HUNGARY: Hungarian Hunt Roe Deer & Mouflon

ArmyGrunt

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After a week with my family I haven't seen in months visited, they returned home yesterday. We saw Verona, Venice, Vicenza; then had a road trip into Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland; then came back by way of Stelvio Pass. Had a great visit with them.

The time has come for my birthday hunt! I have a few more things to gather, then 8 hours drive to a small town near Budapest. Thanks @UKHunter for linking me up with George for this trip. We're going to have a pro videographer coming along, so the final product will be awesome! My last few guided hunts I've forgotten to even use the video camera, or had a young teenager botch the recording.

Also, here's my bedroom view every day . Great things to see when you wake up.
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What a view! Look forward to the report!
 
I cannot wait to hear more about this hunt. My family is from Hungary. An absolutely gorgeous country and the hunting is some of the finest in Europe. If you have time, try to do some wing shooting too. Also, you better be drinking your weight in pálinka.
 
Good food and some good conversation. After arriving, we went around to put out corn for the wild boar. All the high seats in the area are stick-built by the forestry commission. I saw a fox on the road but nothing else on the first outing.

Closer to dusk we got ready (binos, bullets and bug spray) to head out for boar. After about an hour there was a noise as something approached. Thermal camera revealed 14 piglets and two sow. Nothing to shoot at this time. Back to the lodge for a few hours rest, and up at 330.

Oddly, I was the first one up. George was snoring loudly when I walked out to my car. Shutting the door must have awakened him, as he was soon out on the porch. Akosh, who works for the forestry comm, and also is guiding some, rolled up around 335. He and I went walking in search of roe deer. In a recently clear cut field we spotted a bachelor herd of 7 red stag, and a male/female roe pair. The stag stared at us maybe ten minutes before walking away briskly.

I'm told the roe buck is fair game, so after a couple live pictures I tried to get set up. By this point there were too many sticks and branches in the way. We worked our way around the stacked timber to a better spot. Ready. Steady. POW!

Both roe looked around like "what was that?" Then went back to eating...I'm a pretty good shot, so I'm baffled how it didn't fall. The best I can figure is ricochet off a branch. It clearly didn't hit the wood pile behind the buck. Akosh reminded me to reload since confusion got the better of me. I reset and watched through the scope a few minutes until another shot presented itself. POW!

The buck just dropped where he stood. No hop, skip or jump. The BRNO 7x64 was effective in its job, when handled right, hahaha! After cleaning, it was found I hit the spine, both shoulders and grazed the heart. I'm guessing shrapnel got the heart. After removing the bones that lil guy was less meat than I expected, but grown the animal is about the size of the boxer dog I had.

Photos are going to have to come later, since the app won't allow me to post on this iffy network
 
Glad you’re having a good time. George sent me through some pics, let me know if you want me to upload them for you
 
Good stuff so far. Keep it coming.
 
The second night out was also not fruitful but we did see a deer or two. Back to the house for another short sleep. I'm becoming aware that a hunting vacation doesn't really afford me restlike it would at home... Naps are my friend.
George said he'd be up with me at 330, but he woke with back pain, and wasn't able to get up. Akosh went out with me again to search for more roe. The only one we found was a doe, just barely over a crest where nothing was visible but her back unless she looked up from breakfast. We walked around a couple miles, spooked a really young buck leading to no shot. On the way back to the Sidekick we saw the same doe in the same place.
George was still sleeping, so I chose to follow suit. We had a late breakfast.
By late afternoon I got to meet Peter, the professional cameraman. He's reported to have filmed for a few European hunting TV shows. Wildfoto.HU if you want to check out his work. He understands English, but doesn't really speak it. Fun guy, big warm smile. George had asked if he could use my trip for making a marketing video: Hell Yes!

The first trip out with the camera was an evening hunt for boar. We went to a spot that's known to be right next to the bedding area. Something like two hours sitting in the chairs behind meager concealment, I was beginning to think I'm not meant to be a hog hunter. The wind was swirling, not a peep was heard.

Finally, I caught the nose of a pig in the faint twilight. Get ready! Two, three, four pigs come out. George said take the one on the right. I'd had a notion of how cool it would be to drop the two standing side by side, but I don't know the energy of the 7*64 so I didn't ask approval.

