A driven hunt in Turkey is most comparable to a driven hunt in Romania. Large drives are hunted to get as many wild boars in motion as possible. It would be hard to do this any other way because of the hilly, open landscape with less cover than the dense pine forests of Poland, for example.

On the other hand, you get a beautiful view in return. Here you can sometimes see a sounder of boars from just a few hundred metres away to within shooting range. And what about the Anatolian boar? With weights of over 200 kg, they are among the largest in the world. Just the sight of these behemoths will give you sweaty palms and quicken your pulse.

Hunting area

The hunting grounds are in the Anatolia region, around the city of Konya. There are also hunting grounds close to the Black Sea. You hunt in a beautiful, hilly region with altitudes varying between 1,000 – 1,500 metres above sea level.

Despite its hilly character, this terrain is suitable for both young and old, as well as for people with a moderate level of fitness. These hunters are brought to their stands by the organisation in all-terrain vehicles.

Following Hungary, Romania and Poland, dogs and beaters are also used to get the wild boar running. Compared to these acclaimed hunting countries, Turkey’s driven hunting culture does not have a long history yet. But the Turks are fast learners and they treat each hunting day with great enthusiasm.

Hunting season

Driven hunts can be organised from 15 October to 1 March. According to our Turkish trustee Mehmet, the period from mid-January is particularly popular. In most countries, the season is over by then, whereas in Turkey driven hunting season is just getting started. Each area is hunted only once a year so that we can guarantee the same quality for every group.

By quality, we mean not only a large parade but also the number of big keilers. Surely that is the main reason why hunters come to Turkey. Larger and heavier than Anatolian boars you will rarely find. Tusks between 20 and 25 centimetres long are quite normal.

Travel details

Ideally, a group should consist of 12 to 15 hunters. A minimum of 10 people are needed for the driven hunt to take place. Depending on the size of the group, some stands may be further apart. Another situation is when hunters are lined up along a mountainside and the game passes below them. A shooting stick then comes in handy to deliver an ethical, safe shot from a greater distance.

During this trip, you will stay in a well-kept 2-3 star hotel or guesthouse with clean rooms. After the hunt, you will get to know the delicious Turkish cuisine and what the Turks are so famous for: endless hospitality. From arrival to return, you will be pampered like royalty.

Included