If I want to hunt free-range fallow deer in Europe, what country and what outfitter (booking agent, estate) would you chaps recommend. I've hunted in Scotland and love the hunting ethics practiced by the stalkers in that country, however I understand fallow hunting is very limited there.

I assume Eastern Europe is where the best opportunities for good fallow bucks now lie, however I have found very little information about hunting there on the web.

Thanks.

It depends on what you are looking for.

If you are looking for the very best in trophies, Hungary is THE place to go. They have some of the best (if not THE best) fallow trophies in the World. What is more, they have an extremely high standard of hunting ethics, guiding proficiency and game management. It is highly likely to see a super stag in Hungary and not be allowed to shoot because he has not yet reached the "harvesting" age.

Three areas in Hungary with some of the very best Fallow are Gyulaj, Labod and Guth (sorry, missing Hungarian letters) - none of which are cheap, but all of which can and do regularly produce world class trophies.

Here is a list of hunting areas recommended for Fallow by one Hungarian hunting consultant:

http://www.sevako.hu/wildarten_und_empfohlene_riviere/damhirsch_list.html

The base webpage can be accessed via: http://www.sevako.hu/startseite/

If you feel uncomfortable with the German on the website, try writing this girl (you'll have to for a quote anyway), she understands English:

Katalin Babaly - info@sevako.hu

There are other good choices for really good Fallow trophies. Denmark is not bad, although there is not a massive amount of commercial hunting offered there.

Other options include the UK (south of the Scottish border), the Czech Republic, Poland, Rumania etc. Fallow show up in quite a few places in Europe and can be hunted in many places.

The best time to go for a good stag is during the rut - figure mid-October to mid-November, although the actual period may vary from country to country, and in particular how far North you get. The hunting in the rut is likely to be stalking in the forest, which can be either very exiting or very frustrating - as the chips happen to fall....

- mike

I am again going to pull the www.diana.dk card.

They offer all the places Mike listed, maybe not the cheapest, but probably not the most expensive.

Call and ask to talk to Ann Fick she is a really nice lady and can for sure help you.

If you don't feel like calling email and they usually reply within 24-36 hours.

Euros mostly sell deer by the kilo. I would estimate your looking for a 3.5 and up kind of fallow. Your in the $1500 for 5 days stalking with accomidations, and $4000 for the buck kind of range.

A park buck in England will be a ton cheaper. Of course he's probably as tame as your dog.

Thank you mho. That is exactally the type of information I am seeking.

Also, I notice that Ireland has quite a few estates that offer fallow deer hunting. Anybody ever hunted, or know anything about, fallow hunting there? I only ask because this is one of the places my wife is really intersted in visiting and I could kill two birds with one stone.

quote:

Originally posted by mho:
The hunting in the rut is likely to be stalking in the forest, which can be either very exiting or very frustrating
- mike

Mike is as ever correct. I would put fallow in the rut as the most exciting yet potentialy frustrating sport. It is good enough that no hunting trip abroad is allowed to get in the way for October. Pre rut is quite good too if you are local.

You need to allow some time and you need to understand that the peak of the rut can occur any time in a 3-4 week period. You also need to ensure that your guide/estate is extremely careful in their exploitation of rutting stands. It's all too easy to shoot too many big bucks.

Wild fallow medals are very rare in the UK. In the words of Richard Prior they need to be born in a good year for trophies, lead a quiet life and be shot in a good year for trophies. The chances of these 3 things happening are low but I would guess that the first and last are going to be satisfied this year so don't wait until next year.

