level, an accident waiting to happen!
 
All very different from our communal shoots here in the South of France! Here very much affordable shooting for all, which I think is great, and very much natural in thick wooded Mediterranean oak forests.

Most shots here are sub 15 metres due to the density of the woods and the mountainous terrain. Costs around 400 euros per year + some work days for driven hunting 3 days a week, 5 months a year.

Nice for those who can afford it!
 

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fordman said:
At least this guy was in a raised tower. Some of the other videos ive seen are with people just on ground level, an accident waiting to happen!
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If the accident risks were anything other than astronomically low the hunts would not take place. Hunts are safety cased and managed. Arcs of fire are defined and adhered to, as are maximum range and precisely what may be shot. Hunting is also far more visible and acceptable, hunters are not expected to scurry invisibly from car to meet to stand. Signs are erected and the locals respect access restrictions during the hunt.
I was once posted on the side of a fairly busy road near a bus stop, no one batted an eye.
 
Dunwaters said:
If the accident risks were anything other than astronomically low the hunts would not take place. Hunts are safety cased and managed. Arcs of fire are defined and adhered to, as are maximum range and precisely what may be shot. Hunting is also far more visible and acceptable, hunters are not expected to scurry invisibly from car to meet to stand. Signs are erected and the locals respect access restrictions during the hunt.
I was once posted on the side of a fairly busy road near a bus stop, no one batted an eye.
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Not sure about that at all.
My ex boss went on a driven hunt once a year in France. At least 2 beaters had been shot (wounded) on that shoot……

Also stories in the media about public being killed in France in recent times. One I remember was a mountain biker and the other I remember was someone in their garden I think?

A quick google search turned up the following:
  • France: The 2024/2025 season saw 100 hunting accidents with 11 deaths, with reports indicating 58 houses and 27 vehicles were hit by gunfire in that season alone.

In the area (Savoie) that I used to live in France all the locals would attach bells to their dogs during hunting season to try and prevent them being shot by mistake
 
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palmer_mike said:
Not sure about that at all.
My ex boss went on a driven hunt once a year in France. At least 2 beaters had been shot (wounded) on that shoot……

Also stories in the media about public being killed in France in recent times. One I remember was a mountain biker and the other I remember was someone in their garden I think?

In the area (Savoie) that I used to live in France all the locals would attach bells to their dogs during hunting season to try and prevent them being shot by mistake
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I’ve never been shooting in France, they’re far too excitable, same thing with the Italians. Give me the unflappable, phlegmatic Scandinavians every time.
Safety standards have improved, they’re not perfect but definitely a lot better. Paradoxically the use of rifles is a factor in the improvement. Shotguns increase the likelihood of an accident but the accident is likely to be relatively minor, rifles decrease the incidence of accidents but the accidents that occur will be more serious.
Regardless of the firearm, safety standards have improved. Have an accident and it’s going to be thoroughly investigated, sobriety checks, safety briefing, stand placement etc etc.
Being a driven hunt master is not for the faint of heart.
 
palmer_mike said:
saw 100 hunting accidents with 11 deaths, with reports indicating 58 houses and 27 vehicles were hit by gunfire in that season alone.
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Holy ****,that makes Dunny`s reply look ordinary.

On average throughout winter in Victoria alone there are circa 30-40,000 deer hunters in our bush and it is truly rare to have anyone shot accidentally..truly rare.
 
Dunwaters said:
If the accident risks were anything other than astronomically low the hunts would not take place. Hunts are safety cased and managed. Arcs of fire are defined and adhered to, as are maximum range and precisely what may be shot. Hunting is also far more visible and acceptable, hunters are not expected to scurry invisibly from car to meet to stand. Signs are erected and the locals respect access restrictions during the hunt.
I was once posted on the side of a fairly busy road near a bus stop, no one batted an eye.
Click to expand...
I had a stand last season that was at ground level by the side of the road all the car drivers gave a wave of acknowledgement. Two young ladies jogged by and never even glanced my way.
You just need good recognition skills. Boar are four legged hairy things, cars aren't.
 
