On the way to the green high school diploma: Young hunters’ course gives them an experience of nature

18 young hunters and ten young hunters will take their green Matura in two weeks. In the young hunter course in Sprinzenstein, prospective hunters prepare for the hunting test. As a course leader, Sebastian Köppl and his team impart comprehensive knowledge about nature, wild animals and the changing seasons: “Many people believe that for us it is primarily about shooting, but that only takes up a small part of the training,” he explains: “It’s about ecological connections and the interaction between forestry and agriculture.”

Nature experience in the foreground

The decision to become a hunter also has a lot to do with experiencing nature: “We see many of our participants who are looking for balance and want to engage with nature. Hunting is an ideal calling,” says Köppl. The father-daughter team Klaus and Leyjana Mayrhofer go to school together in what is probably the most beautiful hunting course in the country: “My wife is already a hunter, and now we wanted to follow suit. Plus, it’s easier to learn together.” Of course you have to invest a lot of time; But if you’re interested, you’ll learn a lot of new things: “It’s very extensive. The main part of course deals with wildlife science. But you learn about the forest, ecology and also a lot about environmental and nature conservation,” they say. The Mayrhofers and their course colleagues use the remaining time until the exam to deepen the material. While Klaus still wants to take lessons in wildlife knowledge, Leyjana Mayrhofer is still studying hunting law and weapons knowledge. Karolin Tumfart is also looking forward to the hunting test: “I just wanted to get to know nature and the forest better so that I could explain the connections to my eight-year-old son,” she says. She really enjoys the course in Sprinzenstein: “Real friendships have already been formed, and now you walk through the forest with a different view.” Of course, hunting doesn’t work without shooting, which is why weapon handling also needs to be practiced: “The participants have to be just as comfortable in bullet shooting as they are in clay pigeon shooting,” explains Köppl. Accuracy is a prerequisite for passing the course.

Process venison correctly

Of course, the training doesn’t end with killing the game. Venison is a high-quality and healthy food. Processing it correctly is part of the hunting craft. In the game chamber, the experienced hunter Franz Leitner shows the participants how to properly prepare game. After such good preparation, all that remains is to wish the participants all the best for the exam.