Swarovski Optik 49965 Nature is Best Teacher, What makes hunting in the mountains so fascinating?

MOUNTAIN HUNTING

MOUNTAIN HUNTING

NATURE IS

THE BEST

TEACHER

SWAROVSKI OPTIK enjoys a decisive advan- tage when it comes to innovations in hunting: the company’s location. Many of our emplo- yees are enthusiastic hunters themselves who bring with them not only the unique experien- ces they have enjoyed while out hunting virtu- ally on their own doorstep, but also plenty of ideas that are an influence on their daily work. This is particularly beneficial to the develop- ment of long-range optical devices, for instance for hunting in the mountains. Florian Kreissl, head of the hunting division at SWAROVSKI OPTIK, explains why this is the case.

What makes hunting in the mountains so fascinating?

Florian Kreissl: First of all, this is hunting in its original, natural form. The stalking tracks go through challenging terrain. Hunting in the mountains is demanding, both physically and mentally, as well as when shooting at an

angle over long distances. You need to climb steep inclines, work hard and, if you shoot something, you need to put it on your back- pack and carry it down into the valley. It is hard-going and energy-sapping, but amazin- gly beautiful.

SWAROVSKI OPTIK has its head office right in the middle of the most wonderful Tyrolean mountain landscape. How does this help you in developing a different, better understan- ding of hunters’ needs?

FK: I think it helps very much. The best example of this is actually the development of the EL Range binoculars with SWAROAIM. This tool allows you to measure the distance exactly, which is absolutely essential for long- range shots. The EL Range has an angle mea- surement function in addition to this. When shooting in the mountains where the terrain rises and falls steeply, the ballistics take a dif-

ferent trajectory to when you’re on flat land. When long distances with different angles are involved, your impact point may end up shif- ting, and the EL Range compensates for that, making it ideal for hunting in the mountains. However, when hunting on flat terrain the function is easily deactivated with two pres- ses of a button.

How would one imagine the “typical” moun- tain hunter?

FK: These hunters are passionate and te- nacious. Most of them have a very deep attachment to their local region, the Tyrol in our case. This probably reflects the fact that people want to reap what nature has to offer in their local area. However, hunting in the mountains is and remains a special experi- ence not just for many local hunters but for visitors as well, as it is hunting in its original, rather challenging form.

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