Das Jagdmagazin mit Weitblick

The Sauer 202 Highland remains one of the most intriguing hunting rifles ever built in Isny: lightweight, modular, and highly accurate. Firearms expert David from Alpen Adria Jagd in Villach explains what makes this classic special, where its weaknesses lie, and why well-preserved examples are still highly sought after on the used market.

Ticks are moving higher into Austria’s mountains — and hunters are following them. Once considered a lowland problem, the castor bean tick is now being found above 1,500 meters. Milder temperatures and wildlife hosts are pushing its range uphill, bringing Lyme disease and TBE into places where mountain hunters once felt safe.

Two hunters in Austria’s Gail Valley suddenly find themselves just 20 meters from a large brown bear. The animal keeps coming, rises onto its hind legs, and the hunters ready their rifles. Then, at the last moment, the bear turns away. How close did the encounter come to disaster — and when would shooting a protected bear in Austria be legally justified as self-defense?

The new Sako 90 Finnlight Black chambered in 7mm PRC combines Scandinavian rifle engineering with digital ballistics and modern suppressor technology. For Schuss & Stille, firearms expert David Mischkulnig of Alpen Adria Jagd puts the Finnish hunting rifle to the test with a Burris Veracity PH 4–20x50 and the new Hausken HX-Ti³ titanium suppressor—a purpose-built setup for mountain hunting and longer-range shots.

Wild boar are pushing deeper into Austria’s alpine country. While hogs have long been a familiar part of the hunting landscape in Germany and Hungary, their growing presence in the Alps is creating a different kind of conflict. Entire sounders are rooting up high-elevation pastures in search of roots, tubers, insect larvae, and other food hidden beneath the sod—sometimes leaving large sections of grazing land looking as if they had been worked over with a plow.

How good is a roughly $300 long-range riflescope? “Schuss & Stille” firearms expert David puts the Aquilifer EP 5–25×56 FFP through its paces on a Ritter & Stark SLX chambered in .308 Winchester. We take a close look at image quality, the MRAD reticle, turrets, and tracking consistency—and find out whether this budget-friendly scope has what it takes for hunting.

Sauer 101 GTI Review: How Good Is This Classic Bolt-Action Rifle Today? Schuss & Stille firearms expert David takes a close look at the laminated stock, bolt action, trigger, and accuracy of the .308 Winchester hunting rifle—and asks whether the Sauer 101 GTI is still worth its price despite lacking manual cocking and a quick-change barrel system.

Do tactical knives work for hunting? We put the Extrema Ratio Satre, Versa, Vipera, Venatus F, and BD4 Lucky Desert to the test in real hunting use. Schuss & Stille firearms technician Marcel Tisal explains what really matters when it comes to blade shape, grip, weight, and game processing—and why the Vipera stands out for him.

Why do even experienced hunters start shaking before the shot? Hunting without fear doesn’t mean hunting without nerves. Psychologist and hunter Nika explains why tension, buck fever, and fear of failure are part of the experience—and how hunters can learn to handle pressure, responsibility, and emotion while still making safe, ethical decisions.

How quickly do chamois really age — and what role does the mountain itself play? A new study of more than 31,000 harvested chamois suggests that limestone, gneiss, schist, and other rock types can influence vegetation, tooth wear, and ultimately the age at which chamois begin to decline physically. For hunters, the findings offer fascinating new insights into age, body mass, and harvest management.

HEP Carbon Ultralight Silent field test: Our hunter and psychologist Nika used the ultralight carbon shooting and trekking stick on a hunt for the first time. What impressed her most were its remarkably low weight, rapid deployment, and the added stability and confidence it provided when shooting in the field.

Zero Compromise Optic stands for uncompromising precision “Made in Austria.” With the ZC420H, ZCO brings the technology that made its name in long-range shooting straight into the hunting field. But who is behind this young premium optics brand—and what makes a hunting scope costing around €4,000 so special? We took a closer look at the company, its story, and the new ZC420H.

KITE OPTICS STABI ONE Review: How good is this compact image-stabilized monocular really? The Schuss & Stille team tested the lightweight 10×20 STABI ONE in real hunting conditions – from alpine chamois hunts to wildlife observation with an iPhone 16 Pro. Impressive image quality, effective stabilization, and exceptional portability meet the physical limits of compact optics in low light. A hands-on review of a surprising hunting companion.

Beretta Celebrates 500 Years of History: Since 1526, the Italian firearms manufacturer has stood for precision, tradition, and technical innovation. What began as a small gunmaking workshop in Gardone Val Trompia in northern Italy has grown over 15 generations into one of the most recognized family-owned names in the firearms industry. To mark Beretta’s 500th anniversary, we take a closer look at its extraordinary journey—from the first gun barrels to a global firearms brand.

How well does the ThermTec Ventus 650L perform on a high-country chamois hunt? Schuss & Stille put the multispectral thermal binocular through a real-world field test in the Austrian Alps—broad daylight, long distances, steep rock faces, and dense alpine scrub. Thermal imaging, 4K day/night vision, and an integrated laser rangefinder all faced the ultimate mountain-hunting test.