ROMANIA: TROPHY FALLOW DEER HUNT

October is the Fallow Deer rut, which traditionally builds throughout the month before ending suddenly in early November. Understandably, the late rut can at times see a degree of antler damage.

- Additional Fallow Deer: Can be taken if permits are available. Either by flat-rate or sliding-scale options.
- Carpathian Chamois: Can be added flat rate plus x3 extra days in Transylvania province.
- Wild Boar: Night ventures are easily arranged, usually hunted over bait or with thermals.
- Pheasants: Hunting for wild birds can be arranged as half day ventures near the lodge.
- Roe deer: Available on some early hunts, as the season closes Oct. 15th.

These Fallow Deer hunts in Romania come standard at 4 days (x8 outings) with a total of x4 morning and x4 evening outings. Greet your guide each morning and afternoon at the lodge. Head to the Fallow Deer hunting area, and into a likely spot for sunrise seeking groups of rutting deer while they are still out in the open. Glass and judge the various bucks as they rut and ultimately head back into the forest for midday. If a shooter is spotted out of range, leave the high seat and stalk the target buck if possible. In the afternoons, either head to a specific high seat before the deer head back out into the open before dusk or stalk deer in the timber. Situation dictates. Physically the terrain is flat, and not strenuous to navigate, making it possible for hunters of every fitness level.

We strongly encourage clients not to bring personal firearms from home for a Fallow Deer hunt in Romania, especially if wishing to do any tourism while in Europe before or after. The outfitter has various quality rifles always available for clients, already included in the cost of the package. Rifles are usually bolt or slide action, with popular calibers being 6.5mm, .308, 30-06 or 8mm. Nearly all international clients borrow rifles rather than bring them.

Archery hunting is not legal in Romania.

Fallow Deer are generally lowland creatures, and so they are mainly hunted in Romania in low-elevation agricultural land, plains, and forests. Shepherding safeguards much of the lowlands to sheep pasturing lands, and where these border on timber provides excellent Fallow habitat. The forests are generally managed, ranging from dense, young plantations to primeval old-growth hardwoods. Locust, Walnut, Oak, and Beech trees are prevalent. The land is generally flat aside from ravines from slow-flowing rivers. Overall, the best Fallow Deer hunting areas in Romania are not strenuous to navigate, making it possible for hunters of every fitness level.

October is a lovely time to be in rural Romania. Rain isn’t typical, neither are high winds. Dawn often brings calm cool mornings, usually with dew or a light frost. Fog or mist can hug the plains, but it burns off mid-morning. Afternoons tend to warm up. It’s rare to have temperatures dip below freezing while Fallow deer hunting, but morning sits for Fallow Deer, or nighttime sits for Boar can get chilly. The weather is generally pleasant and the fall harvest is in full swing. Enjoy scrounging for the abundant apples, grapes, plums, and walnuts as you hunt and tour the rural backroads with your guide.

One of the high points of this Fallow Deer hunting experience is the food and lodgings! Stay at the base of the western Carpathian foothills in the rural countryside near all the hunting areas. The lodge was originally a medieval aged mill, converted into a lovely rustic hotel, complete with private rooms and full ensuite bathrooms, antique furniture, Wi-Fi, quiet common areas, verandas, a rose garden, and a small river flowing through it all. What completes it, is a wonderful adjoining bar and restaurant. People travel from across Europe to eat here, and our hunters simply order 3 meals each day off the menu - all included in the Fallow Deer hunt package price.

Food here is wholesome, locally sourced, traditional, and delicious. A quick and light breakfast spread is available before heading out to hunt for trophy Fallow Deer. Lunch and dinner can be ordered off the menu. Popular items are stone oven personal pizzas, chops, schnitzels, stews, soups, cheeses, cold cuts, and the various sharing platters. It’s an interesting and incredible line-up, lending its roots to blends of Austro-Hungarian, Turkish, and Slavic ingredients. Local beer, wine, and plum brandy round out each meal nicely, available at the bar if desired.

Destination City: Fallow Deer Hunters are asked to arrive at the Timisoara International Airport in Romania, where they will be greeted by the outfitter or his staff. The Fallow Deer hunting areas are roughly 1-2 hour drive north and east of Timisoara. Chamois combo destination cities could include Sibiu or Cluj Napoca.

Travel Suggestions: Timisoara is easily reached by any various airlines, but Lufthansa tends to offer the best connections from either Munich or Frankfurt, Germany. This is the same for Sibiu or Cluj Napoca (where hunters either begin or conclude the hunt if combining with Chamois).

After a successful Fallow Deer hunt in Romania, trophies are generally left with the outfitter for international clients. Skulls are cleaned and the outfitter salts all the hides at no charge. After the season the outfitter will deliver all the trophies with select taxidermists who can either do the complete work, or prep, permit, and crate trophies for shipping and coordinate with European shipping agents. General turnaround time to delivery is approximately 9 months.

- Romania Carpathian Chamois Hunt

- Romania Wild Boar Hunt

- Romania Roe Deer Hunt

- Poland Fallow Deer Hunt 

- Poland Red Deer Stag Hunt 

- England Japanese Sika Deer Hunt