What are the best countries for hunting in Europe?

[Décio]

1) What are the best countries for hunting duck/geese/waterfowl in Europe?
2) What are the best countries for hunting upland birds in Europe?
3) What are the best countries for hunting big game in Europe?
4) What are the best countries for bow hunting in Europe?
4) What are the best countries for hunting horseback in Europe?

Including EU and non-EU countries

 

[mark-hunter]

I have no idea.
Except that most (if not all countries in EU), and continental Europe are hunter friendly. And also, bow hunting options will be hard to find.

There are some reports on this forum on good and succeful hunting in Europe, and there are many of European members on this forum that can offer some advice.
Generally i think that "the best country" is hard to determine, it is like asking what is the "best caliber", or "best rifle"... etc... it depends on individual perspective.

Germany, Austria, Spain... Russia... Make research, I can reccomend to start with (thats my favourite country):

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/croatia-hunting-information.51783/

 

[MarkCZ]

A bit ambiguous some of the questions.
1 Scotland
2 Upland birds? You cant beat the UK for any game shooting.
3 Scotland (Red Stag) Estonia. (Moose, Wild Boar)
4 No idea. UK does not allow bow hunting but many European countries do.
MarkCZ

 

[perttime]

If you want BIG, Moose is pretty much it. That means, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Russia.

 

[Hallgeir Gravråk]

It depends what do you wanna hunt, I will say Sweden have a good variety of game, Moose, Roedeer, Red deer, Fallowdeer, Wildboars, birdhunting in the forrest or in the mountain.

Norway has wild reindeer, the only place in Europe you can hunt wild reindeer.

Other european countries has a lot of Wildboars, Red deer Roedeer, Fallowdeer , and some has Sikadeer.

England has the CWD and Muntjac, they also have Sika deer.

 

[grand veneur]

1) What are the best countries for hunting duck/geese/waterfowl in Europe?
2) What are the best countries for hunting upland birds in Europe?
3) What are the best countries for hunting big game in Europe?
4) What are the best countries for bow hunting in Europe?
4) What are the best countries for hunting horseback in Europe?

Including EU and non-EU countries

Like Africa , Europe is a continent and the differences by region are even greater.

It depends in Europe what you want to hunt and how you want to hunt it. Do you mainly value hunting or is the trophy in the foreground and how to take it is not so important.

Most of Europe has hardly any big wild areas so the hunt is often in well-defined areas. That doesn’t mean that hunting is always very easy , sometimes you have to do a physical effort , in the mountains for example , but you will not have to spend a lot of days in the field , move on horseback and sleep in the tent at night. In some regions of Europe , horses are only used to carry the game.

These five questions are therefore difficult to answer all at once because you would have to work through the list of game in Europe , and that region by region. In addition there are the very different laws from countries to countries and sometimes even in one country according to regions. Therefore it is often difficult for foreigners to hunt in Europe. Bow hunting is very controversial and is not allowed everywhere. You need a permit for that and you can take it only after an exam in the country.

In summary , it is easier to answer if someone specifically asks about hunting in a particular country or a particular game in Europe.

 

[UKHunter]

It depends what do you wanna hunt, I will say Sweden have a good variety of game, Moose, Roedeer, Red deer, Fallowdeer, Wildboars, birdhunting in the forrest or in the mountain.

Norway has wild reindeer, the only place in Europe you can hunt wild reindeer.

Other european countries has a lot of Wildboars, Red deer Roedeer, Fallowdeer , and some has Sikadeer.

England has the CWD and Muntjac, they also have Sika deer.

I believe you can also hunt reindeer in Iceland

 

[UKHunter]

Youre casting a wide net with your questions. If you can narrow down to the species you want to hunt and the method, then I am happy to offer some advise. I have hunted in England, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Poland, Spain and Hungary.

 

[Nyati]

In Spain we have as big game

Wolf
Wild Boar
Roe Deer
Red deer
Fallow Deer
Chamois (Pyrenean Mountain Goat)
Ibex ( 4 subspecies)
Mouflon
Aoudad (Barbary sheep)
Bear (Not huntable)

Bow hunting is not popular but can be done.

