Poacher tales

I was breathing heavily following my highland hunting guide. We had set out right when the dawn was heralding its superiority over darkness. And because neither of us had acquired a hunting license or legal firearms yet, we’d been following an itinerary known just to the wood inhabitants. The chance of coming across anybody at that place was as little as seeing a bug riding a tractor.

The August heat was exceptionally tangible on the square of the small Rhodope town. The absolute lack of wind, so untypical for that region, was adding to the feeling.
A host of men, who had just returned from qail hunting, had thrown their rucksacks on the ground.

I can’t fall asleep. I’m going hunting tomorrow before dawn. I’m tossing in bed fully aware that I have to be well rested because a great ordeal is ahead of me. The adrenalin levels rising inside when thinking of the new adventure are disturbing. I’m growing sleepy but it’s time to set out on that journey.
I pull out of the armory the water and shock-proof plastic container where my equipment is. Then I load it on the Jeep. I’m in time at the airport where, after all formalities with the custom

The month of February, popular as the wolf-month among hunters, restricted hunting to the shooting of just predators, wood-cocks and wood-pigeons. The lovers of big game hunting were left with the only alternative of some rare wolf shooting parties. There was a silent consent about the few spots, where jackals and wolves were keeping home together, not to fire at jackals and foxes for fear that the far more intelligent wolves would get oriented about the location of the hunters. After all luck w

The approach to the mountain ridge had been marked by the tracks of the few cars which had tried going up. Practically, the barely folded relief and the low shrubbery, where the wild hogs used to rest, allowed access from anywhere. The open pastures or some high bush-like dense areas, were the perfect site for hunting with a rifle. If we managed to startle the hogs we would be able to shoot, and shoot several times, no matter what direction they would choose to go.
Our well equipped, eight-memb

The two men were walking cheerless and scared. Their clothes looked alike, shabby and worn out. They were of different age. Judging by the characteristic high cheek-bones of their faces, one could guess they were sort of relatives, most probably, a father and his son. Stoyan, the younger one, was holding an axe in his hand. Pavel, on his part, had asked a neighbour of his to lend him an old hunting rifle, loaded with two bullets. He had no other bullets with him and didn’t even know the right pe

The strong spring wind was bending ominously the high pine-trees to the point of breaking them. Nevertheless, the weather was warm and sunny. The last reminders of winter were some rugged snow patches on the high mountain ridge.
Seven people, all tourists, were walking along the rocky path. They were heading for the only mountain chalet in the area. None of them was realizing that they’d taken the wrong direction two hours ago. The three boys and four girls were students at the University in So

Abagio and Nachko had been walking along the dry and dusty road among the fields, with their heads bowed down with shame and anger. They hadn’t exchanged a word over the last half an hour. Each of them had blamed the other, most inconsiderately, to no avail. Both were to blame for what had happened.
There was only a thin sickle moon up in the sky but the star studded vault of heaven of the last warm early fall days was supplying enough light for the road to be seen.
Nachko noticed the muddy pu

The two men were walking cheerless and scared. Their clothes looked alike, shabby and worn out. They were of different age. Judging by the characteristic high cheek-bones of their faces, one could guess they were sort of relatives, most probably, a father and his son. Stoyan, the younger one, was holding an axe in his hand. Pavel, on his part, had asked a neighbour of his to lend him an old hunting rifle, loaded with two bullets. He had no other bullets with him and didn’t even know the right pe