Hunting animals and birds. Game Animals Department of Public Policy and
Fund of hunting animals. The fauna of game animals of the Russian Federation is an integral part of the economic potential of our state, and its reserves are considered the fund of game animals. In the production of sport hunting, animals and birds are the main objects from which they receive hunting products. Until recently, fishing farms, in addition to obtaining hunting products of animal origin, were engaged in the collection and processing of plant materials, carrying out, in fact, integrated nature management.
The Russian Federation has an exceptionally diverse and rich hunting fauna. Animals that are hunted include the following:
mammals– moles (2 species), flying squirrel, common squirrel, chipmunk, marmots (3 species), ground squirrels (9 species), dormouse, beavers (2 species), gray and black rats, mole rat, large jerboa, Altai zokor, common hamster, water vole, muskrat, hares (4 species), wolf, jackal, red fox, arctic fox (except for the Commander subspecies), corsac fox, raccoon dog (with the exception of areas of the natural range - Primorye, Amur Region), Brown bear(except for the Tien Shan and Transcaucasian), striped raccoon, weasels, solong, forest and steppe hori, European and American mink, sable, pine and stone martens, harza, ermine, weasel, wolverine, badger, otter (except for the Caucasian subspecies ), lynx, house (jungle cat), wild boar, musk deer, roe deer, red deer (except for the Bukhara deer), elk, reindeer (except for the Novaya Zemlya subspecies), saiga, chamois, Siberian mountain goat, bighorn sheep (with the exception of the Putoran subspecies);
birds– white and tundra partridges, black grouse, common and stone capercaillie, hazel grouse, quail, mute quail, keklik, desert partridge, Himalayan snowcock, pheasant, gray and bearded partridges, bean goose, gray and white-fronted geese, pis-kulka, black goose, shelduck, mallard, black mallard, gray duck, wigeon, killer whale, pintail, whistle-teal, cracked teal, kloktun teal, shoveler, kamenushka, long-tailed duck, goldeneye, red-nosed, red-headed and white-eyed pochards, crested and sea blacks, common and Pacific bluegill, common and hook-nosed scoter, comb eider, spectacled and small eider, common eider (shooting of the eider is prohibited, organized collection of down is carried out), grebes (4 species, except for lesser), red-throated and black-throated diver, great bering and small cormorants, guillemots (2 species), puffins, puffins, large and long-nosed mergansers, slut, large Far Eastern and medium curlews, woodcocks, Asian and common snipe, common and forest great snipe, turukhtan, garnish, large and small godwit, lapwing, avdotka, black-bellied and white-bellied grouse, common saja, coot, corncrake, gray, rocky and brown pigeons, common, large and ringed turtledoves, stock dove, wood pigeon.
In the Russian Federation, hunting objects are approved by the decision of local authorities, their lists are placed in the regional hunting rules. One or another animal in one locality can be numerous and defined as an object of hunting, and in another - protected.
The hunting fund does not include wild animals that are legally kept in captivity and for which funds and human labor are spent on care, as well as domestic animals. Legal protection animals in captivity is carried out in other forms and in accordance with other legislation, i.e. at the level of property, a social thing, and their extraction is qualified as theft of state and public property. The hunting fund also does not include marine mammals - whales, dolphins, seals, etc.
Hunting products. Hunting products include everything that is obtained in hunting farms. These are skins of valuable fur-bearing animals (furs), meat and game products (meat of wild animals and birds), raw hides (skins of wild ungulates), medicinal raw materials (antlers of deer), musk (musky glands of musk deer, beaver), fluff and feather of a bird. , trophies (horns, fangs, skulls, etc.).
Fur raw materials consider furs, fur raw materials and skins of marine animals, from which various fur products are made.
Fur raw materials– these are undressed skins of fur-bearing animals obtained by hunting or obtained by cellular breeding. Winter types of furs (extracted in winter): sea otter, otter, freestyle (European) mink, caged (American) mink, river beaver, nutria, muskrat, desman, brown, black and white bear, wolverine, badger, Ussuri raccoon , all types of foxes (red, krestovka, gray fox, black-brown, silver-black, silver-black white-faced, platinum, platinum-white-faced, snowy), wolf, jackal, corsac, arctic fox (white and blue), striped raccoon, sable, marten (soft, mountain), kidus, kharza, polecat (light, dark, dressing), column, solongoy, ermine, weasel, tiger, cheetah, wild cat (forest, reed, Far Eastern, caracal, manul, steppe), snow leopard, leopard, lynx, hare (hare, hare, sandstone), long-tailed chinchilla, squirrels, flying squirrels.
The assignment of a particular species according to the classification in the composition of fur raw materials does not mean that hunting is allowed for it.
Spring types of furs: skins of marmot, tarbagan, mole, chipmunk, water and barn rat, pika, gerbil, mole rat, zokor, hamster, ground squirrel of all kinds, dormice regiment, i.e. animals harvested in spring and summer.
Cage fur farming is recognized to fill the deficit of natural fur resources and meet the needs of the domestic and foreign markets in natural furs. The objects of fur farming are mainly representatives of the Carnivorous order - foxes, arctic foxes, minks, sables, raccoon dogs. Of the rodents, nutria, beavers, and muskrats are successfully bred in cages. In recent years, experiments have been carried out on breeding polecats, columns, lynxes, river otters, sea otters and a number of other valuable animals.
Along with fur farming, a significant contribution to the enrichment of the fauna of game animals is made by game breeding - keeping various hunting animals and birds in the nurseries of hunting farms on special farms of breeding stock, rearing the resulting offspring to a certain age with subsequent release into hunting grounds. Released animals quickly run wild and become objects of hunting.
To fur raw materials include undressed skins of domestic animals, also divided into winter and spring types. The skins of dogs, cats, rabbits are winter. The spring species include the skins of calves of cattle and reindeer (bastard, fawn, neblyuy), skins of goats, foals and lambs. Moreover, the skins of lambs of astrakhan and astrakhan breeds are isolated into a separate, especially valuable group of raw materials.
The skins of various marine animals are also distinguished into a separate group of fur raw materials.
In order to obtain predominantly meat products, hunting is carried out for a number of species of wild animals, primarily ungulates (elk, reindeer, wild boar, saiga, deer, red deer, musk deer), as well as bear, hare, etc. Depending on local traditions quite edible meat of beaver, badger, lynx, marmot, muskrat, squirrel is also used. The fat of many game animals is also a marketable product of the trade, which is allowed to be sold at collective farm markets if there is a certificate confirming the species origin of the fat and issued by a veterinarian. The fat of a bear, a badger, and some species of marmots is especially valued. However, the most important products of the crafts are the meat of wild animals, which is classified as a dietary product; it is consumed mainly fresh (winter production).
Many species of feathered game are objects of commercial and sport hunting. Of particular importance is the order Chicken-like (first of all, these are capercaillie, black grouse, hazel grouse, white and tundra partridge). Among the subfamily of ducks, mallard, gray duck, wigeon, shoveler, teal, pintail are predominant. Predominantly for sport hunting, the use of resources of waders (woodcock, curlew, snipe, great snipe), shepherd birds (coot, corncrake) is typical.
The most promising objects for game breeding are considered to be game birds: pheasants, partridges and waterfowl. In Russia, pheasants were bred at the beginning of the 19th century. Since the 1950s 20th century mass work began on breeding pheasants, gray and Dahurian partridges, Japanese quail, mallard ducks. Currently, experiments are underway to breed capercaillie, black grouse, gray geese, eiders.
Depending on the habitat, game birds are divided into upland(forest), marsh, waterfowl, steppe and mountain; in size for large and small.
According to the methods of extraction, game is divided into shot and caught into traps (pressed). The best quality is the shot game of winter or late autumn prey.
Hunting and fishing enterprises organize the collection and procurement of products mainly of the following classification groups: nuts and berries, mushrooms, medicinal and technical raw materials.
A special place among hunting products is occupied by antlers - non-ossified antlers of sika deer, as well as two subspecies of red deer - deer and red deer. The contents of the antlers (blood-jelly-like mass) are used for the manufacture of a number of valuable medical preparations, in particular pantocrine. Panty is obtained by shooting male deer (pantaches) in May-July. Such a hunt is called antlers, and hunters are called antlers. Hunting requires high professionalism, because at this time the deer are extremely cautious and live in the most remote corners of the land. At present, the bulk of antlers are obtained in captive and semi-free keeping of animals.
Crested duck (Aythya fuligula)
Diving duck, slightly smaller than red-headed pochard. The mating color of the male is black with a purple tint, the sides are white, on the back of the head there is a pigtail (crest) of elongated feathers. The female is brown with a whitish belly; white feathers or a narrow light ring are often visible at the base of the beak; the crest is short. The male at the end of summer looks like a female. All outfits are characterized by a long white mirror along the rear edge of the wing; eyes are yellow. Young - like females, but without crest; brownish-yellow eyes. Unlike river ducks, the back of the body and tail of a floating bird are submerged in water. Willingly dives, takes off heavily from the water, after a run through the water. The flight is swift, noisy; the flock usually flies in groups. Quite silent, the voice of the female is a hoarse croak, the voice of the male is a two-syllable whistle (heard only in spring). Keeps on open, relatively deep reservoirs with overgrown banks. Like the red-nosed pochard, it often gravitates towards colonies of gull birds.
Red-nosed pochard (Netta rufina)
The size of a mallard. The male is characterized by a golden-orange head, brighter and lighter than that of the red-headed pochard, and a bright orange beak. On the head is a fluffy rounded crest, because of which the head seems very large. The female is grayish-brown, differs from females of other divers in the light plumage of the cheeks and upper part of the neck. On the water, unlike other divers, it sits high. It dives well, but can also feed like river ducks, plunging the front of the body into the water and exposing the back vertically. The flight is noisy. Usually a silent bird. The male's voice is a soft whistle, the female's is a hoarse, jerky "kerkhanie".
Red-headed pochard (Aythya ferina)
A little less mallard. The male in breeding plumage has a reddish-brown head, a bluish bill, a black breast and a gray back; the iris of the eye is red. The female and male in the second half of summer have a brown outfit with a lighter head, especially cheeks, and a darker chest. Wings without a white mirror (in all outfits). Juveniles look like adult females. The eyes of males are red, those of young birds and females are brown. Landing on the water is deep, the tail is not visible; dives often. It takes off heavily from the water, after a run on the water; flies fast and noisy. The voice of the male in springtime is a nasal whistle, the female croaks hoarsely. It keeps on relatively deep reservoirs, clean reaches with overgrown banks; often settles near colonies of gull birds.
Gogol (Bucephala clangula)
Large-headed duck, noticeably smaller than the mallard. The male in breeding plumage is white with black head, back, tail and wing tips. There are oval white spots on the cheeks. The female and juveniles are dark brown with a brown head, white wing mirrors, a narrow light collar and no spots on the cheeks. The eyes of adult males and females are bright yellow, those of young ones are dark. Swims with tail down; when feeding, it dives and quickly swims under water, helping itself with its wings. Takes off easily from the water. The flight is swift, maneuverable; wings in flight emit a characteristic whistle. Silent, the voice is a rough quack. It nests in hollows of old trees growing near water bodies, willingly occupies artificial nests. They nest mainly where nesting boxes are hung especially for goldeneyes. During the migration period, it is observed on ponds of fish farms, peat quarries, floods of large rivers.
