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Calling Roe Bucks in the Mountains: When an Old Buck Trusts a Single Note
The roe deer rut is one of the most exciting times of the hunting season. But what does it really take to call in a mature roe buck? In the Austrian Alps, success depends on far more than mastering contact squeaks, pursuit calls, or distress calls. Mountain thermals, stand selection, timing, and patience often make the difference between watching a buck disappear—or bringing him into range. Shot & Stillness explains the proven strategies behind successful mountain roe deer ca


Heiligenblut: Austria’s Gold Standard for Modern Alpine Wildlife Management
Alpine ibex around Grossglockner captivate hunters, mountaineers, and wildlife enthusiasts alike. But behind the thriving population in Austria’s High Tauern Mountains lies one of the country’s most sophisticated wildlife management programs. Schuss & Stille takes a closer look at why year-round monitoring, GPS telemetry, scientific research, and cross-border cooperation are essential to securing the future of the Alpine ibex.


Why Roe Bucks Suddenly Disappear in July
Why do roe bucks suddenly seem to disappear in July? Every summer, hunters notice familiar bucks vanishing almost overnight from the meadows and feeding areas they had used for weeks. But this isn’t random behavior. Shot & Stillness explores how heat, hormones, human disturbance, and the approaching rut reshape roe deer behavior—and how hunters can adapt to stay one step ahead.


When June Turns the Woods Into a Nursery
Fawns hidden in tall grass, red deer calves roaming sunlit alpine meadows, and fox pups playing outside their dens — June is arguably the most beautiful time of year for wildlife watchers. For many hunters, this is when the quieter side of the sporting tradition begins. Instead of pursuing game, they turn their attention to the next generation of deer, foxes, and other wildlife, witnessing those rare and magical moments when the woods become nature’s nursery.


Why Alpine Grazing is Essential for Wildlife and Hunters
Alpine farming and hunting have been intertwined for centuries. Open mountain pastures provide essential habitat for chamois, roe deer, marmots, and countless other wildlife species. But what happens when these landscapes are no longer grazed? Discover why alpine farmers are among the most important stewards of the mountain environment—and why hunters benefit directly from their work.


10 Wild Boar Hunting Mistakes – And How to Avoid Them
African Swine Fever is closing in on Austria’s borders, wild boar are expanding into the alpine pastures of Carinthia, and thermal imaging technology is changing the game. Wild boar hunting has evolved dramatically in recent years. Eric Leitner, Wild Boar Coordinator for the Carinthian Hunters Association, reveals the ten most common mistakes hunters make—and explains why thermal and night vision optics have become essential tools for ethical and effective wild boar managemen


Forest Roads and Wildlife: When Animals Can No Longer Find Peace
Forest roads are becoming a growing source of conflict between hunters, mountain bikers, hikers, and landowners. As human activity in the mountains continues to increase, the remaining refuges for wildlife are steadily shrinking. Why the debate over forest roads is about far more than access rights—and why, in the end, nature may be paying the highest price.


Are Climate Change and Drought Creating Smaller Roe Bucks?
Earlier springs, drier summers, and increasingly frequent heat waves are reshaping Austria’s natural landscapes. But what does climate change mean for roe deer? Wildlife biologists and hunters are already observing changes in behavior, habitat use, and perhaps even antler development. This article explores how Europe’s most widespread deer species is adapting to a rapidly changing world.


More Than Hunting: How Austrian Hunters Are Fighting for the Return of Storks
Hunters in Austria’s Carinthia region are working to bring white storks back to the Krappfeld valley. Together with local craftsmen, they built a massive artificial nesting platform in Althofen to create safe breeding habitat for the rare migratory birds — showing how modern hunting often goes far beyond game and into real wildlife conservation.


The Old Gentleman of the Alps: The True Story of the Legendary Bear of Tarvisio!
For nearly 20 years, an old brown bear has roamed the forests between Tarvisio, Austria, and Slovenia. Italian wildlife researchers have tracked the legendary mountain wanderer for years, while hunters from the Gail Valley know the massive bear well from countless trail camera photos. His story is a powerful reminder that true wilderness still exists deep in the Alps.


When Dawn Turns Deadly for Wildlife
Daylight saving time doesn’t just bring longer days in spring—it shifts a deadly window onto Austria’s roads. While humans move the clock forward, wildlife stays on its natural rhythm. Right when commuters hit the gas, deer, hares, and badgers are crossing. The result: thousands of dead animals, hundreds of injured people—and hunters pushed into high-pressure, no-margin situations.


Europe’s Wolves in the Crosshairs: Where Are the Most Animals Taken?
There are few wild animals in Europe that polarize opinion as sharply as the wolf. To some, it is the ultimate symbol of wilderness reclaiming lost ground. To others, it represents a hard, daily conflict for alpine farming and grazing operations – and increasingly a topic that cuts straight to the core of hunting identity itself: Are we managing a population – or are we losing control of the debate?


Golden Jackal: How Europe’s Ultimate Opportunist Is Conquering Cultural Landscapes
Over the past few years, the golden jackal (Canis aureus) has become a fixture in the headlines of Europe’s conservation and hunting media. What was once dismissed as a biological curiosity at the continent’s fringes has evolved into one of the most remarkable wildlife expansions of our time. The species is steadily pushing north, west, and south—moving through dense forests, crossing vast agricultural plains, and even edging into suburban and urban environments.


The Wolf Is Back in Central Europe - and He's Here to Stay
He arrives quietly. Not as a legend from old hunting books, but as a real, physical presence on today’s hunting grounds. The wolf has returned to Central Europe — and recent studies from the past two years paint a picture far more nuanced than any heated debate. For Schuss & Stille, it’s worth taking a close, honest look. Without ideology. With respect for facts, hunting practice, and the landscape itself.


The Ultimate Survivor! The red fox adapts faster than anyone thought
The hunter has always had a soft spot for the red fox. There’s something about this animal — its sharp eyes, its ghost-like movement through timber and farmland — that speaks to us on a deeper level. But recent scientific studies reveal a larger truth: the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) isn’t just clever. He’s one of the most adaptable predators of our time—and a far more complex creature than most folks give him credit for.


Research, Climate & Disease: New Insights Into the Chamois
Few wild animals embody alpine life as perfectly as the chamois. And yet, as new research shows, we still don’t know everything about the “queen of the steep slopes.” In recent years, science has made remarkable progress in understanding this mountain icon — from genetic studies and climate change impacts to newly discovered viruses. Especially in Austria, researchers and hunters together are providing valuable insights into how life is changing in our high-altitude ecosystem
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