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I have a friend that recently asked me about Capercaillie hunting after having read a book I gave him on European hunting. I have never had any great interested in hunting the "trophy" birds but I'm always up for a new experience, so I'm looking into it. I have found that they are hunted in April or May in mainland Europe, and in the fall in Scandanavia. Our schedules would work much better with the spring hunts, so I would like to keep my investigations to those hunts. Does anyone have any input on the following? What are the countries I should be looking at? There are many that are listed as having these available but are there some that I should not consider, and are there some that are outstanding? And as a follow up, any input on the best areas or regions within those countries? Based on the answers to the above, what other species might be available to add to the hunt? It seems some places have Black Grouse as well, and some places might have Roe Deer as well? Thanks for any input! Use enough gun... Shoot 'till it's dead, especially if it bites. | ||
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The Capercallie is a great bird to hunt. You can hunt them legally in Austria, Bulgaria and Lapland areas. Bulgaria is during mating time and from trees with shotgun, during May. Costs all inclusive around 2600Euro for 3 days + trophy. Austria is probably the best experience hunting in the Alps in traditional style, which due to licenses and price not that many hunters do. Its with rifle and shooting out of trees. You can add Black Grouse too. Price is around 3800Euro for the Cappercallie and Black Grouse is around 2500Euro extra. Lapland is walked up over dogs shooting Cappercallie, Black Grouse and other. Prices all inc are a reasonable 1600Euro for 3 days. Otherwise in Winter you can combine with a Moose hunt and shoot Capper from the tree with rifle whilst on skis. | |||
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Forgot to add in Bulgaria and Austria you can add a Roe, Mouflon hunt, Boar hunt etc quite easily. Also Bosnia you can hunt Cappercallie but the above options are a bit better. Don't hesitate to ask anymore questions- I can arrange this hunt out you in contact with the right people. | |||
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Thank you for your response. Having no prior knowledge of these hunts, is it generally expected to get a good chance to succeed on these hunts, or does it normally take multiple hunts to succeed? It sounds like you are saying Bosnia has lower success rates than the others. I looked at several web sights for Bulgaria and that looks like a great place to hunt with beautiful scenery and countryside. I also looked at some in Austria and it seems the cost is quite a lot higher there, though I like being able to add Black Grouse as well. Is it possible to add Black Grouse in Bulgaria? I see some places that say it is possible, and some that do not mention them. Use enough gun... Shoot 'till it's dead, especially if it bites. | |||
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Hi, personally I don't like Bosnia. Its the same sort of money and better accomodations and English speakers elsewhere. Austria is the beautiful choice and real alpine experience but its higher priced than the rest, but if you are only going to do it once then you pay your money and take your choice.. Bulgaria there is no Black Grouse and therefore not legal to shoot. Austria and Bulgaria success rate is normally 100%. Both these places, but Austria esp, need booking in advance because permits are low. Bulgaria for example I have 4 spots left for next April/ May and my Austrian friend has just 2 left. Regards | |||
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Good advice - specially for a first time - old school tradition way with bells and whistles (as it is suppose to be) - you can always do other places later on. And yes - Black Grouse in May is a must! P.S. FYK - Cappercallie and Black Grouse are consedered and treated as a Big Game in former Austro-Hungarian countries. | |||
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I always advise this but the $ counts! Heading to North Slovenia soon for some Chammy action | |||
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I would go for Sweden and do it in the winter. You will see amazing country and a great hunt | |||
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Thanks again everyone. I will have to see if the others in the group are willing/able to do the higher cost in Austria. Does anyone have a recommendation for an outfitter or agent, or which areas I should look at there? I would gladly go to Sweden if they could move winter to April or May  We really need to do this in the spring time.Use enough gun... Shoot 'till it's dead, especially if it bites. | |||
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Sent you a private message. | |||
