Wild Boar Hunting: Driven Boar Hunting and Traditions in Hungary with Ian Harford

Welcome to Wild Boar Road Trip – Hungary on Team Wild TV.

It’s the second and final day of the driven wild boar hunt in Hungary and this time, we follow Ian Harford as he heads out into the brush in the hopes of finally bagging a boar.

It’s another beautiful morning and Ian takes the time to run through all the essential equipment he brings with him on a long trip such as this. With a dedicated space full of draws and compartments in the back of his truck, Ian talks through how he organises his hunting accessories for easy access and set up on the day.

Taking the right clothes for warm weather is essential but also thinking about what he needs for the right hunt is crucial. In this case, binoculars may be more of a hindrance than a help as they should be stationed close enough to the boar to not need them. Knowing that he will be opening up pigs, a knife sharpener is an excellent tool to have at hand knowing how quickly the knife becomes blunt in the process.

Hunting with a new group of people is an amazing experience and the friendships formed on this trip can be just as important as the hunt itself.

As the morning starts out dull and overcast, Ian makes his way to the first drive. Knowing he is not positioned in a highest, he comes prepared with his sticks to help steady his shot. With shooters to his left and right, the arc of fire is about 40 yards in front, 150 yards to the right and 80 to the left. A good backstop and a heavy ammunition will give Ian a good advantage on these fast sprinting boars.

Even though the first drive was uneventful, the sounds of gunshots in the distance gave Ian hope that there was still something out there worth waiting for, and the sunshine seems like a sign of good things to come. It’s easy to get disheartened when things don’t go the way they are hoped, but it’s vital not to lose focus and give into those unrealistic expectations.

Again, no high seat means another drive standing on the sticks and waiting for the perfect moment. But with the amount of sign, Ian is assured that something will appear.

Luckily, a fallow doe makes an appearance around 80 yards away. But unfortunately she placed herself close to the beaters and the dogs scared her off. By the time she was in the perfect place, it was unsafe to shoot.

Just as all hope was lost, Ian was rewarded with another opportunity. A fellow shooter wounded a pig directly in front of Ian’s path, seizing the opportunity, Ian takes down the pig with one shot. A perfect example of team work at it’s finest.

Giving thanks to an animal is just as important as the kill. Tradition is a huge part of hunting in Hungary and as Ian pays his respects and thanks his fellow shooters, he feels like he has accomplished much more than taking home meat for the evenings meal.

For the final drive, Ian finally gets the opportunity to sit int he high seat. With a much needed elevated position, Ian feels the potential as the sun begins to set. Soon into the drive, Ian takes a fallow down to his left. Shortly after, the beaters cry as a boar comes sprinting out of the woodlands to his right. Quickly in the clear, the boar goes down easily with just one powerful punch from Ian’s Hornady Superformance SSTs.

The day has been successful and with the final drive giving a fallow deer and a boar, Ian has gotten a little bit more of what he was expecting from the trip.

Winding down the day with a little bit of housekeeping and some fine celebrations of a successful hunt, Ian looks back on the trip and thanks the great team around him for a fantastic life experience.

In the last episode of the Wild Boar Road Trip – Hungary, Ian and Steve take a look back on the trip and go through the ups and downs and epic experiences of Wild Boar hunting in Hungary.

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