Turkey – a Paradise for Wild Boar Hunting

Turkey has been known for its world excellence in wild boar hunting for many years it is considered a true paradise for hunters. Over the past 25 year, this place has become an absolute top destination for several reasons. All of the boars are untouched due to the Islamic rules, the Turks simply don’t eat them and Turkish hunting is historically on a different level than ours. Did you know that the Turkish hunters may only own single-shot shotguns? As you will surely acknowledge, hunting for a black animal in a mountainous terrain with sparse vegetation with a single shot weapon is very difficult. Therefore, borrowing a multi-shot shotgun on site is impossible, so you have to bring your own weapon. Over several past years, Low pressure of the hunt has led the boars to multiply in this area. There are many old bucks with strong tusks. Therefore, ours, or more precisely, my hunting trips led several times to the crescent moon country before, whether for joint or individual hunts.   Wild boar hunting in Turkey is very specific compared to hunting in Slovakia. It requires intense preparation and feeding in locations, where the hunt will take place, whether individual during the night or joint hunting during the day.

 

In case of individual hunting, there are 15 to 20 different feeding spots prepared for a single hunter in locations with high incidence of wild boars. The actual hunt is in the form of a evening or night stalking using night-time equipment. The professional guide has knowledge about the feeding spots, therefore, the hunt is situated in locations, which are regularly visited by capital bucks.  The weather depends on when the hunt takes place - in a pleasant environment between October and April, when the night temperatures during early fall do not fall below 10°C, but during the winter nights, the temperature can drop as low as -5°C. It is important to have good shoes, but comfortable and ideal for silent movement through the terrain. The quality of the night-time equipment designed for the hunt or observation is an integral part of the night hunt. Hunting for wild boars on a joint hunting trip is a different story, when the differences in traditions and approach to the hunt fully manifest themselves. I have decided to tell about its specifics, beauty and funny sides in a story from my recent trip in January 2023:

 

Using a domestic flight from Istanbul, we arrive in our destination, the City of Konya. By getting our luggage from the belt, our stay at the airport only begins; after all, import of shotguns is subject to strict rules, beginning with check of documents, permits and the presence of the local agency up to the counting of cartridges (max 50 pcs). After leaving the airport, a long journey west awaited us, to the smaller City of Beysehir. I’d love to be there already, but it is true that I enjoyed the view of the surrounding scenery from the car window - the unique place of Turkish streets, the sunset, colorful villages with minarets and huge vast areas we were passing through. I was taking in this beautiful environment as much as possible and I tried to capture every detail we were passing. A portrait of Atatur, whom the locals refer to as the father of the nation, was a frequent detail.

 

An experienced guide, who comes directly from Beysehir, was always there. This city at the shores of a lake of the same name is the key, since this is where we will live and the hunt will take place in its close vicinity. Mehmed is also an experienced hunter, he knows the terrain perfectly and he checks if there is a sufficient number of the black knights on the site until the very last moment. I breathed a sigh of relief, when after several hours we arrived at the hotel, which was only a short distance from our hunting grounds. Turkey enchanted me from the very first moment. I was surprised by the hospitality of the locals, we have experienced their warm welcome from our first moments at the hotel.

 

