Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Europe Roe Bucks

The “What is it about Elk” thread got me thinking about Roe Bucks. I’ve never even seen a live roe buck but they really catch my attention. One day I want to hunt them. You guys that have taken them post up some pics and stories please.

Got this old buck near Oxborough, England. It reminded me of whitetail kind of habitat. Grass fields between flat, forested areas. I am not sure how rugged of terrain they can live in but they flourish in easier, forested habitat. I took a cull doe too. This property was very carefully managed as most properties are in England, so the hunting wasn't hard by any means, though they are absolutely wild, free ranging critters. The nice thing about roe is that they're hard horned in spring, and (in England at least) the season opens April 1, so you don't have to take time during the normal hunting season here in the states, to hunt them over there.


I have also seen them in western Spain, where I have been told they grow really big. They were in more hilly habitat there, but nothing too crazy. I have a few more things I want to kill first but someday I plan to hunt these in the Scottish highlands.

Beautiful buck, have you hunted them very much?

No, not really. I have seen them in a few countries and watched them: how they act, what habitat live in and such but only actually hunted them on that one trip to England.

I see, great buck either way. What kind of mount did you get of him? Did you eat any of the venison, if so how was it?

No photos, I'll have to try to find and upload....

My son was stationed in Germany, we went to Poland to hunt Roe Deer and pigs.

Cannot recommend it highly enough, not a tough hunt, and the accomdations are fantastic!!! Food is terriffic also.

I took 4 roe (limit was 5) my son took 3.

Wonerful eating, though ours seemed to really stink after they were hung. I never saw a pig, my son did but didn't get a shot.

We did skull plates only.

One day I'd like to hunt Romania, but that's further down the list.

Thanks!
Just a skull mount. I am not much of a taxidermy guy.

I ate one of his backstraps. They tasted fine, and was just like any other deer/elk/whatever to me. The outfit I hunted with sold the rest of the meat, as well as the muntjac and water deer I killed. It is legal to do so I guess.

I really want to give it a try, can you guys recommend an outfitter? I’ve seen the hunt on this forum from Unforgettable Hunting (Horia) and read some reviews of his hunts and it looks like a good deal. His hunts are in Romania.

https://www.bookyourhunt.com/en/Tour/11744?species=Roe%20deer#

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe this was the outfit.
Poland is wonderful,


If I were going back, I'd probably go to Romania for Chamois and Roe Deer.

Roe opens in the summer (when I ws visiting) so the timing worked out for me.

we saw Red Deer and Fallow but they were not open yet - they're typical fall hunts

The Poland hunt looks great.

I have hunted them in Romania and Sweden and taken a half dozen or so decent bucks and maybe a dozen total. Some of the nicer bucks were killed with Horia that an outfitter in this forum. I think they eat pretty well. Definitely a little more wild tasting than a corn fed whitetail but still very enjoyable. The hunts have been spot and stalk thru vineyards or expansive farm fields. Also have set up on the edge of a wood line over looking clear cuts or pasture and a couple were on driven hunts in the forest.

Some key takeaways -The seasons are generally pretty generous and they are not very expensive to hunt. A hunt can be done in a day or two while on a family vacation and they are all over Europe. They can be enjoyably challenging but not overly physically demanding to hunt.

Those are some really great bucks! I’ve spoke to Horia and it seems like he offers a great hunt. Curious of your hunts with him did you take your own rifle?

I do miss Rehbuck hunting. I'd say if you go try and go end of July / early August as that is the rutting time in most places. I've had many hunts for them all across Europe. Most hunts are done from highseats but you can stalk them also, depends. I had a Buttelo and called this one in, a Czech Republic hunt, great times. Hope you get to go and enjoy! Waidmannsheil.

Well, I've never been able to post pictures on this site, sucks. That (bleep) shouldn't be in there, but it inserts without it in url, what the hell?

[img]https://uniim1.[bleep].com/rende...HISLIFE&res=medium&ts=1407085165[/img]

[img]https://photos.[bleep].com/album/70081787099/full/71957983755[/img]

I have not but that was because I was working overseas during those trips and my rifles were in the states. I will try to make it over to hunt with him again in the next year or so and will be bringing my rifle(s) on that trip. FWIW he has a pretty good selection or "loaner" rifles and I had no issues either trip.

That’s good to know. BTW he said bringing your own rifle was no problem at all.

LBP Taking your rifle to eastern Europe is fairly straight forward, the issue is other European countries. Heard of guys going to Africa and landing in a European country that confiscated firearms. Real horror stories.

I took my rifle to Africa but not Europe as I was going to Germany then hunting in Poland.

The outfit I hunted with had a nice SAKO (Which is what I shoot) 243 and a TIKKA (which my son shoots) 308.

Europe and other countries are not like us in the United States, in that they typically don't own 20+ guns, the ones they have are high quality and common chambers, such as 308 and maybe a 300 Mag.

There is a story in Africa Hunting about a hunt in Spain, there the client was not familiar at all with the provided gun (Blaser I think?) and it was in 8X57.

Also, Say your in Romania and want to tour, your firearm will have to be secured which might mean the local police station and then trying to get it back and back into the States.

