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Quiet hunting in Russian Empire
In Russia, mushrooming is affectionately known as "тихая охота," or "quiet hunting"—a poetic term that reflects the serene, contemplative nature of the activity. Unlike conventional hunting, this pursuit involves no weapons or loud noises, only the soft rustle of leaves underfoot and the quiet excitement of discovering hidden treasures in the forest. Armed with a wicker basket and a keen eye, mushroom foragers venture into the woods during the damp, cool days of late summer and early autumn, when the mycelium thrives beneath the trees.
Quiet hunting has long held a special place in Russian culture, deeply rooted in both rural tradition and urban leisure. It is more than just a way to gather food—it's a cherished ritual that connects people with nature, family, and generations of folklore. Knowledge of edible mushrooms, passed down from grandparents to grandchildren, is considered a vital part of Russian heritage. The forest is seen not as a wild, untamed place, but as a generous provider, offering mushrooms, berries, and herbs to those who know how to respectfully harvest them.
This tradition was not limited to peasants or common folk; it also found favor among the Russian elite. Even members of the imperial family participated in quiet hunting as a form of recreation and communion with nature. A notable photograph from 1913 shows the four daughters of Tsar Nicholas II—Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia Romanov—engaged in a mushroom-picking excursion. Dressed in simple, practical clothing and wearing simple hats, the young grand duchesses can be seen bending over mossy logs and forest undergrowth, carefully selecting mushrooms and placing them in their baskets. The image captures a rare moment of informality and familial warmth within the otherwise formal and secluded life of the Romanovs.
The photograph, taken at the imperial family’s estate at Tsarskoye Selo, reflects the broader cultural significance of quiet hunting in pre-revolutionary Russia. It illustrates how this humble activity transcended social class, uniting peasants and aristocrats alike in a shared seasonal ritual. Even today, quiet hunting remains a widespread pastime across Russia and other Slavic countries, with families and friends spending weekends in the forest, continuing a tradition that blends sustenance, spirituality, and deep respect for the natural world.
City hunt. Ferrets, terriers and rat hunters.
In the grimy, war-torn streets of 1930s and 1940s England — particularly in industrial cities like London, Manchester, and Liverpool — the rat catcher (sometimes called “rat hunter” or “rat man”) was not merely a pest controller, but a vital public health officer. Amid economic depression, overcrowded slums, bomb-damaged buildings, and wartime food rationing, rats thrived. Their numbers exploded, threatening food supplies, spreading disease (notably bubonic plague and leptospirosis), and gnawing through infrastructure. Rat catchers were thus essential frontline workers in the battle for urban hygiene and survival.
Why Ferrets?
Ferrets were the rat catcher’s secret weapon. Agile, slender, and fearless, ferrets could slip into burrows, sewers, cellars, and rubble where rats nested — places too narrow or dangerous for humans or dogs. Once inside, they would flush rats out into the open, where dogs or traps awaited. Ferrets didn’t always kill the rats themselves; their role was primarily to *drive* them out. They were trained to return to their handler or stay near the exit, often wearing small bells or collars for tracking. Their natural hunting instinct, combined with trainability, made them indispensable — especially in bombed-out Blitz sites where rats colonized the ruins.
Dog Breeds Used for Rat hunting.
Rat catchers relied heavily on terriers — small, tenacious, and bred for vermin control. The most common breeds included:
- Jack Russell Terrier – Agile, fearless, and tireless, ideal for chasing rats above and below ground.
- Fox Terrier (Smooth and Wire-haired) – Fast and sharp-eyed, used for flushing and killing.
- Bull Terrier (Miniature) – Strong-jawed and muscular, capable of dispatching larger rats quickly.
- Bedlington Terrier – Surprisingly fast and lethal, with a lamb-like appearance belying its ferocity.
- Lakeland Terrier & Border Terrier – Hardy breeds used in tougher urban and semi-rural environments.
These dogs worked in tandem with ferrets: while ferrets drove rats from hiding, the dogs would corner, catch, and kill them — often with astonishing speed. A good ratting dog could dispatch dozens of rats in a single outing.
Rat hunters Earnings and Working Conditions
Rat catchers were typically paid per rat — often a few pence each — or received a small weekly wage from municipal councils or private contracts. In the 1930s, earnings might range from £1 to £3 per week, depending on location and employer. During the war, some were employed directly by the Ministry of Health or local authorities, with slightly better pay and protective gear.
It was grueling, dangerous, and malodorous work. Rat catchers crawled through sewers, scaled bombed-out buildings, and risked bites, disease, and collapsing structures. Many wore heavy boots, leather gloves, and sometimes gas masks in particularly foul environments. Despite the risks, it was steady work — rats, after all, were recession- and war-proof.