We spent the night in the hotel. It was more than necessary for us to gain strength for the upcoming three hunting days, where together with my friend Tomas, I accompanied a foreign group. The sunrise and the everywhere present voice of the Melusine from the minaret meant only one thing for us - it is time to get up, eat breakfast and get on our way. There are off-road vehicles in front of the hotel, the hunters are ready and the locals are nowhere to be found. Like every morning, everyone consulted together over a cigarette and the typical strong morning black tea in the local tavern. After dividing into cars, Mehmed started telling us about the environment, the hunt, the plans and that there are many “dumuz” - that’s how to locals call the boars. After a short drive, we arrive in the area of the first chase. Members of the chase are ready on a large parking lot; in addition to instructions, they are given firecrackers, megaphones and cartridges for signal weapons. Yes, you are reading that right. Simply, in Turkey, there is no, for us typical, sound of the French horns the barking of dog helpers, but the sounds of the listed equipment. You will certainly see a couple of dogs, but it is no canine orgasm. Anyway, the hunters picked numbers - places and we started climbing up a steep hill. We were surrounded by unique nature. The Turkish nature is typically depicted as an arid and rocky wasteland. But the opposite is true. A beautiful green wilderness with all types of trees and plants. This was truly an experience and we still did not come to the main part - the hunt. We lined up from the foot of the hill to the top, where I was standing as the third on the top. To complete the picture, I add that as the co-organizer of the hunting trip I took the stand that was left.   The chase started. With a view of the surrounding country, I was soaking in the sunshine and the sounds of the firecrackers, sirens from the megaphone and the barking of the dog. It was getting closer and closer, which meant only one thing. I prepared to take a shot hoping that the dog is chasing wild boars. And I was right, silently, an individual boar - buck was running at me. I stopped breathing, aimed at the animal and pulled the trigger. I shot sounded. I still was not breathing from the tension that was tearing through my body. There was silence. I knew it was a good sign and I stood in my spot, silently, after all, where there is one boar, there could be more. The dog caught up with us and reported success, as Tomas did, after a while, who came to check the catch. Based on Tomas’ gestures, a winning smile appeared on my face. This was truly a great start of the day and of the three-day hunt. I couldn’t even image a better one; after all, an adult medal buck with 23 tusks would make   any hunter happy. The valley sounded with the shots of guns of other hunters, which made me, as the organizer, even more happy. The first chase and the first boar; I did not know what awaited me. Since the scenario repeated itself and I was able to catch a total of 3 adult boars, not counting the trophy bucks, I quickly became the butt of jokes, that with my luck I can stay with the cars in the parking lots and there is a 100% chance of something coming to me. Before the last chase on the last day, we were picking numbers, just like before the other rounds. What remained in the hat was assigned to me. Not even reading my number, I’m asking the other guys: “Anybody want my number, gentlemen?” There were only judgements, that we are finishing and that I certainly cannot have that much luck and that I should keep my number. I’m getting to my spot and determined that I will not shoot, I’m taking the prone position, where I really had my gun at my side, not loaded. I will leave out the poetic description of the following hour and make it short: in the last round I caught 11 boars, in word, eleven wild boars. Honestly, I’ve done the best I could to point the boars in the direction of the other hunters, either by shooting or running up or standing in front of the running herd. If not for this desperate activity, I would have certainly caught more. With mixed feelings, I returned to my pals, who were waving happily for afar and not believing, laughing, they were welcoming me and congratulating me to my success. Hunts with gentlemen from Scandinavia do have their magic. This also another testament, that you need to have a lot of luck and great marksmanship for a successful   joint hunt.

 

I would like to declare my success, or the overall positive result with a picture of my catch, but you don’t get that from a hunt in Turkey. All caught boars are left for foxes, wolves or ravens. The Turks do not eat this meat and the collection of the caught boars would only slow down the course. Allow me to remind you that they organize 3 to 4 chases a day in a large area with difficult terrain. We called for a local specialist with a bucket and an axe to remove the tusks, which he also prepares between the chases.   Between the chases we were also enjoying are time together and exchanged stories not only from this hunt. Our stomachs were never empty, the food was prepared right in front of us in the hunting grounds on charcoal. The prepared meals were very tasty and nutritious. After returning from dinner, we also visited the local gastronomic establishments, where we tasted real kebab or the traditional meals like baklava or heat-treated ram testicles. Well, different land - different tastes.

 

Hunting in Turkey is very interesting   and truly unforgettable thanks to the hospitality, food and unique organization of the hunt itself. I will cherish this experience for the rest of my life. Hail to the hunt and to the forest!