Russia is blessed with the largest brown bear population in the world. Brown bear is one of the most widespread, well-known and popular animals in Russia. At well over 100,000,  Russia has as many brown bears as the rest of the other countries combined. Bears are distributed throughout Russia unevenly. The European Region Northwest of Russia, Kamchatka peninsula and the coastal regions of the Pacific have the highest density of the animals. Brown bear is an elusive and aggressive animal. Hunting bears is difficult and the methods vary greatly from region to region, depending on the habits of the local bears and terrain. Five subspecies of brown bear are found throughout Russia.

 It is believed that Ursus arctos colonized America from Asia. Not surprisingly, brown bears of the Old World show much higher diversity in appearance and behavior than their descendants in USA and Canada. It is possible that this species is undergoing further speciation before our very eyes. Unlike in North America, where brown bears seem to prefer open landscapes, in Eurasia they inhabit mostly dense forests. One possible reason for this difference is that the particular population that invaded America thousands of years ago was tundra-adapted. In fact, Chukotka Peninsula on the Asian side of Bering Strait is the only place in Asia where brown bears live year-round in lowland tundra.
 

KAMCHATKA BROWN BEAR  Ursus arctos beringianus

(Far Eastern brown bear)

DESCRIPTION  & TAXONOMY

These Giant bears are very similar to Kodiak bears of Alaska, but tend to be darker. Head and body length is up to 9 feet (275 cm), tail length 6-1/2 to 8-1/2 inches (16.5 to 21.6 cm), shoulder height 50-53 inches (127 to 135 cm). As with the Alaska brown bear, the Kamchatka brown bear grows large because of its abundant and protein-rich diet of spawning salmon and other fish in the coastal rivers, and from the comparatively mild climate that permits a shorter period of hibernation. It is a very large, dark bear with a massive skull. The forehead is broad and rather steeply elevated over the relatively short nose. The coat is long, dense and soft. The color varies from pale yellow to blackish-brown and dull black, but dark individuals predominate. The legs are usually the same color as the body. The claws are dark brown, some times with light yellowish streaks at the tips, and are up to four inches (100 mm) in length. The largest specimens are found in Kamchatka and on the Shantar islands. In fact, a recent hunting expedition to the Shantar islands reported seeing unusually large number of bears in a 10 ft. range. Includes the races beringianus (Shantar Islands) and piscator (Kamchatka). The record bear was obtained in Kamchatka and scored 29.5 inches.

DISTRIBUTION

Far eastern Siberia, where it is found on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Karaginskiy Island, and northward throughout the Koryak Autonomous District. Also in the coastal strip west of the Sea of Okhotsk and east of the coastal mountains as far south as Uda bay, on the Shantar Islands and the northern Kuril Islands.

HUNT

Hunting is organized in Kamchatka, Shantar islands (Okhotsk) and Magadan. In the Spring in the coastal areas bears are hunted along the shoreline, where they concentrate, looking for seafood. Inland bears are easily spotted on the hills, covered with snow. A hunter can  see  over 30 bears during the trip. During the Fall hunting season bears are hunted while feeding on salmon in the many rivers and creeks, or on wild berries in the surrounding tundra. The average size of the bears taken is around 7.5-8.0 ft in Magadan and Okhotsk and 8.0-8.5 ft. in Kamchatka. The success rate is essentially 100%.  Many hunters choose to take 2 bears. 375 H&H magnum or a similar cartridge should be the minimum.

SEASONS

Kamchatka: end of April-May, end of August-October

Okhotsk and Magadan: May, end of August-October 

AMUR BROWN BEAR

Ursus arctos lasiotus

(Ussuri brown bear, black grizzly or horse bear)

DESCRIPTION  & TAXONOMY

It is smaller and darker than the Kamchatka brown bear, with a differently shaped skull and much larger teeth. The coat is often almost black in color. The skull is longer and narrower, with especially long nasal bones and it is flatter in profile, being less elevated over the nose. The ears are noticeably hairy. Consists of the following races listed by various authorities: lasiotus (northern China), cavifrons (northwestern Manchuria), mandchuricus (Primorsky Krai), jessoensis (Sakhalin), yesoensis (Hokkaido), and melanarctos (Hokkaido).