It just so happens that I have been looking at hunting for a Fallow stag in Gyulaj (one of the absolute top areas in Hungary) this year. If you can still get a slot in the rut (may be booked solid), these are the approximate costs you are looking at:

- 5 days accommodation, guiding 1:1, hungarian hunting license and booking fee (normal in Europe) - approx. Euro 600.
- Trophy fees vary according to the weight of the antlers (weighed one day after boiling), as Seth mentioned above. 3.5 kg is approx 2000 Euro, 4.0 kg is approx 3000 Euro and 4.5 kg is approx 6000 Euro. Prices in between the weights listed above are calculated as a base price plus so much for each additional 10 g. E.g. 4.2 kg: 3000 Euro + 20x60 = 5200 Euro.

Now, before you fall over and think this is extremely expensive (which it is), consider that 4 kg is already way into World Class territory - something like a 200 point mule deer. If you go to a place in North America where you have a good chance at trophies in that class, those hunts don't come cheap either. At least in Europe, if you don't shoot a stag, or if you shoot a smaller stag, you only pay for what you take.

When you book, you have to state your trophy expectation. In Hungary (probably the only place in the World), the guide is then required to find you a trophy which will deviate from your sought trophy weight by no more than +/- 15% (I believe it is). If that does not work, you can refuse to accept the trophy.

I have seen Fallow trophies from both Gyulaj and Labod which were in the range of 3.5-4.0 kg, and they were absolutely marvellous! I'm guessing if you are looking for 4.5 kg (and certainly 5!), the air gets very rarified, and you may not find a trophy like that on a given year.

So all in all, excluding travel, a fantastic trophy (4kg max) could end up costing you, maybe, Euro 4000. After you are done with the Fallow hunting, you can either hunt for females or smaller stags. Or, you could head to another area for some of the most specatcular pig hunting in Europe - at least in terms of sheer numbers.

- mike

P.S. Make sure to bring Wifey-Poo along. Leave her with a credit card in Budapest plus a round-trip train ticket to either Vienna and/or Prague - either of which can easily be reached within (half) a day on the train. When you are both done travelling, your wife will probably have spent more than you did on hunting, and she will have seen some of the most spectacular cities in Central Europe.

P.P.S To get an idea of Fallow hunting in Hungary (Gyulaj?), check out the DVD "Fallow deer and Driven hunts" #1051-3 on this website: http://www.shop.huntersvideo.com/shop/default.asp. Sadly, the site is frame oriented, so I can't link you to the DVD directly. Follow the DVD-Europe link, and then scroll down to almost the bottom. Well worth it to become acquainted with what is possible.

Mike,

I was in the ball park with $5500 for the whole deal!

Not bad for a transplant-Euro!

That will end up pretty darn close.
- mike

I quit reading Playboy the Diana catalog does so much more for me.

I have the prices mostly committed to memory.

Have a look at www.molnarjagd.hu
Beate can arrange very Good Deer hunts in hungary.

It's all about dreaming, Seth... Fortunately, dreaming comes for free. If not, I'd be be even more broke than what I am...
- mike

P.S. Here is a price list for some of the "lesser" areas in Hungary, which can also be pretty darn good, one just has to know where to go. I don't believe these prices apply to Gyulaj etc, although this company is an official booking agency for Gyulaj.
http://www.forst.hu/de/node/58#dambika

Mike,when you say Gyula, are speaking of the town thart stay between the Romanian order and Bekeschaba? If positive I know that area like my pockets, and I have a very good friend that manage a hunting trip agency ...... Far but beautifull .... full of roe deers, famous for hares abbundance ...dreams

GAHUNTER,
if you want to check some more info or possibility to hunt there PM to me and I'll send back to you the info.

And now, considering all, we can think to manage a classic 3 hnt days + 2 of travel to hunt a mixed bag of roe deers, cow and jarling, hares and pheasant, in Hungary, trying to have fun without spending a lot of money. In the october/november period.

