Das Jagdmagazin mit Weitblick

When the last shot echoes across the ridgelines of Carinthia and the woods finally grow quiet, most hunters hang up their rifles and turn toward winter stories and shed antlers. For Eric Leitner, that’s when the real rush begins. Up on the Kreuzen above Paternion, Austria, trophies start arriving at his workshop—carefully wrapped capes, antlers still carrying the scent of the rut, birds frozen mid-wing. To the hunter, they are memories. To Leitner, they are responsibility.

The Sako S20 is a bolt-action rifle that doesn’t try to be retro. It is functional, rugged, and uncompromisingly modern—and that’s exactly why it’s gaining a loyal following among mountain hunters, spot-and-stalk purists, and demanding all-around hunters. One man who has already put the Sako S20 to work in the field is Styrian gunsmith Gottfried Wurm, who advises hunters every day in his workshop, the Bixnarei in Schladming—hunters who aren’t looking for safe queens, but real

For decades, Oberland Arms has been a fixed point of reference when it comes to precision-built AR-15 systems Made in Germany. Too often, however, the company is pigeonholed as a manufacturer for competition shooters and government agencies. Schuss & Stille spoke with founder Matthias Hainich about why modern semi-automatic rifles can offer real advantages in the field - and why, in his view, advanced technology and ethical hunting are not mutually exclusive.

When one hunting year comes to an end and a new one quietly takes shape during the closed season, many hunters enter a time of reflection and assessment. Landowners, wardens, hunters, and visiting sportsmen gather in community halls, local inns, and shooting ranges for game exhibitions and district meetings. These are evenings without the crack of gunfire—but with real weight to them, professionally, socially, and ethically.

With the turn of the year, a quiet yet consequential change has taken place at the top of Austria’s national hunting organization. As of January 1, 2026, Anton Larcher has taken over the rotating presidency of the Conference of State Hunting Commissioners—sending a clear signal about where Austrian hunting is headed. The future, Larcher says, rests on solid knowledge, open dialogue, and a deep sense of responsibility toward wildlife, habitat, and society at large.

When a company like Carl Walther—long associated primarily with handguns and competition rifles—returns to the hunting rifle market with a clean-sheet design, it deserves a closer look. At Jagd & Hund 2026 in Dortmund, Walther will present the new RS 3 to a broad hunting audience for the first time—and it’s already clear why this rifle is likely to spark serious discussion.

Held in late January 2026 in Las Vegas, the SHOT Show once again confirmed its status as the primary global trendsetter for the hunting and firearms industry. It is where manufacturers showcase what they plan to sell as “new” for the coming season—and, occasionally, what actually represents meaningful progress.

With the new Balance series, Swarovski Optik elevates the classic spotting scope to an entirely new level. For the first time, the Tyrolean premium manufacturer combines uncompromising glass quality with electronic image stabilization—solving one of the most persistent real-world challenges in hunting optics: fast, steady target identification without a cumbersome support or tripod.

Modern thermal technology is no longer a gadget—it has become an essential tool for responsible hunting. Clip-on thermal devices provide control, reliable target identification, and well-founded decision-making. Two units currently in high demand were tested extensively in real hunting conditions by experienced hunters and the Schuss & Stille team over several weeks: the ThermTec Hunt 650L with integrated laser rangefinder and the ThermTec Hunt635 PRO.

Food for Thought: For decades, he served the mountains as a professional gamekeeper—guarding wildlife and guiding guests. Now, just before retirement, he is laying down his rifle—not out of weakness, but out of conviction. “Many who come to hunt today only want to shoot at long range, like on a shooting line. They know little about the game—and even less about tradition.” His departure leaves us with a question: What remains of hunting when its soul is lost?

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.

In Gregor Unterberger’s workshop, old hunting rifles get their souls back. Between the scent of oil and the dust of seasoned wood, the Waffendoc brings pieces to life that have been carried by generations—rifles long since grown into something far greater than metal. And when a hunter takes such a restored firearm back into his hands, he feels it instantly: You can’t buy memory. But you can bring it back—carefully, faithfully.

Minimalist. Timeless. Honest. The Sako 90 Grizzly is the kind of hunting rifle that tells its story through its lineage—not through marketing copy. Which is exactly why Schuss & Stille set out to take a closer look at it.

The last light hangs over the hillside. One breath, a faint swirl of mist, the soft click of the safety. In moments like these, you learn whether your gear is just equipment—or the calm inside the storm. Every seasoned hunter knows: a riflescope isn’t a luxury. It’s confidence, clarity, and control when it matters most. And that’s exactly where the ZEISS Conquest V4 steps in: with crisp optics, dead-repeatable mechanics, and—maybe most important of all—psychological trust.

Some rifles you handle. Others you connect with. The Jakele J1 belongs to the latter. Thanks to Waffen Idl, the Austrian general importer, Schuss & Stille had the chance to take this modern hunting rifle on a weekend chamois hunt high in the Alps — a true field test between rock, snow, and silence.

The wind is the oldest hunting companion known to man—unseen, unpredictable, ever-present. It carries scent, betrays presence, and changes perception. No modern optic, no thermal scope, no rangefinder can replace what it teaches us: patience, awareness, and the instinct for the invisible. To stand in the woods and read the wind is to be in conversation with nature—and with yourself.