The record bear, obtained in Khabarovsk region scored 27.6 inches.

DISTRIBUTION

Russia: Southern Kuril Islands, Sakhalin, Maritime Territory, and the Ussuri/Amur river region south of the Stanovoy Range. China: Northeastern Heilongjiang. Japan: Hokkaido.

HUNT

Hunting is organized in the Khabarovsk and Primorsk regions by stalking. 30-06 cartridge is the minimum  

EURASIAN BROWN BEAR  Ursus arctos arctos

DESCRIPTION

Head and body length is up to 8 feet (2.4 m) and more. Tail length  is up to 6 inches (15.2 cm). Shoulder height 35-43 inches (89-109 cm). Weight 220-660 pounds (100-300 kg) and more. Females are about two-thirds as large as males. A good-sized, powerfully built bear with a distinct shoulder hump, a large head supported by a short, muscular neck, and a concave facial profile. Overall color can vary with individual bears from light grayish-yellow to very dark brown. Juveniles may have a conspicuous pale collar. The coat is long or not, depending on region and season.

This bear is solitary except when mating, and very territorial, with a large home range.  They breed late May to July, with cubs (usually twins, range 1-3) born in the den from late December to February. Cubs remain with the mother two years or longer. Sexually mature at five years or later. These bears are active mainly at twilight and at night. Largely herbivorous, eating all kinds of plants. They also eat ants, insect larvae, honey, rodents, fish and carrion. Occasionally they may take larger animals such as moose, reindeer and domestic livestock. Dens up in autumn and hibernates up to 6 months. Senses of smell and hearing are excellent, eyesight not as good. This bear is a  fast agile runner and an excellent swimmer. Adults are unable to climb trees because of the shape of their claws and their body weight. The records from Europe and Asia are registered separately.

Europe: The record bear scored 27.3 inches.

Asia: No trophies of the Eurasian Brown Bear are registered in SCI Record Book.

DISTRIBUTION

The most widespread form of brown bear in Eurasia is mainly found today in Russia, Romania and the former Yugoslavia. Smaller numbers are found in Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Albania, Bulgaria and Greece, and remnant populations are found in Spain, France and Italy. The current estimated population of Eurasian brown bear in Russia is well over 30,000. Inhabits coniferous forests with an abundance of edible plants, frequently with steep terrain and difficult access.

HUNT

We organize hunting for the European population of Eurasian bear in the North-Western part of Russia and for the Asian population in the Ural mountains and in the Eastern Siberia. These are some of the best hunts in the European part of Russia. The bear population during the past 20 years has been very stable.  The usual trophy size is about 7 ft., although 8 - 8.5 ft. bears have been taken by our clients every year.  This bear is usually hunted by baiting during the spring or fall, by chance encounter while hunting other game during the fall. Sometimes hunted by breaking into their dens during hibernation, which is a very dangerous and adrenalin loaded hunt. The record bear (not registered) taken in the Pskov region in 1999 had a scull measured in excess of 27 inches. The success rate is about 90%. Some hunters take more than one bear. We recommend 30-06 or similar cartridge.

SEASONS

April-May, end of August-February

SIBERIAN BROWN BEAR  Ursus arctos collaris

DESCRIPTION & TAXONOMY 

The Siberian brown bear is intermediate in size between the Eurasian and Kamchatka brown bears. It is larger than the Eurasian brown bear, with more massive bones and a somewhat larger and heavier skull, but smaller than the Kamchatka brown bear The fur is long, soft and dense, it is more luxuriant than that of any other bear. The color is usually dark brown with noticeably darker legs, but will vary from light pale brown to dark brown, and some individuals will show yellowish, cinnamon or black tones. The claws are brown to blackish-brown, strongly curved, up to 3- 1/3 inches (85 mm) in length. The brown bears of the Kolyma and Anadyr basins are included in this category. They are similar to the grizzlies of North America - smaller, long-haired and aggressive. The Siberian brown bear category includes the following subspecies that have been described by various authorities: collaris (Siberia), sibiricus (Siberia), jeniseensis (Krasnoyarsk region), kolymensis (Kolyma River), and baikalensis (lrkutsk region).