Duckling (Aythya marila)
White-eyed pochard (Aythya nyroca)
The size of a red-headed dive. The breeding color of the male is gray with white sides; head, neck and chest are black with a green tint. It differs from the Crested Duck by its gray back and the absence of a pigtail on the back of its head. The female is brownish-gray, lighter than the female of the crested black; unlike the latter, there is a wide, dirty-white ring around the beak; a light spot often also occurs on the cheek. In all plumages, a white stripe runs along the hind edge of the wing, like that of the crested duck; the eyes of males and females are yellow. Juveniles are similar to females, but beak ring is either absent or may be narrow or incomplete; yellow-brown eyes. The voice of the male is a low whistle, the female is a rough quack. Celebrated on ponds of fish farms, spills big rivers and other large reservoirs.
geese
White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
Noticeably smaller than the gray goose and goose. It differs from them in a white spot on the forehead, which does not extend to the top of the head; in flight, uneven dark transverse stripes are clearly visible on the belly (they are absent in young birds). The general coloration is lighter than that of the bean goose, the beak is pink, and the paws are reddish. Landing on the water, flight, form of flocks, behavior and places of feeding during the migration period - like a gray goose. Less wary than greylag goose and bean goose. The voice is higher than that of these two species of geese - a sonorous, rather melodic chuckle. Northern species nesting in the tundra.
Lesser Lesser White-fronted Lesser Goat (Anser erythrops)
Smaller than the white-fronted goose, which is very similar. It differs from it, in addition to size, in a narrow yellow leathery ring around the eye and in the fact that the white frontal spot extends to the crown; Unfortunately, these differences are clearly visible only at close range. The wings are somewhat narrower than those of the white-fronted goose; more frequent wing beats. It differs from similar in size geese by a monochromatic brownish-gray color. The voice is high and somewhat shrill, for which the species got its name. Breeds in northern tundra. Listed in the Red Book of Russia (hunting is prohibited)
Bean goose (Anser fabalis)
About the size of a gray goose or a little smaller. Compared with the white-fronted and, especially, gray goose, the color of the upper body, head and neck is darker; in flight, the dark head and neck contrast markedly with the lighter chest and belly. The beak is black with an orange transverse stripe. Landing on the water, flight, behavior and places of feeding during the migration period - as in gray and white-fronted geese. Very careful. Migratory flocks fly at an angle or in an oblique line; individual bean gooses can also be observed in flocks of white-fronted geese. The voice is a double, loud, guttural chuckle. Northern tundra and taiga species.
Gray goose (Anser anser)
Large bird; similar to a domestic goose, the ancestor of most of the breeds of which he is. It differs from the white-fronted goose by the absence of a white spot on the forehead and larger size, from the bean goose by a completely pink beak and a lighter, gray color of the head, back and wing coverts. It swims well, stays high on the water, does not dive. Flight direct, fast. Migratory flocks line up at a characteristic angle; during local foraging flights, the birds stretch into a line. It feeds on herbaceous vegetation mainly on land (in meadows, winters) and along the banks of water bodies. Very careful. The voice is similar to the cackle of a domestic goose.
rodents
Common squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
A small animal with an elongated body and a long fluffy tail. Body length 195-280 mm, tail 130-186 mm. The head is rounded, the eyes are large, black, the ears are relatively long, with tassels at the ends, especially developed in winter, the fingers are elongated, with tenacious claws. Coloration varies enormously from place to place and dramatically with the seasons. In summer, the upper side is painted in various shades red, brown or black, in winter it is respectively gray (sometimes with red), light gray, light brown or dark gray. The belly is always white. The tail is black, black-gray, brownish or bright red. The coat is soft and fluffy in winter, coarser, short and shiny in summer. Forest dweller. Adheres mainly to old coniferous and broad-leaved forests. The food consists of coniferous seeds, nuts, acorns, mushrooms, buds and shoots, chicks and bird eggs, and insects. Stocks up for the winter. It is usually active in the morning and evening hours, in winter throughout the day, on frosty and windy days it often does not go out to feed, but does not hibernate. Leads a predominantly arboreal lifestyle. He arranges shelters in hollows (in broad-leaved forests) or builds a spherical nest from branches on trees with a roof and an entrance from the side (gaino). One of the most valuable fur animals.
Hare (Lepus timidus)
Big hare. Body length 44-74 cm, weight 2.5-5.5 kg. The ears are relatively short, bent forward, reaching the end of the muzzle. The hind limbs are of medium length. The color of the body in summer is brown, gray or brownish-buff. On the cheeks and paws, a reddish tint, a tail without black hair. In winter, all fur is pure white. The tips of the ears are black all year round. Inhabitant of forests and tundra, also found in the steppe. It feeds on herbaceous plants. In winter, it eats shoots and bark of willow, aspen, birch, hazel, oak, maple. There is no permanent lair. In winter, for rest, it digs a shallow hole or hole in the snow. Sheds in spring and autumn. An important fishery object.
Brown hare (Lepus europaeus)
Big hare. Body length 55 - 69 cm, weight 4 - 6.5 kg. The ears are relatively long, bent forward, and protrude far beyond the end of the muzzle. The hind limbs are long. In summer, the color is reddish-gray with blackish ripples, the sides are lighter, without ripples. Ears with black border. The tail is black above. In winter, the color brightens noticeably, but not as sharply as that of the hare. Inhabitant of steppe and forest-steppe landscapes, enters forests. In the forest zone it inhabits the edges, overgrown with shrubs, forest belts, fields; in the steppe it is found everywhere. In summer it feeds on herbaceous plants, in winter - dry grass, bark and shoots of various trees and shrubs. The number changes over the years, but not as sharply as that of the hare. An important fishery.
Beaver (Castor fiber)
The largest rodent of our fauna. The physique is massive. Body length 75-120 cm, weight about 20 kg. The eyes and ears are small, the forelimbs are shorter than the hind limbs. The tail is flat, wide, spatulate, covered with horny shields and sparse hair. Between the fingers of the hind limbs - swimming membranes. The fur consists of long and coarse guard hairs and a soft, wavy underfur. The color of the fur is varied, from light chestnut to black. Inhabitant of various landscapes, but always associated with water. Most often inhabits the banks of slowly flowing rivers, lakes and ponds. In summer it feeds on leaves and young shoots of trees and shrubs, stems and flowers of various plants, in autumn, winter and spring it eats green bark, branches and rhizomes. For the winter, it makes food reserves (branches and rhizomes). Stocks are stored in the water near dwellings. Spends most of the time in the water. It digs complex burrows in steep banks, their openings open under water. On low banks and shallow waters, he builds huts from branches fastened with silt. To maintain a constant water level in a stream or river, dams are built from cuttings of tree trunks, branches, turf and silt. Able to gnaw trees up to 1 m thick. A fallen tree gnaws into pieces and then floats to its shelters. For rafting, it digs channels hundreds of meters long, up to 0.5 m wide and up to 1 m deep. Active at dusk and at night. A family of 4-6 individuals winters in one dwelling. Valuable commercial species.
Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)
Comparative sizes of rodents: 
artiodactyls
Boar (Sus scrota)
A large animal with a short massive body, a thick, short neck, a large head, relatively thin limbs and a short tail. Tepa length 125-175 cm, height at the withers 80-100 cm, weight 150-200 kg. The ears are long and wide, the muzzle is elongated, ending in a snout; in males, the upper and lower fangs stick out of the mouth upwards. Coloration from black and red-brown to sandy and silver-gray. The hairline is coarse, bristly. Females are lighter in build. Piglets are light brown, with bright longitudinal stripes on the back and sides. An inhabitant of various landscapes, from dark coniferous taiga to mountains and deserts. It feeds on rhizomes, tubers and roots of various plants, fruits, nuts, cedar seeds, acorns. Often uses animal food: earthworms, insects, small vertebrates. In summer it is active from sunset to dawn, in winter it feeds during daylight hours. Leads a group or herd lifestyle, old males are kept alone. Easily moves on swampy ground, swims well. Sense of smell and hearing are very well developed, vision is relatively weak. A valuable game animal, it gives meat, skin and bristles.
Elk (Alces alces)
Very large, powerful and high-legged animal. Body length up to 300 cm, height at the withers 225-235 cm, weight up to 570 kg. The head is large, strongly elongated, with a swollen upper lip, the neck is short and thick, the ears are long and wide, pointed at the ends, the tail does not protrude from the fur, on the throat there is a skin outgrowth hanging down ("earring"). Males have heavy horns, forming a "shovel" with a different number of processes. The coloration is one-colored, dark brown, the legs are usually light, almost white. There is no mirror. The hairline is coarse, brittle. Inhabitant of flat taiga and mixed forests, less common in mountain taiga. Adheres to swampy areas, the outskirts of lakes, riverine willows, young overgrown burnt areas and cutting areas, forest areas with dense undergrowth and high grass cover. In summer, it especially willingly eats fireweed, meadowsweet, watch, horsetail, egg capsule, water lily, marigold, calamus, calla and many other herbaceous plants, leaves of willow, birch, mountain ash and other tree species. In winter, the basis of nutrition is made up of branches of hardwoods (willows, aspens, mountain ash, birches) and needles of pine, fir, juniper, as well as the bark of various trees. A valuable game animal that provides meat and skin. Hunting is allowed only with licenses. Experiments are being conducted on the domestication of elk.
Red deer (European red deer, red deer, red deer) (Cervus elaphus)
Large, slender animal with long legs. Body length about 200 cm, height at the withers 120-150 cm, weight from 100 to 300 kg. The head is somewhat elongated, the neck is short, the ears are long, wide, pointed at the ends, the tail is short. Adult males usually have at least five processes on the horns. The color is uniform, no stains. Its main tone in summer is from bright reddish-brown and yellowish to brownish-brown. Around the tail there is a large spot ("mirror") of a reddish or yellowish (sometimes with white) color extending onto the croup. The limbs and belly are darker; a longitudinal strip often stretches along the ridge. Winter color is grayish or brownish-yellow. Juveniles are spotted until the first molt. The hairline is coarse, brittle. Inhabitant of taiga, broad-leaved and mountain forests. Food consists of branches, shoots, leaves, buds, bark and needles of various tree species, various herbaceous plants and lichens. A commercial animal that gives meat, skin, skin and valuable medicinal raw materials is antlers (non-ossified horns).
European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus)
A large animal of light and graceful build, with high thin limbs, a long neck and a small head. Body length 100-155 cm, height at the withers 75-100 cm, weight 20-59 kg. The muzzle is relatively short, the ears are large, wide, the tail does not protrude from the fur. Males have horns with 3-5 processes. The coloration is one-color, gray or brownish in winter, reddish or rusty-reddish in summer. The belly is whitish. "Mirror" large, white or yellowish. Juveniles are mottled with white or yellowish spots. The Siberian roe deer differs from the European in fur color, large size, developed "mirror" and large tuberous horns. An inhabitant of deciduous and mixed forests, the southern outskirts of the taiga, forest-steppe. Adheres to light forests with well-developed undergrowth and undergrowth, with clearings, clearings and burnt areas. It feeds on shoots, leaves and buds of hardwoods, pine needles and a variety of herbaceous plants. The object of commercial and sport hunting, shooting is allowed under licenses. Harvested for meat, hide and skin, (non-ossified horns).