All the driven hunts I've been on have started with a printed/verbal hunt protocol. Non of the stands on our shoot of which there are over a hundred can you see from another stand. Most stands are raise of various heights a lesser number are ground stands.
Now, if you're a bit of a phuckwit and can't understand simple instructions or work out for yourself, safe shooting directions or angles and gun safety, then it's best to find another shooting form that suits you.
 
Serious accidents on big game driven hunts are rare. Lower level accidents happen at an increased rate involving property damage and minor injuries. Injuries associated with hunting are not always firearms related, fall out of a stand and the accident will be recorded, if your car is damaged, that gets recorded too. Anything that results in a claim is recorded.
The hunts are insured, if there was any serious safety concern coverage would be declined altogether or much more expensive.
Ask BASC and the NGO how many shooting related claims they received last year, I’ll bet that excitement and sloppy gun handling are not strictly the preserve of continental shooters.
 
Jagare said:
I had a stand last season that was at ground level by the side of the road all the car drivers gave a wave of acknowledgement. Two young ladies jogged by and never even glanced my way.
You just need good recognition skills. Boar are four legged hairy things, cars aren't.
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I have met some female four legged hairy things in my time. :)
 
Dunwaters said:
Serious accidents on big game driven hunts are rare. Lower level accidents happen at an increased rate involving property damage and minor injuries. Injuries associated with hunting are not always firearms related, fall out of a stand and the accident will be recorded, if your car is damaged, that gets recorded too. Anything that results in a claim is recorded.
The hunts are insured, if there was any serious safety concern coverage would be declined altogether or much more expensive.
Ask BASC and the NGO how many shooting related claims they received last year, I’ll bet that excitement and sloppy gun handling are not strictly the preserve of continental shooters.
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Our German Jagdschein is only issued after showing you are having proof of insurance for the Jagdschein period to be issued. Makes sense to me, costs around 70€ per year for peace of mind that's not even the price of a pack of 20x decent cartridges.
 
Dunwaters said:
Serious accidents on big game driven hunts are rare.
Click to expand...
Statistics and Key Risks
  • France (2024-2025 Season): Recorded 100 hunting-related shooting accidents, leading to 11 fatalities, a significant rise from the previous season, with 63% of incidents occurring during big game hunts.
  • Italy (2025-2026 Season): Documentation showed 13 deaths of non-hunters (hikers, family members) and 33 deaths of hunters.
  • Italy (2024-2025): 14 fatal accidents occurred between Sept 1, 2024, and Jan 30, 2025.
  • Spain (2007-2022): A parliamentary inquiry revealed at least 125 people died and 729 were injured in hunting accidents.
  • Non-Hunter Risk: In France (2024-2025), 16 non-hunters were injured by gunfire, and 58 houses and 27 vehicles were hit by bullets, illustrating a broader danger beyond just participants.
  • Property Damage: Similar incidents are reported in other regions where homes, cars, and pets are sometimes shot, creating high risks for rural residents.
Suppose it hinges on what you define as ‘rare’
 
palmer_mike said:
Statistics and Key Risks
  • France (2024-2025 Season): Recorded 100 hunting-related shooting accidents, leading to 11 fatalities, a significant rise from the previous season, with 63% of incidents occurring during big game hunts.
  • Italy (2025-2026 Season): Documentation showed 13 deaths of non-hunters (hikers, family members) and 33 deaths of hunters.
  • Italy (2024-2025): 14 fatal accidents occurred between Sept 1, 2024, and Jan 30, 2025.
  • Spain (2007-2022): A parliamentary inquiry revealed at least 125 people died and 729 were injured in hunting accidents.
  • Non-Hunter Risk: In France (2024-2025), 16 non-hunters were injured by gunfire, and 58 houses and 27 vehicles were hit by bullets, illustrating a broader danger beyond just participants.
  • Property Damage: Similar incidents are reported in other regions where homes, cars, and pets are sometimes shot, creating high risks for rural residents.
Suppose it hinges on what you define as ‘rare’
Click to expand...
Those are all excitable countries by nature. Have you got the Denmark, Sweden, Germany & Poland statistics for comparison?
 
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