Hunt: Red deer stalking in Portugal

Dates: August 2013 through to mid-February 2014

Outfitter: Athina Hunting Tours

Location: Castelo Branco, Eastern Portugal

Arrival / Departure point: Castelo Branco, Portugal

Price: Full board day rate £250 / US$390 (1:1) plus trophy fees below

(Prices quoted are in UK £ - US dollar prices are for comparison at 01/04/13 exchange rate and may vary)

Athina Sporting is now taking bookings for red deer stalking in the hill country of eastern Portugal. This is a superb area to stalk trophy Red stags from the Iberian sub-species, which present great antlers but do not develop the mane found in other European Red deer. The deer are free-ranging on agricultural land and open hillsides – it makes a change to stalk Red deer on a sunny olive tree and lavender covered hill, rather than in the horizontal rain of Argyll. All hunting is ‘spot and stalk’ on foot.

There is also the opportunity to stalk excellent Fallow deer and a very good chance of opportunistic shots at the wild boar which abound in the area.

We use experienced local stalking guides and stay in good local hotels that are well set up for the early starts and muddy boots of hunters. Meals are taken at local restaurants that provide fantastic Portuguese country cooking – as our Louisiana mate Walt’ says, ‘The food’s so good, you’ll go home and slap Mama’…

The daily rate is £250 ($390) and includes full board accommodation, soft drinks, 4x4 transport during the hunt and professional guiding. Estate rifles can be provided. Firearms importation is straightforward and we assist with all necessary permits. We can arrange transfers to and from Lisbon Airport as required and at cost.

The trophy fees for this season are:

RED DEER (Cervis Elaphus Hispanicus)
Red hinds (limited number per hunt) £150 ($235)

Management stag (up to 10 points) £500 ($775)

Representative stag £950 ($1,475)
(12 points / up to 129.99 CIC points)

Trophy stag 3rd class £1500 ($2,325)
(12 to 14 points / 130 – 147.99 CIC points)

Trophy stag 2nd class £1900 ($2,950)
(12 to 17 points with good mass 148–155.99 CIC points)

Trophy stag 1st class £2500 ($3,875)
(Up to 20 points, excellent mass 156–165.99 CIC points)

Premium stag 20 points + and over 166 points
(181 points+ is CIC gold medal – highest score in 2012 was CIC 187)
£2500 (£3,875) plus £45 ($70) for each additional point above 166 CIC

FALLOW DEER (Dama Dama)
Trophy buck (CIC medal class) From £850 ($1,3200

WILD BOAR (Sus Scrofa) hunted from blinds
Representative animal (less than 5cm of tusk showing below lip)
£200 ($310)
Trophy boar (with 5cm or more of tusk showing below lip)
£350 ($545)
There is a local fee of £120 ($186) for each bait site prepared for hunting wild boar.

Additional fees (2013/14 rates:

Portuguese hunting permit (valid from 1st June to 31st May) £95 ($148)

Mandatory Portuguese hunting insurance (valid from 1st June to 31st May) £31 ($50)

Portuguese firearms importation permit (for non-European Union residents) £19 ($30)

Importation permit administration fee (for non-European Union residents) £55 ($86)

The hunt includes:

- Organisational services to advise on and select flights on behalf of the client
- All transportation on arrival at the hunting grounds for the duration of the hunt
- Organising hunting permits, firearms importation and insurance
- Accommodation in local hotels
- All meals, limited wine/beer with meals and soft drinks
- Services of professional hunting guides

The hunt does not include:

- International airfares to Portugal
- Transfers from Lisbon airport to the hunting grounds. These can be arranged at additional cost if required
- Trophy fees for deer and boar hunted
- Taxidermy or shipping of trophies
- Fees for Portuguese hunting license and mandatory insurance (price as above for 2013/14)
- Tips or gratuities at each hunter’s discretion

Athina Hunting Tours contact details:

Athina Hunting Tours, 1st Floor, 106-108 High Street,
West Wickham, Kent, United Kingdom, BR4 0ND

Email: adam@athinahuntingtours.com

Telephone (office): 0044 (0) 7977 905552