Piggies caught a whiff of something...now they're starting to exit the narrow passage. Dammit. BUT! One lucky winner chose to stick his face back out to sniff the corn once more. PEW! All I saw in the scope was a bright muzzle flash. After recoil settled, I could tell that was definitely a pig in the dirt. Two for two on drop shots! This yearling wouldn't see another day.

It was close to 2330 when we got back to the house, so George and Akosh took the pig to the game dealer for cold storage. I wouldn't be cleaning that one soon. The roe is already de-boned and in the freezer at the house.
 
Time to head out for more boar, maybe yearling hind. This morning's excitement is coming soon!
 
The morning started early, again. No rest for the wicked, right? We gathered gear and water, and got in the truck to head out. While driving towards George's planned location we briefly spotted a red hind in one of the pathways between the thick growth. She was long gone before we could get the chance to even consider her, but further down this road was the large clearing where I got the first kill of the week. We stopped and walked about a quarter mile to get a good viewpoint. Out in the field was only a single roe doe, probably the one who didn't care about my first (missed) shot. We spent some time standing and watching, but the hind must have gone in another direction. Back to the truck to go to another spot.


This time, we went out on a hike as before but didn't intend to get into a hide of any sort. Coming round the bend I saw a sloping clearing up on the right. Scanning up and down, left and right, but didn't see anyone so we continued on. Suddenly, there was some noise to the right, and Peter was starting to alert us. A quick scan found a buck had also noted something was not normal. I moved around to get on the sticks, found him in the scope and tracked until he stopped. All I could see was a little of his back and his head. While I'm here to take back some meat, I also want a nice euro mount, so I didn't want to take a head shot. Moreover, I didn't zero this hired rifle, so it's proper point of impact isn't exactly known by me. Each shot has been a bit high. I continued looking to this place, and the buck disappeared behind this hill. George is whispering to me to take the shot, but I reply that I can't see it. After he gave me some distance and direction, I realized it moved up and to the right when I couldn't see it.


I got repositioned just in time to see the slippery bugger vanish into the trees again. Lesson learned today? Check the zoom on the scope, and don't forget to get off the sights and watch the lane.....shit I know from the army thing for half my life, but I guess there's so much going on right now I'm missing things. Or old age, since this is that time of the year for me. At least we got it on camera? Back to the truck, back to the house. Breakfast is sure to be ready.
 
Get up, kiddo. Nap time is over. I'm grateful for getting an hour's rest, but honestly thought it was longer than that. I must have just hit the sweet spot in my sleeping. We're heading out in the heat of the day this time. The sheep don't care about the heat, is what I'm told. We drove around farther than I remember going, and come up on the low fenced area. It's clearly marked in gibberish (pronounced Hungarian) and pictures, but the word mouflon is on the sign, so I knew we were at the right place. Time to start stepping once again. It didn't take me long to regret not grabbing the camelbak today. I tend to drink a lot of water, but I guess it's good that I didn't since said water also tends to exit more often than a hamster pees. Curse this tiny bladder....


Akosh, George, Peter and I crept up and down and all around the hills for a few miles, but didn't see any animals or fresh sign. The four of us returned to the road, and the decided we would go searching over the gigantic hill to the left. I made a vote to first go back for some water, which was seconded by George. Water it is, thank goodness.


While resting at the trucks, Akosh left to go round and have a look at the field where the sheep often hang out. He came back about fifteen minutes later and said he saw them while driving out, but after he turned back they fled into the wood line. I had a notion I should have gone along with him. Strategy changed, and we loaded up to drive closer to the field. We parked and got back on foot. I made sure to chug a little extra. I also didn't take the hat I was wearing, thinking we'd be in the trees mostly, and didn't take my sunglasses for the same reason. I was also given some electronic ear muffs so I could hear the instructions for which of the herd to take because the foam plugs block soft sounds too well. This tinnitus is bad enough without adding gunfire to flare it up a few days. I surely regretted not having sun protection later.


Walking slowly down the timber road for several minutes, we finally came upon two animals. Not the four-legged kind, because why would we find only those within a private, gated area? No, there were two humans staring up a tree. Akosh went over to have a chat with them, and they departed. The road then curved down and to the right, spilling out into the large, grassy knoll with a high seat standing in the middle. We started out across the field. Part way across Peter pointed "mouflon" off to the left, just in the shade of the trees where others had been cut down. I glassed them and foolishly thought those were roe doe at first. George, further ahead ushered me forward from my kneeling position to enter the stand.