The record trophy score is 26.8 inches.

DISTRIBUTION

East of the Yenisey river in most of Siberia (except for the habitat of the Kamchatka and Amur brown bears.) Also in northern Mongolia, far northern Xinjiang, and extreme eastern Kazakhstan.

HUNT

We organize hunting in the Krasnoyarsk Region, Irkutsk Area and Yakutia. These hunts usually take place in rugged and heavily forested terrain, where getting in range of the bear offers a greater challenge. The best chance to spot a bear is in the foothills of the mountains, or along the shorelines, where the  forest is less dense. Horses and rafts are used very often for transportation.  Another option, baiting, is frequently used when hunting takes place in the dense forest. The average trophy is similar in size to a North American grizzly. 30-06 cartridge is the minimum.

SEASONS

End of August – February, end of April- beginning of June

 MIDEASTERN BROWN BEAR  Ursus arctos syriacus

(Syrian brown bear, Caucasian brown bear)

DESCRIPTION & TAXONOMY

This is a smaller brown bear, considerably paler in color than the Eurasian brown, with a coarser and sparser coat. Includes the following races: syriacus (Lebanon), schmitzi (Palestine), meridionalis (Caucasus), lasistanicus (Black Sea coast), caucasicus, dinniki, smirnovi (Caucasus), and persicus (northern Iran).The color varies from pale straw to dull grayish-brown, with a large dark brown patch of long hair on the withers and sometimes a rather wide dorsal stripe extending back from it. There may be a dark brown patch on the head and sometimes there is a white collar. The claws are straighter and lighter in color than in northern races. Smaller, lighter colored bears tend to occur at higher altitudes, with larger and darker bears in the forests below.

The record was obtained in Turkey and scored 26 inches.

DISTRIBUTION

Turkey, Syria, Iran, and the Caucasus mountains of Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

HUNT

We organize hunting for the Mideastern Brown Bear in Northern Caucasus by stalking. The hunt is physically demanding due to a difficult terrain. 30-06 or similar cartridge is adequate.

SIBERIAN IBEX Capra sibirica sibirica (Ibice Siberiano, Sibirischer Steinbock, Bouquetin de Siberie)

DESCRIPTION & TAXONOMY

A large ibex is thick-legged and stoutly built, with a long, pointed chin beard and heavy, scimitar-shaped horns. The summer coat is short, becoming long, coarse and brittle in winter with a dorsal crest and thick undercoat. The color is variable, but generally in summer it is a shade of yellowish or grayish-brown with a darker dorsal stripe, dark underparts and legs, and without a lighter saddle patch. The winter coat is yellowish-white and usually there is a large, light saddle patch. The dorsal stripe, tail and beard are blackish-brown. The male's horns are large and impressive, curving around to form three-fourths of a circle and tapering to relatively slender points. Horns are relatively flat on the front surface and have well-defined cross ridges. Races includes altaica (Irtish Altai), fasciata (northeast Altai), Iydekkeri (Katutay Range of Altai), sibirica (Sayan Mountains west of Lake Baikal) and typica (Tunkinskie Belki east of Irkutsk)

DISTRIBUTION

Sayan and Altai mountains of Siberia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

HUNT

The Ibex prefers open, precipitous terrain at moderate to relatively high altitudes.  We organize hunting for the Siberian Ibex in the Altai and Sayan Mountains of Russia and Kazakhstan. The hunter is expected to be in good physical shape. The ability to ride a horse is helpful. The hunter has to bring binoculars, range finder, comfortable mountain boots, windproof camouflage jacket , warm sweater, sunglasses sun screen and a sleeping bag.  The duration of the tour is 8-9 days from Almaty, Irkutsk or Barnaul. Usual trophy size is 100-110 cm. Cartridge in 7 mm range caliber is adequate.

