A hunting team/охотничья команда (“hunter” used in the sense of “volunteer ”, that is, “a group of volunteers”) was a unit in the Russian Imperial Army for carrying out "individual assignments associated with danger and requiring personal resourcefulness" . The team's tasks include: reconnaissance of the area, raids on horseback and on skis, close reconnaissance of the enemy, sapper work, and the construction of crossings. In addition, training of military guard dogs, hunting for predatory animals in the infantry, and mounted dog hunting in the cavalry.
The first unofficial teams of "hunters" appeared during the defense of Sevastopol, then during the Caucasian Wars and the last Turkish campaign. Having proven their effectiveness during military operations, the teams were officially approved by order No. 260 of the military department in 1886.
According to this order, teams were established in all separate military units to prepare lower ranks, no more than 4 people per company, squadron, hundred and battery, for execution in wartime. A special officer was appointed to manage each team. No separate time was allocated for special training for team members. The training was to take place at the expense of the personal time of military personnel (Saturdays, holidays and time designated for free work).
In 1891, General Staff circular No. 228 allocated two days a week for special training to hunting teams, and prescribed relaxations in guard duty (in terms of the number of outfits). During the mission, improved nutrition was proposed, and it was recommended that the head of the hunting team be provided with a riding horse, and that the team be given a team cart.
In 1892, by order of the military department No. 192, an external distinction was introduced for hunters - green stripes on the sleeves, the right to be promoted to non-commissioned officers was given specifically for high hunting qualities, without passing the course of the training team, and the head of the hunting team was assigned table money on an equal basis with other junior officials of the unit. The set of hunting teams in separate battalions was brought up to eight people from a company.
Hunting teams existed from 1886 to 1908, and until 1891 there were simultaneously hunting teams and scout teams, that is, these teams performed different functions.
Russo-Japanese War postcard: "A hunting party and captured Japanese sentry/Охотничья команда и снятый ею с поста японский часовой".