As much as I love my rifles, I wouldn't pay for the permits and headaches, personally.

Also, check because some guys "rent" guns and charge for each round you shoot, and definitely shoot the gun before hand to make sure it's on for you.

That’s good to know.

Thanks Dom

Personally, I always borrow rifles on foreign hunts. Even in countries where importing them generally isn’t an issue from a legal standpoint, there is always the crooked baggage handlers or firearm control folks to think about. Another consideration is if it gets stolen, either at the airport, hotel or wherever….holy cow, what then?

That’s true.

I was stationed in Germany and would see Roe deer everywhere. All over the Air Force base and the surrounding fields especially. About like riding around farmland in Virginia.

I think they’re cool little deer.

they are. I even saw a video of Germans I think hunting them with huge Falcons. They could take one down

I’m gonna have to google that, awesome. So what country is the premier destination for roe bucks?

I am not sure I'd say there is a 'premiere' destination for roe deer, simply because they live all over Europe and have been hunted all over there. If I had to guess I'd say France or Spain but that is just my thoughts.

I hunted them in England because I think it is neat how they were associated with British aristocracy and have been an important species to hunt by the crown for centuries. They don't seem to grow as big there as mainland Europe though, I suppose due to the Island biological effect.

I’ve done some googling that pretty much confirmed this as well T, although a few articles mentioned Hungary as one of the best countries for them.

LBP: What country would you most like to visit? What about your wife or anyone else??

I loved Poland, would love to Hunt and visit Romania, If I was going now, I'd PROBABLY take the wife to France and Spain and try to get a day or two hunt there,
Somewhere where I'm hunting and she's not sitting in camp or not having a good time.....

As far as "Premier" what;s the best state to hunt Whitetail?? If you lived in China and were coming to the US to hunt Whitetail, where would you go???

Roe is similar, so many places to hunt and so many culturally diverse destinations.

That was my experience too. I killed a couple of them while hunting with German friends. I don't think I took pictures of the deer but somewhere I have pictures of a much younger me with a few hogs. I shot them all with a 30-06 and 180gr bullets. I almost felt sorry for the roe deer. One was only 20yds away and the other one might have been 40yds. The first one was small and I carried it halfway up the ladder of the high seat and let it drain out while I continued to hunt.

LBP, you seem pretty torn on where to go, which is a good thing in ways.

If it makes a difference, some places include their countries' tax into the hunt price and other's don't. Keep that in mind and ask any outfitters that you're interested in. One outfit I was looking at in Italy didn't include it in their base price, and it was (IIRC) a 21% tax that you had to pay. Same with Austria.

I wouldn't rule out Scandanavia, though I haven't looked at prices or any outfits for Roe there. I am going on a Capercaillie and black cock (Ha! I am not sure I'll be able to NOT laugh and make jokes) hunt in Sweden in 2025 and they seem to have a thriving hunting industry as well.

I hadn’t thought about the government tax that’s definitely something to figure in.

I loved hunting them in Poland on a red stag hunt. Great country, people, and hunting.

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/European-Hunter/Lloyd-Newberry/9780979485343

Buy the book, It covers all of EUrope, a few years ago, a lot of bird hunting; big game as well. Realize things, governments, permits, etc change, but it's a great read.

Also, he lives about a hour from me, so I contacted him and got my copy autographed.

Great thread. Thanks to all!

Definitely, thanks everyone!

I hunted them once in Romania with Horia of Unforgettable hunting and had a great time. I love hunting these little deer and really need to again soon. I would post pics but all my files are too large and don't have them parked anywhere other than apple cloud.

LBP, did you ever book a hunt somewhere?

If only hunting roe buck matters to you, and you don't care about other critters, language barriers, cost (within reason), or whatever else, I'd book with Horia and be done with it. I wouldn't call references or do anything else. Just PM him here, get a day/time set in stone and get a deposit sent.

T, I haven’t yet but hope to soon.

I have only hunted them in Germany. Mostly within an hour and a half drive of Frankfurt. They are fun to hunt and as mentioned hunting season for them opens in spring. Beautiful time of the year to hunt them. They bark in a way that very much resembles a dog. In fact the first time I heard one bark I thought it was a dog. My guide assured me is a a roe deer and that others would start barking shortly. Sure enough soon a small male came into a clearing and began barking. Would not have believed it if I’d not send and heard it myself.

They are excellent table fare. Many gasthaus especially in the more rural areas often serve roe. The neck slow roasted in an oven is excellent especially served with potatoes and a salad.

When I went to Romania my connecting flight was in Munich and didn't have any problems. There is paperwork to fill out beforehand which is pretty much true for any international hunt. Romania has some strict policies about how much ammo and tracking expended rounds. You definitely want to make sure all daypacks or rucks are thoroughly cleared out beforehand because even a errant empty cartridge case can cause you major problems. Just be very thorough and you will be fine.

I have the opportunity to hunt them in France and I plan to try to make it next year. Should be a fun trip.

Sounds like a fun trip.

OK, that make me jealous!!
I'm going to Paris in 2 weeks,

Hunting France and Spain are on my list (not this trip, but soon...)