SEASON

August 15 – November 30 

MID ASIAN IBEX  Capra sibirica alaiana  (Tian Shan ibex )

DESCRIPTION & TAXONOMY

This subspecies is the largest in size and grows the largest horns. Males can weigh as much as 285 lbs (130 kg), or even more. The coloration is very different from that of the Siberian ibex. In winter most adult males have a cinnamon-brown coat color of varying intensity, becoming browner and duller on the flanks, shoulders and thighs. There usually is a dark, well-developed dorsal stripe, and also a light-colored saddle patch that can vary in size, shape and location. A very dark flank band separates the brown flanks from the whitish belly. There is a distinct brown band on the front surface of the forelegs, a lighter one on the hind legs. The head is lighter than the flanks-actually somewhat grayish-and the beard is brown. Mid Asian ibex includes the following races: alaiana, almasyi, merzbacheri, and transalaiana. Ibex from Tajikistan (alaiana race) have been described as light grayish-brown in summer, with a dark dorsal stripe but no saddle patch; and bright foxy red in winter, with a distinct light saddle patch. Those from the Terskey-Ala-Too range in Kirghizstan (almasyi race) have been said to be reddish-brown-fawn in summer, with distinct light saddle and neck patches and tending to gray on the head; turning to some shade of grayish-brown in winter, with a broad dark dorsal stripe and small, dark saddle and neck patches. The horns are very long and relatively slender with comparatively small cross ridges. Ibexes of the Naryn district in Kirghizstan (merzbacheri race) are stated to differ from almasyi by lighter coloration, a more distinctly defined dorsal saddle and a much shorter, more divergent and more heavily knotted horns.  The record trophy was obtained in Kirghizstan and had the left horn at 151.4 cm (59 5/8”) and the right horn at 152.7 cm (60 1/8“).

DISTRIBUTION

The Pamir, Altai, and Tian Shan mountains in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kirghizstan, Kazakhstan, and China.

HUNT

Few offer hunts for the Mid-Asian Ibex in Kirghizstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.  The hunter has to be in a reasonably good physical condition. Horse riding skills are important, since riding a horse can greatly improve mobility. The hunt takes place at the altitudes of 2,500-3,000 meters (8,000-10,000 ft.) and higher. The hunter needs to bring binoculars, range finder, comfortable mountain boots, windproof camouflage jacket, warm sweater, sunglasses sun screen and a sleeping bag. The duration of the tour  is 9 days from Bishkek or Almaty. Best trophies usually come from Kirghizstan, where in some areas animals with horns 130-135 cm (52-54”) are common. Shots are frequently taken at 300 yards and over. Cartridge in 7 mm magnum range caliber is adequate.

SEASONS

August 15 – November 30

March 1 – March 31

TIAN SHAN ARGALI Ovis ammon kerelini (Argali del Tian Shan, Tian Shan Argali, Argali du Tian Shan. Also called Tien Shan argali)

DESCRIPTION & TAXONOMY

Tian Shan argali category is divided into two races: heinsii and karelini. The karelini was described from the Ala Tau range north of Lake Issyk Kul in northeastern Kirghizstan (Kirgizstan) and southeastern Kazakhstan, and eastward in the Tian Shan range in Xinjiang, China. It is similar to the Marco Polo, but it’s horns have a tighter curl and are generally thicker. The winter coat has light brown upper parts that lighten gradually to the diffuse, grayish-brown rump patch. The yellowish-white belly is separated from the flanks by a wide dark line. A dark dorsal line runs from shoulders to loins. The neck mane is white, shaded with grayish-brown. The record head was reported as picked up (1921) in the valley of the Yuldaz. Its longest horn measured 70-3/4 x 15-1/2 inches (179.7 x 39.4 cm), which is much larger than any other karelini of record.

