European Bison Hunting

European Bison

(Bison bonasus)

Current all time records
SCI: Score 66 - Poland, Borki - 1/77
SCI (preserve): Score 67 4/8
Rowland Ward: Score 32 1/4 - Borki, Poland - 1977

Description: The coat is dense and dark brown to golden brown in colour. The neck is short and thick, topped by a shoulder hump. The thickness of the neck is intensified by longer hair which forms a short mane on the underside. The hindquarters are somewhat larger than the American bison, and the head is carried relatively high. The broad, short skull has a curly mop of hair on the forehead and a short beard on the chin. The horns, found in both sexes, project outwards and then curve upwards and slightly forwards.

Other Common Names: Wisent

Size:

Range: Primarily Russia and eastern Europe; primarily November to February when the coat is best and meat care is easiest.

Natural History: The wisent is active throughout the day, though the distribution of activity is affected by food supply. In the summer, feeding occurs primarily in the morning and evening, and rarely at night. In the winter, two to five feeding sessions per day have been recorded, mostly in the morning and evening before midnight. Over a 24 hour period, an average of 30% of the time is spent feeding, 60% resting, and 10% moving and/or playing. Although movements are generally slow, short gallops are rarely observed. Despite their size, wisent can jump across 3 m / 10 feet wide streams and 2 m / 6 foot tall fences from a standing position. The wisent is dependent on water, knocking holes in the ice in winter with their hooves to reach the liquid. Population densities are about 12 animals per 1,000 hectares in the Bialoweiza Forest in Poland, and 3-4 per 1,000 hectares in the Caucasus. Vocalizations other than short grunts or snorts are rare.

Hunting Characteristics: