Three Days of Driven Hunt in Sweden

There are hunting days when you simply hope for an opportunity. And then there are those when you see so much game that the real challenge becomes knowing when to shoot and, above all, when not to shoot.

That is exactly what I experienced during this trip to Sweden, at the invitation of Aimpoint. Three days of driven hunting deep in the Swedish forests, with an impressive amount of game, incredibly precise organisation and particularly strict shooting rules.

I was accompanied throughout these three days by a cameraman, with one mission: to try to capture some of those hunting scenes that sometimes last only a few seconds.

Written by Härkila Ambassador @Feliew_chasse

Impressive Organisation

From early morning, the tone is set. To reach the hunting meeting point, we drive along a long avenue lined with fires, welcoming us in the darkness. The atmosphere is spectacular, almost surreal.

Once everyone is gathered, the instructions are given to all the hunters. They are precise and must be followed to the letter. Here, there is no question of shooting at the first animal you see. The animals authorised for harvest are clearly defined: red deer calves, young wild boar, large male wild boar and young fallow deer.

Swedish hunters are also particularly well connected. Walkie-talkies allow everyone to communicate constantly, while a GPS tracking application makes it possible to follow the different participants and maintain a clear overview of the drive.

At the end of each drive, everyone gathers again and a full report is made: the animals seen, those shot at and those harvested. An organisation very different from what we are used to in France, but remarkably efficient.

Plenty of Game and Difficult Decisions

Once at my stand, there is nothing left to do but wait and stay ready. The game will not be long in showing itself.

Wild boar, fallow deer, red deer. There are plenty of animals, and the situations multiply throughout the three days. But seeing a lot of game does not necessarily mean shooting a lot. Quite the opposite.

When several animals appear at the same time, you have to be able to quickly identify which one is authorised for harvest, assess its movement and make sure that all the conditions are met. With the adrenaline pumping and sometimes only a few seconds to make a decision, this is probably the most difficult part of driven hunting.

During the trip, I let several male wild boar pass because I am not 100% certain that they meet the shooting criteria. Not shooting is also part of hunting.

Day One: Snow and a Company of Wild Boar

The first day begins in a magnificent landscape. Snow covers part of the forest, creating a completely different atmosphere for the drive. The deer are there, and so are the wild boar, but none of the situations allows for a shot that meets the day's strict guidelines.

Then comes the final drive. After just a few minutes, a company of wild boar appears in the snow. My shooting window is extremely restricted, but I manage to take an opportunity and harvest two young wild boar. Fantastic. I hadn't even fired a shot all day and suddenly I had a double.

And it doesn't stop there. The deer are also around, and I have the chance to harvest a red deer calf and a young fallow buck. What a day.

Between drives, the hunters gather around hot soups and snacks to warm up, regain their strength and, of course, discuss the animals they have seen.

Day Two: Until the Last Light

The second day seems to follow the same pattern. The game is there, but the situations are not always clear enough to allow a shot. The hours go by and the light begins to fade. Once again, it is during the final drive that the day finally comes alive. A young female fallow deer comes running between the trees.

The shot is far from easy. The animal is moving quickly, the trees drastically reduce the shooting window, and night is approaching. There are only a few seconds to decide. I finally take the shot through a small opening and manage to harvest the young doe.

A demanding shot, but an extremely satisfying one.

Day Three: Madness

After two very successful days, it is difficult to imagine that the third could possibly be even more intense. And yet, at first light, a very large wild boar leaves the drive before we are even ready, in position and with our rifles loaded. A first missed opportunity.

Then a company of wild boar moves through the area. This time, despite the movement of the high seat caused by my cameraman moving around, I manage to stay focused on a young wild boar and harvest it with a perfectly placed shot.

But the day is far from over. The next drive is going to be completely crazy. As soon as we reach our stands, wild boar start appearing from all directions. Fallow deer join the action and the opportunities keep coming.

The drive is incredibly intense and, this time, most of the animals approaching us clearly meet the day's shooting criteria. I take the opportunities and, at the end of this incredible drive, four wild boar, a female fallow deer and a young fallow buck will remain with me.

The End of Each Day: Honouring the Game

At the end of each day, one final moment brings the hunt to a close. The game tableau is presented and the animals are honoured. But here again, the Swedish tradition is different from what we know in France.

Not every harvested animal is displayed on the tableau. One representative of each species is placed there, as a symbolic way of paying tribute to all the game harvested that day.

Then comes a particularly solemn moment. For each species, its own traditional melody is played in its honour. Not the hunting horn as we know it in France, but the lighter, more melodic sound of the hunting horn, echoing through the forest.

After the excitement of the day, the silence slowly returns. The hunters congratulate the trackers and their dogs, thank the organisers for the hunt, and then we head back to share a drink together and recount the day's stories and memorable moments.

I am already looking forward to November this year, as I have been invited back. Hopefully, we will experience another hunt filled with just as much action and emotion.