DISTRIBUTION  

The Tian Shan range, from southeastern Kazakhstan and eastern Kirghizstan eastward to about Urumqi in Xinjiang. Boundaries with the Marco Polo argali to the south and west are unclear.

HUNT  

This hunt is offered in Kirghizstan. The hunter has to be in reasonably good physical condition. Horse riding skills are important, since riding a horse can greatly improve mobility. The hunt takes place at the altitudes of 3,000 meters (10,000 ft.) and higher. Any flat shooting cartridge in 7 mm Mag. to 300 Mag. Range is fine. Shots are expected at 250–350 meters (270-390 yards). It is necessary to bring good quality mountain boots, warm clothing and a sleeping bag. Normal duration of the tour is 10 days from Bishkek. As a rule, the trophy is obtained on the 3-5th day of hunting.

SEASONS

August 15-December 15, January 5-February 28

MARCO POLO ARGALI Ovis ammon polii  (Argali de Marco Polo, Marco Polo Argali. Also called Pamir argali)

DESCRIPTION & TAXONOMY

Marco Polo subspecies consists of two races, polii and humei. Humei is similar to polii in body size and coloration, but its horns are shorter, heavier, and have less flare. Humei is found to the north of polii in southeastern Kirghizstan and far western China.

Marco Polo argali is a large, long-legged, light-boned argali with the most spectacular horns of all the world’s sheep. The summer coat is light, speckled brown, with the face, chest, underparts, rump patch and legs white. In winter, the upper parts are somewhat darker brown and there is a full white neck ruff extending to the brisket. The winter hair is much longer, making the animal appear larger and heavier than it is. The long, slender horns are homonymous, forming 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 open spirals, and triangular in cross section. The longest sheep horn ever recorded is 75 inches, or 190.5 cm
 

DISTRIBUTION

The eastern part of the Vakhan (or Wakhan) Corridor in Afghanistan; the Pamir Plateau in eastern Tajikistan; extending north into southeastern Kirghizstan south of the Naryn River; and the adjacent Pamir (Tagdumbash) region of far western China. The northern limit for the Marco Polo argali is the Naryn river.

HUNT

Marco Polo is one of the finest wild sheep and is one of the very top hunting trophies. Animals rarely descend below 3,000 m (10,000 ft.) The hunt is usually conducted at altitudes of 4,500 – 5,500 meters (15,000 – 18,000 ft.) Top physical condition is required. High altitude sickness with pulmonary edema, which strikes some hunters, may require emergency evacuation. One should not attempt this hunt without a thorough medical examination. Horses are rarely used.

Any flat shooting cartridge in 7 mm Mag. to 300 Mag. range caliber is adequate. Shots are expected at 250 –350 meters (270-390 yards). It is necessary to bring good quality mountain boots, warm clothing, sleeping bag, sun glasses and sun screen. The duration if the tour is 9-10 days from Bishkek. As a rule, the trophy is obtained on the 3 - 5th day of hunting.

SEASONS

Tajikistan: from September to March
Kirgizstan: March-April and August15-December 15

One of the most beautiful, exciting, and rewarding hunts is the combination Spring hunt for capercallie black grouse and woodcock, which have a very high concentration in the St. Petersburg region. Capercallie is usually hunted after midnight by stalking. The capercallie, which otherwise has very acute hearing, becomes deaf for very short periods of time while making its early-morning mating calls. This allows the hunter to approach within 20-35 yards to place a reliable shot. The hunt must be completed before the daylight so that the wary birds cannot see the approaching hunters. Among the two subspecies of capercallie; the white beaked capercallie is found across the entire country, whereas the black beaked capercallie is found only in Siberia and the Far East. 
We hunt black cocks just before sunrise, from the blind, positioned close to a lek, or "booming" grounds, where dozens of cocks may gather. The spectacle of fighting cocks is unbelievably exciting. 

There are several species of grouse in Russia, which are plentiful throughout most of the country. In some areas, grouse can be hunted with dogs. Some skilled guides use calls to summon the birds within shooting distance. 

