Hi, everyone.

Just thought you might like to read about how we hunt birds in spring in Russia. Spring seasons are controversial in environmental terms (even thought the latest data from North American white geese suggests it may not be as harmful as once believed) but in Russia they are mostly about taking only a very limited number of only males of polygamous species. A prime example is capercailzie lek hunts (The Field recently did a fine story which, however, erroneously states that spring capercailzie hunts are only legal in Austria. No, Russia has a spring season as well). But follow the links and see for yourself.

The stories originally appeared in Russian Hunting Magazine, which does condensed , and I was the one who did condensed translations.

On the Threshold of Capercailzie Lek

The Big Five of Russian Spring

At the End of the World

Live Decoys and Woodcock Spring Mating Flight

Black Grouse Hunting

And one more capercailzie story