Unusual day that of Saturday 19 January because after about fifty days of clear skies and drought here is a very different panorama with total coverage and some moderate downpours of rain. These phenomena lead to change the ready-made cacciatore with another a little less hot, but totally waterproof. We enter the Val Borbera on the border between Piedmont and Liguria in countries where the suffix Ligurian it contrasts with belonging to the province of Alessandria, recalling however the dominion of the Dorias of Genoa over these lands, before they became part of the Kingdom of Savoy. You rise in altitude and at the gathering at the hunting lodge a sprinkle of snow underlines how it has been for a month in the winter: the gathering of about forty wild boar hunters always has a particular note with the registration of the participants at the Capocaccia, the savory breakfast based on salami and cheese, the formation of groups of friends ready to exchange the latest news and forecasts for the day.
The presence of a young girl stands out, who we will discover passionate not only about the hunted hunt, but also about the one narrated. Our little group under the aegis of Caccia Passione quickly coagulates around the promoters of the meeting with Massimo Felicetta, Sabatti's area agent, and Messrs Giuseppe Alberti and Alessandro Marogna of Konus of Verona. The ten Saphire rifles of the Gardonese firm have already been assigned: on some of them the optics stand out Pro 30 of the aforementioned company with the values 3-12 × 56, also suitable for shots of a certain commitment, on other specific ones Pro 30 1-6 × 24 with a grid formed by an outer circle and a central dot.
This is certainly the most suitable optic for posts with a narrower view and has a luminous point that can be graduated on various intensities and colors to choose from between red and blue. In groups, we arrange ourselves on the official sedans ... to be accompanied to the post offices located between an altitude of 700 and 1500 meters above sea level. The off-road vehicles boxed here are the masters while we are reserved the comfortable seat next to Mr. Mario Grasso, the Capocaccia, on a Polar cabin cruiser that overcomes all kinds of obstacles.
Four words to understand the territory: already the transit in the valley villages has shown barred houses and "for sale" signs in sad abundance and the implication is illustrated by our pilot showing the consequences of the depopulation that took place in the last fifty years and its consequences on surrounding nature. At one time all the woods were cared for because chestnuts were the first and most important resource of the place flanked by charcoal: a common destiny to many other areas of the Pre-Alps and of the whole Apennine chain. Today the tangle of branches, fallen and rotting plants makes every use difficult, the tratturi are cared for as much as possible by willing people among which the latest and current users stand out: the hunters. If that little bit of sleet is not enough, the fog also sets in: contrary to forecasts, the higher you climb, the worse it will be, remaining for the complete period of our expulsion.
We arrive at the post office and descend a steep coast of the mountain, arranging ourselves according to the instructions: we find a point between the juniper bushes that allows the view on the right side and in front, towards the top. First we find a support point for the rifle: the branches of the fragrant coniferous tree are ideal for the need and underneath we arrange the backpack covered by the weapon's sheath. It continues to snow and the temperature just below zero keeps the crystals attached to the branches and to the ground. The time comes to load and we place one cartridge in the barrel and two in the removable magazine: everything takes place with linearity and we close the bolt always paying attention to direct the barrel towards the ground not far from us and we finish the operation by inserting the safety lever, located just behind the bolt arm. Then dedicating ourselves to the Konus optics we open the two snap-on lens covers, at home we had already taken care of the reticle focusing, then with an overall look and carrying out some aiming tests we define how 1,5x is the value of optimal magnification for the area and for our eye: in this way you will have a wide field of view from which to derive a prompt shot of the subject and more time to follow it, perfecting the aim. Provided that the shaggy bristle passes within range and crosses those very few stretches where we could put it in perspective.
The stock of the Saphire entrusted to us is of the through-hand type that some creates a bit of difficulty, but we like it very much: we immediately found ourselves well in terms of readiness in grasping the rifle and above all we are very well aware of the well-marked posture of the cheek. , with an eye aligned with the optics, and that of the hand very steady and almost orthogonal with the trigger on which the finger acts without undue tension. The synthetic used has a superficial silkiness that combines aesthetic pleasure, comfort to the touch, not transmitting a sensation of cold, functionality in retaining the cheek that does not slip from the chosen support point. The bore features the excellent 7 × 64, the queen of the European 7 mm for which we have prepared the original Brenneke fillers with 9,7 g (145 gr) Teilmantel ball: in short, a deadly recipe for the king of the bush, equipped with of phenomenal stopping power. Hours go by, we hear some shots close by, but we do not see anything moving: the fog persists and often closes the already narrow spaces of visibility for a possible shot.
Towards the end of the expulsion a good hound of the pack stands about twenty meters from us and barks at us repeatedly: he understood that we were unusual elements of his hunting environment. a wild boar just above us and the wild passed where the fog bothered us and where we probably did not have the eye for a few seconds of passage: we also had to keep under control an access placed at an angle. We go back down to the hunting lodge where other members of the group show a good booty with two subjects in evidence, close to the quintal.
We leave for the Morando di Mongiardino hotel restaurant (0143 98118) where the 1st Literary Prize organized by Caccia Passione, together with the sponsors Sabatti, Konus, Fiocchi and Alta Val Borbera, will be awarded to the kind huntress noticed at the beginning of the day, Elisa Perrone.
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