The spring woodcock hunt begins immediately after sunset, during the last light of dusk. In the fall, woodcocks can be hunted with dogs. 

By Chris Dorsey

A gruff Russian voice rouses me out of my slumber at 2 a.m. like some sort of knuckle dragger sent `, to interrogate Francis Gary Powers. I am beginning to understand what Ruark meant when he wrote that it takes time for a soul to catch up to its body after a transatlantic flight, a displaced sensation that he felt upon landing in Africa on safari. When traveling half way around the planet, time, indeed, becomes a relative term.

Downstairs, in a chorus of laughter, a half dozen Italian waterfowlers celebrate the success of their hunt by joining in the Russian national pastime of vodka tasting. The hour may be either early or late depending on the amount of vodka on the table, your frame of mind, or the time zone you call home. In a haze, I collect my shotgun, hip boots, coat, shells, and thoughts and amble downstairs. Awaiting me is a cup of coffee and my Russian chauffeur, who will take me to the forest haunts home to capercaillie, an ancient beast that is the Old World’s largest grouse.

The capercaillie, a turkey-sized bird with an eaglelike head, slate gray body, and sweeping tail fan, is legendary in the annals of European hunting. It’s something of an evolutionary throwback, having remained unchanged for millenniums. Its Latin name, Tetrao urogallus, loosely translated, means "ancient one." Capercaillie have remarkably outsized curved beaks, seemingly grossly overdeveloped for plucking pine needles, the mainstay of their diets. When capercaillie could still be widely found throughout western Europe prior to World War II, there were very restrictive limits placed on them. Today, the coniferous forests of northern Europe harbor the greatest numbers of the birds.

In terms of territory, Russia is the largest nation on Earth, a land mass nearly twice the size of Canada, and by virtue of its enormity holds much of the planet’s supply of capercaillie. For many European sports, a capercaillie is among the world’s most coveted trophies. For bird hunters the world over, it simply has no rival.
The uniqueness of the experience is still catching up to me somewhere over the Atlantic as I ride with my strong-jawed, Leninesque driver through the dark northern forests. He speaks no English and, at this hour, neither do I. After 20 minutes of driving over twisting roads, we arrive at the banks of the Burnaja River near its confluence with Lake Ladoga, a 7,000 square mile inland sea that is the largest body of freshwater in Europe.

A series of bonfires lines the bank of the river like makeshift lighthouses. I watch through binoculars as the silhouette form of a fisherman drinks from a bottle, staggers next to the bank, and dips a long handled net into the current. I learn later that he is seining for smelt, a right of spring similar to that practiced in my native state of Wisconsin. The only difference, as far as I can discern, is that the Russians are still able to stand at the end of the night.

Greeting me through the darkness is a jovial thirtysomething fisherman who, I later learn, is a former captain in the Russian Navy. He speaks a little English and shouts the few words he does know as if hollering to one of his comrades over the drone of ship turbines. The effect is intimidating in the quiet of the predawn darkness. He directs me to a small boat that will transport me across the calm inlet. On the other side waits Nicolai Kuzmin, a 25-year-old biologist whose English is considerably better than my Russian—it took me the better part of a semester to merely grasp the difficult Russian alphabet.

We board another Niva four-wheel drive, a jeeplike vehicle that is remarkably effective at negotiating foot-deep mud and stumps. The forest in which we are about to hunt is part of a 150,000-acre reserve that was retaken from Finland in a territorial dispute in 1939. In the headlights the eerie forms of blown up anti-tank bunkers loom as if we are on maneuvers behind enemy lines.

High temperatures have climbed in recent days to the 70’s, and the snow is quickly melting throughout the moss-carpeted forest. The runoff makes the dirt roads through the timber look like woodland streams. Because of its northern location, the forest is covered in snow much of the year, or as one Russian put it: "We have nine months of winter here and we spend the other three months waiting for summer."

