Driving Dogs (Drivande hund)

Hunting Roe Deer, Hare and Fox with Driving Dogs

General information

Hunting with driving dogs is a traditional and popular hunting method in Sweden.
The purpose is to let a slow-working dog find the scent of game, track and drive it by voice, so that the hunters can predict the animal’s movement and take a position at a shooting post.
The dog works independently but under control, following the scent trail rather than chasing by sight.
During the drive, the dog gives barking signals (called “drevskall”), which allow hunters to determine the direction and speed of the game and how close the drive is.

A typical feature of this hunting method is that the game often “circles” or “loops back” — a behaviour known in Swedish as bukta.
When an animal bukter, it runs in large circles and eventually returns to the area where it was first flushed.
This happens because the dog’s pace is calm and steady, so the game does not panic or flee long distances but instead tries to keep ahead of the dog within its home area.
This makes it possible to place shooters strategically along the animal’s natural routes, increasing the chance of a safe and ethical shot when the animal passes at a steady pace.