top of page
Search


Masterpiece? How to Spot Quality Taxidermy
How can you recognize a truly exceptional wildlife mount? Schuss & Stille master taxidermist Eric Leitner uses an 11-year-old chamois buck to reveal what separates professional taxidermy from ordinary craftsmanship. From the eyes, muzzle, nose, and ears to the horn bases, it's these critical details that determine whether a chamois mount becomes a true masterpiece.


St. Hubert’s Day: Responsibility, Respect, and the Living Traditions of Hunting
Why do hunters celebrate St. Hubert’s Day on November 3? The legend of St. Hubert and the stag with a glowing cross between its antlers remains a powerful symbol of ethical hunting, respect for wildlife, and responsibility. The hunters of Kreuzen in Carinthia, Austria, show how these traditions are still alive today. They saved a historic chapel from ruin and have kept the spirit of St. Hubert’s Day alive there for decades.


Ferlach Drillings: When Hunting Guns Were Works of Art
Ferlach drillings are masterpieces of Austrian gunmaking. Three barrels, exquisite engraving, and exceptional precision earned these hunting firearms worldwide recognition. But what makes them so special, who still builds them today, and how much are they worth? Schuss & Stille firearms expert David Mischkulnig takes a closer look at a remarkable Franz Sodia Triumph drilling manufactured in 1972.


An Unwritten Code Among Hunters: All Saints’ Day, When the Rifles Fall Silent
Why does hunting come to a halt on All Saints’ Day? For many European hunters, November 1 is a time for silence, remembrance, and reflection. Although there is no blanket legal ban on hunting, rifles remain in their safes out of respect for a centuries-old tradition. Discover the meaning behind this hunting custom and why knowing when not to pull the trigger is an essential part of ethical hunting.


Mauser M03: More Steel, Less Plastic, a True Hunting Classic
Plenty of steel, hardly any plastic, and a level of craftsmanship that's becoming increasingly rare in modern hunting rifles. The Mauser M03 represents an era when durability, precision engineering, and traditional German gunmaking were top priorities. Firearms expert David Mischkulnig of Schuss & Stille takes a closer look at this legendary bolt-action rifle in .300 Winchester Magnum and reveals why the Mauser M03 continues to impress hunters today.


Red Deer Aren’t Naturally Nocturnal – Have We Hunters Made Them That Way?
Why are red deer increasingly active only after dark? Scientific studies reveal how hunting pressure and outdoor recreation are dramatically changing the natural behavior of red deer. Instead of feeding in open meadows during daylight, they retreat into dense forests. What does this mean for wildlife, forest management, and hunting? And have we hunters turned red deer into nocturnal animals?


Mannlicher Luxus: A Brilliant Hunting Rifle With One Achilles’ Heel
The Steyr Mannlicher Luxus combines beautiful walnut, intricate engravings, and an innovative interchangeable-barrel system. However, its unusual scope mounting design has a few quirks. Schuss & Stille firearms expert David Mischkulnig of Alpen Adria Jagd in Villach, Austria, takes a closer look at this Austrian bolt-action rifle chambered in .308 Winchester and puts it to the test at the shooting range to find out what the Mannlicher Luxus can still deliver today.


Steyr Luxus: Back When Hunting Rifles Were Built to Last a Lifetime
The Steyr Mannlicher Luxus is a true classic of Austrian firearms history. Its beautiful walnut stock, unique bolt-action design, and impressive accuracy made this hunting rifle a legend. Schuss & Stille firearms expert David Mischkulnig of Alpen Adria Jagd in Villach, Austria, takes a closer look at the Steyr Mannlicher Luxus chambered in .243 Winchester to find out what this nearly 50-year-old rifle can still deliver today.


The Shot Was Clean. So Why Do Hunters Sometimes Feel Guilty?
Why do hunters sometimes experience sadness or even guilt after a successful hunt? Even when the shot is clean and ethical, an unexpected feeling can linger alongside the excitement of harvesting an animal. Nika, psychologist with Schuss & Stille, explains the emotions behind this inner conflict, the role compassion plays, and why feeling guilty after a hunt isn't necessarily a bad thing.


Ruger No. 1: One Shot. An American Classic.
Since 1967, the Ruger No. 1 has paired a compact falling-block action with classic elegance. Firearms expert David Mischkulnig of Alpen Adria Jagd in Villach, Austria, owns one chambered in .243 Winchester. Schuss & Stille explores the history, design, and hunting appeal of a rifle that has captivated enthusiasts for nearly six decades.


Warum Schultz & Larsen unter Jägern ein Geheimtipp geblieben ist
The Schultz & Larsen Legacy represents classic Danish rifle craftsmanship: slim, precise, and built from steel and wood. Schuss & Stille firearms expert David Mischkulnig tests the Legacy in .223 Remington, examining its bolt action, cut-rifled barrel, switch-barrel system, and overall workmanship — and how it compares with the Classic, Victory, Traveller, Ambassador, and Tactical models.


Steyr Mannlicher SM12: Old-School Austrian Hunting Rifle With Modern Capability
The Steyr Mannlicher SM12 blends a classic walnut stock, manual cocking system, set trigger, and proven Steyr engineering with the demands of modern hunting. For Schuss & Stille, firearms expert David Mischkulnig of Alpen Adria Jagd in Villach takes a closer look at the Austrian hunting rifle in .308 Winchester and explains its key strengths—and the details that set it apart.


Rut, Mountains, and Man: Red Deer Live Differently Than We Thought
When the red deer rut begins in October, the mountains become the stage for one of Europe’s most spectacular wildlife events. But new research shows that hunting pressure, outdoor recreation, climate, migration patterns, and refuge areas influence red deer far more than once believed. Here’s what modern science is revealing about the rut—and about red deer life in the mountains.


Mauser M25: A Straight-Pull Rifle for a New Era
The Mauser M25 brings the straight-pull action back to the Mauser lineup. Schuss & Stille firearms expert David tests the M25 Max in .308 Winchester, fitted with a Minox RS-4 scope and a Svemko suppressor. How good are the action, stock, trigger, build quality, and accuracy — and where does Mauser’s new straight-pull rifle show its weaknesses?


Austria Is Still ASF-Free — But African Swine Fever Is Moving Closer
African swine fever has not yet reached Austria—but it is moving closer. The nearest confirmed case in wild boar was recently reported just around 100 kilometers from the Austrian border. For hunters, that means greater responsibility: report carcasses, clean and disinfect equipment, and take extra precautions when hunting abroad.


Twenty Meters From the Bear
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?
bottom of page