This one, thankfully, had a cover built over the top. A nice shady location to sit and wait while watching a ewe and kid passing the day's heat. Not long after they disappeared and took the two rears I had seen resting next to a tree. I thought they had gone deeper up and into the trees, since the crying kids sounded further and further away. I like action and activity. Sitting and waiting isn't really my idea of fun. Archery hunt? Not this guy!


I don't really know how much later it was, but I finally saw some movement again. One, then two, then five or six walked out before what looked like a big, brown flood poured from the forest. I grabbed my camera from my hip to get some pictures and video. I was totally awestruck, and saying things my 8 year old might say in the same situation. The men kept chuckling at me, I felt no shame. Camera down, I switched to scope as the herd neared me.


There were so many options! This big one, that big one, a third and a thirtieth. Holy, crap these things are gorgeous! I saw two with shaggy coats, like a St Bernard at the beginning of the summer. There was one old guy with big bosses who had broomed both curls. I really liked that one, because it's different. I prefer not to be like the norm. George pointed out a large ram with really heavy horns and a dark coat. I found it on the camera screen, and was waiting for him to make a clear presentation. Too many friends were huddled around him.


BAM! I thought I heard a tree falling in the wood, and wondered if there were loggers working. George excitedly told me to hold the shot and look up to the back of the group. There were two or three rams having a fight. I've only ever seen this in videos. It really is a glorious sight to see. They weren't doing a vicious fight, but more just playing around I suppose. They weren't getting a run up for the hit, but it was still tremendously loud. One of the two decided to step off as the first was speeding up for another hit, then a third came up and got him. I thought I was on a National Geographic program! Then reality came back, and George said take the one on the right. He was the one who backed down. The three fighters and another started back towards the herd, and gathered tight enough I didn't have a shot at first. A few steps later I hear "shoot him!" I said, "take the shot?" "Yes!"


POW! Another animal hit the dirt. The herd ran maybe fifty yards, then stopped to look around. They were watching my ram lying on the ground, but weren't scared by the gunshot. I was told there's a military firing range not far away, so the animals may have thought the sound was from that. A few minutes later, they all went back into the forest in a rewind of the flood by which they came.


Several minutes later the ram is still breathing rapidly, and trying to move its legs. It became apparent that my shot wasn't the best, and there was suffering. Akosh asked for my knife, so I gave up the same one I used to kill the alligator two years ago. He was going to dispatch it for me, but I insisted in being there to do it myself. A good cut to the base of the skull would be the end.


We all approached, and George and Akosh were going to hold the animal to prevent our injury. A few steps away, and he got up and ran a few steps! Damn are these things tough!! When the ram fell again it was grabbed front and rear to allow for the dispatch. I felt bad for the shot error. I first thought I expected it was a spine shot, but the autopsy revealed I hit it about 3 inches too high.


Gorgeous animal, with a massive set of curls. I'm very proud of this hunt. I came here for a birthday mouflon, and I got it. Due to a little confusion, the hunt happened the day before, but this whole week is my birthday hunt trip so I'm just as happy as can be. Who could ask for anything more than spending a week in the woods with great food, friendly people and doing one of your favorite things in life??
 
Those of some great pics of the Mouflon. Great ram that you got too. Congrats on a great hunt.
Bruce
 
The afternoon hunt started like all the rest: drive into the forest, park somewhere then stalk about a while. Peter still in tow with his camera, we were hoping to find a roe to add to the footage and complete the set for a marketing video. Well, not to disappoint, nature provided what we were looking for. That slippery devil that got away from me before was hanging out in the same field. This must be his usual hangout. Now, it’s important to note that after the mouflon was skinned Akosh departed with the Sidekick, still having the shooting sticks in the bed. We realized this shortly after stepping from the truck. George offered up his shoulder with a stern reminder not to flag him. I merely replied that I’ve been teaching firearms safety for over 15 years, and he’s going to be safe.

This is a timber producing forest. There are stacks of logs cut about 5 feet in length all over the place. Previously, they were ever so conveniently behind one where my height was just about enough to be a benefit. Almost. I could see over the top of the stack, but no way could I use it for a rest without being on my tippie toes. I considered trying to gingerly remove a few logs, but in hindsight that wouldn’t have mattered much as the stack was two runs wide. We scanned the area for quite a long time.