Sika deer (Cervus nippon)
Body length 250 - 350 mm, tail 200 - 280 mm, weight 900 -1000 g. The auricle barely protrudes from the fur. The tail is strongly compressed from the sides, covered with sparse hair and small scales. The toes of the hind feet are connected by a small swimming membrane. The fur consists of coarse guard hairs and a soft undercoat. Coloring from light, ocher-red to black, but more often chestnut-brown. Young animals are gray-brown. In the inguinal region of adult animals, there are glands that secrete a musky secret. Acclimatized in Russia. The original range is located in North America. An inhabitant of different landscapes, where it settles along rivers, lakes, canals and swamps. It leads a semi-aquatic lifestyle, relatively rarely going out on land. Active at dusk and in the morning. It feeds on coastal and suitable plants. It eats mollusks, frogs and fish fry much less often. For housing, he builds burrows and huts. The burrow opening is located under water, and the nesting chamber is above the water level. On low shores, it makes huts up to 1 m high from reed and sedge stalks, fastened with silt. One of the most important objects of fur trade.
Comparative sizes of artiodactyls: 
sandpipers
Great snipe (Gallinago media)
Noticeably larger than a snipe. It is distinguished by a dark streaked underside (there are no streaks only in the center of the abdomen) and bright white spots on the sides of the tail, clearly visible during takeoff and landing. The white stripe on the upper side of the wings, which is almost invisible in the snipe, is more pronounced in the great snipe. A frightened great snipe flies straight and not fast, silently or with low short "groaning" sounds. It streams most actively in the dark time of the day on the ground: males gather together on dry meadows, fight, emit crackling, muttering and gurgling trills lasting several seconds.
Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola)
A large large-headed forest shorebird with a long beak, slightly larger than a dove. It differs from other snipes by the uniformly variegated coloration of the upperparts, wide transverse black stripes on the head, a white stripe along the edge of the tail, and the striated coloration of the lower body. In spring, it makes current flights, known as "traction", over glades, forest roads and clearings in the forest. At the same time, the males make "croaking" sounds - "hrr-hrr-hr-hr", followed by a "chirping" - "chi-tsik". Females make only chirping sounds. In case of danger, it hides and flies out a few steps away, trying to hide in the thickets.
Curlew (Numenius phaeopus)
Pigeon-sized sandpiper. The upperparts of the body are black-brown with small light spotting on the back, a longitudinal light stripe on the top of the head, and the same bright "eyebrows". Thick longitudinal streaks on the light neck and chest pass on the sides into V-shaped spots or a striated pattern. Belly buffy-white. The hindquarters and rump are white. The beak is long, curved down, black-brown. The legs are bluish-gray. Juveniles are slightly lighter on top, while breasts are more buffy. Inhabits southern tundras, raised bogs, steppes, mudflats. The voice is a loud cry "bibibibibi ...". They differ from other curlews by their striped head, from the large curlew by their smaller size.
Curlew (Numenius arquata)
Large oystercatcher the size of a crow. The upperparts are brownish, pockmarked with an almost white back and rump, clearly visible in flight. The head, neck and thorax are longitudinally mottled, the abdomen is white. The beak is very long, downward curved, brown-black, the legs are long, gray. Juveniles are similar to adults, but the ocher color is more widespread on the chest. Voice - loud cries of "dewey-dewey", "quir-lu". It differs from other curlews in the large size of the body and beak, the absence of longitudinal stripes on the crown. Populations of southern and middle lane The European part of Russia are included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.
Little Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
The sandpiper is somewhat smaller than the pigeon. The back is black-brown, rusty-red coloration is common on the head, neck, chest and abdomen. The tail is white with transverse dark stripes. White color from the loins goes far forward on the back. The narrow light stripe on the wing is almost imperceptible. The beak is long, slightly upturned, blackish; legs are dark grey. In winter, the plumage is gray with narrow longitudinal dark streaks. Juveniles look like adults in winter plumage, but the plumage is rusty yellow. Inhabits the tundra, raised bogs of the northern taiga, mudflats. Voice - loud cries of "vyaka-vyaka-vyaka", "how-how". It differs from the greater godwit in its somewhat smaller size, striped tail, and greater development. white color on the back.
Harshnap (Lymnocryptes minimus)
Somewhat smaller than a starling, similar in color to a snipe, but much smaller, shorter-legged and noticeably shorter-billed. Brownish-black above, with a greenish or purple tint in the black areas; on the back there are longitudinal yellow streaks merging into stripes. Juveniles are colored like adults. Keeps very secretive. When approaching it, it hides, often takes off almost from under its feet. Unlike the snipe, it takes off silently and flies straight. In flight, it is noticeable that the tail is wedge-shaped, without bright spots. The male flows in the air, the current song in sound and rhythm resembles the tramp of a galloping horse. It is silent outside of the breeding season.
Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
Long-billed oystercatcher the size of a thrush. It differs from the great snipe in the white color of the abdomen and the absence of noticeable white spots on the tail. From the harshnep - large size, long beak and coloring of the head (besides the yellow stripes on the sides of the head there is a light "parting" on the crown). The lower surface of the wing is striped with alternating white and gray stripes. Takes off with a characteristic cry, similar to quacking; a frightened snipe flies in zigzags; flight is fast. When displaying, the male periodically flies up and rushes down with open wings and tail, making a bleating sound. Voice in the spring "ta-ke, ta-ke, ta-ke ...".
Comparative sizes of waders: 
Kunya
European and American mink (Mustela lutreola, Mustela vison)
A small animal with short limbs, a flexible elongated body and a relatively short, non-fluffy tail. Body length 28-43 cm, tail 12-19 cm. The fur is short, thick. The muzzle is narrow, flattened from above, the ears are small, rounded, almost do not protrude from the fur, the fingers are connected by a clearly visible membrane. The color of the fur is one-color, from reddish-brown to dark brown, somewhat lighter on the underside of the body and darker on the tail limbs. There is a white spot on the chin that captures the upper and lower lip. Sometimes there is a white spot on the chest. Closely associated with water bodies. 
Food consists of mouse-like rodents, fish, frogs, crayfish, aquatic insects and mollusks. He arranges burrows near water, digs them himself or uses old burrows. Valuable fur animal. Rare everywhere. In Russia, the American mink is acclimatized, which differs from the European one in a slightly larger size, the white spot usually captures only the chin and lower lip, sometimes reaching the upper one. The American mink is replacing the European mink in most regions. One of the main types of cell fur farming.
Otter (Lutra lutra)
A medium-sized animal with an elongated valky, slightly flattened body, a thick neck, very short limbs and a long, somewhat laterally compressed tail. Body length 70-75 cm, tail up to 50 cm. The head is flat, the muzzle is short and blunt, the ears barely protrude from the fur. The fingers are connected by a well-developed membrane. The coloration is dark brown, shiny, uniform, without sharp transitions from the back to the sides. The head and back are painted somewhat darker. The underside of the body is silvery. Otter habitats are closely associated with a variety of fresh water bodies. It swims and dives well, remaining under water for a long time. On land, it is more clumsy than other mustelids. When running, the tail drags along the ground. It feeds on fish, frogs, less often mammals, birds, crayfish and mollusks. Burrows digs in the undercuts of the coast, often uses natural shelters. The most valuable fur animal. Hunting is allowed only with licenses.
Stone marten (Maries foina)
Very similar to the pine marten, but the tail is relatively longer and pointed. Body length 45-54 cm, tail 25-35 cm. Coloring is light, brownish-yellow, tail and limbs are noticeably darker than the back. The throat patch is white, occasionally light fawn, extending over the front legs in two stripes. An inhabitant of mountain forest and treeless slopes, stone placers, floodplain forests, ravines, parks and even settlements. It feeds equally on both animal and plant foods. Active at any time of the day. It climbs trees well, but usually hunts on the ground. In recent years, it has settled and developed new territories. Valuable fur animal. Hunting is allowed only with licenses. 
Badger (Meles meles)
Medium-sized squat animal, with a narrow elongated muzzle, short neck and relatively short shaggy tail. Body length 60-90 cm, tail 16-20 cm. The badger's ears are small, rounded, strong paws are armed with long claws, the fur is bristly, coarse. The coloration of the animal is rather motley: the dorsal side and sides are brownish-gray with small ripples, a darker blurry stripe runs along the ridge, the throat, lower neck, chest and belly are black-brown or black, the muzzle is white, black or black passes through the eye and ear. brown stripe, ends of the ears with linen, whitish tail. An inhabitant of a wide variety of landscapes from the taiga to the desert. It feeds on both animal and plant foods. Usually it digs complex burrows with numerous entrances, with a system of underground passages, living chambers and dead ends. The nesting chamber is located at a depth of 2-3 m and is lined with dry grass and leaves. Unlike other mustelids, it hibernates in the northern part of its range. The industry is small. Hair is used to make brushes, fat is used in medicine.
Weasel (Mustela nivalis)
A small animal with a strongly elongated thin and flexible body, short limbs and a relatively short tail. Body length 13-28 cm, tail 1.3-8 cm. The head is small, the ears are short and wide, the fur is thick, but short. In winter, the color is pure white, in summer it is sharply two-tone: head, back, sides and limbs are brownish-brown, throat, chest and belly are white, tail is the same color as the back, only occasionally there is a dark tip. It lives in a wide variety of landscapes, often found in fields, in stacks, in outbuildings and settlements. It feeds on mouse-like rodents and shrews, rarely attacks water rats, birds and frogs. The nest arranges in holes of other small animals or uses natural shelters.
Black polecat (Mustela putorius)
Small (slightly smaller than a cat) animal with an elongated body, short limbs and a relatively short fluffy tail Body length 29.5-46 cm, tail 8.5-13 cm. Muzzle elongated, with wide rounded ears. The color of the fur, especially on the belly, limbs and tail, is black-brown, on the sides the left-sand underfur is noticeably translucent, the spots around the mouth and the edges of the ears are pure white. An inhabitant of the outskirts of mixed and deciduous forests, sometimes found in settlements. It feeds on small rodents, shrews, frogs, chicks and bird eggs, less often fish. Active at night, less often during the day. Refuge are old, natural voids under the roots of trees, sometimes hollows and underground buildings. Valuable fur animal.
Stoat (Mustels erminea)
A small animal with an elongated, thin and flexible body, short limbs and a long, non-fluffy tail. Body length 16-38 cm, tail 6-11 cm. The head is small, with a short muzzle and low oval rounded ears, the hairline is thick, but short. The color of the winter fur is white, the terminal half of the tail is black. Summer coloration is sharply two-tone: brownish-brown above and white below. An inhabitant of a wide variety of landscapes. Often lives in populated areas. The main food is small rodents, shrews, as well as birds, frogs, fish, and insects. Moves by jumps, in winter it often moves in the thickness of snow. It does not dig burrows, using natural shelters and burrows of other animals for housing. One of the most important objects of fur trade.