We travel for 20 minutes, coming to a high spot in the forest. Nicolai nods that it’s time to get out. It’s 3:15 a.m. and a full moon sheds what little light there is in the forest. I grab my turkey gun, inject a pair of magnum 2x6 loads into it, and join Nicolai in a slow walk down a winding path. I remember that there are brown bears in the area and slip the gun off my shoulder, trying not to appear edgy to Nicolai. The evening before, my interpreter Andre Golubev—with great animation inspired by several shots of vodka followed by beer chasers—acted out the events of a typical capercaillie stalk. One must listen for the subtle and peculiar call of cock capercaillie, a sound that is said to posses an almost mystical quality. From their treetop roosts, capercaillie emit a series of clicking noises that build into a crescendo before making a sound that is often described as that of a person rapidly sharpening a knife on a steel. When making the final part of the call, an utterance that lasts perhaps four or five seconds, the bird becomes momentarily deaf. Glands within the birds’ ears swell at this instant, effectively becoming ear plugs. It’s during this brief period that a hunter must take two or three quick steps toward the bird. Following the capercaillie two-step, a hunter then has to remain perfectly still, for once the bird finishes its call, it regains its acute hearing and will spook at the first hint of movement or suspicious sounding twig snap. Perhaps 400 yards from Niva, Nicolai pauses in mid stride and reaches his hand out in front of me. He cocks his head to one side to listen to a sound I cannot yet discern. In a few seconds, he points ahead, turns to me, and affirms the presence of a bird with a nod. We move in the direction he pointed, pausing every 40 yards to listen for the bird’s call. This time I hear the bird’s eerie notes, looking at Nicolai just as he pans to me. The bird is still several hundred yards distant, so we gingerly slide and tiptoe over the crusty ice patches left in the thawing woods.

As we step within 300 yards of the bird, Nicolai pauses suddenly like a cat about to pounce. He waits until the bird makes the "sharpening" portion of its call and waves me ahead as he takes two quick leaps toward the sound. The game of hopscotch continues for 20 minutes as we develop an almost rhythmic cadence as the bird seems eager to proclaim its territory to any available hens. Seemingly very close to the bird—its subtle call makes it difficult to discern its precise location—Nicolai signals me to go on without him. I wait for the bird to call again and continue shuffling toward it. Between the aerobic hops and the drama of the moment, my pulse begins to keep beat on my ear drums. I scan the forest canopy, but shadows swallow the dark form of the bird, keeping it hidden from view. 

It calls again, however, and I spy its movement as it tilts its head back and fans its tail. It’s sitting on a thick branch perhaps 30 feet up an ancient pine in front me. I remind myself to shoot when it makes its metallic sounding call, advice Nicolai shared during our drive through the forest. The reason is this: If a hunter shoots and misses while a bird is making the final notes of its call, there’s a chance the shot will go unnoticed by the deaf cock. A second shot, then, is possible.I raise up to aim at exactly the right moment and realize that it’s too dark to see the bead of my gun against the dark bird silhouetted by the pine. I remain motionless, pointing my gun to the sky like a Scottish sport waiting in a butt for high incoming grouse. The bird calls again and I mount the gun to my shoulder and point it toward the faint light of the open sky in an attempt to see if my eye is aligned with the bead of the gun. The mount seems adequate, so I quickly swing back to the semi-visible grouse and fire, sending the bird flushing out of the tree. I shoot again as the bird crosses an opening in the canopy some 40 yards away. It flinches as though it’s been hit, but when I dash to the area I’d last seen the bird, there is nothing but silence. Nicolai sprints toward me as I shoot, but is still some 30 yards behind. Within a few seconds, I notice him bolt perhaps 20 feet to his left, waving me toward him with a smile. There, at his feet, rests the capercaillie, killed by two golden pellets to the neck.I slap Nicolai on the back while hoisting the bird skyward to get a better look at it. While Nicolai grew up joining his father on capercaillie hunts in the Ural Mountains, he has never taken one, so he inspects the specimen as closely as I do. After a moment of repose and reflection, I begin retracing my morning journey all the way back to the lodge near the village of Sosnova.

