Summary after 20 years of training: hunting is becoming more feminine

Created: 2022-12-27 07:05

By: Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss

The current hunting course: (from left) Chairman Heinz Repert, Stefan Rührgartner and Max Plötz (press officer and also trainer) at the certificate handover.

© Hermsdorf-Hiss

Stefan Rührgartner has been training youngsters in the hunting group for 20 years.

He expresses skepticism about short courses.

Schäftlarn

– Stefan Rührgartner was delighted to see: The Eurasburger runs the hunting course at the Wolfratshausen Hunting Group on a voluntary basis and has been training hunting students in two of six subjects for 20 years.

He received a certificate for this from the chairman of the Heinz Repert association.

Stirring gartner's interest in hunting awoke early on.

“As a country kid, you could find me more on the bulldog than doing my homework,” says the 50-year-old.

When he went to school in the Schäftlarn monastery – today he is the head of administration here – there were three comrades in his class who also fancied hunting.

“I got my hunting license when I was 25.” Theoretically, you can get one at the age of 16 – too early in the eyes of Rührgartner.

“For one thing, at that age you have other things on your mind – girlfriend, training or graduation, partying.

And: He or she always needs a driver to get to the hunting course.” Because doing the hunting course requires perseverance: It lasts at least a year and includes subjects on handling hunting weapons and fishing gear, the biology of wild species, Wildlife conservation and excursions as well as the construction of hunting grounds, to name just a few.

There are short courses in Bavaria, as are often offered in other federal states, but: “In an apprenticeship that only lasts a few weeks, not even the rudimentary theoretical and practical knowledge can be imparted.

He himself came to the hunting course as an instructor through the club's chairman at the time, Siegfried Rieger.

Today he leads the training courses, draws up the timetables and determines the divisions.

"I enjoy passing on my knowledge - and seeing how you lit the flame of interest, how enthusiastic someone is about it."

Interest in hunting has also increased among women over the past 20 years.

Before Corona, about a third of the students were female.

"Then there was a slump during Corona." There was only one woman in each of the two courses held during this time.

When asked about strange occurrences, Rührgartner has to laugh.

“They usually happen in the oral exam.” A student once had problems allocating the different branches.

“I recommended rubbing the needles.

The fir tree then smells like a fresh air spray.” However, the examinee was given a branch without needles, but he rubbed and sniffed anyway.

At some point, the examiner followed up.

"What are you doing there?

There's nothing to smell.

That's a maple." "But what now," the student countered quickly, "is that a Norway maple or a sycamore?"