Background: I'm an American and have never hunted in Europe or been on a driven hunt so please excuse the question if it seems strange to those of you with experience.

I was looking at an "offer" for a 3-day driven hunt where 8 shooters could take 4 mature elk + 4 calves and my question has to do with who shoots what and when.

QUESTION: 1st drive and two big elk run by your stand do you shoot them both? If you do, what would be your actions for the remaining drives? Would you continue to shoot?

Let me re-phrase slightly. It the last drive of the 2nd day and so far all that's been shot has been 1 mature elk and 2 calves....any difference in your answer?

Is there something you can suggest I read to get some sense how each participant is supposed to comport himself during a driven hunt? Thanks.

Bill, this sounds like a Swedish (or at least Scandinavian) hunt for moose?? There are no wapiti (elk) in Europe, but the word "elg" designates a moose in Sweden and Norway. I think our UK friends use the word "elk" to designate moose. Correct??

The questions you pose don't have clearcut answers. It really depends on what you agree within your group, and what you agree with the people who organize your hunt. Whatever you do, it is bound to be wrong

Hunters (not least groups on driven hunts) are a pretty competitive lot, and unless you know each other well, it is not unlikely you'd get the evil eye if you shot more than your "share" of the total. Like I said, it really depends on how well you know each other, and what was agreed in advance.

Alas, driven hunts are notoriously chancy, and perhaps even more so for moose in Sweden, where areas are large and game populations sparse. You can be lucky and take several moose on a single day - or at least on a single hunt - but you can also go for years and never fire a shot. I'm not trying to dissuade you from going, driven moose is supposed to be a very special experience. You should just start off with the right expectations.

Now I'm sure somebody will tell me about how they have always shot at least one moose every time they went to Sweden. Or how this area or that has so many moose it is impossible not to connect. May all well be true. However, it does not always happen, nor in all areas. Driven moose in Sweden is a very "collective" hunt, and meat is shared between all hunters - you should be happy with the success of the group as opposed to personal success.

As far as further information about these types of hunts, I'm sure our learned Scandinavians will be more than happy to fill you in on the correct etiquette...

- mike

Db Bill.

Driven hunts throughout Europe are generally formal affairs - with a full prebrief. Rest assured you will be provided with protocol that applies on the estate where you are a guest.

You are unlikely to be hunting 'Elk' - could well be Red Deer or possibly Moose.

Keep well and enjoy the trip!

Rgds Ian

DB,

I went on my first driven hunt last December. I had a great host who showed me the ropes so to speak. He took me to my station, told me what the targets were (female Roe and pigs meeting certain requirements), what not to shoot etc and explained what my shooting arc was. I know this is not exactly answering your question, but these things were certainly circling through my mind when the hunt began. I was very concerned about the safety aspect with the large number of hunters and beaters (and dogs) around. I managed one young female Roe during two drives and couldn't have been happier.

I wish you the best of luck for your hunt. Let us know some more details of your hunt once you have them. I'm sure there'll be plenty more advice on the way.

-Stu

"elg" it is and I knew it was what we call moose but my fingers typed elkb y mistake.

There is no general protocol on when to stop shooting. On a driven boar hunt, it is common to keep shooting as long as every previously shot boar has dropped in sight. Having more than one animal run off wounded is to be avoided, because crossing blood spoors make tracking difficult.
Last season in my area, a hunter shot 10 boars during a single hunt.

DB Bill,

You've received some great advice already, so I won't re-hash the above.....

From my perspective the deal as you've described includes 8 hunters and 8 pieces of game.

Scandinavian Moose hunting can be "iffy" as stated above - I know guys who've gone for years and have yet to see a moose. Others pop one the first morning and ask "What's the big Deal?"

From my experience I'd say, if you shoot something on day 1, then hold off until the last minute, cause everyone else should/could/may get an opportunity too. If the sum is 8 pieces for 8 hunters then I would ensure that all 8 hunters agree to the "luck of the draw" or "first-come; first-served" routine before I shot two animals.

I do know that on the continent if you shoot at game on a driven hunt and the animal, Red Deer, Wild Boar or Fallow; does not expire within sight it is considered VERY unsportsman like to engage an additional animal until the kill is confirmed.

Since you are not allowed to move from your stand during drives this can take anywhere from one hour to all morning. Once it is established that the animal is dead - and everyone is in agreemnet with the "lottery system" then take additional opportunities as they arise.

Cheers,

Gerry