Comparative sizes of mustelids: 
Shepherds
Crake (Crex crex)
A small bird (slightly larger than a thrush), somewhat reminiscent of a quail. Sexual dimorphism is not expressed. The head is dark brown above with small buffy streaks. The back is ocher-brown with dark streaks. Chest and goiter gray. The undertail feathers are buffy with white tips, the sides of the body are brownish-red with white transverse stripes. Upper wing coverts, axillary and lower wing coverts are reddish-brown. Legs are yellowish. It differs from quail in monochromatic reddish-brown wings. Hanging legs are clearly visible in flight. It differs from the chamois by its ocher rather than olive-brown coloration, reddish-brown wings and the absence of white specks all over the body. In nesting time, it occupies various types of meadows, prefers damp tall grasses with patches of shrubs. Penetrates into various agricultural landscapes. It is most easily detected by a cry that can be heard in the evening and at night. It sounds like a sharp, dry, usually two-syllable "crex-crex" repeated many times in a row.
Carrot (Porzana porzana)
A small bird (larger than a starling) with a characteristic appearance of a corncrake or a corncrake. Sexual dimorphism is not expressed. The entire dorsal side of the bird is olive with large dark and small white streaks. The front part of the body is gray, with a white speck. On the sides of the body, transverse white stripes are clearly expressed. The beak is yellow with a bright orange spot at the base. Legs are olive green. It occupies swampy meadows, old peat extraction sites, shores of lakes and ponds, lowland swamps. Unlike other chaps (small and crumbs), the entire underside of the body is densely dotted with small white spots, and the undertail is light buffy, without stripes. Unlike the shepherdess, the beak is short and straight. Most often it is detected in the evening and at night by a voice that resembles the whistle of a carcass scourge "whi-whi".
Baby Carafe (Porzana pusilla)
Small chase (approximately from a starling). The upperparts are olive-brown with black streaks; some feathers have individual white streaks or specks. The anterior part of the body is slate grey. The sides of the body are dark with a white striated pattern. In females, the underside of the body is slightly lighter. Shout - various variations of the crackling "trrr" sound. Inhabits the coasts of fresh, rarely brackish water bodies with stagnant or slowly flowing water, adhering to thickets of reeds, cattails, lake reeds, and sedges. It differs from the small chasuble in its monophonic greenish beak, a large number of white spots on the dorsal side of the body, and pinkish legs.
Coot (Fulica atra)
The size of a duck. The color is monophonic, dark slate, almost black; on the forehead there is a bright white leathery "plaque", turning into a short white conical beak. The toes are long, with greenish scalloped membranes. Juveniles are brownish-gray, whitish throat and foreneck, gray beak, without "plaque". Landing on the water is deep, swimming, the bird evenly nods its head to the beat of the movements of the legs; dives often. Usually noted on the water, rarely on the shore; flies infrequently. The voice is varied, some of the cries resemble a sonorous clucking. Inhabits water bodies overgrown with riparian vegetation - floodplain and other lakes, ponds of fish farms, flooded quarries of peat extraction.
Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
The size of a teal, on the water it resembles a small duck, on the shore - a chicken. The plumage is black, the undertail is white, clearly visible in a bird sitting on the water. Head with a bright red short beak and a longitudinal red crest. Juvenile light chestnut, without comb. Keep secret. It swims well, raising its short tail vertically and nodding its head in time with the rowing movements of its paws; deftly runs through shallow water and plant leaves, snags and other objects. Feeding, it turns over plant leaves, pebbles and anthropogenic debris with its beak.
Lesser Weasel (Porzana parva)
A small bird (from a starling) of the characteristic appearance of a corncrake and a chariot. The male in breeding plumage has a slate-gray underside of the body, chest, neck in front and sides, sides of the head. The dorsal side is olive-brown with dark brown wide longitudinal streaks. The rear half of the sides bears transverse whitish-ocher stripes. The undertail is black with wide white stripes and spots with an admixture of buffy tones. The female in breeding plumage has the same dorsal coloration as the male, but the sides of the head are light gray, the abdomen is pale buffy, and the sides are brown. The beak is greenish with a darker tip and a red base. The legs are green. The cries of the male most of all resemble melodic croaking sounds repeating with acceleration or deceleration. Inhabits various reservoirs with developed aquatic and near-water vegetation.
Shepherd (Rallus aqvaticus)
A small bird the size of a corncrake, somewhat larger than a chauffeur. Sexual dimorphism in plumage coloration is not expressed. The entire dorsal side of the body is olive-brown with dark brown wide rod stripes. The sides of the head, neck, craw and anterior part of the belly are steel greyish. On the sides of the body and on the middle part of the belly, transverse wide black and narrow white or yellowish stripes alternate. Undertail is white. The main difference from chaps and corncrake is a long, slightly curved beak, the upper beak and tip of which are black-brown, and the lower beak is red. The cries are very diverse, the most characteristic reminiscent of the drawn-out squeal of a piglet. It nests in various reservoirs with thickets of aquatic vegetation. 
Comparative sizes of shepherdesses: 
Toadstools, mergansers
Great Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
The size of a mallard, but much leaner, with a long, straight neck and a sharp, awl-shaped beak. Landing on the water is deep (the entire back of the body is hidden under water). It differs from other grebes in the spring by a dark red "hood" with "horns" of tufts of feathers protruding above it, and a white front side of the neck. In autumn and winter there is no "hood", the "horns" on the head are shortened, the front side of the neck, in contrast to the gray-cheeked grebe, is pure white; a white eyebrow is noticeable on a dark cap. Juveniles retain head and neck stripes in autumn. In all outfits in flight, two white spots are visible on the wing - in front and along the rear edge of the wing; unlike the gray-cheeked grebe, these spots are connected at the base of the wing. It swims well, often dives, does not walk on the ground, rarely flies. The voice rarely gives, it resembles a sharp high-pitched croak.
Lesser Grebe (Podiceps ruficollis)
The smallest of our waterfowl, noticeably smaller than the teal. It differs from other grebes in breeding attire by the absence of a "hood" and decorating feathers on the head; the cheeks and front of the neck are rufous, at the base of the beak there is a bright lemon-yellow spot. In autumn and winter, the coloration is brownish with a darker back, the necks and front side of the neck are whitish. Juveniles are like adults in winter dress, but there are dark stripes on the cheeks. In all seasons, it is distinguished by a short ("kurguz") body and the absence of a white "mirror" on the wing. The beak is sharp, straight. A very mobile bird, it easily spins around on the water and often changes direction, sometimes flies. Often dives for a long time. Unlike other grebes, it can walk on land. The voice is loud: a double melodic whistle followed by a trill.
Greater Merganser (Mergus merganser)
Noticeably larger than a mallard, it differs from other ducks, except for the middle merganser, by a long narrow beak bent at the end. On the water, the male appears white with a large black head; the crest is absent, the beak is long, red. In flight, a large white spot is visible from above on the wing, occupying most wing. The female is gray with a contrasting rufous head topped with a crest; differs from the female of the middle merganser in larger sizes and a clear border of red and gray coloration on the neck. In flight, you can see a large white field on the wing. Juveniles are female-like, with a shorter crest. It swims and dives well, while swimming the back of the body is deeply immersed in water. Very silent, voice - dull barking or crackling croaking.
Middle Merganser (Mergus serrator)
About the size of a mallard or a little smaller; the beak is long, narrow, bent at the end. The coloration is piebald: the male has a black head and back, gray sides, a red goiter, a "collar" and white wings on the side. On the head of both the male and the female is a crest. The female is gray with a rufous head; the border of red and gray on the neck, unlike the female of the greater merganser, is indistinct, blurry. In flight, large white mirrors are clearly visible on the wings of the male and female. When swimming, it dives deep into the water, dives well and for a long time. The flight is fast, with frequent wing beats; rises from the water noisily, with a running start. Very silent, voice a hoarse croak.
Black-necked grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
The size of a teal or slightly smaller. In breeding attire, it differs from other grebes by its black neck; on the black head, yellow bunches of decorating feathers stand out in contrast. In autumn and winter, there are no decorating feathers, the cheeks and chin are bright white, the neck is white with gray in front, and there is a dark cap on the head that falls below the eyes. The best diagnostic sign in autumn-winter time is a slightly upturned beak. On the wing, unlike other grebes, there is only one white field, along the posterior edge of the wing. Juveniles are similar to adults in winter, but the white coloration has been replaced by a dirty yellow. Dives well, does not walk on the ground, rarely flies. The voice is varied; lingering squeak, jerky whistle and trills.
Swallow (Mergus albellus)
Half the size of a mallard, a little more than a teal. The color of the male is predominantly white, with a black back; a black mask stands out on the head. The female is dark gray with a rufous head and white cheeks. In all plumages on the wing there is a white speculum, larger in the male. Juveniles look like females. It sits deep on the water - the head, shoulders and front of the back are visible. The neck is usually retracted into the shoulders. Dives well. Flies fast. Relatively careless. Silent, the voice is a short crackling "krr ...". 
Grey-cheeked grebe (Podiceps griseigena)
Somewhat smaller than the great grebe, from which in breeding plumage it differs by the chestnut-red color of the front side of the neck, light gray cheeks, and less developed feather "horns" on the head. In the autumn feather, a dark gray cap descends to the eyes, there is no white eyebrow, and there is a brownish coating on the front of the neck. The beak is straight, gray with a yellow base. Juveniles retain head stripes in autumn. In flight, two light areas are visible on the wing, like in the red-necked grebe. Behavior is typical for toadstools - floats on water, rarely flies, dives well. The voice is loud, rough, varied; it is compared with croaking, rattling, neighing, sharp screeching.
Comparative sizes of grebes and mergansers: 
river ducks
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
The size of a domestic duck. The male in breeding plumage is distinguished by the pattern of the head and front of the body, a wing with a gray top and a purple mirror. The female is mottled, brownish-beige. In the second half of summer, molted males look the same, differing from females with a dark beak with an orange border, an olive color of the beak. In flight, the white ends of the helmsmen are visible, forming a bright light border along the edge of the tail. Young birds are similar to adult females, but darker. It feeds in shallow waters, plunging its head and neck into the water or turning upside down with its tail; able to dive, although normally it does not. Takeoff from the water, like that of other river ducks, is light, almost vertical, the flight is heavy and non-maneuverable; flies with its neck stretched out, often flapping its wings.
Gray duck (Anas strepera)
Somewhat less mallard; it is well distinguished from other river ducks by a white mirror on the wing, noticeable at a great distance. The main color tone of males in breeding plumage is gray, females and young ones are gray-ocher with streaks. The voice of the male is a sonorous croak, the female is a crackling quack. Rare breeding migrant. Inhabits ponds of fish farms, floodplain lakes and oxbow lakes and other overgrown reservoirs in open landscapes.
Pintail (Anas acuta)
Slightly smaller than a mallard; differs from other ducks in a longer neck and a long, pointed styloid tail. The male has a brown head, which contrasts sharply with the white neck, a gray back, a white belly (in the old it is yellowish). The female is grayish-brown with large dark streaks and a poorly distinguishable gray-brown areolet with a white rim along the hind edge of the wing. The female pintail, in contrast to the female wigeon, is lighter, gray, 8 her color is less than red; dark streaks of the chest gradually lighten on the belly. Juveniles are colored like females, but darker. The male's voice is a melodic whistle, the female's voice is a low, hoarse quack.
Teal Whistle (Anas crecca)
Almost twice as small as a mallard. The head of the male in breeding plumage is chestnut-red with a wide metallic-shiny green longitudinal stripe passing through the eye. From a distance, however, this pattern is not visible and the head seems just dark. On the wing is a bright green mirror. The female and male at the end of summer are uniform, brownish-gray with streaks. Characterized by small size and rapid flight; it differs from the crackling in flight by the dark top of the wings and the whistling emitted by the wings. It often gets food without swimming, but wandering through the water and filtering it with its beak, without plunging its head into the water. The voice of the female is a high-pitched quack, the male is a rattling whistle.