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Texan just to clear things up a bit. Alpine Capercaille hunting in the spring is an early pre-dawn morning stalking hunt. It takes place high in the mountains, but below the forest line. Your guide will locate an old/er bird's favourite tree that he is using for his morning mating calls. Capercaillie has very acute hearing but becomes deaf for very short periods during its chorus - when you are allowed to make 3-4 quick steps and then remain absolutely silent, othervise you are busted and the bird is gone. You must approach within 20-35 yards to make a reliable shot. You start very early - in the black of the night, but you will be hunted by approaching daylight all the time - once bright enough so bird can see you from its tree - again - it is gone... Black grouse are hunted high in the mountains - above the forest line by waiting, from the blind, positioned close to “booming” grounds, where dozens of cocks may gather. You must reach the blind before the first dawn. Dawn in the mountains is something to behold - simillar to dawn in the desert...and the show of fighting cocks is very very picturesque and intense. Always a good thing to wait with your shot and take time to watch male birds courting dances and fighting. Usually you will be shooting with rifle and FMJ bullets (.22 Hornet, .222 Rem...) Scandinavian hunting is walked upon with dogs I believe - but it holds its own value. | |||
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There is also excellent Capercaille spring hunting in Belarus and Russia. Those hunts are much cheaper then in central europe. | |||
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A camera on this hunt is almost as important as a rifle.. | |||
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Thanks again for all the input. I will continue some invesyigation and come back with any further questions that come up. Use enough gun... Shoot 'till it's dead, especially if it bites. | |||
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Just watched a video of them hunting in Sweden. Looks like an interesting hunt they used a dog too tree the birds. Like using hound too coon hunt or bear hunt. Beautiful scenery and beautiful birds | |||
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. I saw this late but my 2 cents worth .... Austria, in the mountains, overnight in a simple mountain hut, good simple food and a bottle of wine, a good nights sleep and then up and out around 4.00 a.m.. A slow walk into to the grove or mating area where the old Caper is know to be. Absolute silence as you wait for the light to change and then you hear his wings beat as he take to his tree and starts calling! Unforgettable! Some guides will even sleep out at the grove to be there first thing! A truly amazing hunt for a very unique trophy! 2 - 3 days should do it and if you go with the right guide you have a very high success rate! A large cock bird makes a wonderful mount and a great addition to your hunting memories! Look forward to reading the report ! Charlie . "Up the ladders and down the snakes!" | |||
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Amazed at the cost of a hunt to kill a single bird. That said, it's been on my list for awhile. | |||
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. Rarity factor ! Most areas that have them will likely only take off 1 - 3 a year. Unlike most other game. . "Up the ladders and down the snakes!" | |||
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The cost of capercaillie hunting starts with 10$ per day in some Swedish areas if the landowner require you to have a guide it will add to the cost. We hunt caper both with barking dogs in the autumn and stalking on skies later in the winter. Season is from aug25-jan31 (black grouse are in the same areas and can be hunted in the same hunt as caper)its not allowed to hunt them in the spring its too easy. If you want a spring hunt go to russia. There may be possible to hunt wildboar or moose if you do a december hunt wildboar are in the south of sweden, caper in the north. | |||
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Swedish rules in enlish http://jagareforbundet.se/jakten/hunting-in-sweden/ Examles of prices and different hunts(i have no experience of the outfitters). http://www.boka.inatur.se/sv/s...ora?filter=c%3D30021 150sek/20$/day hunting alone. 26000sek/3000$ 3days of hunting including guide with dog. 2-3 meals in the forest/day and night lodge. Hunting on skies in winter. Caper and blackgrouse 2 birds bag limit/day. 2 hunting days with guide, all meals free doubleroom, sauna, skiis.(experience of skiing are required) 25000sek/2900$ | |||
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Hunting with rifle in Sweden in the winter is fantastic. I just got this One while hunting roe Deer here in Norway.   | |||
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You boys missing on Russia and Belarus as Caracal said Karelia has fantastic tetrev hunting and very very reasonable " Until the day breaks and the nights shadows flee away " Big ivory for my pillow and 2.5% of Neanderthal DNA flowing thru my veins. When I'm ready to go, pack a bag of gunpowder up my ass and strike a fire to my pecker, until I squeal like a boar. Yours truly , Milan The Boarkiller - World according to Milan PS I have big boar on my floor...but it ain't dead, just scared to move... Man should be happy and in good humor until the day he dies... Only fools hope to live forever “ Hávamál” | |||
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This is the reason we dont kill(hunt) them in the spring. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BDpzoxiMtQ | |||
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