Events
A deep, aggressive bellow sends chills down the spines of the tensely waiting hunters, followed immediately by the powerful reply of a rival seeking a duel with the dominant stag, who has gathered a rutting herd around him. The atmosphere heats up, both competitors are brimming with adrenaline, a fight is practically in the air. – This scene didn't take place on the rutting grounds of the hunting area, but rather at the Salzburg Exhibition Center, where the Austrian National Stag Calling Championship was held on February 22, 2026, as part of the "Die Hohe Jagd & Fischerei" trade fair. This event is one of the highlights of the largest hunting fair in the Alpine region and once again drew several hundred interested spectators to the “Impuls.Revier” stage in Hall 10. Among the predominantly young participants was a Frenchman who bellowed outside of the official competition. The participants competed in three different stag call disciplines (young, searching stag; the dominant stag's bellow with the animal's warning call; and a duel between two stags). It was a fierce battle right to the end!
The competition was moderated by Dr. Hubert Stock, and the Abtenau hunting horn ensemble, under the direction of Anton Wintersteller, provided an atmospheric musical backdrop. The expert jury, consisting of Ernst Röck, Otto Haitzmann, Manuel Voithofer, and Martin Grasberger, had the difficult task of selecting the best among the very good voices and evaluating them accordingly. They were seated backstage, unable to see the participants, only hearing them. Incidentally, the audience in front of the stage also only saw the participants through a backlit screen, creating a shadow play effect.
Further details about this extraordinary competition can be found at jagdfakten.at