Swine (Anas penelope)
Smaller than a mallard; characterized by a high-browed and short-billed silhouette. The male in breeding plumage has a bright red head with a high yellow forehead and a short gray-blue beak, a reddish chest; in flight, a large white spot on the wing is clearly visible in front of a narrow, poorly distinguishable green mirror. The female is dark brown with buffy streaks on the sides, the areolet on the wing is gray-green; differs from the pintail female by 6 lei in a short neck and a sharp border of a white belly and a dark chest. Juveniles are similar to adult females, but duller. The flight is fast, easy, maneuverable. Able to dive, but does so very rarely. The voice of the female is a loud rattling croak, the male is a loud whistle.
Teal crackling (Anas querquedula)
Almost twice as small as a mallard, slightly larger than a teal-whistle. The head and crop of the male in the nuptial feather are brownish-brown, on the head there is a white longitudinal stripe, passing in the form of a pigtail above the eye to the back of the head; in flight, the light bluish-blue top of the wing is clearly visible, the mirror is dull, newish-gray, poorly distinguishable from afar. The female is grayish-brown with streaks, rather light; in flight, it is noticeable that the wings on top, unlike the whistle, are lighter than the back. The flight is fast, landing on the water is easy. The female's voice is a sonorous quacking, the male's voice is a soft "wooden" crackle. Celebrated throughout the region. Inhabits small water bodies overgrown with vegetation, mainly floodplains, also found in ponds of fish farms.
Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
Noticeably smaller than a mallard; differs from other species of ducks in a very long beak, expanding towards the end in the form of a spoon. Males are piebald with a predominance of red on the belly, white on the rough, and dark green, almost black on the head. The female and male by the end of summer are reddish-gray with streaks. In adults in all plumages, the upper wing coverts are light, bluish, which is clearly visible in flight; green mirror. Juveniles look like females. When feeding, it often dips its head or beak into the water and filters it, quickly, like a top, rotating in one place. The male's voice is a soft smack, the female's voice is a loud quack. Inhabits shallow, densely overgrown water bodies with a high biomass of small invertebrates: oxbow lakes, quarries, bays of rivers and lakes with open banks, silt pits of treatment facilities.
Comparative sizes of river ducks: 
Grouse, pheasant
Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix)
A small, pigeon-sized meadow hen. The coloration is brownish above, with dark streaks, below - gray, without streaks. The throat is reddish, on the belly there is a dark horseshoe-shaped spot. In a flying bird, bright red side feathers of the tail are striking. The female is somewhat smaller and paler than the male. AT mating season males make rather loud two-syllable calls, and are silent during the rest of the year. Moves on the ground on foot, takes off reluctantly, only when a person, car or dog suddenly appears next to them. Nest on the ground. Inhabits tall grasslands. The clutch size is the maximum for our birds; nests contain from 14 to 24 single-colored olive eggs. 
Grouse (Tetrastes bonasia)
Small, about the size of a large pigeon, densely built forest hen with a wide fan-shaped tail. The coloration is brownish-gray, on the back there are thin dark transverse stripes, the bottom with large semilunar streaks. Shoulders and flanks are reddish brown. The male is distinguished by a black spot on the throat, which has a thin white rim. Sedentary species of coniferous forests, prefers dense spruce forests. It stays on the ground, frightened with noise, flies up into the trees, where it hides, maintaining complete immobility. The voice is a thin, drawn-out whistle, emitted in the characteristic rhythm of "tiii-tiyuti-ti-ti ...". Nest on the ground. The hazel grouse is quite easy to lure on a special decoy, making a thin squeak. 
Quail (Coturnix coturnix)
Small, slightly larger than a starling, meadow chicken. The color is brownish-brown, with longitudinal dark streaks. Males in spring plumage, unlike females, have a black throat. It lives in thick grass, usually found by the mating calls of males: a far-reaching sonorous "battle" (it can be translated as "under-weed ...") and a quieter one, heard only at a close distance "hvva-wa ...". Ground bird, flies rarely, in a straight line and for a short distance; nest on the ground.
Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Very large bird, males are larger than females. The coloration of males is grayish-black, the wings are brownish-brown, the abdomen is black with white spots. The tail is relatively long, rounded, black with a white pattern. The beak is massive, light. Females are much smaller, brownish-red with dark streaked pattern (ripples). Inhabitant of coniferous forests, mainly pine. Sedentary bird, does not form steam. In spring, males gather on moss swamps overgrown with pines or along pine forests, where they lek, making soft sounds that are difficult to convey in words. In winter, it often strays into small flocks. It differs from the black grouse in much larger sizes. 
Black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix)
Medium sized bird. The color of the plumage of the male is black, on the neck - with a metallic sheen, undertail, underwings and a spot on the wing are white; the female is brownish-red with a black pattern (ripples). In males, the tail is longer, the outer tail feathers are lyre-shaped. Inhabitant mainly of the forest zone, but also found in the forest-steppe. Sedentary bird. Steam does not form. Breeds in small forests, overgrown clearings, on the outskirts of moss swamps, near mowing fields. Does not occur in dense forests. In spring, males gather in the fields or edges in groups and lek, and females also fly up here. In winter it lives in large flocks. It differs from the capercaillie by its significantly smaller size; it does not occur together with the Caucasian black grouse. 
Comparative sizes of grouse and pheasant: 
Predatory
Raccoon dog (Nuctereutes procyonoides)
A medium-sized animal, with a squat, short-legged body and a short, shaggy tail. Body length 65-80 cm, tail 15-25 cm. The head is small, with a short sharp muzzle, the ears are small, slightly protruding from the fur, blunt, well-marked sideburns on the sides of the head. The coloration of the upper half of the body is reddish-brown-gray, with a more or less clear black-brown tint; a dark stripe is noticeable along the back. The chest and limbs are brown-black. On the muzzle there is a black "mask" surrounded by a light field. The circumference of the nose and the bridge of the nose are light, a white vague stripe stretches above the eye to the ear. The coat is long and fluffy, but coarse. It is widely acclimatized in many regions of Russia, where it has occupied various forest habitats. It feeds on small rodents, frogs, insects, chicks and eggs of various birds, fish, berries, and carrion. Commercial animal, mined under licenses. One of the carriers of rabies in nature.
Wolf (Canis lupus)
A large, proportionately built animal with relatively high, strong limbs and a fluffy, usually lowered, short tail. Body length 105 - 160 cm, tail 35 - 50 cm. The neck is short, inactive, the muzzle is relatively wide and elongated, the ears are pointed. Coloring from whitish-gray to sandy-yellow, usually gray with a reddish or blackish tint, darkening in the front of the back ("saddle"). The belly and paws are somewhat lighter. The coat is thick and fluffy, especially on the neck, but rather coarse. An inhabitant of a wide variety of landscapes, most numerous in areas with free grazing of livestock. Easily gets along close to human habitation. It feeds on various ungulates (livestock, deer, roe deer), hares, rodents (mouse-like, ground squirrels), uses plant foods (various fruits and berries). The object of the hunt. Skins are used in fur preparations.
Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
A medium-sized animal with an elongated body, slender, relatively short limbs and a long fluffy tail. Body length 60-90 cm, tail - 40-60 cm. The muzzle is narrow, pointed, the ears are high, pointed, wide at the base. Reddish-orange to yellowish-gray, in most cases bright red with an indistinct dark pattern. The chest is white, the belly is white or black, the back of the ears is black, the tip of the tail is white. Occasionally there are black-brown and silver-black foxes. The coat is thick, soft and fluffy. An inhabitant of a wide variety of landscapes from tundra to deserts. It feeds on mouse-like rodents, hares, various birds, insects and berries. It digs only shallow, simple burrows, much more often settles in abandoned burrows of badgers, arctic foxes and marmots. One of the most important objects of fur trade.
Brown bear (Ursus arctos)
Large or very large beast of heavy build with massive thick limbs. Body length up to 200 cm or more. The head is broad with a short muzzle, the ears are relatively small and rounded. The color of the fur is from brownish-yellow to dark brown and almost black. There is sometimes a small white or whitish spot on the chest. The hairline is thick, coarse and shaggy. An inhabitant of forests and mountains, often penetrates far into the forest-tundra and even the tundra. Inhabits mainly taiga, mixed and mountain forests. The food is very diverse: berries, seeds, fruits, nuts, insects and their larvae, green parts of some plants, small mammals (rodents), chicks and bird eggs, fish, pzdal; much less often, a bear hunts large mammals (ungulates, including domestic ones). Active at any time of the day. It sleeps during the cold season (from October-November to March-May). The lair is arranged more often in the most remote parts of the forest, using natural shelters for this, which the bear expands and lines with moss, branches, leaves, dry needles and grass. In hibernation, very sensitive. It is mined for the sake of the skin and meat, but the role in fur preparations is small. It attacks a person in exceptional cases, mainly when injured or in winter.
Lynx (Lynx lynx)
A large animal with a short body, high, strong limbs and a short, as if chopped off tail. Body length 82-105 cm, tail - 20-31 cm. On the sides of the head there are clearly visible sideburns, the ears are relatively large, sharp, ending in long tassels, the fur is thick and high. The general color tone is from pale-smoky to rusty-reddish, the ventral side is somewhat lighter. The back, sides and limbs are more or less covered with dark spots, sometimes there is no spotting. Inhabitant of deaf tall forests with dense undergrowth and windbreak. It feeds on hares, hazel grouse, capercaillie, mouse-like rodents, hunts roe deer. Active at night. The role in the fur trade is small.
Comparative sizes of predatory animals: 
Herons, storks, cranes
Black stork (Ciconia nigra)
It is similar in size and appearance to a white stork, but the color of most of the plumage is black with a greenish bronze tint, the belly is white. Juveniles have duller plumage. The flight and habits are like that of a white stork, however, unlike the latter, it is very cautious and avoids proximity to humans. It nests, as a rule, in remote areas of the forest next to vast wetlands or floodplains, where the bird forages; for feeding can occasionally occur in the cultural landscape. Listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.
Common Crane (Grus grus)
Large (greater than a goose) long-legged and long-necked bird; long feathers at the base of the wings hang down behind, resembling a bushy tail. The general tone of color is gray, in young with a reddish coating, especially on the neck and head. He walks with long strides, holding his body almost horizontally, often digging with his beak in the ground, lowering his neck low; does not sit on trees. It takes off after a takeoff run, the flight seems rather heavy at the beginning, but it flies well and is able to soar for a long time. In flight, the neck and legs are extended. Migrating flocks line up in a wedge, less often in an oblique line. The voice in the flock is a resounding cooing, in the autumn the lingering squeak of the young is sometimes heard. In late summer - early autumn, it forms pre-migratory aggregations on vast open farmlands.
Bittern (Botaurus steltaris)
Smaller than a gray heron (with a large chicken) and more short-legged; usually looks somewhat stooped, tk. the long neck is drawn into the shoulders and is almost invisible. The color is variegated, merges perfectly with the color of dry stems of reed or cattail; the general color tone is straw-reddish-brown. Leads a very secretive lifestyle, rarely leaving the thickets of near-water vegetation; seldom seen. In danger, it hides, stretching its beak and neck vertically. Frightened, it takes off awkwardly, like a rag thrown into the air, then flies slowly, with slow and shallow wing beats; the neck is folded in flight and looks short and thick. In spring and early summer, males lek, emitting a low, dull "thump" "u-ummb". At night, in flight, they emit a hoarse croaking "kaw".
