Atticus
AH member
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2017
- Messages
- 35
- Reaction score
- 199
- Location
- Central Massachusetts
- Media
- 19
- Hunted
- RSA, Namibia x3, Romania x3
A picture heavy report from my recent trip to Transylvania hunting Roe deer with Marius @HUNTROMANIA . This is my third trip with Marius and I'm already looking forward to heading back over.
Last year I started getting the "itch" to hunt in Transylvania again and since my wife had never been, I planned a trip with several days of hunting for Roe deer followed by several days of sightseeing. Some emails with Marius and a hunt was organized.
Scenery of the hunting area--I absolutely love this area--like something out of a fairy tale--storks, wells, waddle fences, horse drawn carts, plumb shaped hayricks--just beautiful.
I've hunted this area three times now and on the first morning we came across something I didn't expect--at least in this area--a bear. Romania's bear population is still rapidly growing, and their range is expanding further and further. Thankfully, hunting has started up again and hopefully it will continue. This youngster was good enough to stop at about 200 yards for a photo op.
As for Roe deer--it rained off and on throughout our trip (and apparently most of May) so the stalking was in wet fields and along muddy farm roads. The deer are apparently not quite as active in the rain, but we saw deer each time out. The first deer was on the first morning stalk not far from where we saw the bear. I was using Marius' Blaser R8 in 300 WM with a Swarovski scope. A nice representative 5ish year old.
The crease you can see on his back was from my first shot--I yanked it and grazed him--inexplicably he stayed put and I was able to get another shot off.
During one of the evening stalks, we came across a very nice buck feeding with a doe in the orchard of an abandoned house. I was up on the sticks for about an hour waiting for him to clear the plumb and apple trees. When I caught a glimpse through the scope, I could see he was a terrific buck, but he never gave us a clear shot. Eventually, with the light fading we made a move across the field to get into a better position--sure enough he and the female nearby saw us, bolted into the forest edge and started barking at us. It was a thrilling stalk--him getting away from of us made it even better!
The second buck came on a very wet, rainy and foggy morning. We crept along in an area where Marius had been seeing an older buck--rain pelting down and me trying to keep my footing in the very slick mud. As we crested a hill we saw him about 150 meters away on the edge of the forest. I got up on the sticks, waited for him to turn broadside and took him right behind the shoulder. Marius aged him at about 8 years old, and he had lots of character on his antlers!
After a celebratory cigar and beer, it was on to some sightseeing throughout Transylvania, hitting the highlights of Maramures, Sigisoara, Cluj, Biertan, etc.
It was another great hunt with Marius--I think I'll head back next year for another Red Stag and more boar. Romania is a great place to hunt, and Marius is a terrific guy and guide. I'm looking forward to hunting with him again.
Last year I started getting the "itch" to hunt in Transylvania again and since my wife had never been, I planned a trip with several days of hunting for Roe deer followed by several days of sightseeing. Some emails with Marius and a hunt was organized.
Scenery of the hunting area--I absolutely love this area--like something out of a fairy tale--storks, wells, waddle fences, horse drawn carts, plumb shaped hayricks--just beautiful.
I've hunted this area three times now and on the first morning we came across something I didn't expect--at least in this area--a bear. Romania's bear population is still rapidly growing, and their range is expanding further and further. Thankfully, hunting has started up again and hopefully it will continue. This youngster was good enough to stop at about 200 yards for a photo op.
As for Roe deer--it rained off and on throughout our trip (and apparently most of May) so the stalking was in wet fields and along muddy farm roads. The deer are apparently not quite as active in the rain, but we saw deer each time out. The first deer was on the first morning stalk not far from where we saw the bear. I was using Marius' Blaser R8 in 300 WM with a Swarovski scope. A nice representative 5ish year old.
The crease you can see on his back was from my first shot--I yanked it and grazed him--inexplicably he stayed put and I was able to get another shot off.
During one of the evening stalks, we came across a very nice buck feeding with a doe in the orchard of an abandoned house. I was up on the sticks for about an hour waiting for him to clear the plumb and apple trees. When I caught a glimpse through the scope, I could see he was a terrific buck, but he never gave us a clear shot. Eventually, with the light fading we made a move across the field to get into a better position--sure enough he and the female nearby saw us, bolted into the forest edge and started barking at us. It was a thrilling stalk--him getting away from of us made it even better!
The second buck came on a very wet, rainy and foggy morning. We crept along in an area where Marius had been seeing an older buck--rain pelting down and me trying to keep my footing in the very slick mud. As we crested a hill we saw him about 150 meters away on the edge of the forest. I got up on the sticks, waited for him to turn broadside and took him right behind the shoulder. Marius aged him at about 8 years old, and he had lots of character on his antlers!
After a celebratory cigar and beer, it was on to some sightseeing throughout Transylvania, hitting the highlights of Maramures, Sigisoara, Cluj, Biertan, etc.
It was another great hunt with Marius--I think I'll head back next year for another Red Stag and more boar. Romania is a great place to hunt, and Marius is a terrific guy and guide. I'm looking forward to hunting with him again.
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