The two-story brick and stone lodge was built as a sporting retreat for communist officials in 1957. By Western standards, it is a comfortable dwelling but not extravagant. The main entry of the building is lined with mounts of indigenous game—an enormous boar, several wolf and brown bear rugs, and an assortment of ducks and other water birds from nearby marshes. A capercaillie mount greets hunters who step into the dining hall and, in an adjoining room, rests a Russian billiard table.

I sit down to brunch with Andre and the three partners of the Russian Hunting Agency: Vasily Popov, Vladimir Selikhov, and Dr. Sergei Shushunov, a Russian expatriate who immigrated to the U.S. 15 years ago. Also joining us are a pair of German hunters including Dr. Jurgen Vocke, president of the Bavarian Hunting Association, and Peter Sieben, a German outdoor magazine editor. While there are still a scant few capercaillie in Germany, there has been no hunting for the birds since World War II. Because of Russia’s vast wildlife wealth, the Germans, Italians, French, and Spanish have seized the opportunity to explore behind the rusting Iron Curtain.With time to spare, I venture back to the woods for a sunset woodcock hunt—the European version of the bird I logged countless hours pursuing during my collegiate days in Wisconsin. While the European woodcock closely resembles its Northern American cousin, it’s considerably larger and, because of that, lacks the bat-like aerobatics of our woodcock.

Hunting these birds in the spring, I come to find, is more akin to pass shooting ducks than it is traditional American rough shooting. We head to a forest opening perhaps five acres in size. Through the use of finger pointing and head nods, my guide positions me at the edge of a clearing where we begin our evening vigil. I glance back at my host who is checking his watch as though the birds are late for an appointment. From behind us, I hear a strange coughing sound. Excited, my guide hurriedly taps my shoulder, pointing at the coughing bird as it approaches. It is, indeed, our quarry, but it is too high to try with the light loads I am shooting. No matter, however, as my guide tosses his beret into the air, causing the woodcock to suddenly dive toward the hat for a closer inspection. Containing my laughter and amazement at such peculiar behavior, I seize the opportunity to snuff the bird about 40 yards out. The Russian hat-trick method of woodcock hunting takes advantage of the woodcock’s natural curiosity as males fly about in search of receptive females.

As though the woodcocking hour was upon us, several of the coughing birds began flying transects over the woodlands, waiting for hens to answer their calls or take short leap flights to advertise their availability to males. Several more ‘cocks find themselves centered in my pattern of eights, completing one of the oddest wingshooting experiences I’ve encountered on four continents.

Before bidding farewell to Russia and her expansive forests that span some 6,000 miles and 11 time zones through much of Europe and Asia, I return to St. Petersburg for a three-day tour.

This city of nearly 5 million inhabitants is second only to Moscow in size and is unquestionably one of Europe’s most stunning destinations. The dramatic architecture and beautiful vistas throughout the city are nearly as memorable as the hunting, and combining the two makes Russia perhaps the last great frontier of sport and culture.

Editor’s Note: Chris Dorsey is an award-winning author who serves as group manager of publishing and communications for Ducks Unlimited, Inc., the 700,000-member international conservation organization. This story was adapted from Dorsey’s newest book, A Wingshooter’s Journey, to be released early in 2000 by Willow Creek Press. The book celebrates the world’s finest wingshooting destinations with specially commissioned paintings by South African artist, Penny Meakin. A signed and numbered limited edition book and print set will be available along with trade editions.

With over 30 species of ducks and Gees, Russia is one of the most exciting countries for waterfowl hunters and collectors. Large breeding grounds in the tundra support millions of birds. Many flyways are practically inaccessible and have very little pressure, making them perfect destinations for collectors. There are many excellent and easily accessible locations in the European part of the country a hunter may choose. Lakes Ladoga and Chudskoye in the North, and of course, Volga Delta, in the South, the breeding ground to almost half a million birds are among the most popular destinations. Some areas in peak season offer action comparable to anywhere in the world.

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