Red heron (Ardea purpurea)
In general, it is similar to the gray heron, but noticeably smaller and looks darker. The head, neck and sides of the chest are dark red, the back is gray with a reddish tint, the wings are dirty gray with dark ends, the crest and stripes on the neck are black, and the abdomen is blackish. Juveniles and immature yellowish-brown or brown with indistinct mottling, dark wingtips. It inhabits the shores of reservoirs overgrown with near-water vegetation from forest-steppe to semi-desert. Compared to the gray heron, it is less cautious and less likely to perch on trees. It differs from the gray heron in its darker coloration and auburn patches of plumage.
Gray heron (Ardea cinerea)
Large bird about the size of a goose, with long legs and neck. The coloration is ash-gray, the ends of the wings, the crest and the stripe along the neck are black. Juveniles do not have a crest, the beak is two-colored (black mandible, yellowish mandible). Like other herons, the S-shaped bend of the neck is characteristic. The bird stands motionless for a long time by the water or in the water, watching for prey (fish, amphibians, etc.). Often perches on trees. In flight, the neck is folded and looks short and unusually thickened. The flight is light, with slow wing beats; rarely plans and, unlike storks and cranes, almost never soars. The voice is loud, creaky, reminiscent of croaking and wheezing; outside the colonies the birds are usually silent.
Big white heron(Egretta alba)
Large heron with long neck, long legs and beak. The coloring is white. The beak is black with a yellow base, the legs are two-colored: the tarsus and fingers are black, the lower leg is yellow. In winter, the beak is yellow. Young birds look like adults in winter dress. An inhabitant of shallow, overgrown with dense reeds and other near-water vegetation of stagnant reservoirs with open reaches and slowly flowing rivers of the steppe zone. Very careful, sits on trees relatively rarely. It takes off heavily, but the flight is smooth, majestic, with slow wing beats.
Little bittern, or spinning top (Ixobrychus minutus)
A small heron about the size of a jackdaw or slightly larger, with a light build. The male is characterized by a contrasting coloration: it is yellowish-buff, with black back, wingtips and a cap on the head; in the female, the black coloration is replaced by brown, longitudinal dark streaks are noticeable on the chest; young birds are brown-motley. Quite a secretive bird, it prefers to stay in dense thickets, where it moves deftly, climbing the reed stalks and branches of flooded bushes. It most often catches the eye when it flies from place to place low over water or thickets (at the same time, if the bird is an adult, the contrasting color of its wings is striking). The male's voice can be heard in May or early June, usually at dusk and dawn; it looks like a distant, measured, hoarse dog barking: "how ... how ...".
White stork (Ciconia ciconia)
Very large long-legged and long-necked bird with a long massive beak. It differs from the gray crane in the white color of the head, neck and body, as well as the red color of the beak and paws, from the great white heron in general appearance and black flight feathers, and from the black stork in the predominance of white in plumage. Young birds have brown flight feathers. Takes off after takeoff; calm flight, with deep wing beats and frequent soaring; in flight, the neck and legs are extended. Silent, in excitement it can crack its beak. Breeds in populated areas on water towers, peaks large trees. It feeds in meadows, fields, marshes, and banks of reservoirs.
Comparative sizes of birds: 
Since 1935, the All-Russian Research Institute of Hunting and Fur Breeding has been monitoring game animals, based on the survey method. Twice a year, according to specialized regional forms, extensive information is received from voluntary correspondent hunters not only on the state of the number of hunting animals and birds, but also on many environmental parameters (availability of food, migration, breeding activity, disease and death), as well as the results of hunting. Regional questionnaires cover the main economically important species of game animals. The list of species can be significantly expanded, including coverage of rare and protected species.
The monitoring system established in VNIIOZ for the entire territory of Russia, based on survey data, can be used in the monitoring system of game animals in certain regions or administrative entities. The second chapter of this book shows the developed conversion factors for the main hunting species of animals, which make it possible, on the basis of survey data, to obtain information on the number of hunting species in absolute terms.
An analysis of a huge array of materials on accounting and assessment of wild animal resources in the country allows us to conclude that the following structure for monitoring game animals is most appropriate:
1.Annual, a double survey of hunters-correspondents on a wide range of species and questions on the system of the “harvest” Service of VNIIOZ (see below).
2. Carrying out winter route registration (ZMU) according to the system of State hunting registration for species subject to registration in winter conditions, once every two or three years.
3. Conducting specialized regional species censuses that do not pass through the ZMU system (mountain, semi-aquatic, hibernating, "summer" species, etc.) in the interval between years of conducting ZMU(for each species or group of species once every 3-5 years).
4. Use the data of the Chronicle of Nature of the system of reserves to obtain basic data on the number of species classified as hunting objects, as well as on rare and endangered species of animals.
Such a system of interaction between three sources (Gosohotuchet service, the Harvest Service, Chronicle of Nature) will provide mutual control, increase the accuracy of estimates, and reduce labor, material and monetary costs for monitoring hunting species.
Monitoring objects are: elk, wild boar, roe deer, brown bear, sable, pine marten, ferrets, weasels, minks, otters, ermine, wolf, fox, corsac, lynx, squirrel, marmot, beaver, muskrat, hares, capercaillie, black grouse, hazel grouse, waterfowl and other types.
Characteristic of the object. Within the region, these species are not found everywhere, but are most numerous in habitats typical for each of them with a good food supply, favorable nesting conditions, and low (moderate) hunting intensity. The composition of species, their ratio and the abundance of individuals in territorial groups in different seasons of the year and in different years are subject to variability.
A change in the structure of the species composition of game animals compared to the background state indicates changes in their habitat. The population density of animals is a reflection of the ecological capacity of the cenosis. The decrease in the number of most mammalian species may be the result of deterioration in food supply and conditions for reproduction, excessive persecution, etc. Stabilization and growth in the number of animals indicates the possibility of their resistance to the action of external factors and self-recovery after removal of this impact and other reasons.
Impact response may not be captured for every species within one year.
Some species of game animals can be used as test objects for assessing environmental pollution, the degree of its transformation in cities and man-made zones.
Equipment and materials. Physical and administrative maps of the region, district and hunting grounds are required; accounting tablet; accounting cards; compass; hunting skis; 2-seater inflatable boat; standard questionnaires (2 per year for each respondent); representative (10-15 people per administrative region) correspondent network; envelopes (4 per year for each respondent); writing paper; pens; pencils; computer with database, color and black-and-white cartridges; floppy disks and CDs.
Research methodology. As the main one at the accounting polygons for accounting hunting animals apply the methodology of a multi-day salary on closed routes (Agafonov, Korytin, Solomin, 1983; Guidelines for organizing, conducting and processing data from the ZMU of hunting animals. - M., 1990 and the specific methods listed in this book). The Permanent Test Site (PPP) of 800 ha with squares of 1000x1000 meters is designed to count ungulates, medium and large predators (Fig. 1.3.4.1). The work is carried out by two accountants. For counts of squirrels, hares, ermine, Siberian weasel, ferrets, a PPP of 200 hectares in size with squares of 500x500 m is used. Counts are carried out by 1-2 counts.
Work on the site is carried out for 4 days in a row. On the first day, all old traces are erased. On each of the next three days, the counts go along the route, overwrite and simultaneously mark every day on new scheme of its route, all newly appeared intersections of tracks with registration of their direction and newly appeared approaches of animals to the track. Registration time - end of January-February, before the start of the race carnivores, hares and rodents.
water animals ( beaver, muskrat, otter, mink) are taken into account by special methods.
Essence of route accounting beaver consists in identifying and counting in a reservoir (river or closed reservoir) all beaver settlements with a visual assessment of the number and nature of the distribution of traces of the activity of animals (nibbles, dwellings, dams, outcrops, etc.) to assess the capacity of the settlement (weak settlement - 1-2 animals , medium - 4, including underyearlings, strong - 5 or more animals). Signs of young animals: prints of the feet of the hind paws no more than 12-13 cm long, the width of the traces of incisors on the gnaws of branches is no more than 5-6 mm. Yearlings, respectively, are 13.5-16 cm and 6.5-7.8 mm. Establishing the boundaries of settlements (in one settlement there may be several dams and dwellings). Between neighboring settlements there should be at least 200 m, devoid of fresh traces of life. Accounting is carried out in the fall before freezing.
Muskrat in closed reservoirs (lakes, ponds, swamps) are taken into account by family huts on sites of 150-200 hectares in size. When the muskrat lives in burrows, it is taken into account by burrows on routes up to 10 km long, laid along the banks of reservoirs. At the same time, the boundaries of the settlements of the burrowing muskrat are established according to the traces of vital activity (climbs, feeding tables, gnawing, latrines). Accounting is carried out within a month before freezing.
marmot are taken into account visually on routes (families) and on sites (individuals in families) during the period of mass release of underyearlings (10-15 days after their first appearance on the surface) (Mashkin, Chelintsev, 1989).
Accounting date "_____" ___________20____
Weather on the day of registration: temperature from _______ to _______, precipitation _______
Wind (strength, direction) _________________________
Height snowy cover ________ see Nature of snow (loose, dense, with a crust, crust, etc.) ______________________________________________
(Martes zibellina) is the pearl of the fur wealth of our country. Outside of Russia, it is found in small numbers only in China and Korea. The resources of this mustelid species, largely due to the organization of natural resources (Altaisky, Barguzinsky, Kronotsky and a number of others), which were created as “sable”, have now been restored to a level corresponding to the capacity of the land. The high price of sable fur contributes to the intensive development of its reserves, which in a number of places leads to excessive commercial pressure. In addition to the pressure of hunting, in recent decades, the influence of the processes of industrialization and urbanization of Siberia on sable populations has increased.
The level of fluctuations in the growth of sable in different regions is in the range from 22 to 142%, which is due to the cyclical nature of the main feed. The high migratory activity characteristic of sable causes a rapid leveling of its density over large areas.
Sable resources in the country have stabilized at the level of 1.1 million individuals in recent years. The highest density of the species is characteristic of some regions of Central and Southern Siberia, the Far East.
It has two subspecies: stone (Martes foina) and forest (Martes martes) martens. The fur is thick, fluffy, very beautiful. In the pine marten, it is usually dark brown in color, in the stone marten it is lighter, with a fawn tint, less dense.
The pine marten prefers mature and overmature forests of the taiga type with tall, hollow trees. Since its diet is quite heterogeneous, it is characterized by smoothed natural population fluctuations. The main food of the marten is mouse-like, hazel grouse, squirrel; from vegetable feed - mountain ash. During the rowan harvest years (about once every 4 years), the marten is inactive, and after such winterings, its reproduction is successful.
The resources of the pine and stone martens inhabiting the territory of Russia have not undergone significant changes in the recent period. The highest average density of martens is characteristic of the Central.
The total volume of legal production of martens is approximately 10 thousand individuals.
The stone marten is a more southern species. It inhabits the south of Russia, Southern and Central Europe, including Denmark and.