Why Was It Important? Urban Hunting Defined
Rat catching was critical for three main reasons:
1. Public Health – Rats carried deadly diseases. Controlling their populations helped prevent epidemics.
2. Food Security – With rationing in place, every ounce of food mattered. Rats consumed and contaminated tons of food.
3. Morale & Infrastructure – Rats undermined morale and gnawed through electrical wires, wooden beams, and even gas lines — a serious fire and safety hazard.
This profession can rightly be called “urban hunter” — not for sport or sustenance, but for civic survival. Unlike rural hunting, it took place in alleyways, basements, tube stations, and rubble-strewn streets. The quarry was not deer or pheasant, but an intelligent, prolific, disease-ridden foe thriving in the shadows of civilization. The tools were not rifles but nets, traps, dogs, and ferrets — and the battleground was the city itself.
The Famous Photograph: Jim Fortey and Alf Greenwin at South Tottenham Station, September 1941.
One of the most iconic images of British wartime life was captured by photojournalist Bert Hardy in September 1941. The black-and-white photograph shows two London rat catchers — **Jim Fortey and Alf Greenwin** — standing proudly beside their tools of trade at South Tottenham Station.
They are dressed in worn work clothes: flat caps, heavy jackets, and sturdy boots. Between them are stacked wooden and wire cages containing alert, bright-eyed ferrets. At their feet sit two terriers — likely Jack Russells or similar — poised and ready. The men’s expressions are calm, almost stoic; they look like tradesmen who know the value of their grim work.
The setting is not rural or pastoral, but unmistakably urban, industrial, and war-torn. The image encapsulates the quiet heroism of civilian workers on the Home Front — not soldiers, but guardians of public health in a city under siege from both bombs and vermin.
Hardy’s composition is deliberate: the symmetry of the men, the cages, the waiting dogs — it’s almost a portrait of professionalism amid chaos. The photograph was published in *Picture Post*, Britain’s most popular photo magazine, and helped elevate the rat catcher from a shadowy figure to a symbol of resilience.
Rat Hunters Legacy
By the late 1940s, modern rodenticides, improved sanitation, and rebuilding efforts reduced the need for traditional rat catchers. The profession faded, replaced by pest control companies and poison baits. But in the 1930-40s, men like Fortey and Greenwin were unsung urban hunters — protecting cities not with guns or fire hoses, but with ferrets, terriers, and sheer grit.
Even the most humble professions can be heroic — and that sometimes, the fiercest battles are fought not on battlefields, but in basements, sewer, and railway stations, with a terrier at your heel and a ferret in your pocket.
https://m.uh.app/news/rat-hunter-dogs-ratters-during-the-first-world-war-terriers-were_KnziwKqDEe-Dsht7k2Ti7A
Duck Hunting Methods in Morocco: Field-Proven Techniques, Regional Strategies & Dog Work 🦆
Duck hunting in Morocco isn’t a packaged experience—it’s raw, seasonal, and shaped by terrain, weather, and tradition. From the tidal lagoons of Merja Zerga to the inland marshes of Tadla, each region demands a different approach. This guide breaks down the actual hunting methods used by Moroccan waterfowl hunters, with detailed insight into setups, dog breeds, regional tactics, and how the hunt unfolds in real time.
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🎯 Morning Flight Shooting (Most Common Method)
This is the bread-and-butter technique for duck hunters across Morocco. It’s used in nearly every wetland zone—from River Camp’s lakes to the reed beds of Souss-Massa.
🔹 How It Works:
• Hunters arrive at the blind or natural cover before dawn, usually by 5:30–6:00 AM.
• Ducks begin flying in 30–45 minutes after sunrise, heading from roosting areas to feeding zones.
• Shots are taken as birds pass overhead or swing into decoy spreads.
• Most action happens in the first 90 minutes of daylight.
🔹 Setup:
• Natural blinds made from reeds, eucalyptus branches, or camo netting.
• Shotguns: 12 or 20 gauge, semi-auto or double-barrel.
• Ammo: Steel or bismuth shot ( to ), 32–36 grams.
🔹 Strategy:
• Position yourself downwind of feeding zones.
• Use minimal calling—Moroccan ducks respond better to silence or soft quacks.
• Avoid over-shooting early flocks; let birds settle into a pattern.
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🪶 Pass Shooting Along Flyways
Used in open terrain or near river corridors, especially in Tadla and Meknes regions.