Something like a EU AR members hunting meeting.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Malinverni:
Mike,when you say Gyula, are speaking of the town thart stay between the Romanian order and Bekeschaba? If positive I know that area like my pockets, and I have a very good friend that manage a hunting trip agency ...... Far but beautifull .... full of roe deers, famous for hares abbundance ...dreams

Gyulaj is number 23 on this map - the South-south-western part of Hungary.

http://www.sevako.hu/unsere_reviere/karte_uber_unsere_partnerreviere/t8.html

This partial map is the lower second from the west on this full map:

http://www.sevako.hu/unsere_reviere/karte_uber_unsere_partnerreviere/

- mike

COUNT ME IN!

Of course someone will have to take pitty on me and loan me a rifle, I'll pay for the cartridges I shoot of course.

I could probably drive if no-one else wants too. I'll take the ferry up to naples then drive up and over through Austria into Hungary.

Of course that rifle bit!

And I can't do it until after August.

Steve what is cow and jarling?

Seth

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Malinverni:
And now, considering all, we can think to manage a classic 3 hnt days + 2 of travel to hunt a mixed bag of roe deers, cow and jarling, hares and pheasant, in Hungary, trying to have fun without spending a lot of money. In the october/november period.

Something like a EU AR members hunting meeting.

Sounds interesting. Please PM me your ideas, or post them here.

cheers,
stu

Dear friends,
it is the third time that I start again in writing my answer. Uffa.

Ok Mike, Gyulai is #23, Gyula, near Bekschaba is #10 on the map. This area is well known for the abundance of roe deers and hares.

Seth and Stu and for any other interested,
period: end of october/beginning of november, 3 days of hunt, roe and fallow deers, cows and youngs, and also trophy hunt for the fallow deers, hares and pheasants.
The travel can be broken if too long in a very good hotel with a very good restaurant in Vesprem.
Prices, actually 420 Euros full inclusive for 3 days and 4 nights full board, Hungarian licence and various documents, game fees: 33€ for the hares, 40€ for roe deers, 13€ for pheasant.
The translator, that I consider mandatory, costs 65€ + full board. the costs of the hunting vehicles are 0.75€ for kilometer.

Seth maybe the problem can be the shotgun, I have only one actually, for the rifles, with cartridges loaded by me , no problems.

Well if I could borrow a rifle from Steve and a scattergun from someone else we will be in buiness!

I'll drive to Milan and pick up Steve, that way you don't have to drive with your back problems. I would have room for 2 more, my car is a Dodge Neon. About the same size (though without the class and style) as a BMW 315 four door sedan.

I could pick up the others in Austria or at Steves in Milan.

I am sure we could probably get a car or two coming from the north.

You can also take a plane and land in Milan and then with my land Cruiser Toyota travel to east
but to have a very good little game hunt it should be good be in 5/8 shotguns. The traditional german battue in line needs minimum 5/6 guns.

Maybe in the next future we can open a booking topic.

Works for me!

We just need Mike and about 3 or 4 more!

quote:

Originally posted by GAHUNTER:
Thank you mho. That is exactally the type of information I am seeking.

Also, I notice that Ireland has quite a few estates that offer fallow deer hunting. Anybody ever hunted, or know anything about, fallow hunting there? I only ask because this is one of the places my wife is really intersted in visiting and I could kill two birds with one stone.

Although we have a very healthy population of fallow the quality of the heads is poor..The Sika are a lot better and a superb population of reds are developing in Connemara.

quote:

Originally posted by 1894mk2:
[QUOTE]
Wild fallow medals are very rare in the UK. In the words of Richard Prior they need to be born in a good year for trophies, lead a quiet life and be shot in a good year for trophies. The chances of these 3 things happening are low but I would guess that the first and last are going to be satisfied this year so don't wait until next year.

This is very true, taking into account that there are wild fallow in most areas of England and many in Wales only eight medal heads were reported in 2006. There were three gold and five silver. The golds all came from Hampshire and the silvers from Worcestershire, Leicestershire, Gloucestershire, Northumberland (not noted for big fallow) and Hampshire.

I'm told that there is a silver on an estate near me and if taken that would probably be the first Welsh medal head.