(Mustela sibirika). According to genetic characteristics, this is a representative of the genus of weasels and ferrets. The area of distribution covers mainly low-mountain forest spaces in the south and middle strip of Siberia and the Far East, to the west it reaches the Cis-Urals. Over the past decades, the range of the column has expanded in Yakutia. This small predator is confined mainly to the forest river network; it avoids vast open spaces.
For housing, columns use the burrows of rodents - chipmunks, water voles, pikas, settle in hollows, lying logs, arrange nests among a pile of deadwood, under “eversions” - reared roots of fallen trees.
By the nature of feeding, the Siberian weasel occupies an intermediate position between typical "mouse-eaters" (weasel, ermine) and polyphagous predators (sable, marten). The basis of the nutrition of this animal is voles (including water), mice, hamsters, small birds of the passerine order. In autumn, migratory fish is of great importance in the diet of the column.
The fur of the column is quite valuable, it is used both in its natural form and to imitate more expensive furs. The long tail hair is used to make high quality painting brushes.
Belongs to common predators, but its numbers have now fallen significantly due to hunting, deterioration of food resources, and destruction of habitats.
Ermine is most numerous in taiga and tundra regions. The choice of their habitat is determined by the abundance of the main food - small rodents. As a rule, the ermine prefers to settle near the water: along the banks and floodplains of rivers and streams, near forest lakes, along coastal, thickets of shrubs and reeds. In hungry and low-fed years, ermines leave their territories and sometimes move over considerable distances. Sometimes migration also causes mass reproduction of rodents in neighboring areas.
Ermine is an object of trade (fur is used as a finishing fur). Useful in the destruction of mouse-like rodents.
The number of small mustelids - column, ermine, ferret, weasel, living in the mountains, forests, open spaces, often near human habitation - is subject to large fluctuations and is closely related to fluctuations in the main types of food - small mammals (mainly rodents).
(Lepus tumidus) and hare(Lepus europaeus) - the most massive objects of hunting. The lifestyle is twilight and nocturnal. They usually move by jumping, at speeds up to 70 km per hour. Stay single.
In recent years, the number of white hare has been kept at the level of 5.0–5.7 million animals, but in the late 80s - early 90s. last century it was much higher. Over 30% of the species population is concentrated in, more than 20% in the Northwestern Federal District and more than 25% in and.
More than 50% of the territory of the range has a very low (less than 1 individual per 1 thousand ha) hare distribution density, over 30% - low (up to 3 individuals) and only 4% - very high (more than 10 individuals per 1 thousand ha).
Over the past years, the resources of the brown hare in Russia have been at the level of 800–900 thousand animals, which is 1.5–2 times lower than the annual average of 1986–1990. To date, more than 50% of the abundance of this species is concentrated in the territory of the Southern federal district, 20% each - in the Volga Federal District and.
The main factors limiting the number of hares are the conditions and human activities. With return spring cold weather with rain and snow, the death of the first litter of rabbits is great. In open spaces, deep snows cover branch forages and worsen nutritional conditions. Predators cause great damage - lynx, wolf, goshawk, etc. The greatest damage is caused by ownerless storage and irrational use of fertilizers and pesticides by agricultural and agricultural workers. Predatory hunting greatly undermines the population. The death of hares from helminthiases is noted.
- take into account the impact various ways livestock hunting;
- apply rational methods of processing agricultural fields (from the center to the periphery);
- prohibit battue hunts and extermination hunts from vehicles;
- regulate hunting by prey rates (up to 30% for a hare and up to 40% for a white hare) and hunting periods;
- apply the reintroduction of hares and improve the ecological conditions of their habitat;
- carry out top dressing, the construction of salt licks.
European, or river beaver(Castor fiber), by the beginning of the 20th century. was almost universally exterminated. But thanks to reacclimatization and the creation of special reserves and reserves, by the beginning of the 1980s. its range and abundance have been almost completely restored. At the same time, the role of the beaver in the Voronezh Reserve is especially great, sending more than 4 thousand individuals to other reserves (, Pechoro-Ilychsky, Khopersky, Mordovsky, etc.), which have become centers of the secondary settlement of this species.
On the territory of Russia (in the western part of the Republic and the Leningrad region, another species of beaver is also acclimatized - Canadian (C. canadensis).
The well-being of the beaver is determined mainly by the conditions of nutrition, hydro regime (floods or drying), as well as anthropogenic factors. In recent years, wolves have begun to prey on beavers. Stray dogs do a lot of damage to livestock.
During floods, beavers in some settlements on where the root bank is located far from the reservoir (200 m or more) experience certain difficulties. A necessary measure for their rescue is the construction of life rafts. These rafts are also used during floods by other near-water animals: otter, mink, muskrat, water vole.
In general, beaver resources have stabilized throughout the country with a slight growth trend.
From the order of rodents highest value in the fur trade they have protein.
(Sciurus vulgaris) can reach high densities (up to 10 or more individuals per 100 ha of forest) due to the large mosaic nature of forest lands. Its number changes significantly with a cycle of fluctuations of 4-8 years, due to natural causes (the yield of seeds of coniferous trees) and the ongoing felling of ripe coniferous plantations, which provide the animals with their favorite food - seeds from cones.
red fox- the largest of the foxes (in Russia, among the representatives of this kind of wolf, there are also corsac and Afghan fox). Habitats are diverse - from to deserts. Most active at dusk, lives in burrows.
Since adaptability allows the fox to successfully exist under almost all conditions, the food supply does not limit the abundance of the species. A fox is pursued by a wolf, a lynx, dogs, and especially a man. She also suffers from the epizootic of pruritic scabies, which significantly reduces the number of livestock.
In Russia, a noticeable increase in the number of foxes has been noted since the early 1990s. Throughout the Central Federal District, the population density of foxes is one of the highest in the country and is above average. In the Urals and Siberia, its density is below average, but in the south of these regions it remains at an average level. In the Far East region, the fox is not numerous.
According to the expert assessment of the specialists of the Tsentrokhotkontrolya, the corsac population in Russia has been 20–30 thousand individuals in recent years. These indicators are significantly lower than the stocks in the 1970s–1980s, when, according to statistics, harvesting was kept on average at the level of 2.5–7.6 thousand individuals, and in fact, significantly more than 20 thousand individuals were harvested annually.
Wolves are the ancestors of the domestic dog. There are several species in the wolf family - wolf, jackal, coyote and others. The wolf (Canis lupus) lives in Russia everywhere, except for the Solovetsky Islands and some islands of the Far East and the Polar Basin. Lives in pairs, formed for life, sometimes in flocks in winter. In natural ecosystems, it plays the role of a nurse, eating weakened and sick animals, and regulates the number of ungulates. Deals damage and . Wolf hunting is allowed at any time of the year. In a number, in, almost throughout the entire territory, the wolf is completely exterminated. Some deterioration in the last decade of the food base (the number of elk and hares is small, there are almost no carcasses due to the decline in agricultural production) limits the reproduction of the wolf in Russia. Nevertheless, according to VNIIOZ estimates, the number of wolves in the country continues to be consistently high.
Since the damage to the hunting and agriculture from a wolf can be quite significant, it is necessary state system measures to control the population of this species.
(Ursus arctos) is one of the symbols of Russia and the largest predatory animal in the forest zone. It lies in winter sleep in the second half of October, sometimes later, with snowfall. Leaves the den in March-April. The bear is omnivorous, selective logging does not have a significant effect on it. Poaching causes damage to livestock everywhere.
The decrease in the number of bears that took place in the first half of the 1980s has now stopped, and the population has stabilized. Only in the Central Federal District, in some subjects (Republic of Buryatia), the Northwestern Federal District and the Far Eastern Federal District, the trend of decreasing numbers of this species persists.
Wild pig, or wild boar (Sus scrofa) - the most productive hunting species of wild ungulates - belongs to non-ruminant artiodactyls and is the ancestor of domestic pigs. Wild boars live in groups (males outside the rutting period, singly) and are active at dusk and at night, omnivorous. Wild boar - one of the important objects of fishing - gives valuable meat, skin, bristles.
The distribution of the wild boar is mainly due to the availability of food and the protection of habitats in winter. Animals are reluctant to leave their chosen places, even with a long pursuit. 10–20 years ago, in winter, they often arranged their days near or right in silo pits, near unharvested crop residues (animals can live up to 2–3 months near such food supplies if they are not disturbed). In the forest, they arrange their beds on anthills. March is the hardest month in a boar's life.
Due to the high ecological adaptability and the ability to restore the population through good fecundity and early breeding ability, wild boars can quickly increase their numbers. The high growth rate of young animals makes it possible to maintain a high level of removal (harvesting) rates of these animals (30–50% of the pre-commercial population).
Of all hunting animals, the wild boar is the most responsive to feeding (artificial feeding in troughs and laying fodder fields with various crops). Feeding fields serve as the basis for creating centers with an increased concentration of animals during the hunting period, and in the summer-autumn period they also perform the function of diverting animals from agricultural crops and forest plantations, to which this species can cause serious damage.
Currently, the wild boar population is emerging from the depression that engulfed it in the early and mid-1990s. The total legal production of all types of ungulates in Russia in recent years has been 100-120 thousand individuals.
Elk or moose(Alces alces) - the most large view deer and the most valuable species among wild ungulates in our country. Body length up to 3 m, height at the withers up to 2.3 m, weight up to 570 kg. It keeps singly or in groups of 5–8 (up to 20) individuals.
Characteristically, as a result of mass felling of forests, the abundance of food for this species increases significantly (up to 20 times). Despite a significant increase in the foraging capacity of the lands in recent years, the existence of the moose is limited mainly by the quality of the food supply and factors that limit the availability of food (disturbance factor, the abundance of blood-sucking insects during the daytime). Disorganized hunting sometimes leads to forest grazing in areas where moose hunting is not carried out, as well as to a decrease in the proportion of adult females in the population (females are less shy and more attached to their habitat).
The number of elk is also subject to natural cyclical fluctuations lasting 14–18 years, associated with changes in the quantity and quality of preferred food, which in turn are associated with fluctuations in weather and climate conditions (mainly precipitation) and successional change in vegetation cover.
By the beginning of the XXI century. the density of the elk population in Russia (0.67 individuals per 1000 hectares of forest area) decreased to the level of 1956. The decline began in 1987–1991. coincided with the period of maximum rejuvenation of forest communities by industrial clearcutting in the 1960s–1970s. The main factor of this crisis is anthropogenic: overfishing, violation of the sex and age composition of the moose herd, etc.
The general decline in the number of elk, which began in 1988 and covered all regions of Russia to varying degrees, stopped by 2001. However, the general trend of decreasing density towards the borders of the range still persists. In general, the relatively low density of the elk population in Russia (about 10 times less than in the Scandinavian countries) is due to irrational hunting management and poaching.
The legal production of elk is approximately 20-25 thousand tons. individuals.
The main limiting factor for roe deer or wild goat(Capreolus capreolus) is a snow cover height of more than 50 cm, which prevents the expansion of the range to the north. Due to their high fecundity, roe deer are able to quickly increase their numbers. In terms of prey, roe deer is not inferior to elk.
After a sharp decline in the number of roe deer in the country in the second half of the 90s of the last century, the population has now stabilized. Its numbers are mainly limited by the disturbance factor and poaching.
