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Dom
Thank you for the enlightenment. In the years I spent in Germany I went hunting exactly Twice. I donot know if they were elitists but I went with the obermeister from Niederstedem, Herr Kohl and his Partner a construction engineeer. Herr Kohl was also our landlord. We rented the school house there. It was formerly the teachers quarters. I loved that place. Absolutely beautiful. Apple orchards on both sides of us. Our front yard was a Fussball field.
I guess they both sensed my feelings when I looked at them and their hunting attire, because they both explained the reasons for it. But they were in woolen suits with dress shirts and ties. Boots with semi bloused cuffs. The look of apprehension on my face must have been a telling story. Now mind you this was in the early 70's. I don't doubt things may have changed a little since then.
These guys both had firearms I would have killed for. One a double, rifle/shotgun and the other a drilling. No semi-autos or belt feds here. They both harvested their game with one shot and very surgically accomplished. This made an immediate impression on me and when I got back statesside I change my way of hunting, no more shots off into the wild blue yonder, I learned to stalk my game and be patient. I guess that is why I like archery and muzzleloaders so much now. They only thing I've taken at long range lately is Antelope, with guess what? A 6,5x68 Schuler/ Von Hoffe/RWS or whatever it is deemed. It was formerly a 264 Win Mag barrel that I removed from a Model 70 Win. and re-chambered it and placed on a vz 24 action. The guy that I got the barrel from said it wouldn't shoot. Yeah, right. Well it put an Antelope to sleep at 280+ yards.
Someday, before I croak I hope to visit Germany again. I have friends in Niederstedem that I still converse with. One has written two books about the Bitburg Air Base. His name is Horst Weber.
We get together and BS and it sounds like I don't know what, me with my limited German and him speaking Very good English. Sounds like a Yiddish Picnic.
My Wife and I were both members of the Bitburg Rod and Gun club. Had our fishing permits and all. My wife was an excellent fly fisherwoman. She taught me. For the most part she taught me how to hunt and shoot also. I was raised in big cities and didn't have much opportunity to participate in the sport of hunting, my early initiation to shooting came when I learned to shoot and paticipated on a rifle team in college. I loved it and have never been very far from firearms since.
Speaking of hunting, have you seen any German Wirehairs over there? I was just wondering. I don't remember ever seeing a hunting dog there. Lots of snot nosed parasite lap dogs though. Most of them couldn't find a soup bone in a garbage can.
Once school is over do the graduates then join a club of some sort? Who do you talk to about getting permission to hunt. I sincerely doubt Germany has any public land open to hunting. When I was there every little piece of land was used and something was growing on it. But I would suppose that may have changed also.
Any way thank you for your photos and explanations. And if you are a fisherman, Petri heil.
Best wishes, Bill
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