🔹 How It Works:
• Hunters set up along known flight paths between roosting and feeding areas.
• No decoys or blinds—just natural concealment and timing.
• Shots are taken at birds passing overhead or crossing at angles.
🔹 Best Locations:
• Irrigation canals in Tadla
• River edges near Benslimane
• Open fields bordering marshes
🔹 Strategy:
• Scout flight paths the evening before.
• Use terrain features (trees, ridges) to funnel birds.
• Time your shots—don’t rush the first pass.
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🪺 Decoy Hunting (Growing in Popularity)
Still rare in Morocco but gaining traction in private concessions like River Camp and Widiane Chasse.
🔹 How It Works:
• Hunters place 6–12 floating decoys in shallow water or near reed edges.
• Use basic calling (mallard hen quacks, feeding chuckles).
• Birds circle and land into the spread—shots taken on final approach.
🔹 Setup:
• Lightweight plastic decoys or hand-carved wood
• Simple camo blind or natural cover
• Calling: single-reed mallard call or whistle
🔹 Strategy:
• Keep decoys spaced—avoid tight clusters.
• Use motion (jerk string or ripple decoy) to simulate feeding.
• Shoot birds as they commit, not on the swing.
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🐾 Dog-Assisted Marsh Hunts
Used in deeper wetlands and reed beds, especially in Merja Zerga and Souss-Massa.
🔹 Dog Breeds Commonly Used:
• Labrador Retriever: Strong swimmers, excellent for retrieving in open water.
• German Shorthaired Pointer: Used for flushing ducks from cover.
• Local Moroccan Mixes: Hardy, adaptable, often trained by rural hunters.
🔹 How It Works:
• Dogs flush ducks from dense reeds or retrieve downed birds from water.
• Hunters walk marsh edges or shoot from blinds.
• Dogs work silently and respond to hand signals or whistles.
🔹 Strategy:
• Train dogs to avoid chasing live birds—focus on retrieval.
• Use waterproof vests and GPS collars in thick cover.
• Rotate dogs during multi-day hunts to avoid fatigue.
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🧭 Regional Differences in Duck Hunting
🏞️ Merja Zerga Lagoon (Kenitra)
• Method: Morning flight + dog work
• Terrain: Dense reeds, tidal flats
• Strategy: Hunt from natural blinds; use dogs for retrieval
🏞️ Souss-Massa National Park (Agadir)
• Method: Pass shooting + walk-and-wait
• Terrain: Coastal lagoons, estuaries
• Strategy: Hunt near feeding zones; minimal calling
🏞️ River Camp Morocco (Benslimane, Meknes, Middle Atlas)
• Method: Decoy hunting + morning flight
• Terrain: Lakes, rivers, grain fields
• Strategy: Use professional guides and trained dogs
🏞️ Tadla Plains & Azilal Wetlands
• Method: Pass shooting + solo walk-and-flush
• Terrain: Irrigation canals, marsh edges
• Strategy: Scout flyways; hunt solo or in pairs
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🧾 Final Gear Checklist
• Shotgun: 12 or 20 gauge, semi-auto preferred
• Ammo: Steel or bismuth shot (–), 32–36g
• Clothing: Waterproof jacket, camo layers, waders
• Accessories: Decoys, calls, shell pouch, dog gear
• Dogs: Trained retriever or pointer (optional but recommended)
Duck hunting in Morocco is shaped by terrain, tradition, and timing. It’s not about volume—it’s about knowing your flyways, reading the wind, and reacting fast. Whether you’re calling mallards into a quiet pond or intercepting teal over a tidal lagoon, the methods here are real, refined, and rewarding.
❓ FAQ – Duck Hunting Methods in Morocco
1. What is the most common duck hunting technique in Morocco?
The most widely used method is morning flight shooting, where hunters set up before dawn near feeding areas and shoot ducks as they fly overhead. It’s especially effective in marshes and lagoons like Merja Zerga and River Camp.
2. Can I use decoys and calls while duck hunting in Morocco?
Yes. While decoy hunting is less common than pass shooting, it’s growing in popularity in private concessions. Mallards respond well to spread and soft calling, especially in quieter areas. Expect better results during late season when birds are pressured.
3. Are dogs used for duck hunting in Morocco?
Absolutely. Dogs play a key role, especially for retrieval in wet areas. Labrador Retrievers are preferred for water retrieves, while German Shorthaired Pointers and local Moroccan mixes help flush birds from reeds and thick cover.
4. How does duck hunting differ between regions?
• In Merja Zerga Lagoon, expect dense reeds and tidal flats—perfect for dog-assisted hunts.