Peter was back a little way from the stack and was the one that saw the buck. It was further to the left than before, but far enough that we could lean around the living tree at the far left end. George saw it next and confirmed that it was a good buck to be taken. Given their territorial nature, it’s likely this is the same deer as before. I was directed to the end, and offered up a shoulder. Funny thing about using a moving object for a shooting rest…. As the target continues to strafe to the right, the human naturally wants to continue looking at it. I said stand still, but I expect George thought I was talking to the buck. My tracking with the sight was rather difficult, since the rest was going down and left but the target was going up and right. POW!

Until now, I couldn’t really decide whether this 7x64 Brennecke was a soft shooter, or if the hunting experience was keeping me from feeling the recoil. This time, the answer finally hit me. You may have guessed, but by “answer” what I really mean to say is “scope.” Nineteen mother-loving years and I’ve never scoped myself. Today is the day…. I promptly slammed my hand to my face with a gentle OW while at the same time feeling a thick bead of blood start to run down my nose. Sumbich… I got me.

From other points of view in this story, George saw dust behind the animal, and thought just maybe the round passed through and then struck dirt. He looked at Peter and got the negative head shake.
Peter, saw the dust fly in the video screen, and knew there was a solid miss. Then he looked at me as I turned around and got a big smile on his face. I moved my hand to show the end result. At least I managed to draw blood on something this time, right?? Laughs were had, explanations discussed. Blah, blah, blah. Better to have missed altogether than to have wounded this beautiful critter. (clearly not talking about myself there, although I am a beautiful man!). It’s back to the truck to return to the lodge. They said it might need stitches. I did the instinctive first aid thing I’ve got deeply ingrained from 18 years military, 7 years paramedic, applying direct pressure for a while. I guess I got it closed up well enough because it didn’t take long to stop. Looking at it now, it seems no stitches will be needed.

We discussed whether it was likely we’d find the same buck a third time in the same place. George said most likely so. A picture was sent to Akosh, and he said not to feel bad about getting bit. He’d already had that pleasure twice before! I decided maybe this gun is better for a bench or standing upright instead of getting that forward lean I prefer.

The next morning was uneventful, mostly. Happy Birthday to me, we all overslept by 90 minutes and lost the chance for a quality stalk. George and I were heading out on our own in his 4x4, and old Nissan SUV that I had mistaken for a Sidekick. We didn’t make it far before discovering that the clutch had pretty well given up on life. No power transfer when trying to go up the slightest hill. Back to the lodge to take a stroll a bit closer to the house. The only thing we saw was one fox too far out, then a roe doe in the same place on the way returning. Bummer. Breakfast and a nap.

The evening held a plan to go after the dirty, cat-like, 9-lives having sucker. George went to sit alone and wait for pigs, Akosh and I went after my arch nemesis. We got back to the same wood pile with seats just in case. The skeeters were out with a vengeance, just like me. The buck was spotted by magic, I believe, between two smallish piles of wood a solid 200m away. I never would have seen that myself without it being pointed out. Super slick ninja skills got me to within about 175m of the target. Again, he’s walking up and to the right, but in no hurry. I guess he didn’t hear the doe and fawn scramble when we got too close. He’s oblivious, and this gives me the edge. Slightly further up and the sticks were posted. I plugged the other ear with foam protection, set up and felt pretty good about my minimal wobble. Easy peasy trigger squeezy. POW!

You’ve got to be KIDDING ME! I missed high again by meager inches. Run, run away you lucky bastard. Walking back to the truck I spotted another buck on the same hillside, now to the left. It moved to the wood line and stopped long enough to be seen wearing his velvet antler covers. Dude’s got swag, but too young to be taken. We drove back to a field to confirm the sights since I missed high two separate times. Nope! Just a crappy shooter…. A short stalk in another area to find no animals ended in picking up George and coming home empty-handed for my birthday. I only got the gift of life reminding me you don’t always get what you want.

New plan to give it one last go tomorrow afternoon. That'll be my last change at it. George days if I don't take it he'll keep that area off limits until I return! Hahaha!



You can almost see where the buck would have been. Akosh leading the ninja stalk. And the stag beetle that he found crawling up his leg in the truck. And the selfie of my self inflictie. Of course, I'm going to be telling everyone the scar came when the ram got up, but you all would probably have your bull sh*t alarms screaming!
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Which one of you rotten buggers moved that picture??

Mean ass!
 
Nice hunt! Thanks for the write up!
 

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