Birds are plentiful, our star being the red partridge, but I don´t know much about that.

 

[grand veneur]

The list of animals that can be hunted is very long and varies greatly from country to country. Spain is a good place for hunting in Europe.

In the meantime you can also hunt , for a lot of money , alpine Ibex in Switzerland and Austria. Surely there are better and worse areas in Europe to hunt all the different game species , and as I have already written , a lot depends also on how you want to hunt each species.

Don't forget France.

For example : https://www.sudchasse.net/

 

[DieJager]

From some research not by actual experience (yet ), their is good big game hunting in Finland (Brown bear, Moose, Roe deer, fallow deer, wolf, lynx, whitetail etc) Also good is Belarus ( e.g. Wisent) . Nice wingshooting is in Iceland. These are only examples their are many more great hunting spots (e.g. France, Spain, Austria, Croatia etc)

Bowhunting is allowed in a few countries like for example Portugal, Spain, Bulgaria, Belarus.

 

[perttime]

Bowhunting is allowed in a few countries like for example Portugal, Spain, Bulgaria, Belarus.

Finland allows bowhunting. No moose or big predators. If you want deer, wild boar or mouflon, you have to pass a bow shooting test. No idea if anybody is offering it commercially.

 

[Décio]

Thanks for the answers, guys.

 

[Donnachaidh]

I'm probably biased due to my ancestry, but Scotland is a great country for hunting. Stalking a red stag on the hill (mountain) during the rut is steeped in tradition and a real buck-list experience. Different areas offer Sika, roe and fallow stalking. There is plenty of game shooting available; most famously grouse, but also pheasant, partridge and, if you're fit enough for a good climb, ptarmigan. The wild geese arrive in September, and can either be shot on the coast or inland over decoys.

 

[TokkieM]

Depends on your budget.
Redstags and Roedeer are pretty expensive once you start in the medals. Sweden has some good trophies of both and Moose too.
Geese and ducks get hunted by their hundreds of thousands here and not uncommon to see flocks of Geese numbering a few thousand.
Partridge and Pheasants are pretty common hunts and a days Pheasant hunt with over 500 birds shot is not uncommon. If you however want to hunt them over pointing dogs it becomes more about quality than quantity.
Ptarmigan hunting over pointing dogs is probably the hardest hunt here, but also the most rewarding, good bird numbers but bag limit is 6 per day.
Capricalle and Black Grouse will take a few days to hunt successfully, also with pointing dogs in the Forest. You can hunt them by sight in winter with ski's and a small caliber rifle. 222 or 223 works well. Then there is also a fair number of places to hunt Woodcock.
Boars with dogs are common here too. Some of the biggest Fallow deer I have seen is also here in Sweden, but once again all up to your budget.
It takes careful planning to combine feather and fur hunts here as seasons on each may differ with a month or two. There are no fences here and the further North you go the wilder it gets.

 

[Fred Gunner]

In Spain we have as big game

I've often thought about combining a hunting trip in Spain with a Visit to Pampalona to see the running of the Bulls and to watch some Bull Fights?
Is that possible and what could I expect to hunt in that region durning that time of the year?

 

[Décio]

I used to think Hungary, Romania, Montenegro, Estonia and Russia were the best country for big game.

 

[grand veneur]

I used to think Hungary, Romania, Montenegro, Estonia and Russia were the best country for big game.

Certainly not , there are good areas in many countries and also in the countries you quote , but it depends on the type of big game you want to hunt. In addition , Russia is very big and most of it is not in Europe.

 

[Nyati]

I've often thought about combining a hunting trip in Spain with a Visit to Pampalona to see the running of the Bulls and to watch some Bull Fights?
Is that possible and what could I expect to hunt in that region durning that time of the year?

I´ll check on that

 

[UKHunter]

I've often thought about combining a hunting trip in Spain with a Visit to Pampalona to see the running of the Bulls and to watch some Bull Fights?
Is that possible and what could I expect to hunt in that region durning that time of the year?

Where I hunted in spain there was a bull ring next to the accommodation we stayed in!