The main limiting factors for another species of deer are wild reindeer(Rangifer tarandus) - are: the press of predators (mainly the wolf), snowy winters (mass death from exhaustion); return of cold weather in spring (death of young animals); anthropogenic factor. Wild reindeer resources are almost universally misused. "Planned", legal extraction of animals is not much different from poaching and is carried out the same - with the use of helicopters. Moreover, in many regions of Russia, the extermination of individual populations is methodical and massive. The defragmentation of landscapes by pipelines, which disrupt the migration routes of this species, has also become a serious problem.
The population density of the red deer (Cervus elaphus) almost throughout the entire country is currently several times lower than possible. The most important reason this is poaching. Deer compete in the biotopes they inhabit with dappled deer, elk, roe deer.
(Tetrastes bonasia), a bird of the grouse family of the order Galliformes. Body length 35–37 cm, weight 350–500 g. Distributed in Russia - from the western border to; in forests North Caucasus and missing. The hazel grouse lives settled, makes only short fodder migrations. They settle in separate pairs in damp cluttered conifers (spruce-fir) or. In winter, hazel grouses feed on trees with catkins of birch, alder, etc., and spend the night in the snow. The main food in the summer: green parts of plants, berries, seeds and insects. The hazel grouse is a valuable game bird.
(Tetrao urogallus), a bird of the grouse family of the order Galliformes. Males weigh an average of 4100 g, females - 2000 g. Sedentary bird, but sometimes makes seasonal migrations. Inhabits coniferous, mixed and Europe and Asia. The area of distribution and the number of capercaillie over the past 100 - 200 years has greatly decreased, in some places it has disappeared. In Russia, as deforestation progresses, the capercaillie retreats to the north; in a number of areas in the south of the forest zone, it has completely disappeared. During the mating season, from year to year they gather in the same places - currents. Food - in summer, plant shoots, flowers, buds, berries, in chicks - insects, spiders; in autumn - larch needles, in winter - pine and spruce needles, buds. Capercaillie is an object of sports, in some places commercial hunting.
(Tetrao), like the capercaillie, belongs to the grouse order. The best known are the black grouse (Tetrao or Lyrurus tetrix) with a lyre-shaped tail, the Caucasian grouse (Tetrao mlokossewiczi), the common grouse, the field grouse (Tetrao Tetrix), the polyash, the field, the birch, the polyukh. The male scythe is a rather slender bird with a strong beak, legs feathered not only to the fingers, but also between them, short wings, blunt and trough-like concave from the inside. The tail of males has a characteristic deep notch. The plumage of males is generally black; the head, neck and lower back are blue, there is a white band on the wings, the lower tail plumage is pure white. The area of distribution of the kosach occupies the whole of Europe and Siberia. In place of the kosach, the Caucasian black grouse, which is related to it, was discovered only in 1875. Kosach prefers wild, decayed forests, rich in low shrubs, birch is his favorite tree. He also loves swampy areas, although he does not actually occur in him. He is more dexterous than a capercaillie. Very sensitive, his eyesight and hearing are excellent. Food consists of buds and leaves of trees, berries, grains and insects. In summer, he eats blueberries, lingonberries, raspberries, blackberries, in winter - juniper berries, heather buds, birch, beech, and sometimes green cones of coniferous trees, he never touches needles. The chicks are fed exclusively on insects.
Hunting animals and birds
hunting animals. Most wild animals can be attributed to hunting animals, although the significance of one or another animal for commercial and amateur hunting is different. With the development of technology, technology, human development of natural resources, the pressure on the living conditions of wild animals increases. Animals need protection of their habitat and measures to protect the animals themselves. Short descriptions of many wild animals are given, which will help the hunter to determine the species and, accordingly, the attitude towards it.
Many animals are presented in the form of a description and on video.
Sable - a valuable fur animal. The body length of an adult sable is from 38 to 56 cm, males are somewhat larger than females. The length of the tail is less than 1/2 the length of the body. The skin of the sable is covered with a thick, silky, medium-height hairline. Fur from sandy-yellow to black-brown. The ridge is darker than the sides, a large, not sharply limited light spot or a small orange speck protrudes on the throat. The head is lighter than the body. The darker the sable, the more valuable its skin is. Of the darkest sables...
Ermine . Body length up to 32 cm, tail up to 12 cm. Quite low, but soft and dense winter fur is white, only the final half of the tail is black. In summer, the back, sides and head of the ermine are brown, and the throat and abdomen are white or yellowish, the end of the tail is black in summer as well. Common...
European mink . In shape and size of the body, it is similar to a polecat, but differs sharply from it in low, very thick, shiny chestnut or reddish-brown fur, uniform throughout the skin, only white spots stand out around the mouth and on the throat. Distributed almost throughout the European part of the USSR - from the southern border of the tundra to the coast ...
Badger . The body of the badger is wide, clumsy, the neck is short, the head is small, and the legs are short. Body length up to 70 cm, tail up to 25 cm. The back and sides are covered with bristly, high silver-gray hair. The belly and paws are covered with sparse, coarse black hair. The head is light with 2 blackish stripes on the sides. Common...
common wolf . In the tundra zone of the USSR, in some places there are very large wolves weighing up to 60 kg, distinguished by light (whitish), soft and lush winter fur. In the Siberian taiga, there are large wolves with less lush and soft gray winter fur. In large wolves of the European part of the USSR, the fur is harder and not so lush (especially in the wolves of the steppe regions), an admixture is noticeable ...
Tiger . Huge predator, body length up to 3 m. Distinguished by beautiful fur. The ridge and sides are bright red and yellow-red with a characteristic pattern of black transverse stripes, the belly is whitish. Lives in Primorsky and Khabarovsk ...
Lynx . It differs from most other felines in a relatively short body on high legs, a short tail, and the presence of elongated hair tassels on the ears. The fur varies from ash gray to bright red in different shades. Many lynx...
brown bear . The size of this predator is very variable. The largest bears with dark fur are found on Far East. Smaller, but also very dark bears inhabit Yakutia and Eastern Siberia. In Western...
Muskrat . A kind of aquatic animal. Reaches the size of a large rat. The tail is almost naked, covered with flat scales, rounded at the base, flattened laterally for most of its length. Below the tail, near the base, there is a swelling in which glands are placed that secrete an odorous liquid - musk (used in the perfume industry). The head in front is extended into a proboscis, the eyes are small, the hind legs are with a swimming membrane. The fur is thick and soft. The back and sides of a beautiful...
hare . For the winter, either it does not turn white (in the south), or it turns white only partially - the middle part of the ridge remains dark for the whole winter. Winter fur is slightly curly. Ears are long. There is a black spot on the top of the tail. The hare is larger than the white hare (the average weight is 4 kg, up to 7 kg are found in Bashkiria).
The hare inhabits the European part ...
marmot marmot . large rodent, body length up to 55 cm. It is distinguished by a thick, awkward body, short but strong legs, a small head and reduced auricles. Lives in colonies in deep pores. Each family occupies a separate hole or a group of them (one nesting and several fodder). Nora has from 1 to 14 entrances...
Gophers in physique they are similar to marmots, but inferior to them in size (body length is not more than 35 cm). The cheek pouches open into the oral cavity. Several species of ground squirrels found in the USSR are of great importance in the fur trade.
sandstone gopher . Large in size, has a high and dense sandy-yellow hairline. It lives in the Southern Trans-Volga region, the western half of Kazakhstan, the Chui valley, Northern Kyrgyzstan, the steppes ...
Muskrat (Fig. 6b). It looks like a water rat, but much larger (body length up to 30 cm, tail up to 25 cm). The fur is thick, from an elastic, frequent, shiny awn and very dense down. The back and sides are golden-red, sometimes dark brown, the bottom is somewhat lighter. It was brought to the USSR in 1927. It is found almost everywhere. In 1959 acclimatized in Kamchatka. It settles along the banks of reservoirs rich in water ...
Elk , or dry. The largest moose live in the spurs and valleys of the Kalymsky Range. The mass of an adult bull reaches 650 kg, the height at the withers is up to 235 cm. The horns are exceptionally large - up to 1.5 m in collapse.
In 1977-1978. moose were acclimatized in the valley of the river. Kamchatka. In 1985 the herd reached over 150 head. Moose inhabiting the southern regions of Eastern Siberia are much smaller (height at the withers 180 cm, weight 400 kg). The horns are poorly developed and do not have spade-shaped ...
sika deer . The height at the withers is up to 120 cm, the weight is not more than 150 kg, the horns are small with one supraorbital process, one middle and two terminal ones. In winter, the body is brownish-gray. A white "mirror" occupies the inner side of the buttocks below the base of the tail and below merges with the light coloration of the abdomen and groin. In summer, the body of males and females is bright red with numerous white spots on the back, sides and back of the neck. Lives in Primorsky Krai. Acclimatized...
Roe . The height at the withers does not exceed 95 cm, weight 60 kg. The summer coat is red, the winter coat is brownish-gray, on the buttocks and on the sides of the tail there is a white “mirror”. The tail is so short that it is almost invisible. Horns only in males are rough (height up to 40 cm) with 2-3 processes. The supraorbital processes are absent. In the USSR, there are two forms of roe deer - European (small, with thin horns) and Siberian (larger, with massive, bumpy, strongly diluted ...
saiga . Height at the withers up to 83 cm, weight up to 60 kg. The body is strong, barrel-shaped, on relatively short legs. Humpbacked head. Horns only in males, slightly curved, amber. The back and sides are sandy-yellow, light.
By the 20th century the saiga was almost completely exterminated. Now the population has been restored and herds of hundreds of thousands graze in the Kalmyk and Astrakhan steppes, Kazakhstan.
The saiga is a resident of clayey, cereal and wormwood lowland semi-desert and feather grass virgin steppes. It grazes in herds of up to 20 heads, which in autumn ...
Boar . It looks like a mongrel pig, but much larger. Height at the withers up to 120 cm, weight up to 240 kg. The body of the wild boar is covered with very coarse, high (from yellow-gray to black) bristles with soft brownish underfur. By the beginning of the rut in males, on the neck, shoulders and on the sides of the front of the chest grows ...
hunting birds
Capercaillie . The largest representative of the chicken birds of the USSR. Adult males reach 6 kg. Distributed from Western Europe to Transbaikalia and the middle reaches of the river. Lena, where it inhabits coniferous and coniferous-deciduous forests. Capercaillie lek yearly in the same places. During the mating song, the bird stalls. Capercaillie lekking early in the morning on trees and on the ground. Spring mating stops after the capercaillie finishes laying (up to 12 eggs in a nest on the ground). Term...
ptarmigan . Weight up to 700 g. In winter plumage male and female are snow-white. Summer plumage (from mid-June) is motley, chestnut-red. Inhabits the tundra and the northern part of the taiga. In a number of places it penetrates far to the south, for example, to the valleys of the Oka, Tsna, Ural rivers, it is found in Bashkiria, Altai, Sayan, Tuva region, Northern Kazakhstan and further to the east ...
whooper swan . The largest representative of anseriform birds. Weight up to 19 kg. The plumage is pure white, the beak is yellow-black. When swimming, keep the neck straight. Inhabits mainly the forest zone and almost never flies into the tundra zone. Distributed from Kola Peninsula and the Baltic states to Kamchatka and the South Kuriles. Breeds in the north and further south along the northern coast of the Caspian Sea, along the valley of the river. Cheese dar ya and along the shores of the lake. Zai-san. Refers to monogamous - monogamous birds.
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