Gornji Milanovac – A hunter's best companions are dogs, and according to the experienced hunter Bojan Dobričić, nothing can replace the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Serbian Hound. With more than two decades of experience, Bojan stresses that you should not skimp on dogs, as they are 'worth their weight in gold'.
"Hare and pheasant hunting, as well as the scent of deer, is for the German Shorthaired Pointer, while the Serbian Hound is used for wild boar. Hunting without a good dog is unthinkable," says Dobričić.
Maintaining the fitness and proper nutrition of his dogs costs around ten thousand dinars a month, but, as he points out, he has never regretted a single dinar invested in his four-legged assistants.
First hunt – as early as six months old
Although he believes that dogs should start the hunting season at nine months old, experience has shown that the first hunt can begin even earlier.
"I hunted with two puppies at six and a half months old; they did a good job. However, it's ideal for them to start the season at eight months, to get them accustomed to the terrain, the gunfire, the smells and their first retrieves."
As he emphasises, no young dog gives its maximum at the start, but the older they get, the better they become.
Leo – the pride of the Dobričić family
Among Bojan's dogs, a special place is held by Leo, the German Shorthaired Pointer, a dog with a serious hunting career and an impressive list of accolades.
"He has been hunting actively for ten seasons now. My favourite is deer hunting – he sorts out a blood trail in two minutes. I can't imagine hunting pheasants, foxes or hares without him. Leo is a champion of his breed more than 20 times over and has over 15 awards from international shows. I'm proud of him."
Three generations of hunters
Bojan has been a hunter for over two decades, but the Dobričić family's hunting tradition stretches back three generations. That is why his obligation to nature and the association, as he says, is all the greater.
Erecting hides, feeding stations and salt licks isn't a chore for him – it's a pure love of hunting and nature.
Family support – the pillar of every hunter
In his hunting story, Bojan makes a special mention of his wife, Nevena.
"You can't do anything without your family. My wife is my biggest support. Countless times during a hunt, I've asked her to bring me the bloodhound. In the difficult years, when everything was expensive, we struggled together to have everything we needed for hunting."
Bojan has two daughters, a son and a grandson, and hopes that one of them will continue the noble family tradition.
"Hunting tradition is a duty, not a hobby"
"For us, being a hunter is a privilege, but also a moral obligation. It is up to the younger generation to preserve hunting culture, customs, moral values, and to care for nature. Only in this way can we leave something of value for future generations," concludes Dobričić.
